Category: Outdoor

Are your ornamental shrubs safe from winter insects? Even during the colder months, your landscaping can be vulnerable to pests. Before you risk losing your beautiful shrubs, use these simple steps to control winter insects.

Watch Your Watering

Too much or too little water can lead to shrub damage. Too much can cause root rot and wet feet, while too little can lead to dry limbs and dead leaves. When your shrubs are weak from improper Watering, they are more susceptible to pests.

Feed Your Shrubs

Providing the proper nutrients to your plants in the fall can lead to improved health and resilience during the cold months. In addition, feeding your shrubs the right mix of supplements and fertilizers can help keep them more robust and less volatile to pesky pests.

Consider Biological Controls

Natural pest control can include predatory insects and is one way to keep your shrubs healthy and bug-free. Ladybugs are an example of an insect that can help keep other pests off your ornamental shrubs.

Talk to a Pro

One of the best ways to fight pests on your ornamental shrubs during the winter is with guidance from a professional. With knowledge and insight from training and experience, they can apply what they know to your lawn and garden to keep it healthy through the cold months.

Contact the team at W.P. Law, Inc. They’re standing by to answer all of your questions when it comes to winter pests and protecting your ornamental shrubs.

Even in beautiful South Carolina, winter temperatures can impact your lawn and landscaping. Instead of losing grass and plantings to frigid temperatures, look at some simple ways to winterize your yard before the cold weather moves in.

Don’t Stop Watering

As long as the weather and temperatures permit, keep watering your grass, trees, and gardens. You don’t want them to dry out and die before the cold winter weather even arrives.

Keep on Mowing

The same is true for mowing as it is for watering. As long as the weather is warm into the fall months, keep mowing your lawn. Time the last mowing of our warm-season grass so that the final mowing takes place just before the last of the autumn leaves fall.

The final cutting height should equal the safe cutting height for your turf. If your turf is too tall before the last cut, remove only 1/3^rd of the leaf blade weekly until the final cutting height is attained. Short grass will let in more sunlight to the roots to help keep it healthy until spring.

Aerate the Soil

Aeration allows water, fertilizer, and oxygen deep down to the roots of the grass. This is the boost your lawn needs to stay healthy all winter.

Don’t Forget to Rake

There is some misinformation when it comes to raking the leaves on your lawn. Some say it makes excellent mulch to protect your grass, but it can lead to rot. Wet leaves put extra weight and moisture on your yard and could damage the grass if left through the winter. Make sure you rake to prep your lawn for winter.

These tips can help carry your lawn through the frigid temps of winter and help it come out in the spring healthy and green. For more information on lawn care or help with lawn and landscape winterizing, contact W.P. Law, Inc. today.

If you’ve ever wondered about drainage for all that runoff rainwater and what you could do with it, you’ve come to the right place. We have a solution to enhance your landscaping while harnessing the extra water that could otherwise be a problem. Our insider tip? Rain gardens.

What is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a spot in a landscaped yard, either residential or commercial, that is concave or has a downward slope, like a shallow basin. It collects excess rainwater that drains from the surrounding areas, including streets, driveways, roofs, and sidewalks. Because of the way it self-irrigates, it’s a great place for planting flowers and grasses.

Why Do You Need a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is an excellent solution to the problem of excess stormwater runoff. Where that excess rainwater could end up in the storm drain, or worse, carry pollutants into the groundwater, a rain garden can help. Plus, they’re a beautiful addition to your landscaping, and they’re environmentally friendly.

How to Create a Rain Garden

The top priority when planning a rain garden is location. Avoid locating the garden on a slope above your home within 10’ of the foundation, or atop your septic system. You’ll also need to ensure no utility lines are under the area where you want the garden.

For help creating a beautiful, functional, and beneficial rain garden for your home or business landscaping, turn to the experts. Contact W.P. Law, Inc. for the knowledge and experience with drainage and landscaping to bring your rain garden to life.

Have you been tossing around the idea of adding an outdoor kitchen to your home? Before you do, it’s essential to have all the information to make an informed decision. So here are some of the pros and cons to consider before you start tearing apart your patio.

Pros of Outdoor Kitchens

1. Entertainment Space

The best thing about an outdoor kitchen is that it gives you the space to entertain. Whether it’s a family gathering or a party with friends, an outdoor kitchen gives you the extra space you need and the luxury of entertaining outdoors.

• Extension of Your Home

An outdoor kitchen is more than just an extra place to cook. It’s an extension of your home. It takes you outdoors without sacrificing comfort, technology, or convenience.

• Enhances Your Yard

Instead of simply having a patch of grass and a patio, an outdoor kitchen turns your yard into a living space you can enjoy year-round.

Cons of Outdoor Kitchens

1. Takes Up Space

An outdoor kitchen could take up valuable yard space. If your property is small or your priority is lots of grass, it could cut into your space without a well-thought-out design.

• At the Mercy of the Weather

The weather impacts a covered outdoor kitchen much less than one open to the elements. In either case, you should add protective measures to your outdoor kitchen to keep it looking great and functioning properly, no matter what Mother Nature brings.

An outdoor kitchen is a great place to cook, eat, entertain, and hang out with family and friends. All cons aside, it’s a great investment and can add to the value of your home as well as provide some much-needed outdoor space. To get started designing and building your outdoor kitchen, reach out to the experienced team at W.P. Law.

It’s almost Halloween, which means the idea of lawn care can be frightening. Don’t let the idea of prepping for winter scare you. With some spooktacular tips and tricks, your lawn can look frighteningly beautiful throughout the fall.

Start With a Short Cut

Mowing your lawn short can help prep it for fall and winter. An inch is the right length to help it preserve energy and moisture as it begins to hibernate for the cooler weather. Be sure to keep mowing as long as it’s growing, so it doesn’t get smashed under fall leaves.

Keep Raking!

One of the worst things for your lawn this fall is a heavy load of leaves on top. Not only does it crush the grass, but if left on your lawn, it can start to rot and cause fungus and other issues. The leaves also block out the sun and deprive your lawn of essential nutrients. Be sure to remove the fallen leaves regularly and keep the grass clear of debris to keep it healthy in the coming months.

Aeration is King

A fall essential for your lawn is aeration. Removing small plugs of grass and soil helps your lawn get more oxygen and water as well as improving drainage. Aerating in the fall is a great way to get your yard healthy and keep it that way through the fall and winter.

Instead of hiding out and ghosting your lawn this fall, use these basic tips and tricks to keep it healthy starting at Halloween and going through the winter season. For help with any of your lawn care or maintenance needs, be sure to contact the experts at W.P. Law.