Bring the Outdoors Home

News and guides on residential landscape maintenance best practices.

27 Aug 2019
turf-damage

Fall Turf Care | Identify & Address Common Turf Problems

In a previous post, we explored the most common fall turf care processes.

Core aeration, dethatching and slice-seeding are all great ways to buffer your lawn. While these processes can promote turf health, they aren’t a cure for all problems. Correctly identifying common turf pests & diseases is the critical first step in total lawn care.

A range of factors can create stresses on your lawn, but can you tell one issue from another? Here, we’ll review some problems Pittsburgh homeowners are likely to find in their yards, and how fall turf care programs can help to fight back against summer turf stress.

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30 Jul 2019
Fall Turf Care - Aeration

Fall Turf Care | Four Basic Steps to Help Your Lawn Thrive

Keeping your lawn green and healthy is year-round work, and fall turf care is the way to make the most of it.

Expensive fertilizers and constant watering might be necessary for the hot summer months. But when temperatures drop, the careful application of fall turf care will help your lawn bounce back from the summer heat, survive the coming winter and, most importantly, pop the following spring.

You may know the common terms of fall turf care – core aeration, overseeding and dethatching. But do you know how each helps your lawn? Read on to discover the basics of fall turf care, and see how each can turn your lawn into an award winner.

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31 Jan 2019

Five Reasons to Start Your Green Industry Career Today

We all look for the same things in a new job. But what do you look for in a career? If you’ve never considered landscaping before, or are looking to make moves within the market, make this your time to start a new green industry career.

Employers are hiring and new contracts are in no short supply. The work is there for everyone — but not every company has the workers they need.

Now more than ever, landscaping companies are ready to grow. Here are five ways you can grow your green industry career with them.

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25 Jan 2019
winter-garden-care-hydrangea

Winter Garden Care | 5 Tips to Prepare Your Plants for Winter

The growing season has reached its end and it’s time to prepare the garden for the big freeze. Your shrubs and perennials will find their way into hibernation on their own, but should you help them prepare with winter garden care anyway?

Yes!

Proper winter garden care isn’t just about surviving cold temperatures. You can also ready your garden for spring blooms by clearing things out during the fall and winter. Your yard will look cleaner, and the start of the next growing season will be a breeze.READ MORE

07 Sep 2018
young-tree-care

Why Are My Young Trees Dying?

Few new landscapes are lucky enough to build around big, healthy shade trees. We often start by planting young trees that need more care than established specimens.

Keeping these young trees healthy means starting them off on the right foot. That requires a combination of soil health, proper planting technique, adequate watering, beneficial fertilization and protection from wind, wildlife and other environmental concerns.

It only takes one of the elements to be out of order to damage your young trees. The symptoms often seem similar to the naked eye, but the causes are often there if you dig beneath the surface. All too often, the causes of decline in young trees are easily fixed, but not easily found.READ MORE

31 Jan 2018

Landscaping and Home Value: How Much Is It Worth?

Landscaping and home value go hand-in-hand. A sharp landscape will boost your home’s curb appeal. It will also boost your property value.

But by how much?

There are a few ways to increase the value of your home with landscaping and outdoor elements. Some are worth more than others. Maximizing your home value with landscape elements takes a combination of design, maintenance and practicality.

Is the investment worth it? Big projects always seem daunting, but a healthy, vibrant landscape can be worth much more than the cost to install it.

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26 Jan 2018

Get a Head Start on Your Landscape Spring Cleanup

Pittsburgh’s growing season might still be a few weeks away, but even a slight break in the early spring weather could be enough to help you get a jump on your landscaping plans for the coming season. And it all gets started with the spring cleanup.READ MORE