Hibuscus syriacus "Rose of Sharon"

Hibiscus syriacus, or Rose of Sharon, is a Hibiscus plant native to China and India. Growing up to 15 feet tall, the Rose of Sharon is covered with purple and pink flowers. Despite being an exotic plant, the Rose of Sharon thrives in a range of climate zone, including in Rochester’s climate zones. The Rose of Sharon is incredibly easy to grow and will flower year after year with little to no maintenance. The plant is also easily propagated by stem cuttings.

To have the Rose of Sharon included in your landscape installation today, call us or visit our website today for an estimate!

Mosquito Alert (June 2019)

As June comes to a close, mosquito season is here. With this year’s mild winter and wet spring, mosquito populations will be bigger than ever this year.

While mosquitoes are typically just a nuisance, they can pose a severe threat to your and your family’s health. Mosquitoes are an extremely effective transmitter of a range of diseases. While mosquito-transmitted diseases like malaria and the Zika virus are uncommon in the Northeast, West Nile can pose a serious threat. The first case was discovered in New York in 1999, and since has claimed the lives of 39 people.

There is no existing vaccine for the virus. Therefore, the best way to prevent West Nile is take measures to prevent mosquito bites. Take precautions such as using bug repellent and covering your skin as much as possible when going outside. Ted Collins also offers mosquito treatment programs for your yard, sure to eliminate any mosquito problems you may have. Call us today at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today for an estimate.

 For more information, see the New York State Department of Health’s website.

Planting a Native Garden

When deciding what to plant in your garden, you should consider including native trees and plants in your landscape installation. There are many ways that planting native plants will be beneficial for both you and the environment. Here are a few benefits:

Habitat for Wild Animals

Installing native plants on your property will make it a hub for wild animals. Along with deer, squirrels, and other animals, fostering native plants will draw huge numbers of bird and butterfly species. Because of the introduction of nonnative plants and climate change, the habitats and migration stopping points of birds and butterflies has been severely altered. These native birds and insects simply cannot survive on introduced plants and trees. By planting native plants, your yard will become a safe haven to migratory birds such as hummingbirds and ducks, as well as Monarch and Painted Lady Butterflies.

Saves Money

While native plants are great for the environment, they are also great for your wallet! Planting native plants helps you to save money in the long run, requiring less maintenance than many other plants. Native plants require less fertilizer and pesticide treatments as well as less watering.  

Here are some of our favorite native plants that you can include in your garden today:

Common Milkweed

Don’t let the name fool you, the Common Milkweed is a great addition to your garden! The Common Milkweed can grow up to 5 feet tall, bearing baseball sized clumps of pink flowers. The Milkweed, along with bearing beautiful flowers, is essential food for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars.

Highbush Blueberry

The Highbush Blueberry is a native blueberry bush found across New York State. Along with bearing clusters of blueberries, the bush also has spectacular fall foliage. The bush does best in full sun or light shade.

Sneezeweed

The Sneezeweed is a popular perennial but is naturally found in New York’s meadows and open fields.  The tall yellow flowers are a valuable source of food for the state’s butterfly and pollinating insects. The Sneezeweed enjoys a wonderful long blooming period in the summer.

If interested in a garden made from native plants, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit us at tedcollinst-l.com for an estimate.

Dahlia "Purple Gem" (Purple Gem Dahlia)

The Purple Gem Dahlia is a cactus dahlia, most easily identified by its rich purple cactus shaped blossoms. The Purple Gem grows up to three feet in height, looking best when clustered together. The Purple Gem blooms nonstop throughout the summer, only ceasing to bloom at the first frost. In addition, the Purple Gem is easily cut and transplanted. The Purple Gem is a wonderful pick to keep your garden bright and lively all summer long!

If you want the Purple gem Dahlia in a landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000!

3 Tree Planting Tips

In the Rochester area, we’re approaching the best time of year for planting trees and shrubs. Here are a few tips to make sure your trees flourish!

Pick the Right Trees

Probably the most important step of the tree planting process is picking the right tree! It is necessary to pick trees that will thrive in your USDA climate zone. Here are some of our favorite trees and shrubs to plant this summer:

Juniper

While there are many species of juniper, all of them serve as a great addition to your yard. Junipers are hearty deer resistant plants that can serve as a great screens to place along property lines. You can’t go wrong with a juniper for your yard!

Japanese Maple

The Japanese Maple, best known for its spectacular dark red and purple color, can grow up to 30 feet tall. The tree’s foliage puts on a spectacular show, especially in the fall months.

Green Mountain Boxwood

The Boxwood is another plant that stands up to the test of the elements. The plant performs well in both sunlight and partial shade, will survive in a drought, and is deer resistant. The Green Mountain Boxwood is wonderful for an accent plant to your garden.

Call Before Digging

Because of the depth required to plant trees, it is important to check your property for any existing utility pipes or lines. Striking utility lines can knock out service to entire areas, make you liable for huge service fees, and may even cause significant bodily injury. Before starting any project make sure to call 811 to have your utility lines marked for free. Avoid planting your tree in any area near utility lines.

Protect Your Tree

Once your tree is planted, it is extremely important that you protect it. When mowing, be sure to steer clear from the tree. It may be beneficial to construct a buffer area to make it easier to avoid. In addition, you may want to purchase a plastic tube wrap to protect the tree’s stem.

If you would like us to assist you with planting or selecting your tree, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000.

How to Make a Hummingbird Sanctuary

One of the best parts of summer is the possibility of seeing a hummingbird flying around your garden. However, because of climate change, hummingbirds may become a rarer sight. The changing environment has altered what plants grow on migration routes, eliminating food resources. Help keep hummingbirds thriving by making your own hummingbird sanctuary! Here are a couple of tips for how to attract hummingbirds to your garden.

Select the Right Plants

One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds is to plant the right plants in your garden. There are several things to keep in mind when selecting plants that will attract hummingbirds. First, hummingbirds are especially attracted to the color red, so be sure to include red tubular flowers in your garden. Also, hummingbirds are especially attracted to native plants, such as honeysuckle and bee balm. These plants produce more nectar than exotics. In addition, make sure to plant several different kinds of flowers with different blooming periods to attract hummingbirds throughout the year.

In addition to flowers, hummingbirds also love deciduous trees and shrubs close to nectar sources. These plants give hummingbirds cover and a place to nest.

Put Up Feeders

While hummingbirds love nectar rich tubular flowers, they also love hummingbird feeders. You can buy these feeders at your local hardware or garden store. It is best to fill your feeder with your own mix of one part sugar and four parts water. Be sure not to include any artificial dye or sweeteners. Make sure to hang it in a shady place to avoid fermentation and change the feed regularily.

Include a Water Source

Hummingbirds love to bathe in water and love water drip sources or a misting device. Hummingbirds will flock to your garden to bathe!

Astilbe Chinensis “Veronica Klose” (Chinese Astilbe)

Astilbe Chinensis “Veronica Klose”, or the Chinese Astilbe, is a perennial frequently used in garden beds. Growing up to 18 inches tall, the Chinese Astilbe is characterized best by its clump of deep rosy flowers over a mound of green leaves. The Chinese Astilbe is a marvelous choice for a garden, as it is deer resistant and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. In addition, the plant is excellent for cuttings, making it great for further propogation.

Astilbes are a great choice for a shadier garden, and the Chinese Astilbe is no exception. They will perform best if given moist, rich soil and a regular healthy watering. Veronica Klose will also thrive in tubs or a mixed garden.

The Chinese Astilbe be a part of your landscape installation from Ted Collins today. If interested in an installation, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit us at tedcollinst-l.com for an estimate.

Giant Hogweed Alert (June 2019)

As the seasons change, Giant Hogweed is starting to grow all over the Rochester area. While it may seem harmless, the invasive weed can pose as a severe threat to health.

The weed ranges anywhere from 6 to 15 feet in height, characterized best by a thick bright green stalk covered with coarse hairs and purple splotches. Native to the western Caucuses, the Giant Hogweed was first introduced to America in the 1900s as an ornamental plant. Since then, it has spread outside of cultivation all over the country. The Hogweed is especially prevalent in Western New York and the Finger Lakes, found across the Rochester and Buffalo areas.

While the weed may appear inconsequential, it provides a severe health risk to you and your family. Brushing against or breaking the plant releases sap that, combined with sunlight and moisture, can cause a severe burn within 24 to 48 hours. These burns can cause permanent scars and damage to the skin.

If you think you have Hogweed in your yard, it is important to verify the species. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has resources on its website to help you identify if your plant is Hogweed. If your plant is indeed Hogweed, the DEC offers a Hogweed control program free of charge to the landowner.

For more information on the Giant Hogweed, the DEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension have extensive resources on the weed and how to keep safe from its dangers.

Emerald Ash Borer Alert (June 2019)

The Emerald Ash Borer is one of the most common and most devastating invasive species in the Eastern United States. It is extremely prevalent in New York State, especially in the Rochester area. The Borer is a bright metallic green insect, about a half inch long with a flattened back and purple patches underneath its wings. The insect,  is not a good flier, traveling mostly through firewood that is transported from place to place.

The Emerald Ash Borer does its damage by burrowing into ash trees. There are several telltale signs that can indicate that your ash tree is infested. Many times, the first indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation is an increase in woodpecker activity, as the birds attempt to eat the ash borer. A dieback, yellowing, or browning of the tree canopy can indicate infection. Emerald Ash Borers also leave an S-shaped boring pattern in a tree with D-shaped exit and entry holes. Typically, once infested, a tree dies within 2-4 years.

It is extremely important to monitor the health of your trees. If your ash trees are infected and remain untreated, they will inevitably die. If you see any sign that the ash borer is present in your trees, call Ted Collins immediately. We offer a range of treatment services, including a series of Imidacloprid injections and bark sprays, that fight any ash borer infection. 

 If you suspect your tree has been infected with Emerald Ash Borer call us today at (585) 381-9000.

If you want to read more about the Emerald Ash Borer and how you can stop the spread of the bug, the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are great sources of information.

Lonicera x heckrotti (Gold Flame Honeysuckle)

Lonicera x heckrotti, or the Gold Flame Honeysuckle, is a deciduous vine. This semi deciduous vine can

grow up to 15 feet tall and spread to ten feet wide. Throughout the summer, the honeysuckle is covered with golden tubular flowers. The Gold Flame Honeysuckle is a marvelously versatile plant. It can be used as cover for trellises or fencing, but also can be pruned into a dense, shrublike shape. The Gold Flame Honeysuckle performs best in sun and with regular irrigation.

The Gold Flame Honeysuckle can be a part of your landscape installation from Ted Collins today. If interested in an installation, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit us at tedcollinst-l.com for an estimate.