One of the earliest bloomers is the Star Magnolia – Magnolia Stellata ‘Royal Star’.This small, slow growing tree will please the eyes during the winter with its smooth gray bark. Soft, fuzzy, bright green buds begin to swell in March, followed by a burst of white flowers in April!
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This fall, why not add something to your garden that will create beauty during the winter and burst into an astonishing display of white and pink petals next spring?
It’s the perfect small specimen tree, in a mixed border or near a patio. Give it some extra punch by underplanting with spring bulbs…wow!
Need help planning a creative, natural environment that will surround your home with the feeling of relaxing in a mountain cottage or at a vacation resort? Now is the best time to get started. Give us a call! 
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
Winter is knocking at the door with its cold temperatures, snow and threatening frost. Your landscape plants can suffer from harsh winds and hungry deer!
Here are some tips for you that can help:
| Wilt Pruf and ClearSpray are anti-dessicants (fight dehydration). Spray on Holly, Boxwood, Azaleas, Rhododendron and other broad-leaved evergreens to protect them from windburn and winterkill, especially on recently installed plants. (Be sure to apply when temperatures are above freezing).
Burlap is another way to protect from winterkill. Put some wooden stakes around the plant and wrap the burlap around the stakes, keeping the burlap screen away from the foliage. This insulates the plant from drying winds. (Be sure to leave the top open.) |
Protect plants from windburn and winterkill.
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Protect plants
from hungry deer.
We love our wild life but we also love our greenery! |
Bobbex & Super Repellent are deer repellents that will help protect plants that are susceptible to browsing by deer. These are best when applied in temperatures above 35 degrees.
Spotrete is a turf fungicide and animal repellent. Not only is it used for certain foliar diseases in turf, it is also an animal repellent. It works not only for deer but mice, voles and rabbits as well. Spray on the trunks to avoid having them girdled by rodents. It’s best to apply Spotrete when temperatures are above 40 degrees.
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| Winterizing Your Pond
Annual plants such as water lettuce and water hyacinth will not make it through the winter season, so pull them out and throw them in the compost heap.
(more about winterizing your pond below)
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Thoughtful winterization can save plants and money. After all, the goal is to wake up this spring to beautiful, natural surroundings–all your favorite plants having weathered the harshest conditions winter may bring, ready to offer you beauty and joy through the spring and summer months!
Need help winterizing your yard, or removing snow this winter? Give us a call!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
More about Winterizing Your Pond:
Water lilies: First, pull them out of the pond. Then, cut down all the foliage including the buds, but don’t throw the buds out. Put them in a dish of water, and if you’re lucky, they might bloom. Once you’ve cut off all the stems, place the water lilies in a tub with just enough water to cover the crown of the plant. Store them in the basement or a cool location and keep the plants moist throughout the winter.
Bog Plants: Bring most of them indoors and treat as houseplants. They need to stay moist in a well-lit room. Papyrus does great indoors. As for iris, you have a couple of options: you can just leave it in the pond to freeze, or you can take the pot out and plant in your garden.
Fish: If your pond doesn’t totally freeze in the winter, you can leave the fish, and they’ll do just fine. Otherwise, use a net to catch them and put them in a tub of water immediately. It’s best if the water is from your pond; that way the water temperature will be the same, and you will avoid shocking the fish. It’s best to store the tub in the basement with water temperature of 55 degrees or lower. Add a small pump for the fish. As you’re draining your pond, pay attention: you may find some fish that you didn’t know were there.
Draining Your Pond: Now that we’ve removed the plants and fish, it’s time to drain the pond. Just take the hose from the pump, put it over the side and let the water drain out. Once the pond is drained and all the fish are out, use a hose to spray off algae and any other debris. Remove the pump and put it in a bucket of water in garage. Every couple of weeks, plug it in and allow the water to circulate; this will keep the gaskets nice and hydrated.
After Draining: Once you get the pond cleaned, you can leave it as is, or fill it back up with water and let it freeze, or you can lay plywood over the top. Either way, you’ll want to clean the pond one more time in the spring so you can enjoy it again when warm weather arrives.
Landscaping and yard work are usually the last thing on your mind as a homeowner in the dead of winter. But this is actually the ideal time to assess the growth of your trees and shrubs for pruning, especially deciduous shrubs, as the branching patterns are more visible in the winter.
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Now is a great time to prune your shrubs and trees, don’t forget about your roses, too. In order to improve the production of both fruit trees and rose bushes, you must prune before they start to bud.
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Prune before your plants
start to bud (Below: Too late!)
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Cut back overgrown shrubs.
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You should also cut back overgrown shrubs and trim non-fruit trees before they start to grow again.
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Tips for Pruning:
- Clean from the inside out, removing crossing branches.
- Thin branches so they will not become too heavy with fruit. Quality is more important than quantity.
- Don’t forget to spray your fruit trees with dormant oil. You should apply dormant spray application after pruning.
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Remove Crossing Branches
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A good pruning this winter will not only protect your plants and increase their productivity–it will help ensure a beautiful spring!
See that your valuable plants are pruned by a professional. Give us a call!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
Dear John
A landscape feature frequently overlooked but heavenly to enjoy is a small oasis tucked away from the house. While many houses feature a patio attached to the back or side, sometimes a little privacy away from a busy household is just what you may need.
Here are a few tips for harmonizing a place to enjoy away from the world with your back yard:
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With a few larger plants as a screen, some beautiful flowers, a little delicate lighting for a nighttime ambiance, you will have a place to relax and refresh.
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Create a place to relax and refresh.
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Thick Bushy Evergreens
For Your Windscreen
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To provide a little solitude, I would suggest some thick, bushy evergreens which will also provide a bit of windscreen. If you have a bit of a warm reprieve during the winter such as ‘Indian Summer’, you’ll appreciate the evergreens even more in the winter as you get out and enjoy your private spot.
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| Add seating according to your preference. Adirondack chairs, a wrought iron and wood park bench, porch swing, rocker or hammock are all weather-resistant choices that will be ready and waiting for your when you come out with your book and iced tea. Don’t forget a small table, upended log or other place to put your glass!
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Add seating according to your preference.
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Just knowing you have your own small oasis retreat can relieve stress and add incredible peace and enjoyment to your life!
Need help planning or creating your very own oasis? Give us a call!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
After a bleak, blustery, and cold winter, there’s nothing like enjoying a warm, sunny spring day in the yard taking in all Mother Nature has to offer, like smelling the scent of apple blossoms and gorgeous cherry blossoms!
Spring is also the ideal time for planning a new landscaping or gardening project! Perhaps a perennial garden.
Perennials will provide explosions of spring color. There is a plethora from which to choose with plants for almost any location you can imagine. Some of the most popular and reliable perennials are Daylilies, Astilbe, Coral Bells and they require a minimum of care.
Here are a few tips for harmonizing a place to enjoy away from the world with your back yard:
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Astilbe is relatively pest-free and long-lived. It is best planted in groups or drifts. Most varieties grow about 2 feet tall.
Coral Bells are at home in full sun or partial shade and make nice edging plants. They also thrive in rock gardens. The peak of bloom is in the spring, but they continue to produce some bloom throughout the summer if the spent blooms are removed. Plants grow to about 12 to 18 inches tall.
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Astilbe is relatively pest-free and long-lived.
Coral Bells peak in the spring…
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Day lilies are rough, tough and beautiful.
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Day lilies are rough, tough and beautiful. Modern varieties are quite different from their country cousins, those hit-you-in-the-eye brilliant orange-flowered plants frequently seen growing rampantly along roadsides.
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| Add to that an early blooming flowering tree (or two) like a Cherry, Apple or Magnolia tree along with some azalea shrubs that will bloom throughout the spring and you will be greatly rewarded.
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Add to that an early blooming flowering tree.
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Imagine how a stunningly colorful landscape could easily make your home the gem of the neighborhood, and a great source of joy for all to behold!
Expert planning makes a great difference. Contact us for a free Spring Color consultation! Please schedule with us soon. Our calendar is rapidly filling as spring approaches.
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
Come spring we all look forward to healthy green grass, and we all know fertilizing is important to achieve a beautiful lawn. But fertilizing is only half of it. Weed control is also essential to eliminate crabgrass and broad leaf weeds such as dandelions.
Here are a few tips for creating an exotic barefoot lawn this season:
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This spring, treat your lawn with a fertilizer with pre-emergent crab grass control to give your grass that initial boost to start the season and prevent crabgrass. It is important to note that you must apply the pre-emergent herbicides before the weeds appear so be sure to do it early.
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Apply herbicides before the weeds appear.
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Second window of opportunity: Mid-summer application.
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If you miss the optimum window of application you will have to wait until later in the season – mid summer – to apply a post emergent herbicide. This will destroy existing weeds.
On a related note, get rid of outdated chemicals. Be sure to follow the instructions on the labels for proper disposal. It’s also a good idea to double-check that the chemicals you are keeping are stored in a recommended and safe environment.
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| By following these simple tips, you will be treated to a spectacular, green “barefoot” lawn this summer!
Need help creating that barefoot lawn? Call Candide Contractors (203) 847-0300. If you mention this email, we will give you a special New Client Discount on your barefoot summer lawn creation/maintenance!
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You will be treated to a spectacular “barefoot” lawn!
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New Client Discount (must mention this email):
- 5% off one month maintenance
- 10% off two or more months maintenance this season
- 10% off new barefoot lawn installation!
- Plus…free 1 hour on-site landscaping consultation!
Give us a call!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
Deer have no remorse!
They will gobble up anything appealing to them; various perennials, shrubs, or trees without as much as a thank you!
By now, it is no longer news that deer love the classic evergreen hedge such as arborvitae, hemlock and yew. So, if you are considering an evergreen hedge, my advice would be to choose deer-resistant plants.
But…..what if you already have the hedge and the deer have already eaten it? What was intended to be a lush green hedge (for screening) is now a row of lopsided lollipops.
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Deer-Damaged “Lollipop” Hedge.
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Think In Layers
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In some instances you may have to cut them down and start over with something else. However, if you have an area at least 12’ wide in front of the hedge you can create a better hedge using what is there as the back bone.
Everything above 6-8 feet is no doubt fine (assuming the plants are healthy), and will continue to grow. So, we are targeting the lower region.
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The trick is to go for depth, think in layers: the existing hedge will serve as the back drop; use large shrubs and small trees such as holly, lilac, and pieris to fill the middle layer; and short, full plants such as mugo pine, small boxwood and barberry in the front.
The result being an array of interesting foliage and textures that will accent the hedge while hiding the barren portions!
Need help creating a deer-proof hedge, or bringing a deer-damaged hedge back to life?
Call Candide Contractors (203) 847-0300. 
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
A handsome house is a wonderful thing. Just as important is an inviting entryway. A common problem shared by many is the undistinguished character of the walkway leading to the front door.
Here are a few tips to help you transform a drab, uninviting and perhaps unsafe entryway into a welcoming approach that will both grace the look of your home and create a positive, inviting impression for your guests.
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Let your entry way be well defined, welcoming and spacious:
Your walkway should be well defined while offering an aspect of welcome. After all it is an extension of your house. It should be wide enough to accommodate two people side by side to avoid a forced single file procession.
You want a wide, solid, safe surface to walk on.
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“well defined, welcoming and spacious”
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Select material that blends with the personality of your home.
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Let your entry way make the subtle statement you intend.
The material you select for your walkway will make a statement. There are many materials from which to choose including brick, flag stone, stamped concrete and decorative pavers set in gravel.
Select a material that blends with the character of the landscape and architecture–the personality of your home. For example, square stones give a more formal, neat look. Irregular shaped stones in a random pattern create a less formal appearance.
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Guideline for combining materials:
You can combine materials; for example a brick pathway with a Belgium block border.
Be careful not to use too many different materials. If you already have a terrace or stone walls, or any other hardscapes on your property, consider using a similar material for your walkway.
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Be careful not to use too
many different materials.
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It is all about what works best to compliment your property!!
Ask for a professional consultation from the masonry artists at Candide Contractor. We’ll come view your current entry way and help you design and install an entry way that will compliment your home with a welcoming approach!
Call Candide Contractors (203) 847-0300.
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
Here are the top 7 tips to manage your lawn, keeping it green and healthy during prolonged heat and drought periods.
1) Mow tall. Taller grass has deeper roots and shades the soil surface. Deeper roots create a larger volume of soil to draw moisture from, requiring less irrigation. Any grass management technique that produces deeper roots will improve lawn performance under dry conditions.
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2) Mow often. Mow frequently enough to avoid scalping; usually once a week is sufficient. Lawns that have been mowed too short will dry out and heat up quickly and develop shallow root systems; consequently declining rapidly in the summer.
3) Vary the direction. Each time you mow your lawn, change directions.
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Mow Often &
Vary the Direction
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Identify Dry Spots &
Aerate the Soil
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4) Identify dry spots. If you incur brown spots on your lawn; its simple, that area for some reason is not getting the same amount of water. Hand water brown spots as soon as you notice them starting. If you have an irrigation system, check it. Run the system to find out why water is missing the brown spot. Mixed sprinkler heads, blocked spray patterns, water system pressure or spacing are the basic culprits. These are easily corrected.
5) Aerate the soil. Compacted soils also can stress your lawn again leading to brown spots. Sometimes simply aerating a stressed area, and giving it a good soaking solves the problem.
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| 6) Condition your lawn to love water. An extremely dry lawn becomes hydrophobic, or water repelling. Add a tablespoon of liquid soap to a gallon of water and drench the dried area. This breaks down the surface tension of the grass, making it hydrophillc, or water loving. Then give it a good soaking.
7) Don’t over water. Remember, watering regularly is crucial, but do not over water. Too much water can drown your lawn and encourage weeds to grow. When temperatures go up or rain falls; assess the condition of the lawn before you water!
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Condition your lawn to love water…but don’t over water!
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Proper care will give you a beautiful lawn that adorns your home, compliments your landscaping and gives you a cool retreat for those summer barbeques and lawn parties.
Have you considered professional lawn maintenance? The investment is very small compared to your mortgage payment, yet a professionally maintained lawn can bring you as much joy as your home during the summer months. In addition, you will find yourself free to travel without having worry about lawn care obligations.
Call Candide for a complimentary lawn evaluation and maintenance bid.
New Client Discount (must mention this email):
- 5% off one month maintenance
- 10% off two or more months maintenance this season
- 10% off new barefoot lawn installation!
- Plus…free 1 hour on-site landscaping consultation!
Give us a call!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
You can almost always find a small nook somewhere around your yard and property–be it a small unkempt area that every year you put on the wish list, or an expansion of your yard area.
This a great time of the year to try something fun! You can make a small back yard a relaxing retreat. If your property extends, simply find a small area tucked away to do the same.
| The soft, gurgling sounds of moving water has a soothing effect. That explains why fountains appeal to the senses. A simple stream of water flowing from a tin watering can or ceramic pot-turned-fountain into a waiting basin while taking up minimal space can maximize the pleasures of a small “secrete” garden.
Or perhaps a small fountain which helps circulates air and adds moisture to a garden.
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Fountains Appeal to the Senses
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Experiment with Small Flowering Plants and Ornamental Grasses
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A small front yard is a great place to experiment with small flowering plants and ornamental grasses. In August you have the added bonus of seeing ornamental grasses and small plants at their mature (or close to) size. Having a full growing season in them can give you a good sense of spatial arrangement in a small area.
Choose flowering species, grasses and ground covers geared toward the amount of light the area receives, whether sunny or shady.
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| Allow room for a small pathway, a small angled or jagged flagstone path, stepping stones or even decorative pea gravel can add texture and order to the garden. If so desired, a small gate or fence can also help define the space adding a cottage garden appearance. |
A Small Angled Flagstone Path Can Add Texture
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Remember; no space is too small for a garden!!
Request professional help in designing your landscaping. A landscape architect offers the following benefits:
- Landscaping that fits: Fits your yard, your home and neighborhood.
- Easier installation: Professional landscaping plans install more easily and quickly.
- Savings: Professional plans minimize cost, while maximizing value.
- Easier maintenance: Professional landscaping plans can be designed for minimal maintenance.
- Sequential Upgrades: Professional landscaping plans can be designed to be upgraded or expanded over time as your budget permits, while retaining the unity of the overall project.
In many ways, professional landscaping designs pay for themselves again and again over time!
Ask Candide and Elizabeth about a professional landscaping design. The Fall season is one of the best times to make landscaping changes, in order to take advantage of the winter rains.
Call Candide and Elizabeth today to see how a professional landscaping design or redesign might add enjoyment and value to your home, while saving you money!
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To Natural Surroundings That Bring Peace and Tranquility!
Candide and Elizabeth
