Helpful Tips

Spring

Spring is the best time to install new flowers and hardy perennials. In order to maintain healthy, beautiful flowers it is essential to care for them. An adequate water supply is essential for plant and flower survival. Not only does it allow the plant to cool itself in the heat of summer, but it is also a critical component in the plant?s ability to feed itself. Without a consistent water supply, growth stops.
We provide watering service for newly planted annual flowers, hardy perennials, shrubs and trees, as well as newly installed sod and grass seed.

We also provide this service when drought conditions persist, or water for you while you are on vacation or just too busy working, golfing or swimming at the pool or just relaxing.

April is the ideal time to install bark mulch. You can improve the overall appearance of your property with new mulch or you can freshen up exsiting beds and tree rings. Barnes, Inc. can either deliver the mulch to your residence or place of business or Barnes, Inc. can save you time by installing the mulch with our personel

The Barnes 4-step turf care program uses phosphorus-free fertilizer applications with weed control to create a beautiful, lush, green lawn, while minimizing the damaging effects that over-fertilizing can cause to our area lakes.

The Barnes 4-step program is all that you need for a healthy, green lawn. Call us today, and one of our certified professionals will provide you with a free 12- point lawn analysis.

Now is a great time to start thinking about your summer landscaping needs. If you are looking to have work done in April or May, call now. Our early schedule fills up quickly, so call to make an appointment with one of our landscape architects or designers. This will give you the time you need to get the perfect design for your new and improved landscape, from ponds to brick pavers to plantings to rain gardens.

Call to schedule rejuvenation pruning of your deciduous shrubs before they bud out, as well as barking, stone mulching, spring cleanups, dethatching, and fertilizing for scheduling in early spring.

If you have work you want done on oak and elm trees, call now. There is a moratorium on trimming or removal of these trees from April 15th through October 15th due to potential for spread of oak wilt and other diseases.

Spring and summer are good times to have your trees and shrubs pruned. Pruning is not simply for appearance purposes. Pruning promotes plant health, corrects structural deformities and prevents disease.

The best times to seed your lawn are from March 20th-June 1st or August 15th-September 15th. Remember, lawns that are seeded in the spring should not get any crabgrass preventer as this will kill any newly sprouted grass seedlings.

Rain gardens are an inexpensive way of conserving, reducing and cleaning storm water runoff. Rain gardens are low maintenance landscaped areas, usually planted with native wildflowers species that capture run off from roofs and paved surfaces on your property. The water is partially taken up by the plants and allowed to seep into the soil, where nutrients and chemicals are absorbed before the water slowly seeps into the groundwater. Gardens like this can play an important role in maintaining and even improving the quality of the water in our rivers, streams and especially lakes.

Applying a crabgrass preventer between March 15th and May 20th will keep crabgrass from germinating in your lawn.

Early spring is a great time to get started on your annual and perennial gardening plans. A well-planned garden will provide your landscape with a variety of colors and textures throughout the year.
Our professional landscape designers and architects can help you create and install the garden you have always wanted, taking into consideration soil conditions, amount of direct sunlight, color preferences and amount of time you can commit to maintenance.
For those of you who wouls prefer to enjoy your garden instead of spending your nights and weekends on its upkeep, we can also do the pruning, weeding, bark and stone installation, flower maintenance, watering and fertilizing.

Dethatching reduces the excess buildup of dead and decaying grass and plant material in your lawn. Dethatching should be done every 2 or 3 years. Spring or fall is the best times to dethatch, from early April through the end of May and from mid-August through the end of September. Make sure that there have been 1 or more soaking rains in the last week prior to dethatching, or water heavily 2 or more times prior to dethatching. The most effective way to dethatch is to use a power rake. After power raking, rake or vacuum up all the dead material that has been removed from the turf.

Dethatching is beneficial at any time, but best done in the spring due to the buildup of dead and undecayed organic matter that forms on your turf during the late fall and winter months. This can impede the movement of water and nutrients into the root zone and it can create conditions where insects and disease can form. It is best done in conjunction with your spring clean up so you get the benefit for the entire season.

You may apply a starter fertilizer after the first mowing. DO NOT apply any herbicides until after at least the fourth mowing, and follow all label directions for newly seeded or sodded lawns prior to applying any chemicals to your lawn.

When your new seed and/or sod reaches 3 1/2", it is time for the first mowing. (This also applies to lawns that have been slit-seeded or over-seeded.) Allow the lawn to dry out so the soil is somewhat firm. Mow at a height of at least 3", bagging or carefully removing the clippings. Never remove more than 1/3 of the total grass length with any one mowing. After the fourth mowing it is no longer necessary to bag or rake the clippings as long as a cutting height of at least 3" is maintained.

Spring and Summer is a great time to have your trees and shrubs pruned. Having your trees and shrubs pruned is not simply just for appearance purposes. Pruning your trees and shrubs is important for promoting plant health and prevention of disease for your trees and shrubs.

Spring is an excellent time to tackle broadleaf weeds. Right now weeds are actively growing and have used a lot of their stored food reserves to begin flowering. Weeds such as dandelions, creeping charlie, and clover are very easy to control during active growth stages in the spring, especially during flowering. Weeds sprayed now will quickly disappear from your lawn, sometimes within a few days!

After seeding, water as frequently as necessary to keep the soil moist to a depth of 4". When it rains or is cool, watering may not be necessary, but when it is warm or windy, watering may be necessary several times daily to keep the soil from drying out. The soil should remain moist, but should not be so wet that there is puddling or run off. Water your new seed like this until after the fourth mowing.

Newly sodded areas must remain moist at all times. The soil below the sod should be moist to a depth of at least 2". To check, lift a corner of the sod and be sure the soil below is wet. If not watered enough, the sod will dry out at the edges first, and become brown. When rooted, you will not be able to pull the sod away from the soil base below it. Water your new sod like this until after the fourth mowing.

Summer

Adjust your sprinkler heads routinely so they are not watering the pavement. Water on the pavement simply runs off or evaporates without any benefit to your landscape.

Japanese beetles are considered to be one of the most devastating pests of both turf and ornamentals in the United States. Their spread is governed by temperature and precipitation. Japanese beetles begin their life cycle as grubs in the turf and are very active root feeders from about Memorial until the end of June.

Unlike other grubs, Japanese beetles turn into adults in one year, usually in early to mid July. At that point, they begin feeding on flowers and leaves of most green plants. Plants that are attacked by Japanese beetle adults have a lace like appearance to the leaves and if the damage is severe, they can defoliate an entire plant.

Turf grass that is affected by Japanese beetle grubs can exhibit symptoms of early drought from extensive root feeding. If the turf receives adequate moisture during grub feeding, the turf can usually grow new roots quickly and not show any signs of grubs, however, they may be lurking below.

If you have had problems with Japanese beetles in the past, it is likely you will have them again in 2006. Each year, their populations continue to increase and it is very important to control them as quickly as you can to lessen the damage they do.

Edging your sidewalks, driveways, and/or curbs a minimum of 3 times per season will remove the buildup of dead grass, weeds, and debris that encroaches onto the paved surfaces of your property. Removal of this buildup will give your lawn that crisp, defined, detailed appearance that makes it stand out in your neighborhood.

Mowing your lawn at 2 ?-3" and never removing more than 1/3 of the total grass height, increases rooting and helps shade your soil. This helps keep your lawn greener during dry periods and reduces weed germination.

These insects resemble June beetles but are about half the size and have a shiny green appearance to them. If they have been spotted and if their numbers are great in any particular area, they can do a lot of damage. These adults beetles feed on foliage of trees, shrubs, and other plants. This feeding causes a ?shotgun? appearance to many leaves. The adults continue to feed for about 2 months, then lay eggs in the turf. These eggs hatch and become grubs which can destroy the root systems of your turf.

The recent wet period that we have been experiencing has caused a number of disease problems to occur on trees and shrubs in our area. Many of these diseases are only cosmetic, with minor damage, such as curled leaves and/or brown spots. Other diseases may cause serious problems if not treated. Our certified arborists can evaluate and diagnose your plantings for diseases, as well as insect problems. Call Barnes, Inc. to help in maintaining the healthy growth of the beautiful and expensive investment you have made in your home.

At Barnes, Inc., we recommend mowing your lawn until it stops growing, generally into the month of November. When mowing your lawn for the final time you should cut your lawn at least 1/3 less then your regular mowing height to reduce damage from snow mold, burrowing rodents (meadow mice, moles) and winterkill. Also, make sure to keep your lawn free of leaves, sticks, and debris, which can also cause damage to your lawn if left on the turf all winter. Following these simple tips will help you avoid costly repairs next spring.

Fertilizing and controlling weeds in your lawn are only a small part of ensuring its health. Mowing correctly is also very important. Here are a few tips that will help keep your turf thicker, greener and more likely to ward off potential insect, disease and weed problems:

Mow at 3 inches or higher- Tall grass tends to shade the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and the soil stays moist longer. It also allows the turf to root deeper and prepare it for dry periods that often occur in mid to late summer.

Mow frequently- Mow at least once per week, and NEVER remove more than 1/3 of the total height at any one mowing. Removing more than this, especially during hot, dry weather, can result in stressed turf, often discoloring it.

Mow in different directions: This will allow the turf blades to stand up straighter and gives your lawn a well-manicured look.

Barnes, Inc. provides high-quality shrub pruning as a service for both commercial and residential customers. This includes formal shape pruning (shearing), natural shape pruning (with hand pruners) and rejuvenation or renewal (thinning) pruning for those overgrown, problem shrubs in your yard. Our trained crews use horticultural techniques that promote healthy, vigorous growth that will enhance the beauty and value of your property. Please contact our office for a free on-site consultation.

Barnes, Inc. also offers tree trimming and taking down of trees. We can perform aerial work by climbing and rigging, using the latest in technology, tools, training and safety instruction. No tree is too large or too small to be pruned or removed safely by our Arborists and highly-trained climbing and ground staff.

Proper pruning of trees can promote their long-term, healthy growth, as well as enhancing the beauty and value of any property.

Efficient uses of our water resources become more important all the time. If you have an irrigation system, conserve water by running your irrigation system during the early morning hours when there is generally less wind, preventing over-spray. Watering in the morning allows grass blades to dry completely, which reduces lawn diseases that occur due to condensation and excess moisture.

Fall

Fall is fast approaching and now is a good time to prepare your lawn for the winter months. Barnes, Inc. can provide you with a fall cleanup. A fall cleanup includes blowing leaves and debris out of bushes and beds, raking or vacuuming turf areas and removing the refuse generated from your property or simply tarping the refuse to the curb for municipal pick up. Enjoy all the beautiful fall colors for a change and leaf all your hard work to us.

Lawn aeration is beneficial, and in many cases essential, for the long-term health and vigor of your lawn. Yearly aerations are necessary to promote the movement of water and nutrients into the root system. By having your lawn aerated at least once a year allows oxygen to penetrate the root zone, increasing rooting depth and density while also stimulating soil microorganism activity. Call Barnes today for a free estimate.

Deadheading your roses, geraniums, petunias and other flowers during the growing season on a regular basis increases and extends their flowering. Before winter arrives, take the time to remove dead plant matter and debris from the garden and place it in your compost bin. This includes all annual flowers. Leaving them behind in the garden will invite plant disease that will affect your flowers and perennials health in next year's growing season.

Barnes, Inc. provides a full range of fall yard cleanup services, including perennial stalk cutting, mulch bed and garden cleanup, pick up of sticks, raking or vacuuming of leaves from turf areas, as well as eaves trough cleaning to reduce the likelihood of roof and siding damage and basement flooding due to water and ice backup.

We also have the capability to remove all refuse at the time of the cleanup to eliminate the delay experienced when waiting for municipal pickup. If the leaves sit on lawn this can create damage to your lawn. Damage occurs when the leaves sit on your lawn for an extended period of time waiting for municipal pickup. Barnes, Inc provides timely pickups for our customers and leaves your property clean of excess debris. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and leaf all the hard work to us.

Pruning your oak and elm trees can only be done from October 15th through April 15th. During this time the insects that carry Oak wilt and Dutch elm disease are lying dormant. This prevents the spread of these diseases. Contact our certified arborist, to receive a free estimate for this and any tree removal or pruning work you need to have done.

Whether you have trees and shrubs that are young, old, in-between or a combination of the above, Barnes, Inc. will be happy to provide you with a free, on-site consultation by our certified Arborist to determine if there are any obvious diseases, pests or environmental stresses that may weaken your plantings, making them more susceptible to these causes of premature removal and/or replacement.

We stress proper pruning techniques as the primary way to provide for the long-term, healthy growth of your trees and shrubs. When necessary or advantageous, we will provide you with a program to treat specific detrimental conditions that are present, and fertilization when proper, to promote vigorous, healthy growth of all your landscape plantings.

After harvesting your fruits and flowers, remove old plant matter from the garden, placing it in your compost bin. Leaving it behind in the garden would invite plant disease next growing season.

Winter

When the weather gets you down, Barnes, Inc won't let you down. Our size allows us to provide continuously reliable and responsive snow removal services. No one is left out in the cold with Barnes.

Snow Services offered at Barnes, Inc.:

Residential Driveways and Sidewalks
Commercial Plowing and Sidewalks
Vacation/Emergency Snow Removal Services
Holiday Lighting

Did you know that C-7 and C-9 bulbs use $2.00 of electricity per 100' per month and that mini-lights only use 60 cents of electricity per 100' per month?

Putting up your holiday lighting is best done in the fall before the snow and ice makes climbing up on your roof or into trees much more dangerous. Always make sure that ladders are balanced and secured to prevent falls, and check your extension cords and lights for exposed wires. We would be happy to help you with designing your lighting display. We also provide full service installation of your holiday lights, or we can purchase, install and store your lights year after year. Enjoy the holiday season, stress and injury-free by using Barnes, Inc. to provide all your holiday lighting needs.

Keep warm this winter. Barnes, Inc. is selling firewood this winter. Prices are as follows: Firewood (Aged & Delivered Hardwood) $100.00 per face cord (4?h x 18?w x 8? long) $200.00 per full cord (4? x 4? x 8?) Includes FREE Delivery To Dane County Area!

In winter months keeping your roofline and gutters clear of snow and ice is very important. If ice buildup goes unnoticed it can lead to significant damage to your home. Ice dams can form on your roof when snow that is not removed thaws then refreezes, expanding and in some cases freezing under the shingles. This ice then re-melts when it warms up and can cause severe damage to the ceilings and interior walls of your home. Removing the ice and snow from your gutters and roof edges will allow the snow and ice to run off the roof. Call or email Barnes, Inc. for a free estimate.

Fall is a great time to grow grass-seed because of the cool and moist weather. This would be a good time to overseed barespots in the lawn. By overseeding it will improve the lawn's appearance and make it much harder for weeds to become established.

During the winter months it is important to keep snow and ice clear of areas around your house such as heating vents, overhangs, canopies, gutters and roofs. By doing this you will prevent unnecessary accidents and repairs that may need to be made to your home in the spring months.