FAQs

Spring is typically ideal for preparing and planting flower beds, as well as initiating hardscaping projects. The majority of large landscaping and hardscaping work occurs during the summer construction season. Fall offers favorable conditions for planting trees and shrubs due to cooler temperatures. Hardscaping can continue into autumn until frost or snow arrives. For instance, we once started a project in late summer, completing hardscaping elements like patios, sitting walls, and fireplaces, along with tree and shrub planting. The following spring, we added perennial and annual plants. To secure your preferred timeline, it's advisable to contact landscaping companies during winter months, ensuring your project is scheduled for the upcoming season.

To prepare for your service, please ensure your lawn is clear of any obstacles, including toys, pet waste, or debris. If possible, mark any areas of concern or specific spots you'd like us to focus on. Additionally, if you have any pets, it's best to keep them indoors during the service for their safety and our team's efficiency.

Landscaping encompasses the overall design, planning, and construction of outdoor spaces, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics around a property. It includes both hardscaping and softscaping elements. Hardscaping refers to the use of non-living materials such as stone, wood, retaining walls, decks, and firepits. Softscaping, often used interchangeably with landscaping, involves planting designs, creating berms, grading, and mulching. Together, these elements create a cohesive and appealing outdoor environment.

Irrigation systems are not necessary for maintaining the health of your lawn or plants, but they can be helpful. Irrigation does much of the hard work that watering entails so that you don’t have to, and it hits the parts of your lawn you might miss. A hose and sprinkler can be a money-saving alternative but require you to set timers and manually move the sprinkler around your yard. With either option, though, it’s easy to waste water. Ultimately, you have to decide if an irrigation system is right for you.

Aeration should take place during high-growth periods. This is typically during the cooler times of the year when there’s plenty of rain—mainly the spring and fall. Aeration puts stress on the turf, which could be detrimental when the turf is already highly stressed due to high heat and periods of drought. At Primm’s Landscaping LLC, we recommend fall aeration with overseeding to loosen the soil and develop new growth at the same time. Aeration is great for any lawn, but especially if it gets a lot of foot traffic, is part of new construction with compact soil, or is part of a thatch management/prevention program.

Annuals grow for one season and then die when the weather gets cold. Perennials emerge every spring after being dormant during the winter. Examples of popular annuals are pansies, snapdragons, petunias, geraniums, salvia, California poppies, violas, and many more. Some perennial examples are phlox, peonies, purple coneflower, daylilies, black-eyed Susan, Virginia bluebells, coral bells, hostas, and more.

There are several simple DIY techniques that can help keep your plants healthy and disease-free. Start by keeping your garden clean: regularly pick up plant debris, remove dying stems or branches, and weed the area, disposing of the debris in the compost. Fertilize just enough to keep your plants thriving—too much fertilizer can promote weak growth that is more vulnerable to disease. It's also important to wait until the soil has warmed up before planting, as planting too early puts unnecessary stress on your plants and increases their susceptibility to soil-borne diseases. Using mulch can help retain moisture in the ground and suppress weed growth, which contributes to overall plant health. Finally, regularly inspect your plants and promptly remove any infected stems or leaves you notice. Catching and removing signs of disease early can help limit its spread and allow your plants to continue growing strong.

This is a tough one. The conditions that are good for plant growth are naturally good for weed growth. There are steps you can take to prevent weed growth early on and remove weeds if they do appear. First of all, use a thick layer of mulch in your flower beds and garden to cover the soil where you don’t want weeds to grow. Then use a weed preventer such as Preen to further discourage weed growth. If weeds do appear, pull the entire weed, including the root, early on to prevent it from coming back. For cracks in concrete and pavers, use a commercial herbicide to kill weeds that appear. For a more organic method, try using vinegar in a spray bottle. Be warned: herbicides, including vinegar, will kill all plants they touch—not only weeds.

The basics of watering are simple. Water immediately after planting, let the water soak into the soil, and then water again. During the first few weeks, it’s best to continue frequent watering—a good soak every other day is ideal. Water plants deeply with a slow stream from the hose placed at the base of each plant. Once the water has created a small pool, move the hose to the next plant. This ensures that the roots grow down into the soil, creating a stronger root system and plant. By watering only lightly, the roots will stay at the top of the soil and, long-term, will require watering more often, along with leaving them susceptible to winter kill. Following the first week, you’ll only need to water two to three times per week, depending on the weather conditions in your area. All newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials should also be watered well just before the ground freezes in the late fall.

Mulch offers several important benefits for flower beds. It helps the soil retain moisture, which is essential for healthy plant growth, especially during dry periods. As it breaks down over time, mulch contributes to overall soil health by adding organic matter. Mulch also helps block sunlight from reaching weed seeds, reducing weed growth and making garden maintenance easier. Depending on the type of mulch used, it can even help repel certain insects. Additionally, mulch helps control soil erosion by protecting the surface from heavy rain and wind, keeping your flower beds looking tidy and well-maintained.