Questions and Answers 1. Can I grow grass under shade trees? Answer: Yes. Remove some of the larger exposed tree roots. Add topsoil and plant POA Trivialis seed. POA Trivialis is a special type of grass seed that grows well under trees. 2. What is the orange stuff in my mulch? Answer: It's a form of Mold. It will not harm shrubs. Remove it carefully with a shovel. Do not break it up or spread into the mulch. 3. How often should I water? Answer: New landscaping regularly for one to two years twice each week. Especially in hot, dry weather, water it three to four times per week. Suggestions for watering: To save water and time, use a Soaker Hose throughout the bed. 4. What can I do about my sloped bank for easy maintenance? Answer: There are several remedies. (a) Ground cover, (b) decorative stone, (c) Zoyzia grass, (d) simple mulching with a weed barrier. 5. How much mulch should I cover my beds with? Answer: To effectively stop weed germination, add 2 to 3 inches in Spring and 3 to 4 inches in Fall. 6. At what time do you trim shrubs? Answer: Every shrub is trimmed differently. (a) Flowering shrubs get trimmed after they bloom, depending on their bloom time. (b) Evergreen shrubs get trimmed after their new growth has hardened off. Do not trim too late in the season. New growth will die from winter weather. The optimum time is after the growing season in this area (Reading, PA), in late August through early October. Trim the larger trees in fall or winter after the leaves have fallen. 7. What kind of shrubs are easy to maintain? Answer: Dwarf evergreen shrubs, plants that grow slow and add interest to your landscaping. Keywords to look for on a plant nametag are "Nana", "Compacta", "Dwarf". All of these terms mean slow growing or have a height of 6 ft or less. 8. My new lawn doesn't look very good. There are alot of bare spots and weeds. How do I make the grass grow better? Answer: New homes typically have bad lawns for many reasons. The ground will be compacted from the heavy equipment that was used to build the new home. In the spring (late March or early April), aerate the lawn with an aerator, then over-seed with new grass. Use Kentucky Bluegrass and a Fescue mix. Water the lawn faithfully in hot weather. Remove weeds and stones throughout the summer season. In fall (September), aerate and seed the whole lawn again. In late fall (October-November), place Lime on the lawn to sweeten the soil. Be careful not to use too much, as it may burn the grass roots. Fertilize and weed after the first new seed in spring germinates. Fertilize again in June but don't fertilize in mid-summer, as weeds grow better in drought conditions. 9. How big should my patio or deck be? Answer: A 10 ft by 10 ft patio or deck area will seat 4 people comfortably. If you anticipate more people, then your patio or deck should be made larger. For families with children, calculate 65 square feet for each person using the area on a regular basis, this equals 260 square feet. 10. How do I make my house look different than my neighbors'? Answer: First, change your front walk from ordinary to a different looking style. Have a different style of landscaping. Well-designed landscaping enhances the house rather than hides it. Many different types of plants are available to meet almost everyone's preferences. The trick is to combine various options that will look good together, be easy to maintain, and will last a long time.