Welcome to one of the latest innovations by Designer Landscape.  In an effort to serve you better we are trying to keep our clients up to date with current landscape issues.  If there are topics you would like us to address in the newsletter just let us know!

Time to start thinking about Spring!

I know, I know it’s still cold out, it may even snow some more, but what better time to start thinking about getting out in the yard and getting ready for Spring.  Here are some steps to getting your yard ready in the spring.

• Start by picking up any leaves remaining in bushes, beds, or other unsightly place .  Also any sticks that may have fallen over the winter.
• Prune back grasses, shrubs, and vines.

Fertilize perennials beds and any place annual flowers will

• be planted.
• Compost yard waste or take  to a local compost site.
• Consider any spring bulbs you would like to add to your landscape. Such as, …
• Check lights in nightscape lighting and clean lenses.
• Finally consider any other changes you would like to make to your landscape this season.

Another aspect of preparing your landscape for spring is taking care of your water feature.  Over the winter some leaves probably found their way into the pond or falls, last year’s plants may yet need to be remove, and a number of other messes could have been created.  In addition to these regular maintenance issues it is important to inspect all part of the feature prior to start up to ensure proper function.  These parts include pipes, pumps, and timers.  For assistance with this contact Jason Dubbert at the office.

As we all know Missouri’s weather is something of a mixed bag.  We can see an inch of ice one week, 60 degree temperatures the next, followed by six inches of snow.  These extreme weather situations can wreak havoc on an irrigation system.  Due to these facts it is  understandable that the city of Columbia requires a yearly backflow test for every irrigation system in the city.  After your backflow is ested and passes then it is time to start the system up.  While start  the system it is imperative  to keep a keen eye on the yard to observe any irregularities that tmay indicate a leak or other damages to the system.