Blog
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The Three Musts of Mulching
Three important tips on how to mulch your landscape. Never apply mulch deeper than 3 inches. If the mulch in your landscape is over three inches you must remove some. Mulch over three inches prevents air, water and nutrients from reaching your trees and shrubs. Never touch mulch to the base of trees and shrubs. …
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Stone Walls Shouldn’t be Imposing
I often see landscapes built like a fortress. A tall and stark stone wall blocks the grounds. The formidable wall tells visitors to stay away and “Don’t tread on me.” Stone walls keep the eye from moving through the landscape. They say look at me and nothing else. They are a blazing neon sign saying “Closed.”…
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends, clients and YouTube viewers. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. By John Holden
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CT Landscaping Tips – December 2013
The end of the 2013 CT landscaping season is here. Below are some tips to prepare your home and landscape for winter. In the Landscape Cut back perennials to prevent the overwintering of insects and disease. Cut most perennials to the ground. Some perennials, such as coral bells, should not. It’s better to post a…
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What are the Beautiful Red Berries by the Road?
As I drove down the road this week I spotted the most beautiful red berries. They caught the morning sun and lit up the bare Fall landscape. The shrub was winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata). It has bright red berries in the Fall and early Winter that are about 3/8″ in diameter. Winterberry holly is a deciduous shrub. You…
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Tips for a Low Stress and Peaceful Life
I wrote the list a while ago. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it and add your own tips in the comments below. Live in the moment. We are on a continuum. It’s not yes or no, up or down, good or bad. Every day varies. Nobody is perfect and that’s ok. Exercise. …
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Lessons Our Pets Teach Us
The kitty on the left is Spice. Spice is the mother of Sugar on right. All Spice wanted was a warm lap. The day we went to the shelter to choose our kitties Spice was shy. When I rubbed her chin she leaned into it and I knew she was the kitty for me. Sugar…
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What Arsenio Hall Taught Me
In the early 90’s The Arsenio Hall Show was on TV. It was a carbon copy of every late show since Johnny Carson except Arsenio sat on an arm chair, not behind a desk, while interviewing his guests. Part of Arsenio’s audience, called the “Dog Pound” was given a funny title every night such as “People who are experiencing déjà…
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A Berm for Curb Appeal
Here are some great landscaping ideas for your front yard featuring a berm planted to give curb appeal to a lovely colonial. A fieldstone wall compliments the colorful plantings. By John Holden