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Ground
Cover
the official newsletter for
those who dig landscaping
Getting comfortable
Early Spring
2009
Dramatic solution
Bug out!
Seasonal wines
Gardening 101
Diggin’ w/Rick
Gardening 401
© 2009 • Ground Cover is printed on recycled paper.
Patching a lawn spot
Maintenance advice
Perfection. We strive for it in many areas of our lives. But
when it comes to lawns and you live in Cincinnati – it can seem
unattainable.
This is the season to tackle those bare spots that are preventing
perfection in your yard. First, spread some soil on the area. Then,
apply quality grass seed and feed. Keep the soil moist until the
grass matures. Then, water it the same as the rest of the yard.
E
Dramatic solution
rrant golf balls, an obscured view and a
dramatic downhill slope were just a couple
of the challenges Lew Ann Lawhorn faced in
her backyard.
She came to Thornton Landscape and its
professional landscape architects for a solution.
“We wanted to
update the pool,
and the foliage and
landscaping
were
really overgrown and
blocked our views,”
Lew Ann says.
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“We used an overhanging deck to overcome the
dramatic slope and extend the backyard’s usable
area,” Rick says. “The twin covered pavilions
serve as end caps to the deck. And now all three
entertainment areas – the patio around the pool,
the deck and the pavilions – provide a view of the
golf course and the sloping hillside below.”
What it took
50 varieties of plants
150 cubic yards of gravel
2200 lineal feet of decking
6800 lineal feet of lumber
6 tons of rock for the waterfall
1900 sq. ft. patterned concrete
A custom, stone grill island
Thornton Landscape’s
Larry Henry and
Rick Doesburg, both
registered landscape architects, designed a
backyard oasis that included a new pool with
a ‘beach’ – an oversized first step suitable
for grandchildren to play on – and a stone
waterfall dropping into it. They created two
pergolas, an outdoor kitchen and a deck over
the slope with a great view of the golf course.
Lew Ann says her
backyard has become
the family’s summer
destination.
“People really like to
come to grandma’s
house. It’s a great
entertaining area – a
little summer kitchen
for cookouts, a great
pool for the grandkids, and the deck and pergolas
are a cool place to get away from the sun to relax
and watch the golfers,” she says.
As for the errant golf balls – Lew Ann has
retractable screens built into the pergola nearest
the green to protect the appreciative loungers.
“The most important thing is to determine why that spot went
bald in the first place,” said Brad Phillips, manager of Thornton
Landscape’s maintenance division. “Until you get to the heart of
the problem, the spot could return.”
Possible culprits:
❑
Area drains too quickly
❑
Too much shade
❑
Disease or insect problem
❑
Grass seed that doesn’t
work in your environment
❑
Low mower blade setting
❑
Lots of foot & animal traffic
“If it’s a drainage or shade issue, consider planting something
else. A desert or shade-loving plant might appreciate the spot,”
Phillips said. “If it’s a traffic problem, a walking path will work.”
Seasonal checklist
❑ C lear away debris & leaves that found their way into
your yard over the winter.
❑ Edge the grass around your flower beds before it
begins to grow in earnest this spring.
❑ He who mulches last, wins. Wait until the soil has
dried and you’ve planted your annuals.
❑ Organize your gardening supplies, and check your
garden hose for leaks.
❑ Prepare to mow: sharpen your mower blades; they
need it every 20-25 uses. Spark plugs should be
cleaned every 100 hours.
Bug out!
Slugs and Snails
There’s a slimy pest that can be
trouble for your tender plants.
Snails and slugs – one with shell
and the other without – typically
clean up dead and decaying
plants, but they also like hostas,
fresh green vegetables and other
leafy plants. Cut leaves and
ragged leaf edges can be a sure
sign.
Snails and slugs can be found in
moist areas. They’re most easily
identified by their “goopy” trail.
They produce this slime to move.
As it dries, it will leave a shiny
line, especially in the morning
and evening.
Beer traps are the most effective
method for trapping and killing
them. And it is as easy as it
sounds. A plastic cup with a little
beer in the bottom can be buried
in the soil. Slugs and snails are
attracted to the beer, and they’ll
fall in and drown. A beer trap can
kill four to five slugs and snails
a night.
3
Diggin’ with Rick
Doing it right
making green easy
Being green is about responsibility. That’s why
Thornton Landscape goes the extra mile to ensure
that when they do use chemicals to protect or
treat, they do so with the environment in mind.
Rick Doesburg holds a Commercial Applicator
License from the Ohio Department of Agriculture
and tracks the use of these materials every day –
the mixture and amount used and the temperature
and wind speed on the day it was applied.
“That means that when we apply an insecticide,
herbicide, fungicide or other treatments, we
have strict rules that we follow to protect the
environment,” says Rick Doesburg. “Saving plants
and landscapes from pests is an important part
of maintaining a beautiful landscape. This kind of
a certification ensures that it’s done responsibly
and with minimal impact on the environment.”
Andy’s shoulders are a little broader
By Rick Doesburg
Seasonal wines
Don Miguel Gascon Malbec: ($13) Hitting the
grill? Argentina built its wine reputation on this
deep-colored red grape. Concentrated flavors
and balance make it a match for grilled meats.
Trivento Torrentes: ($12) This light and zingy
white has citrus flavors. Grown in high altitudes,
this wine is crisp and pairs well with seafood.
Gaffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio: ($15) Young,
fresh and floral, this elegant white is ideal for a
cheese and wine party on the patio. Its peach and
apricot flavors pair well with Mexican dishes.
These wines are recommended by Mark Schneider of Heidelberg
Distributing and are available at local, family-owned wine shops.
‘Burgundy Glow’ Ajuga
ajuga reptans
Best known for its multiple personality, this evergreen ground
cover offers white, rose and dark green multicolored leaves. In
the fall, mature leaves turn deep bronze, and newer leaves pick
up a rose hue. But those aren’t the only colors it offers, in mid
to late spring, it blooms short spikes of blue flowers that stand
upright above its colorful foliage. Also known as bugleweed, it
can take over an area and find its way into the lawn. Keep it
contained and away from more temperamental plants.
Families you should know
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum Dentatum
Creamy white flowers, blue berries and bright red autumn leaves –
the arrowwood viburnum offers a kaleidoscope of colors across the
seasons. Its flowers, and later berries, are also great at attracting
birds and butterflies, and its thick inner branches are a popular
nesting site for some smaller birds. It’s also a good shrub for wet
areas, and some homeowners use it for a windscreen and privacy.
4
➲
If you see Andy Doesburg, give him a handshake – there’s a lot to
congratulate him about.
First, as a boasting grandpa, I’m happy to announce the March 4th
birth of Bradley Andrew Doesburg to proud parents Aimee and Andy.
Now, on to the business side of things, Andy has taken on the position of vice president of Thornton
Landscape, and he oversees our operations and production. Andy joined the family business in 1999
and has served in sales and marketing roles. He’s taking on these additional responsibilities and
ensuring our customers receive the best that Thornton Landscape has to offer.
And, Andy took on the additional responsibility as president of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape
Association in January. This is the state’s leading green industry group, representing a $4.18 billion
industry and 1,700 green professionals from nurseries, landscape companies and garden stores.
Andy is the fifth president of the association from Thornton Landscape; I served in 1984. A commitment
to the growth of the green industry as a whole has always been a part of our company philosophy.
A proper blanket for the beds
Mulch choice – it’s all a matter of taste. And a
little bit of plant sense.
“Your mulch should do three jobs: look nice,
keep moisture in and keep weeds out,” says Rick
Doesburg. “If it’s too far decayed, it is closer in
content to soil and not doing its job. And if it’s not
decayed enough, it actually can starve the plants,
taking nitrogen out of the soil.”
A mulch that is too black – unless it’s dyed
black – is usually also further along in the decay
process and is too close to the content of soil to
be useful.
Orange-colored mulch is typically from a
cypress tree and is great. But Rick warns against
inexpensive cypress mulch because it is made from
cypress wood, not cypress bark. The wood doesn’t
do the job you want from your mulch, he said.
Also beware of mulches right out of the chipper.
They’re not decayed enough and take nutrients
from the soil.
Rick recommends a triple-processed, black sable
hardwood for its smooth, dark brown appearance
and benefits to the plant beds. It is fine enough to
lay smooth, but not too far in the decay process.
5
The first seeds of spring
gardening 101
Get a jump on the neighbors. Starting seeds indoors gets
you beautifully blooming flowers while everyone else is
staring at sprouts.
Step 1: To reduce disease, bake your soil for 20 minutes at
350 degrees. (Turn on the fan; this can be smelly.)
Step 2: Plant in propagation pots with good drainage.
Step 3: Give the plants light. Natural sunlight through a
window or a table beneath a fluorescent lamp works.
M
Getting comfortable
ake your patio or deck the A-list destination
for your family. Placing a little furniture
is the surest way to ensure your outdoor space
becomes a living area you’ll use and enjoy.
To pick the right furniture for your deck, patio
or garden, first decide how you’ll use it. Will you
be entertaining friends or curling up with a good
book? Choose between the comfort of a loveseat
set or a table and chairs. If your space is big
enough, you can establish pockets of gathering
space, with an entertaining area in one place and
a quiet nook in another.
You’ll also need to decide how big you want
the furniture. When you’re outdoors it’s easy
to overestimate your space and buy oversized
furniture. Be sure to measure and give people
room to get in and out of chairs without disturbing
others. Also consider the shapes used in your
landscape design. A round patio is better served
with a round table than a rectangular one.
Once you’ve determined the size and type of
furniture you’d like, consider the different
materials – plastic, wrought iron, wicker,
redwood, bamboo, teak. The more weatherresistant materials tend to be more expensive
materials, so be sure to shop for bargains and
sales to get good value for your money. Consider
patio furniture covers to protect the items from
the elements. Bring cushions and pillows inside or
use a storage box to keep them safe and clean.
Don’t forget to accessorize. Great patios can be
pulled together by bringing the indoors outside
with colorful umbrellas, accent pillows, candles,
vases and decorative containers for flowers.
When the world wearies and society fails to
satisfy, there is always the garden.
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– Minnie Aumonier, 18th Century Poet
Easy seeds for beginners:
Step 4: Water the plants; keep soil moist but not wet. To
develop strong sturdy plants use a small oscillating fan a
couple hours a day to create a breeze (not a hurricane).
❑
Marigold
❑
Sunflower
❑
Zinnia
Step 5: Before transplanting, give the plants an acclimation
period somewhere cooler before planting outside.
❑
Basil
❑
Tomatoes
Step 6: Plant it outside.
❑
Peppers
Hydrangeas worthy of envy
gardening 401
One of the most beloved characteristics of a hydrangea is its variety of colors. Two species planted in
different soil can produce different colors. But how does a gardener make the flowers turn a specific
color? It’s all about the acidity of the soil, and you can amend the acidity to produce a desired effect.
An acidic pH (below 6) creates a bluer flower; an alkaline soil (above 6) is more pink.
Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make flowers bluer or add lime to the soil to make flowers pinker.
The best time to do this is in early spring or late autumn. The application should be done to the roots.
Other hydrangea tips:
❑ Partial shade is ideal for hydrangeas, but sunnier
sites mean more flowers as long as the soil is moist.
❑ If rainfall is below one inch per week, water weekly,
especially in the first year after planting.
❑ One to two inches of mulch over the root zone can
help maintain soil moisture.
❑ Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood, those
formed the previous year. Others bloom on new
wood. Research your variety before doing any
pruning to avoid sacrificing your blooms.
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www.thorntonlandscape.com
513.683.8100
424 E. US Highway 22 and 3
Maineville, OH 45039