As wonderful as summer is, the season brings weeds to our landscape beds. Hopefully, your landscape beds have had a fresh coat of mulch this season, which will be the best way to help keep weeds at bay, but there most likely will still be some. Here are some ways we deal with weeds at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping.
Hand Pull Weeds
The first way to tackle a weed is to pull it out of the ground and throw it on the compost pile or in the trash. Pulling weeds is the most environmentally friendly way to kill them. Make sure you pull the entire plant including the roots or the weed will just grow back. That can be tough if the weed has a long taproot, but it is important. If you can stay on top of regular weeding weekly or monthly, this can usually do the trick for most of your mulched areas.
Spot Spraying
If you have tough weeds that just won’t die, or you are renovating landscape beds that have major weed problems, you can use herbicides to treat the problem. When you spot spray, you must be very careful to only spray on the target weed. If the spray hits a plant you want to keep, it will cause damage and may kill it. Only spray on calm days because the wind will cause the spray to drift onto nearby plants. Spray the weeds thoroughly so that you can make sure to eliminate the plant.
Reapply Pre-Emergent
After we have removed the problem weeds, we reapply pre-emergent to the mulch in the landscape beds. We first applied pre-emergent when we freshened the mulch for spring. Most pre-emergents work for thirty to ninety days, so it is time to apply again. Weed seeds are spread by the wind, by birds, and by animals, so they can land on top of the mulch. While the mulch keeps most weeds from growing, a few will sprout in the mulch. These weeds are the ones we treat with pre-emergent. Typically, we will treat our clients’ mulch beds with pre-emergent 3 times during the growing season.
Weed-Free Guarantee
If you sign up for our garden care program, we will come weed your landscape beds for you. We will hand pull the weeds we can, and spot-spray the stubborn ones. Once your garden is weed free, we will apply another coat of pre-emergent to take care of the weeds through the summer. If you are bothered by weeds between our visits, we will come back and remove them at no extra charge. The benefits of our garden care program depend on the level you choose but can include spring mulch, spring plant health care, six monthly weed control visits, fall mulch, fall plant health care, winter plant health care, and summer plant health care, and even some annual flowers for our Royal Treatment customers.
Sign-Up Now
If you would like to have a weed-free landscape, then you can Sign-up for our garden care program by calling Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping at (816) 825-2524. Get on our schedule now so you can enjoy a weed-free summer.
Spring starts March 23rd this year, and Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping gets really busy this time of year. What are we doing? Spring maintenance for the landscapes we manage.
Freshen Bed Edges
Defining the edges of the landscape beds is very important. We use a shovel to cut a four-to-six-inch edge along the landscape bed. This makes the landscape bed look crisp and shows off the sexy curves in it. The edge also helps keep the mulch in the landscape beds instead of letting it creep into the lawn.
Mulch
Now is the time to place 1” to 2” of new mulch on all your landscape beds. We do this because this much mulch will break down and compost itself each year, so it needs to be replaced. We use a dark-colored mulch that really sets off the landscape beds. The dark mulch contrasts nicely with the green plants, too.
Slow-Release Fertilizer
As the landscape plants wake up and start to grow, they need lots of nutrients. We apply a slow-release fertilizer to the landscape plants to give them this burst of nutrients. Because it is slow release, this fertilizer application will last all spring and summer.
Pre-Emergent on Top of Mulch
Mulch will usually keep weed seeds from growing in the landscape beds. However, some weed seeds will germinate on the top of the mulch. These are usually windborne seeds or are brought by animals or birds. We apply a pre-emergent on top of the mulch to keep those seeds from germinating. The pre-emergent will not hurt the plants that are already in the beds. It only prevents new seeds from sprouting.
Check Irrigation
Finally, we check the irrigation system and bring it to life after it has been drained all winter. Some of the sprinkler heads may have broken, pipes may leak, and the controller needs to be plugged in and set for the year. We check every valve, every sprinkler head, and emitter, and set the system controller up for the spring season.
We Can Help
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is enrolling people in our Garden Care Program. We will take care of all the maintenance items mentioned above. After all, it takes a lot of time to get everything ready for spring. If you don’t put in the time to put in now, you won’t have a nice landscape later. We can take care of that for you. Call us today at (816) 825-2524 to set up a free estimate for your planting beds garden care and get on our schedule. Our schedule is filling up fast.
It is almost Mother’s Day. Stumped for that perfect gift? Give the gift of gardening to the mother in your life. Here are some suggestions that are sure to please.
Begonias
Flowers
While cut flowers are soon spoiled, flowering plants can give years of satisfaction. Flowering houseplants can brighten any room. Outdoors, warm-season annuals can really make your landscape beds pop for Mother’s Day. Our top five are:
Begonias (Begonia x benaratensis)
Salvia (Salvia officinalis)
Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)
Sunpatiens
Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Outdoor Furniture
Sitting outdoors in nature has been shown to make people feel better. Of course, you need something to sit on. Give the gift of durable outdoor furniture that is comfortable and looks great. Furniture needs to be sturdy and resist the weather or it will not look nice for long. Of course, if you have a roofed outdoor living space, the furniture can be nicer than if you put it out without any protection.
Bird Attractants
Bird watching is a widely popular activity for a reason. They are so fun to watch, and you never know what species will show up. Many people put out bird feeders, birdbaths, and birdhouses to encourage birds to linger in the yard. You can even get birdhouses with a clear wall that sticks to a window so you can watch the parents raise their chicks. Remember that most birds are territorial so you may need more than one feeder to accommodate them all. Hummingbirds are notorious for protecting a feeder, so spread several out in your landscape.
Wildflower Mix
It is no secret that bees and other pollinators are in trouble. Do your part by dedicating an area to wildflowers that bloom from spring through the first frost. There are many places to get wildflower mixes for our area. All you have to do is sprinkle the seeds on a prepared bed and water them in. Mother nature takes care of the rest. These colorful beds look nice while doing good.
Water Feature
Water features can be mesmerizing to watch and make a pleasant burble to listen to. Just try to stay tense while around one. A water feature can be as simple as a large pot with a bubbler on the porch or as complicated as a huge wall of water flowing into a pond. There is something for every budget.
Garden Care Subscription
Give the gift of a beautiful and maintenance-free landscape. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can take care of your landscape all year long with our garden care subscription plan. Lauryn Pitts, our new garden care specialist and her crew will do everything from getting your landscape ready for spring to monitoring the health of all your plants every month. Call today at (816) 825-2524 to get a free estimate for your landscape garden care subscription and to get on our schedule.
At Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping, we strive to give you the best customer experience and craftsmanship possible. We do that from the time you first contact us all the way through the installation process. On the other end, we can maintain your landscape for you or help you learn to do it yourself. Here is what to expect from us.
Consultation Scheduling
You can schedule a consultation at the best time for you instead of having to meet when you are busy or pressed for time. Our system allows you to upload photos of your current landscape and any photos of what you want it to look like. Your written description of what you want means we can begin thinking of how to get there from where your landscape is now. Documenting before and after in our scheduling system allows us to prepare for your consultation and use your time in the best way possible.
Communication System
We don’t take your money and disappear. From the time you sign the contract to the final walk-through, we communicate in emails that explain what is happening at any given stage of the project. Our team will also communicate by email and text to let you know what has been finished and what the next steps will be.
Team Effort
Every one of our employees plays a vital part in your customer service experience. From Andy Wright, our president, and salesman, to the newest member of the Blue Crew, we live our C.R.O.W.N. values:
Communication Priority
If we don’t communicate well, it causes problems. We will make sure we understand what you want. In addition, all communications within our company will give every employee that information. If someone has a question, they are empowered to speak up and ask it. There are no stupid questions.
Respectful Attitude
We do not tolerate rude or disrespectful behavior from our employees or clients. Everyone should be treated as a valued person, whether they are the boss, the client, or a ditch digger.
Ownership Mentality
We encourage our employees to own the installation. If they see a mistake or know how to make an installation run smoother, they are encouraged to speak to their supervisor. Employee innovation helps us grow better.
Willingness to Serve
We lead from the front. If we see a need, every one of our employees is willing to pitch in to help. Our employees are in it for the long haul and genuinely want to serve our customers.
Never-Ending Pursuit of Our Potential
Our employees continue to grow as people and as skilled craftsmen. We take continuing education units (C.E.U.s) every year to maintain our certifications or gain new ones. We know the latest best practices for our craft. If there is a better way to do things, we want to learn it. We also support employees that want to advance in our company.
Tammy, our office manager, fields phone calls, makes sure utilities are flagged for our crew, and makes sure the materials the Blue Crew needs are at the right place on the right day.
Field staff Trained in Customer Service
All of our field staff speak English and are trained in customer service. This training is reinforced in weekly meetings. There is also a logistics meeting every week to make sure we have the materials and people ready to go at each step of the process. Henry, our field supervisor, makes sure everything gets done right and on time. Finally, the members of the Blue Crew meet every morning to go over the day’s tasks. Their job plan reports contain the exact language in your contract, so you get everything you paid for.
When your project is done, we make sure that you know how to care for the new plants. We have watering, fertilization, and pruning care guides., We also have virtually any information you need to keep your landscape looking great. Just ask us.
Garden Care Subscription
Sometimes, trying to maintain a landscape yourself is a burden. Maybe you are too busy or unable to care for it as it should be taken care of. We have a solution for that. When you subscribe to our garden care subscription, we maintain your landscape for you. Lauryn, our garden care specialist, makes sure that your plants get exactly what they need to thrive. Call Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today at (816) 825-2524 to get a free estimate for your landscape garden care subscription and to get on our schedule.
Still Hiring
If you are interested in a career in landscaping, we are hiring. Check our career page for details.
I would like to introduce you to Lauryn Pitts, our new garden care specialist. Starting April 4th, she and her team will be checking on each of your landscapes to get them ready for Spring. In addition, she will monitor the health of your garden plants, keep an eye out for any issues or challenges with your property, and share ideas to make your landscape flourish even more.
Credentials
Lauryn is certified in designing and installing landscapes as well as horticultural practices. She loves educating people about plants. Her favorite flowers are Gerber daisies and sunflowers. She loves designing planters full of flowers and has been known to take a customer to a nursery to help them choose new plants for their landscape.
Life-long Gardener
Her first memory of gardening is when she was about three years old. Her family had just moved into a new house. Her father was ripping out the old landscaping and her mother was planting new things. Lauryn was right between them helping her mother plant new bulbs.
Learned To Garden
Lauryn has always loved being outdoors and playing in the dirt. Her mother and her paternal grandmother taught her how to grow things. When she graduated from high school, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do for a living. She initially went to school to be a hair stylist, but only lasted about a week stuck inside all day.
Education
A career counselor asked Lauryn what she liked to do. At the time, Lauryn was redoing her father’s landscape, so the counselor suggested she enter a degree program in landscape design and horticulture located in Wisconsin. She started there and has never looked back. Coming from her first big job in Charleston, SC, she is excited to be here.
Closer To Family
Lauryn has relocated from Charleston, South Carolina to join our team. She has family in Oklahoma and Wisconsin, and she is excited to be closer to them. She loved visiting her paternal grandmother in Oklahoma and getting to garden with her all summer. She loves her Wisconsin family, too, but not the cold weather up there.
Making A Career of It
Lauryn is planning to make a career at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping. If you would like her to suggest some ways to take your landscape to the next level, schedule a consult. She will be available starting in early May after she finishes her initial rounds to wake up everyone’s gardens for the season.
Still Hiring
If you are interested in a career in landscaping, we are hiring. Check our career page for details.
