Autumn Enchantments

I just can't get over this season - it is one of my favorites. How can you not love the changing, breathtaking scenery?

These are some of the more beautiful trees in my neighborhood. (Unfortunately, the Sycamore in the front yard is not a bastion of fall color. Boo.)

This Maple is on the boulevard closest to our house. The HOA planted it at some point, and it was one of the first trees in the neighborhood to show off its beautiful foliage.

This golden hued tree is in my neighbor's backyard. You can just see it from the windows in our house, so I get to enjoy it despite its location outside my own landscape.

Is there a tree in your neighborhood that you have been enjoying lately? E-mail it to tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Dead Limbs in Your Trees?

If it has been awhile since you have had your trees pruned, have a professional arborist out to look them over before winter.

An arborist can recommend pruning to keep your home safe from falling and/or breaking limbs during winter storms.

When it comes to large tree pruning, it is better to be proactive than to react to an emergency down the line.

Visit Trees Are Good to find a certified arborist in your area. You can also request an estimate from Ryan Lawn & Tree.

Leaves Falling Down

Leaves are starting to fall and gather on our lawns - don't forget to rake them up to protect your grass (allowing leaves to sit in piles on the grass will smother the grass causing portions to die out).

If you are hitting a dead end about how to make the project go faster, try this - rake the leaves onto a tarp and THEN bag or mulch them.

Do any of you have leaf-raking tips? Send them to tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Pumpkin Patch

Halloween is coming up in a few weeks - the weather sure feels about right. Over the weekend I ventured over to a pumpkin patch to pick out my pumpkins for the big day.




One of my pumpkins was warty, like the one pictured above. The variety is called "Knucklehead" according the helpful patch personnel. I think it has character. You do have to be careful not knock the warts off, however.

In honor of pumpkins, I decided to make some pumpkin dip this weekend. I mixed about a cup of canned pumpkin with a block of cream cheese and a half a cup of brown sugar. Then, I added 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, some cinnamon, nutmeg and a little vanilla. My friend Lauren recommended it to use as a dip for apples. I thought it was quite tasty with graham crackers as well. FALL IS HERE!

Shrub Pruning How To Day 3

Finally, prune for height. Prune top growth by cutting the stem back to a leaflet or stem. (This prevents “stubs” which make the plant look funny.) The goal is for the top growth to be pruned to essentially the same height. Step back frequently to make sure the shrub looks the way you want it.

The first shrub you prune may not look perfect, but after two or three pruning cycles, you will get the hang of it. Hand pruning may be more tedious than the hedge pruners we talked about, but the overall result and health of the plant will be much improved by taking a little extra time to do the job right.

Day 1 Day 2

Shrub Pruning How To Day 2

The first step to pruning is to evaluate the shrub. Are you pruning it just because it is getting too big for the space, or do you have other concerns (unhealthy stems, thick, crowded growth at the base)?

The first cuts are to remove any dead branches. Cut these at the point where they are attached to the rest of the plant. Next, prune branches that are too close to the ground (any that are laying on or touching the ground). Again, prune these where they attach to the rest of the shrub, deep in the plant. Also remove any irregular branches.

Take a step back and see how the shrub looks at this point. Remember, a properly pruned shrub is one you can’t tell you’ve pruned.

Day 1

Shrub Pruning How To Day 1

Photo from Mid City Nursery

This week, I thought I would go over some shrub pruning tips. Pruning can be an art – it takes a lot and time and effort to prune a plant in to a chess piece or loveable animal – but for us mere mortals, a few basic steps in the right direction is all we need.

Let’s start with shrub pruning. Shrubs, usually, are pruned more often than large trees and, with a few guidelines; most homeowners will learn the knack without much effort. Bear in mind, when shrubs are pruned well, they look like they haven’t been pruned at all.

You won’t need a lot of different tools to prune shrubs effectively. A pair of hand pruners (I prefer Felco hand pruners) will cut any branch up to 3/4 inches in diameter.