Fall is officially here, but there is still a short amount of time left before that chill in the air becomes permanent. That means you still have some time to prepare your landscaping for the cold grip of the coming months.

If you live in a climate that experiences particularly harsh winters you can use this time to make sure the incoming freeze doesn’t leave you with a brown wasteland in the spring.

As you follow these landscaping tips for the fall, be sure to contact All Summer Landscaping & Lawn Care for any of your Murfreesboro landscaping needs!

Add Mulch

Mulch is a great addition to any garden or landscaping because of the protection it offers your plants. A hard freeze can create dry and harsh conditions for shrubs, flowers, and anything else you might have growing in your yard.

Aside from adding a thick layer of protection from the inevitable elements, mulch also helps the soil retain water for much longer than if it were unprotected. Not all mulch is created the same, however, and you might be tempted to pick up some free mulch you saw listed in the classifieds. However, most of the time free mulch is simply ground up dead trees that probably died from disease or bug infestation. This contaminated mulch can end up hurting your landscaping more than helping, so do yourself a favor and opt for higher quality mulch.

Just as you would in the spring, consider adding a 2-inch thick layer of mulch to your landscaping in the fall!

Out With the Old

Before the long and cold winter, the fall is the time to prepare your healthy plants for a dormant period. You want to take this opportunity to get all of your plants tidied up for the incoming winter, not promote growth. That’s why pruning is ill-advised in the fall; it will support growth in your plants when you want them to stay put.

Removing dead or dying parts of the plants or shrubs in your garden will leave them nice and neat during their approaching hibernation. When arranging your landscaping in the fall, make sure you do the following:

• Remove any dead annuals
• Remove dried out ornamental grasses and perennials
• Cut down dead / dying branches
• Remove dead blossoms
• Do not remove stalks that appear dead, they could still produce blooms in the spring

Protect Your Plants

When it comes to extremely harsh conditions, there is no better way to keep your delicate plants safe than employing the use of burlap. Draping sections of burlap over small shrubs and trees will provide protection from the punishing cold wind and precipitation.

If you plan on wrapping young trees, be sure to add some support, such as some wooden stakes, as burlap can become very heavy when soaking wet and potentially damage a weak tree. In some instances, a small bucket or empty planting pot can be turned over to protect small plants.

Murfreesboro Landscaping

If you need any help getting your landscaping ready for the fall, don’t hesitate to call the Murfreesboro landscaping experts at All Summer Landscaping & Lawn Care!

If you love having a little bit of everything in your backyard, then adding a fountain should be your next project. They are relatively easy to install and provide benefits beyond something nice to look at from time to time. With seemingly endless design options, you have the ability to find a fountain that can really tie your entire backyard together!

At All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care, we see plenty of folks incorporate gorgeous fountains into their existing landscaping and achieve amazing results.

Relax

Fountains produce that relaxing sound that machines have tried to capture for years. Unfortunately for them, there is nothing like the real thing!

The calming sound of a babbling brook has been associated with relaxation for decades, and for good reason. A fountain provides the perfect soundscape for meditation or just laying in the yard and reading a book. The dynamic of your backyard will change entirely with the addition of a fountain.

Wildlife

Having a water feature of any kind in your yard will attract a variety of gorgeous birds by providing them a place to bathe and cool off. Fountains are actually more convenient than a birdbath because the water is not stagnant. With a birdbath, the water will need to be changed frequently to prevent bacterial growth and unsightly fungus accumulation. With a fountain, new water is constantly being pumped in, meaning that bacteria and fungus will never have the chance to overtake the space.

Having birds in your yard more frequently can benefit the wildlife that grows there, as some birds play a critical role in pollination. You could very well see your plants produce more flowers, adding to the beauty of your landscaping!

Value

There are many upgrades you can make to your home that will increase its value, and adding a fountain is one of them. Aside from showing that you care about the look of your home, a fountain will add a touch of class to your outdoor space. Different styles of fountains can add to the décor of your home and backyard, so use your imagination and find the right fountain for your home.

Cobblestone paths around a fountain can take your backyard to the colonial times, while a copper fountain can add a splash of European style to your home.

Landscaping Experts Middle Tennessee

All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care is a respected and experienced provider of landscaping and lawn care services in the Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee. Contact us today to learn how we can take care of all of your landscaping and lawn care needs.

Soil is one of the most important facets of any garden or landscaping regardless of climate or time of the year. Using the right type of soil is absolutely crucial to the success of any type of landscaping endeavor, and knowing the difference between types of soil is paramount.

Make sure all your hard work out in the toiling heat pays off and use the right type of soil for your project.

Topsoil

Topsoil is essentially the layer of soil that covers the outermost surface of the earth. It can range anywhere from five inches to a foot deep, depending on where you are located. Topsoil textures vary as well, but they are generally a combination of sand, silt and clay.

If you are gardening, you will want to avoid thicker topsoils that retain water very well – it’s true that all plants need water, but thicker topsoils will not allow for much air to reach the roots of the plant.

Topsoils with a loamy texture are great for gardening because they are easy to till and promote airflow.

You will typically see topsoil sold in larger quantities than gardening soil, and it is also more of an “all-purpose” soil as well.

Gardening Soil

Whereas topsoil is better suited for a wide range of projects, gardening soil usually fits more of a niche need, sometimes even plant-specific needs.

Gardening soil is a combination of a mixture of soils and textures that is designed to target a specific type of gardening project.

There are different mixes of gardening soil for herb gardens, vegetable gardens, flower gardens and more. This means that you need to do your research before purchasing large bags of gardening soil. As your local landscaping professional about the source of the soil to ensure it is the right mix for your particular project.

Which One Is Right For Me?

The right soil for your garden or landscaping needs completely depends on the specific project you are taking on.

Start by testing your existing soil to determine which nutrients your garden already has in abundance and which nutrients could use supplementing. This is very valuable information you can then use to shop around for a topsoil or gardening soil that will perfectly balance out your existing soil.

Gardening soils, especially larger quantities, can be very expensive depending on how specialized a variety you need. Topsoil is considered better “bulk” option and is probably better suited for larger scale projects.

Best of Both Worlds

You would be hard pressed to find a landscaping expert that would recommend that you completely replace all the existing soil in your yard or garden. Consider topsoil and garden soil worthwhile additions to your gardening and landscaping efforts rather than replacements. Make sure you thoroughly till your existing soil before and after you add in the new soil – you want the old and new soil to assimilate as quickly as possible.

Landscaping Specialists Murfreesboro TN

All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care is here to serve any and all of your landscaping needs. Contact us today to see how we can help you get the most out of your lawn!

While an expertly manicured lawn certainly does look nice, did you know that professional landscaping provides more than just a pretty sight?

Professional landscaping services, like those provided by All Summer Landscaping & Lawn Care, can help increase the value of your home, help the environment, and help create cleaner air.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Curb appeal goes a long way when it comes to the resell value of a home. If your front yard is dilapidated and neglected, odds are it won’t look very attractive to prospective buyers.

A yard that has been tended to by landscaping professionals, on the other hand, will not only increase the curb appeal of the home, but it will also show potential buyers that you took time to care for the home. Your home will spend much less time on the market than a house that doesn’t indicate that the previous owners seriously put time and effort into keeping it up.

Environmental Impact

There are many environmental benefits to having your yard cared for by lawn care professionals.

First of all, strategically placed tall bushes and trees can provide natural shade, keeping your home cool in the summer. This also means your air conditioning system will not have to work as hard to cool your home, leading to lower energy bills.

On top of potential energy savings, proper landscaping will limit the amount of stormwater runoff, helping control high waters in flood-prone areas. Proper storm water runoff designs are best left to the professionals, so contact your local lawn care experts if high water levels affect you during storms.

Soil preservation is another benefit of professional landscaping. Your lawn will hold water more effectively and not lose as much to evaporation, meaning that you will need to use as much water to care for your lawn.

Health Benefits

Plants soak up carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis, meaning they practically act as air filters for your yard. More plants in your yard means more of that fresh air that we all love getting from being outdoors. Some plants are better suited for certain regions, so be sure to consult with a landscaping expert to learn which plants are best for your home.

Nice landscaping also promotes a healthier lifestyle by providing encouraging more outdoor activities – nobody wants to play in a yard with tall grass and weeds everywhere!

Beautiful landscaping also provides a relaxing place to unwind and shake off the stress of a long day of work.

Landscaping Professional Murfreesboro TN

Every home could benefit from landscaping services. When you are ready to add value and beauty to your home, contact the landscaping specialists at All Summer Landscaping & Lawn Care in Murfreesboro today!

You’ve done all the work to make sure your home looks exactly as you always dreamed, but now you need a beautiful, lush yard to go with it.

That’s where a professional landscaper comes in!

Landscaping design has the power to transform any home into an extraordinary place that will have the whole neighborhood talking. Take advantage of the services of a professional landscaper to maximize the potential of your home’s curb appeal.

There is much to consider when picking professional landscaper, and knowing what to look for can mean the difference between a decent looking yard and a gorgeous work of art!

Here’s how to choose the right professional landscaper:

Establish Your Needs

The first thing you should do is to determine which landscaping services you will require. Landscaping is more than just making your yard look nice – it also involves irrigation, outdoor recreation and even the environment.

You need to consider what you would like to see differently in your yard, whether it is a flowerbed or a gazebo. Do some research and see what a professional landscaper can offer in order to get inspiration for your own lawn.

Did you know that some landscaping designs can even attract more wildlife to your yard? Let your imagination run wild and see what you can dream up for your home’s landscaping.

Determine Your Budget and Timeline

The landscaper you end up choosing will be very grateful that you already know which services you will need, but you can speed the process up even more by having an established timeline and budget in place before meeting with them.

Deciding on a budget means that you are determining a dollar figure that can’t be exceeded for your specific project. Working within a budget can be difficult, but working with an experienced and trusted landscaping professional will ensure your project is handled with your budget in mind.

Providing a timeline is also helpful in that it helps the landscaper determine when they can start. They can find the best time that matches up with your schedule and find an ideal time to get started.

What to Look For In a Landscaper

When it is time to start looking for the right professional landscaper to work on your lawn, you need to start by doing some research. Start by asking friends and neighbors if they have employed a landscaper and how they felt it went. When you begin looking up potential landscapers, there are three aspects of a business you need to keep in mind:

• Reputation – What do people say about them? Check out online reviews and be wary of negative word of mouth.
• Experience – How long have they been in business? If you were familiar with their logo before you knew they were landscaping company, odds are they’ve got a great presence in your area.
• Service – What will it be like to work with them? Keep mental notes of their personality and think about how comfortable you would feel maintaining communication with them during a project.

Middle Tennessee Landscaping

All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care in Murfreesboro provides unbeatable landscaping services to the entire Middle Tennessee area. Contact us today to talk about your landscaping project!

It doesn’t take a professional landscaper to know that your yard needs water. If you live in a climate that doesn’t experience frequent rain storms, adequately watering your yard can be the difference between a lush, green landscape and a brown patch of dry, dead grass.

Sprinklers are the most popular and effective way to water your yard, and there are seemingly unlimited sprinkler options on the market. While hooking up a yard sprinkler isn’t the most difficult or grueling aspect of yard maintenance, it does require a small amount of physical labor, as well as time.

Automatic sprinkler systems take this tried-and-true method to the next level by virtually eliminating the human element altogether. Sprinkler systems can be set to run at certain times of the day for as long or short as you want it to, turning watering your lawn into a worry and hassle-free experience!

Automated Lawn Care

Sprinkler systems are all automated, meaning you set the system to run when and how you want, then sit back and let it perform its duty. You don’t even need to be home for it to operate; no more sacrificing lawn care during vacations!

You can ensure your yard is healthy and sufficiently watered without even thinking about. Automatic systems water your yard to your exact specifications every single time.

Watering by hand is just not as efficient as a sprinkler system. A professionally installed automatic sprinkler system is the best investment you can make for a consistently healthy lawn.

Save Water

There are many types of sprinkler systems, and they all can be tailored to your specific yard. Climate, terrain type and type of landscaping also affect the type of watering system that best fits your needs.

The beauty of being able to customize the system for you situation is that it allows your system to operate efficiently with just the right amount of water. Over-watering plants and grass can be harmful and wasting water can cause your water bill to increase. Both of these can be avoided with an automatic sprinkler system that provides your yard with the right amount of water every time without wasting water.

Overall Landscaping Health

A healthy yard can increase the look and curb appeal of your home. Having an automatic sprinkler system installed can increase the resell value of your home. By providing long-lasting sustainable lawn care, a watering system not only shows that you care about the health of your landscaping, but you are also midful of the environment.

The ability to customize your system allows you to change the settings for specific areas, such as a vegetable garden that requires a different amount of water than the rest of your yard. Get creative and explore all the options you now have because of an automatic sprinkler system!

Landscaping Experts Middle Tennessee

Is it time for your yard to experience the benefits of an automatic irrigation system? Call All Summer Landscaping & Lawn Care and take the first step toward a healthier yard today!

When it comes to gardening and landscaping, topsoil proves that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. While it may seem like plain old dirt, nothing could be further from the truth.

Topsoil plays an integral role in the garden. It is high in organic material and is much easier to manipulate and till than regular dirt.

Without proper knowledge of topsoil, you can find yourself fighting a losing battle trying to salvage a garden. Remember: when in doubt, always reach out to landscaping professional.

There are a few topsoil myths floating around out there. Luckily, we are here to help you distinguish fact from fiction.

Myth 1 – All topsoil is the same.

While it is true that topsoil is generally made of the same materials (sand, silt and clay), there are endless variations of those components that can affect the soil in different ways.

It is widely accepted that the ideal ratio of those three “ingredients” is:

• 60% sand
• 15% clay
• 25% silt

It is also worth noting that the term “organic material” is an all-encompassing term that covers all types of once-living matter. Different types of organic matter will affect plant growth in unique ways.

Myth 2 – Rich soil doesn’t need fertilizer.

In order to grow, plants draw nutrients out of the soil. Over time, even the most fertile topsoil will find itself depleted of essential nutrients, which then need to be replaced in order to continue promoting plant growth.

Fertilizer is the easiest way to replenish lost nutrients. It is very easy to fertilize your garden, but it also recommended to seek the advice of a landscaping professional in your area to see which type of fertilizer you need for your specific garden.

If you are in the Middle Tennessee area and in need of gardening advice, don’t hesitate to give All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care a call today!

Myth 3 – Regular dirt from my yard will work just fine.

There is a chance that dirt from your yard will work for your garden, but the chances are it will not. Topsoil is easy to use and drains well because of the presence of organic matter. Regular dirt from your yard will most likely not contain nearly the amount of organic material that you would find in topsoil.

Considering how easy it is to purchase and install topsoil, it is in your best interest to eliminate the chance of a useless garden and go with the proven option.

Myth 4 – Decent topsoil doesn’t need to be tilled.

All soil can become compacted over time. Loose soil is the best way to promote plant growth, proper drainage and root activity. When your soil becomes more and more tightly packed, you will need to till the soil in order to loosen it up and prepare it for new plants.

Even the richest soil will find itself compacted over time. Pay attention to the looseness of your garden’s soil and be sure to have it ready for action.

Murfreesboro Landscaping Experts

If you are in the Middle Tennessee area and need help with your landscaping, be sure to contact All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care today!

What if I told you there was one simple step you could take that could benefit your garden in countless ways?

Of course you’d be interested!

Mulching is the best way to transform your garden without breaking the bank. There are countless benefits of mulching, from generally promoting garden health to even limiting the number of pests and weeds, it seems as if every garden could find do with some mulch!

Here are 4 reasons that you should be mulching your garden:

Traps Moisture

Both organic and non-organic mulches will protect the soil from sunlight, effectively hindering evaporation and allowing better water retention. On top of that, organic mulches will act like sponges and absorb water, trapping it for a longer period of time and extending the life of your garden and landscaping. If you live in a very dry and warm climate, this tendency to absorb water can help you save water, as you will not lose as much to evaporation.

Deters Pests

Different types of mulches have the ability to ward off certain pests, due to oils that serve as a natural insect repellent. Generally the more fragrant the mulch, the more effective it will be at deterring common garden pests. By the same hand, some insects are actually attracted to certain fragrances. Consult a professional to make sure your mulch isn’t inviting pests to your garden.

Prevents Erosion

By trapping moisture, mulch will prevent rainwater from washing away your soil. Rain doesn’t fall directly onto the soil, which can cause pesky erosion to an uncovered garden over time. If you live in a climate that gets a lot of heavy rain, the protective layer of mulch can prove to be invaluable at saving the structural integrity of your garden.

Limits Weeds

Weeds seem to grow just about everywhere and are very hard to prevent completely, but a nice layer of mulch will serve you well at controlling the growth of unwanted weeds. Sunlight will not be able to reach the soil where the weeds will be sprouting from, so they will never have the chance to grow! It is very important to ensure your mulch is evenly layered with no gaps since all it takes is a small amount of sun and water for weeds to grow.

Mulching provides so many benefits to your garden, not to mention it looks great! So make sure your garden is protected by some marvelous mulch and be sure to give All Summer Landscaping and Lawn Care a call for any of your lawn care and landscaping needs!

Adding mulch to your garden and other outdoor living areas can provide a wide array of benefits. However, much of the ‘mulch’ world has been riddled with incorrect myths, which cause homeowners to make incorrect decisions regarding their landscaping choices. Fortunately, All Summer Landscaping in Murfreesboro, TN knows the truth about landscaping and mulch!

Quality, Not Quantity

Some homeowners believe adding more mulch will yield greater results. On the contrary, you only need about three inches of mulch to allow oxygen and water to reach the roots of your plants. If you over apply the mulch, the roots will be suffocated and pests are more likely to make their home in your yard. Also, remember not to mix mulch and soil! Adding mulch to your landscape’s soil usually ends up badly. Most mulch types are simply too coarse to make good soil amendments. Decaying mulch will actually pull nitrogen out of the soil, hurting your plants!

Does Mulch = Termites?

While this is an easy mistake and myth to believe, termites are not attracted to mulch. Termites are actually attracted to high-quality wood, and will only feed off of your mulch if they are already present in and around your home. Just to be safe, leave a buffer zone around the foundation of your home so that termites aren’t tempted to enter the home.

Mulching Types: Choose Wisely

When choosing a type of mulch, don’t simply choose the cheapest or the product with the snazziest packaging. Instead, talk to your Murfreesboro landscaper and find out which is best for your yard. Certain types of mulch, such as sand fillers, are known for sucking all of the nutrients and beneficial items out of the ground, and don’t allow your plants to receive any! When you are ready to choose a type of mulch for your Murfreesboro yard, contact All Summer Landscaping today for suggestions and assistance.

Mulching Isn’t For Everyone

While you may be able to add mulch to your home garden and yard, a professional landscaper will have the experience and know-how needed to properly use and distribute mulch. All Summer Landscaping provides landscaping services to the greater Murfreesboro area. Call 615-604-8942 now for more information.