Weekend maintenance practical blog

September 19-21, 2014

Zach, Justin and Colin

We spent a heavy amount of time on the tree wells that Jeff had us edge and mulch. We went through and edged all the trees then we started on the mulch trips. Edging some of the trees was a challenge because some were very low and that made it hard to get the edge. Some of the trees on the berm were in very sandy soil which made the edge not stay. Then we started putting mulch over the tree well. This helps to moderate the temperature of the soil, keep weeds down and retain water to keep soil moist. After mulching all the tree wells we took a picture, satisfied of our work.

Weeding and pruning are very important maintenance jobs. They are primarily done for cosmetic purposes; basically a garden with weeds and branches sticking out everywhere does not look good. Curb appeal is very crucial for those walking down the sidewalk or driving on the road because it is how the gardens are viewed from the spectator’s point of view. Pruning is also important because it directs the energy by changing the location of the apical meristem of the plant and therefore can be trained to grow in a specific direction. This can be done to keep things looking tidy.

Garden beds living on the edge. A solid edge on a garden bed is crucial in helping maintain the bed. When you have a good edge on your bed, it makes it harder for weeds, grass or any other unwanted plants to invade your garden. It also acts as a barrier for mulch or water run-off. Not only is a good edge essential for maintaining your garden, it’s also huge for adding the final touches to make it look perfect. A nice straight flowing edge will make your garden look crisp.