Watch Your Garden Grow

TIME TO WEED AND SPREAD THE MULCH FOR A PERFECT GARDEN ALL SEASON LONG

By Kim Ann Zimmermann

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CRITIQUING YOUR GARDENING NEEDS
You’ve probably spent hours this year already, reviewing and re-evaluating your landscape needs checking out fertilizers, bed materials, plantings, even a new trellis or garden stone that may be on your list of necessaries. Home centers provide a general variety of plants, shrubs and garden needs for the “do it yourselfer” while many garden centers provide a more diverse line of plantings and supplies at a slightly higher cost. In both cases, you probably will have an installation dilemma. Home centers only provide the product with a limited warranty while some garden centers do not offer warranties to homeowners. Those warranties may only be for the
purchased value as opposed to exact plant replacement. They realize that the homeowners may lack the knowledge and skill to properly install planting stock. Landscape designers can critique your needs as well as offer a guarantee for all plant installations. Their experience in design and installation provide a professional
approach. What better way to be sure that not only will the install be correct but, also have a 100 percent replacement warranty.

If you have a “green thumb” and don’t mind the physical labor, minor landscape jobs are good weekend projects. First hand, you need to design a drawing for you to work with. Keep in mind that sun exposure, grading, soil type and animal control need also to be considered. Like any field, there is a demand for professional landscape designers.

Going to a garden center is probably a good start. Take time to preview any shrubbery you may consider for installation as well as plantings. Size and availability may also limit your choice. Most landscape installers work directly with many garden, nursery or wholesale centers. Nurseries or wholesale businesses may not be open to homeowners but, do sell product directly to landscape contractors. While the garden center may carry the particular plantings in the size or color desired, a landscape designer will have the experience to offer a design approach that could utilize other plantings in a more diverse and proper manner.

Keep in mind that even the best weekend gardeners probably have not considered all factors they should have in order to create a successful and lasting landscape. Experienced landscape designers will coordinate, design, install and warranty a professional landscape especially for your home and needs and warranty the workmanship.

Our landscape designers have been on staff specializing to homeowners since 1977.

J. R. Landscape & Management Services; 908-665-2184

STOP YOUR PET FROM DIGGING IN YOUR LANDSCAPING AND POOL AREA
What’s worse than having your newly planted flower bed or vegetable garden trampled or dug up by your own best friend? Everyone has experienced this. You are in the yard admiring your beautiful plants, turn around and find your dog or cat laying on top of your new plants that were just put in the ground.

Aside from installing an unsightly border fence, using pet deterrent sprays or avoiding planting all together, electronic pet containment systems can provide an invisible solution for you.

How? Electronic pet containment systems work by burying a wire, a few inches below the surface around the perimeter of your property, landscaping and pool areas, which then connects to a transmitter and sends a radio signal to the collar that your dog or cat wears. The collar sounds an audible warning when your pet gets too close to the boundary areas and learns to avoid the warning sound. With proper training, your pet quickly learns where the boundaries are and will stay safe at home and out of your garden and landscaping!

Since the primary purpose of an electronic pet containment system is to contain your pet, it is important to consider the critical components of these systems. According to Jennifer Hill of The Canine Fence Company, exclusive provider of Invisible Fence® Brand pet systems, “when purchasing a pet containment system, consumers should only consider brands that focus on three equally important parts: customized installation to meet the specific needs of your property, personalized
pet training and advanced technology. Every dog, property and situation is different. The most effective pet containment system is one that can conform to the size and terrain of the property, and the temperament of the pet.”

In addition to the protection of outdoor plants, many homeowners are challenged with keeping pets away from indoor plants too. Invisible Fence® brand systems provide indoor solutions that work with the same collars and protect areas inside the house. Invisible Fence® Brand offers fences for every budget and can be installed within days to start protecting your pets and your plants in no time.

Canine Fence Co., 800-818-DOGS; www.caninefence.com

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