Viburnum x burkwoodii (Burkwood Viburnum)

Viburnum x burkwoodii, commonly known as Burkwood Viburnum, is a multi-stemmed shrub that ranges from semi to full evergreen. The Burkwood Viburnum grows from 8 to 10 feet tall and has a 6 to 7 foot spread. The Viburnum requires full sunlight to part shade and an average amount of water. Burkwood Viburnum does well in a range of different soils.

credit: statebystategardening.com

Burkwood Viburnum is prized for its activity throughout the year. In the spring, the shrub explodes into a shower of clusters of white flowers, giving way to red berries that ripen throughout the summer. Burkwood Viburnum is also known for its drought resistance and ability to attract wildlife from backyard birds to butterflies. The Burkwood Viburnum can be used for a range of uses in your yard or garden: as a hedge, screen, or even in a bed or border. Try using the Burkwood Viburnum with Magnolias, Spireas, and Weigelas to create the perfect cottage style garden!

To have the Burkwood Viburnum included in your landscape installation today, request an estimate from us today! Give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit tedcollinst-l.com.

How to Protect Your Lawn From Heatwaves

One of the biggest challenges to keeping a lush, healthy lawn is the dreaded summer heat wave. A prolonged heat wave is not only a concern to the health of your family but also your lawn. While it may seem daunting, with the right techniques your lawn will remain lush and green no matter the weather. Here are a few tips to keep your lawn healthy through a heat wave!

Don’t Cut Your Grass Too Short

One of the best ways to combat a heat wave is keeping your grass cut high. This technique benefits your garden in several ways. First, by keeping your grass cut high, your grass will develop stronger roots. This will keep your plants stronger and will help them deal with harsh conditions easier. In addition, keeping your lawn longer will help it retain moisture and keep cooler during hot summer months.

Water With Care

When the weather turns hot, many people further damage their lawns by watering them incorrectly. Many people will water their lawns lightly and frequently throughout the entire day and even during the night. However, it is best to water your lawn in the mornings between 6 AM and 10 AM each day. This will allow your lawn to soak up as much water as possible and prevent water waste. Make sure that your lawn is completely dry before you water

Consult a Professional

If these tips do not work, call one of our professionals for an estimate today at (585) 381-9000 or request a free estimate at tedcollinst-l.com.

Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine' (Raspberry Wine Bee Balm)

Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine', more commonly known as Raspberry Wine Bee Balm, is a perennial herbaceous flower native to North America. The tubular blooms sit on long green stalks that grow around 30 inches tall. The Raspberry Wine Bee Balm enjoys moist and fertile soil, doing best in environments with full exposure to the sun. The flower is a staple of the American garden, revered especially for its ability to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. The Raspberry Wine Bee Balm also is resistant to deer, long blooming, and is great for cuttings. Try the Bee Balm grouped together with other native perrenials!

To have the Raspberry Wine Bee Balm included in your landscape installation, request an estimate today! Gie us a call at (585) 381-900 or request an estimate at tedcollinst-l.com.

Composting: The Secret to a Beautiful Garden

Are plants in your garden having a difficult time, and aren’t thriving like you hope they would? The cause of many problems for plants is in the soil. Depending on the composition of your soil, it may be making it more difficult for your plants to grow well. Not all hope is lost though! There is a way for you to alter the composition of your soil and make it easier for your plants to grow and thrive. Adding compost, or organic material, to your soil can have a dramatic effect on your plant’s health, and better yet, you can do it all yourself! Here are a few tips and tricks that will help both veterans and novices get the best results.

Choosing a Compost Bin

While you can pile your compost, it is much more effective and safe to compost in a bin. There are many shapes, sizes, and variations of bins that you can purchase on the market, all with their strengths and weaknesses. We recommend a closed bin that can rotate on an axis. By rotating your compost, you will ensure that all materials intermix and decompose evenly. However, you don’t need anything fancy to start composting! To see how to make your own DIY compost bin for under $10, click here.

You Can Compost More than You Think

Most composters know that you can compost most food, you can compost a lot more than scraps of food. Composting green matter, such as lawn clippings, leaves, and other plant materials is extremely beneficial. It is best to maintain a 1 to 1 ratio of brown to green matter, alternating layers of the two to ensure best results. Just make sure that none of the plant matter has been sprayed with chemicals!

Maintain the Right Moisture

One of the ways to ensure your compost’s success is by maintaining the right amount of moisture. To make sure your materials decompose at a good rate, you must strike a balance of how moist the compost pile is. If your compost is too dry, it will not be able to support the worms and bacteria that break down material. If it is too wet, some of the most industrious bacteria will not be able to do their jobs. Make sure to water your compost moderately to ensure the best results.

With these tips, you are sure to produce fantastic compost to better your garden! For more information on composting, check out the Cornell Cooperative Extension website.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' (Magnus Purple Coneflower)

The Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', commonly known as the Magnus Purple Coneflower, is a perennial native to the Eastern United States. ‘Magnus’s flowers are renowned for their rosy hue which bloom throughout the entire summer. This native flower grows anywhere from 2.5 to 3 feet tall. The Magnus Purple Coneflower is incredibly hardy, resistant to drought, humidity, heat, deer, and poor soil. Overall, the Magnus Purple Coneflower is a wonderful, hearty native plant that will brighten up any garden! 

If you want the Magnus Purple Coneflower included in your landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate at tedcollinst-l.com

The 3 Best Exotic Plants for Your Garden

Looking for something to help your yard stand out from your neighbors? Exotic plants can give a unique, explosive pop to your garden or landscape installation. While it may not seem like it, many tropical plants are hardy enough to be grown right here in Rochester! Here a few of our favorite tropical plants that will give your garden the pop it needs:

Hardy Hibiscus

The Hardy Hibuscus is a showy perennial found throughout many tropical climates. Hardy Hibiscuses come in a range of different cultivars and colors, most of which are suitable to our climate. The Hardy Hibiscus is surprisingly easy to grow, but do best in well drained, acidic soil. To increase the acidity of your soil, try adding peat moss or potting soil to your garden. In climates with harsh winters like Rochester, it is best to cover the plant in the winter.

Elephant Ear

Colocasia, more commonly known as elephant ear plant, are best known for their huge tropical leaves. Much like the Hardy Hibiscus, there are a range of cultivars of  Elephant Ear, each with varying different shapes and color. Also like Hibiscus, the Elephant Ear is incredibly easy growing. The Elephant Ear has many uses: background plants, edging, or ground covers. No matter what you use it for, is sure to bring a tropical flair to your garden!

Angel's Trumpet

Angel's Trumpet refers to a number of tropical plants native to South America in the genus Brugmansia. These large shrubs are best known for their large, fragrant, downward hanging flowers. The plant is incredibly dangerous if eaten, so make sure your kids and pets stay away! Otherwise, the plant is a wonderful centerpiece shrub that will make your garden smell and look lovely!

If you want any of these plants included in your landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate at tedcollinst-l.com!

Common Lawn Pests

Diseases aren’t the only thing that can wreak havoc on your lawn. New York State is home to a range of bugs, animals, and weeds that can pose a serious threat to your lawn’s health. If your lawn is struggling, it might be because of these:

Insects

There are a range of insects that can harm your lawn. These insects are divided into two categories: above and below ground insects. Above ground insects, such as Sod Webworms and Chinch Bugs tend to attack the exposed part of grass, while below ground insects attack the roots. Grubs and other below ground insects can cause a myriad of other problems, as you will see below.

Animals

Animals can also be a large cause of lawn damage. Animals like moles, crows, and skunks tend to burrow or tear up turf grass. The cause of this damaging behavior is the aforementioned grubs and below ground insects that infest lawns. These animals burrow or pick at your lawn trying to find their next meal. To reduce lawn damage, it is best to implement an effective grub management strategy.

Weeds

Weeds can also pose a serious threat to the health of your lawn, as they can crowd out good grass. Perennial weeds, such as dandelion or ground ivy, maintain a root system from which a new top emerges from every year. Annual weeds, like crabgrass, produce seeds that are stored in the soil and sprout in following years. The best way to avoid weed growth is maintaining overall lawn health by feeding your lawn.

If you need treatment for your lawn or an opinion from one of our professionals, we can help! For an estimate, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today!

Hydrangea macrophylla "Nikko Blue"

Hydrangea macrophylla "Nikko Blue", commonly known as the Nikko blue Hydrangea, is a superb deciduous shrub desired for its clusters of showy blue blooms. Depending on the alkalinity of the soil, however, the Nikko Blue's blooms may appear anywhere from blue to pink. The Nikko Blue Hydrangea does best in semi-shaded environments. The shrub is fantastic for use as an accent, border, or specimen plant.

If you want the Nikko Blue Hydrangea included in your landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate at tedcollinst-l.com

Lawn Disease Alert (July 2019)

With this summer’s uncharacteristic rainfall, lawns across the area have had an especially hard time. One of the biggest problems that lawns are having is an increase in lawn diseases. While a lawn disease may not seem like a big deal, if not treated they can get terribly out of control, decimating your entire lawn. Here are a few lawn diseases that show up in a New York summer to watch out for.

Brown Patch

The Brown Patch disease is caused by the Rhizoctonia solani fungus. The fungus typically does the most damage on bluegrasses, ryegrasses, and tall fescues. The symptoms of the lawn can be different depending on how it is typically cared for, but the disease can be best spotted by some kind of brown lesions on grass. These lesions appear as a large brown patch from a distance away.

Turf Rust

Caused by fungi, Turf Rust is characterized by yellow-shaded lesions that appear on blades of grass. In later stages of the disease, pustules form on the blades which release rust colored spores, which the disease is named after. All types of grass can be affected by turf rust. The fungi usually causes harm to the plant because of environmental stressors.

Dollar Spot

Dollar spot is one of the most destructive turfgrass diseases, affecting a range of grass species. Dollar spot is caused by two different kinds of fungi, forming straw colored spots anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in diameter. The disease typically manifests with high humidity and low soil moisture.

While it is best to take preventative measures to ensure the health of your lawn, if you need treatment for any lawn diseases, we can help! For an estimate, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today!

To read more about lawn diseases, visit the New York State Turfgrass Association or Cornell Extension websites.

Top Plants for Your Indoor Garden

Want to start a garden but don’t have the money or space to plant outside? Houseplants are the perfect alternative! Buying and taking care of houseplants is the perfect way to bring a bit of outside indoors and give your living space a splash of green. While being cheaper and easier to take care of than an outdoor garden, you will also be able to enjoy plants throughout Rochester’s cold winters.

Here are a few of our favorite houseplants to get your indoor garden started!

Aloe

You might know Aloe from curing your sunburns, Aloe is a wonderful addition to any home garden. The succulent grows up to 3 feet high and wide, making it a great mid-sized plant to brighten up your home.

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful, arching cactus usually planted best in a pot. Don’t worry about poking yourself with needles, the Christmas Cactus’s leaves won’t hurt if you touch them. The Cactus is filled with beautiful red blooms around Christmastime, giving your garden a needed pop during the winter. The Cactus is also well known for its ability to propagate by cutting, meaning you can fill your house with Christmas Cacti!

Spider Plant

The Spider Plant is a sprawling green and white leafed plant, most striking in a big pot or in a hanging basket. While it looks great, the Spider Plant is very sensitive to contaminated water, low humidity, dry soil conditions, and over fertilization. If your water is fluoridated, be sure to water your Spider Plant with distilled water or rainwater.