by SUN SUN

Summer Garden Care – Ashburn, VA

summer garden planter ashburn virginia

Gardening isn’t just a spring activity, several tasks can still be done in your garden to keep you busy all summer long. Check out our summer garden care tips to keep your Ashburn garden happy and healthy this summer.

Watering

Although we’ve had plenty of rain in Ashburn this season, it’s always a good idea to keep a look out for water stressed plants.  They’ll be the ones with turned down, curled, and limp leaves.  A lawn is dry when you walk across it and the grass blades don’t pop right back up and you can see your footprints.

It’s best to water trees, shrubs, and small plants at ground level whenever possible.  Soaker hoses are great for slowly watering your plants.  It’s better to water heavily once a week than a little every day.  This exposes roots to some dryness which makes the plants tougher and able to withstand the extremes throughout the year.  If you have an irrigation system, now is the time to turn it on and run it on a regular schedule.  Insect populations explode in the summer, especially after rain, so be sure to eliminate standing water in your yard.  This could mean turning over empty plant pots and saucers, but could also involve better drainage around your home.

Pruning and Fertilizing

Rain affects your summer garden care routine even further by causing the growth of shrubs and trees. Most, but not all, shrubs can benefit from summer pruning to reduce the amount of leaves the plant maintains and to help them air out from the center which discourages fungal problems.  Pruning benefits trees by making the leaf canopy thinner and more open to reduce the risk of storm winds pulling down the tree.  Pruning can involve removal of dead flowers which usually results in another round of flowers.  You can fertilize your annuals, herbs, and vegetables just about every time you water to keep them healthy and fed all summer long.

Sunrise Landscape and Design offers summer garden care services in Ashburn and across Northern Virginia, including garden maintenance and visits and tree and shrub care.

Contact us to schedule your summer garden care and maintenance. After all the work, don’t forget to sit back and enjoy your landscape on one of our cooler summer nights!

by SUN SUN

Backyard Design – Northern VA

Backyard design outdoor living space Northern Virginia

Summer is coming fast to Northern Virginia and living part of your life outdoors is easy and expected. But have you thought about the fact that outdoor living can be just as welcoming in the fall? If you have visions of you and your family and friends gathered around the fire pit roasting marshmallows in October, now is the time to plan your backyard design and make it happen. Creating beautiful, yet functional outdoor living spaces is an outdoor living trend that can add value to your home and endless options to your evenings through all seasons.

Sunrise Landscape and Design has over 30 years of experience in landscape design, build, and maintenance in Northern Virginia. We work with you through the whole process – from inception to implementation. Before you start, here are some things to consider to make your backyard design a reality!

Purpose

Your yard should be a go-to destination spring, summer, and fall, so start by considering how you really use your yard. If you love to entertain, a fire pit may be a better choice than a fireplace because more people can sit around it. If entertaining on a much smaller scale is your go-to, a fireplace provides that cozy feel that encourages hours of lingering. Making space for an outdoor kitchen can be as simple as building in a small grill, or go all out and install countertops, a fully functional sink, a wet bar, and even a pizza oven.

Size

The size of the outdoor structure should be in direct proportion to the size of your yard. Your outdoor patio or deck can be a big investment, so you want to make sure you have the right size parameters in mind before you begin planning your backyard design.

Design

Your hardscape and landscape choices should match the design of your home. Look at your space objectively, what would you do to make your space better when the seasons change? Keeping the style of your home in mind will make it possible to better select materials that will work for the environment and blend seamlessly with your home.

Plants

While you should always let yourself be inspired by a vacation spot you love and by pictures you’ve seen in magazines, it’s important to choose things that work. You don’t want to fight with your plants all fall, attempting to make things grow that will just not; nothing will disillusion you faster to outdoor living. Choosing plants that will thrive and materials that will resist the Northern Virginia elements is key to maximizing your investment.

Lighting

Outdoor lighting not only highlights architectural and landscape features, it can also extend your living space long after the sun has set, providing additional hours of outdoor enjoyment. Read more about landscape lighting options and benefits on out Landscape Lighting page.

The prospect of crisp fall air has never seemed so appealing, right?  Give us a call. Let’s sit down together, talk year-round outdoor living, and help you make your dreams for s’mores by the fireplace a reality. Contact us today to start planning your Northern Virginia backyard design project.