Landscape maintenance services for your soil drainage woes

As an experienced landscape maintenance services company, we know that the rainy weather forecast can mean trouble for a lot of homeowners. From nuisances like squelchy, slippery, mossy ground to bigger problems like patchy areas and foundation issues, improper soil drainage and water pooling can be quite problematic.
Water drainage issues and water pooling could be caused by water collection in low lying areas of your lawn, improper direction of water from your rain gutters, the absence of rain gutters, or even water coming in from neighboring yards.
For homeowners that have resided in their homes for several years, this may be a recurring theme that you’ve attempted to solve using low-tech solutions like digging a trench. Long term, however, these trenches need to be re-dug or reinforced and often the water may simply collect in another area of your yard or cause problems for a neighboring home. For new homeowners, this may be the first time you’re seeing pooling in your lawn and this can be quite alarming. Rest assured, we can help. Our lawn maintenance services team uses a planned approach to resolving your lawn drainage issues correctly the first time around.

Getting the problem assessed by your landscape maintenance services company

The first step in resolving any problem is analysis. Since Louisiana primarily has clay soil, which drains slower, preemptively, it can be helpful to improve the soil. The high water tables are also contributors to poor soil drainage.
Our lawn care services specialists have often visited homes in the rain to see the actual problem in action and ascertain the saturation level of the soil. This is key as it gives us a complete view of what the source of the water is, where the problem areas are, and where the water should be redirected to.
This enables us to calculate how many gallons of water are being taken in per minute. Measuring the square footage of your roof, the pitch line of your roof, and the square footage of your yard, help us determine what type of solution(s) we need to put in place for your yard or lawn.

A well planned long term solution from an experienced lawn care company

Once we have all the details of your home and yard, and have identified the problem areas, we create a landscaping solution just for you. Our skilled landscape maintenance services team has implemented numerous solutions for water logging including redirecting the downspouts of your rain gutters, installing catch basins, implementing the correctly sized pipes for proper water drainage, setting up yard drains, setting up French drains, or even improving your landscaping by putting in plants that take in the excess water.
Our lawn care services specialists provide well thought out, long term solutions that completely alleviated your waterlogging and soil drainage woes.
The rains are here and we are already out and about looking at lawns and providing consultations. We’re committed to our customers and providing solutions.

Author Bio:
Tender Care Lawn is a dedicated lawn care company started by Donald Lapoint and family in 2004 in southwest Louisiana. Our goal is to provide affordable, dependable, quality landscape maintenance services. We believe in complete customer satisfaction. Our services include grass cutting, fertilization, weed control, shrub and hedge trimming in the Sulphur, Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Westlake, Carlyss and surrounding areas.

Beauty in Bonsai

Many clients have asked our lawn care company staff about how to make their garden look unique or add an exotic flavor to their existing lawn.  We’ve helped clients design their new lawn or update their existing garden by recommending flowering plants, grasses, or even shrubs that can be trimmed and shaped to add whimsy.  An idea that’s easily overlooked is using bonsai to give layers, depth, colour, and style to your garden space or even an area indoors.

Getting started with bonsai –

Initially, it may seem daunting to take on the responsibility of a bonsai that has different needs than other plants and trees that seem more hardy.  Not so.  Our lawn care company can guide you on selecting bonsai that are forgiving as well as adaptable with some care.  Green Mound juniper, Trident maple, and Chinese elm are good starter options for an outdoor space, whereas for indoors a Ficus or Schefflera are ideal for areas in your home that get ample sunlight.  Outdoor bonsai are natively grown in an outdoor space whereas indoor bonsai are more suited to tropical areas and should be protected from the cold.

Planning your space with a lawn care company –

Whether you decide to add bonsai to your indoor or outdoor space, it’s import to discuss options with a lawn care company.  They can guide you on the sunlight, space, colour, shedding and other other such considerations that must be thought out before you buy your bonsai.
For indoor spaces, keep in mind that bonsai require ample natural light and spaces away from drafts and excess heat.  To avoid creating an arid environment, it’s good to keep your bonsai moist.  This is easy to do with the help of a shallow tray that contains a small amount of water and rocks.
For outdoor varieties, most of these can and should be kept outside throughout the year.  Select varieties that are suited to Louisiana weather.  To help the bonsai survive temperature swings and temperature lows, move your bonsai to a sheltered space in your garden and put a 3” deep layer bark mulch or mound pine needles around the pot or container.  Check on the bonsai periodically to ensure that the mulch is still intact and water weekly or bi-weekly.  Once the warm weather returns, you can clear away the mulch and place your bonsai in a more suited area of your garden.

Selecting your plants –

There are many varieties of bonsai available locally and also online.  Our lawn care company experts can guide you on selecting the right bonsai for you based on your space, colour, and feature requirements.
Whether you’re looking to create a Japanese zen garden, want to add some plants near your patio or a sitting area, or even liven up your reading space indoors, the flowering and non-flowering options are numerous.
It’s also important to consider how you want your plants to look in the future so having a design in mind helps you train your bonsai by pruning, wiring, fertilizing, repotting, and more.
From simple bonsai bamboo (a great option for a well-lit sitting space), to bonsai pomegranate trees, from fragrant bonsai gardenia to the bright yellow blooms of forsythia, there are endless possibilities.

After care –

It’s important to care for your bonsai both indoor and outdoor varieties.  Both have different needs and are subject to different environments than their native home.  Checking that your bonsai get the sunlight they need (but not too much sun) and watering them if the top of the soil is dry encompass their basic care.  Placing bonsai on a low table or stool also protect them from critters and accidental bumps alike.  Pruning and fertilizing should also be planned for the healthy growth of your bonsai.  If you move your outdoor bonsai indoors for a special occasion, don’t forget to take them back outside in a day or two as that is really the best space for them.  You can consult a lawn care company for more tips and information on caring for you bonsai if you need help.

Author Bio:
Tender Care Lawn is a dedicated lawn care company started by Donald Lapoint and family in 2004 in southwest Louisiana. Our goal is to provide affordable, dependable, quality landscape maintenance services. We believe in complete customer satisfaction. Our services include grass cutting, fertilization, weed control, shrub and hedge trimming in the Sulphur, Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Westlake, Carlyss and surrounding areas.

Growing an Herb Garden

As it’s almost time to welcome the new year, Tender Care Lawn Service wishes you a year full of happiness and health. This year we look forward to giving you even better service and more tips for your lawns and gardens.
Since it’s all about new, let’s start with a question landscaping companies often get, ‘How can I grow herbs in my garden?’
Now this may sound a little daunting at first but herbs are easy to grow and can add fragrance, flowers and textures to your landscape and flavor to your food too.
Landscaping companies like them because they’re easy to grow, need less maintenance and gives a beautiful look to your lawn and terrace garden.
Here’re a few basics to understand before you plan on growing herbs:

1. Growing herbs falls into two categories – bed gardens and container gardens.
   • Bed gardens are a well structured planting medium with nutrients required for optimal growth. These are used for herbs that are more resistant in nature. Since they’re planted directly in the soil, they have direct access to water and nutrients. These need less day to day care as they can get nutrients directly from the soil.
   • Container gardens are used for the herbs that need partial sunlight. They’re used for those herbs that are either less resistant or grow aggressively, like mint. Since they don’t have access to nutrients and water retained in the soil, they need daily care.
2. Herbs can be grouped into cool season-annuals, warm-season annuals and perennials in Louisiana. Fall is the most suitable season for perennial herbs and cool-season annual herbs.
   • Perennial herbs are usually not bothered by winter. Most of them thrive well when planted from September through April, using seeds or saplings available at local landscaping companies and nurseries. Some of the perennial herbs that do well in winter are mints, mountain mint, French bay, lemon balm, rosemary, sorrel, catmint, garlic chives, burnet, oregano, monarda, catnip, anise hyssop, pineapple sage and rue.
   • As the name suggests, cool-season annual herbs are resistant to winter freeze, rather they prefer to grow in the cool-to-mild days and cold nights. They should be seeded or transplanted from September through early February. These herbs produce the longest harvest. Herbs to grow in the cool season include parsley, cilantro or coriander, celery, dill, chicory, fennel, borage, arugula and chervil.
   • Though herbs are best grown in autumn, there are a few that love the sun and heat. Basil is the best example of a heat loving herb. There are also a few perennials that are planted in spring, including Mexican tarragon, lemon verbena, lemon grass and society garlic.
3. Most of the herbs require direct sun for four to six hours a day and excellent drainage.  Gardens with raised beds are a good idea for most of the herbs. You may also choose container gardening, that is, using containers with well-drained potting soil placed in an area that has sunlight as per the herb’s requirement.
4. Herbs should be fertilized moderately. You can use the same fertilizers that you use for other plants, but at half the amount to avoid losing the flavor of the herbs. For better guidance, landscaping companies or nurseries are at your disposal.

Some people grow herbs just as ornamental plants for their beauty and appearance, but do remember they’re useful plants and if taken proper care of, they can add both beauty and flavor to your life.
Which are your favorite herbs? Which ones would you like to grow in your garden? For any help or questions email us.

Author Bio:
Tender Care Lawn is a dedicated lawn care company started by Donald Lapoint and family in 2004 in southwest Louisiana. Our goal is to provide affordable, dependable, quality Landscape Maintenance Services. We believe in complete customer satisfaction. Our services include grass cutting, fertilization, weed control, shrub and hedge trimming in the Sulphur, Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Westlake, Carlyss and surrounding areas.

Ornamental Trees For Your Lawn

Landscaping companies know that trees give a grand look to lawns. Flowering trees are an especially beautiful way to add color and vibrance to your garden. They need a little attention from landscaping companies while growing. But once they’re fully grown you can enjoy their blooms, fragrance, and color, not to mention their shade, and the visitors that they bring.

Some popular flowering trees that landscaping companies recommend are:

Jane Magnolia
This is a long lasting tree with traditional Magnolia semi-evergreen foliage that has fragrant and glossy blooms. Jane Magnolias can grow in most soils ranging from acidic, moist, loamy to sandy, well-drained and rich. They grow quickly in the late spring and reach their full height of about 12 to 15 feet. The flowers make a beautiful combination of pink and purplish on the outside with bright white on the inside. They’re perfect to plant near lamp posts, structures and in the decorative beds.

Eastern Redbud
This is one of the most popular ornamental trees, also known as the harbinger of spring. From acidic to alkaline, sandy and well-drained to clay soils, this tree blossoms in many types of soils and is shade tolerant. With its irregular branching patterns, and small flowers ranging from soft pink to deep magenta clusters, the Eastern Redbud blooms from late winter to early spring. It reaches a height of 20 to 30 feet when fully grown. This tree also gives your lawn a beautiful shade of yellow during the fall season. Landscaping companies consider it one of the best trees to have in your lawn for all seasons.

Cherokee Brave Dogwood
As the name suggests, Cherokee Brave Dogwood is indeed one of the bravest of ornamental trees that stand up to ice, snow, and freezing temperatures comfortably. This is one tree that blossoms all year round which makes it the absolute favorite of landscaping companies and house-owners equally. This tree grows to the height of 20 to 30 feet, and fits perfectly in all types of landscapes. Starting with a unique red color that fades into a white center, the flowers of Cherokee Brave Dogwood vary in every season. From bright red blossoms in the spring to deep maroon in the fall, the foliage gives your lawn a new look every season.

Cleveland Pear Tree
If you’re a lover of white flowers, here’s a great tree for you. Perfectly uniform in nature, it grows in a tight, symmetrical shape and hardly ever needs pruning. Its leaves fill all the gaps giving it a smooth flawless surface of long-lasting pure white flowers every spring. The Cleveland Pear Tree grows to a height of 30 to 40 feet and the foliage changes color from deep green to scarlet, from spring to fall. It can resist cold and snow to a great degree with hardly any maintenance required.

Chocolate Mimosa
The unique color combinations that this tree offers makes it one of the best ornamental lawn trees for a tropical look and feel. Chocolate Mimosa is drought resistant and easy to grow and maintain. It thrives in almost all the varieties of good and poor soils. This tree gives a dramatic combination starting with green leaves and pink clustered blossoms in spring to dark burgundy foliage in summer. Not only does it have enchanting colors but it also attracts birds and butterflies, making your garden more lively.

These are just a few trees that are easy to maintain, offer a lot of colors and beauty, and are quick to grow. They not only fulfill the need of trees in your lawn but also make it spectacular without much effort.

Your lawn care company can guide you on selecting the right ornamental trees for your lawn and can also purchase, plant, and maintain these trees for you.