Landscaping in Bethesda MD: Frost Cracks in Trees

During and after a long harsh winter – extreme temps, ice, and snow – you may see what’s known as “frost cracks” in the trees in the landscaping at your Bethesda MD home.

Frost cracks happen when water in the cells of the tree trunk freezes and moves out of the cells, causing the wood to shrink. Tension forms between the frozen and unfrozen layers of wood, which causes the wood to separate, causing a crack. The crack can form suddenly – you may even hear a loud cracking sound. When temperatures warm, the wood absorbs moisture and the crack closes. Frost cracks can reopen and enlarge in subsequent winters and may extend to the center of the tree. Damage is most often seen on the south and west sides of the tree, where the sun is strongest.

The following species are more likely to develop frost cracks: apple, beech, crabapple, elm, goldenrain tree, horse chestnut, linden, London plane, maple, oak, walnut, and willow.

Frost cracks may be somewhat avoided with proper pruning of your landscaping in Bethesda MD. Some tree trunks can be wrapped for the winter, which will need to be removed when the weather warms up. A tree can also be protected by planting evergreen shrubs around the trunk. Shrubs can insulate the trunk from extremes in temperatures and shield it from direct afternoon sunlight.

Frost cracks can’t be fixed; however, they should be kept clean to prevent infection, and be left open. A healthy tree will try to heal itself, and may form a callus along the crack.

Once a crack occurs, another crack will probably form in the same area of the tree. You can help prevent a reoccurrence by wrapping the trunk of the tree in tree wrap for the winter. (You’ll want to remove the wrap as soon as temperatures warm in late winter or spring. Leaving the wrap on too long provides a secure hiding place for insects and disease organisms.)

For more information about frost cracks and your landscaping in Bethesda MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. East Coast Landscape Design is head and shoulders above other landscaping companies in Bethesda MD. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed beautiful landscape and hardscape projects around Bethesda MD and surrounding communities.

Landscaping in Silver Spring MD: Evergreen Care in Winter

In winter weather, evergreens need special landscaping care in Silver Spring MD. You may think that summer time is the only time that you really need to think about watering. But winter can also cause desiccation of your evergreens.

Even though the temps are cold, evergreen plants continue to lose water by transpiration. They lose the most water during periods of strong winds and on bright, sunny days. Just like people can still get sunburned in the winter, the brighter the sun, the higher the rate of water loss in your evergreen leaves. When water leaves the plant foliage faster than the roots can replace the moisture, desiccation occurs. Roots have rough time absorbing water when the soil is cold or frozen.

Here’s how you can protect your evergreens during winter:

  • Add a 3-inch layer of mulch around evergreens to reduce water loss and help maintain uniform soil moisture and temperatures around roots.
  • Water plants several hours before a freeze can provide some protection. Well-watered soil will absorb more heat than dry soil, and will re-radiate the heat during the night.
  • Cover plants with burlap, sheets, plastic, or blankets. Don’t let the covering tough the plants, and be sure the covering goes all the way to the ground.
  • Place a light bulb placed under the cover for additional heat; however, remove the covering during the day, or too much heat will build up, and new foliage could emerge. (To prevent fire, clear all dry brush and needles away first.)

For more information on landscaping in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Silver Spring, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor, and has the knowledge and experience to help your landscaping in Silver Spring MD survive and thrive.

Landscaping in Rockville MD: How to Manage and Use Your Fall Leaves

It is hard to remember that leaves serve an important purpose – especially when you are raking them on a weekend. Leaves are a valuable natural resource because they contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season – and you don’t want that good stuff to go to waste! Here are some ways in which leaves can be managed and used in the landscaping of your Rockville MD home.

Mowing: if you’ve only got a light covering of leaves and you have a mulching mower, you can leave the shredded leaves on the grass.

Mulching: is simple and effective, using your lawnmower with a bagging attachment to collect and shred the leaves. Take the shredded leaf mulch, and distribute it throughout your landscape. You’ll want to place a 3 to 6 inch layer of shredded leaves around the base of trees and shrubs. With annual and perennial flower beds, a 2 to 3 inch mulch of shredded leaves is best.

Improving soil: using a till, work a 6-8 inch layer of leaves directly into the garden and flower beds. This will improve the aeration and drainage of a clay soil, and will help light sandy soil with retaining water and nutrients.

Composting: with or without a bin, you can create rich composting for your landscape. You’ll need to layer 6-8 inches of leaves, then add an inch layer of soil, and then sprinkle some fertilizer. Repeat these steps and keep the compost moist.

For more information on landscaping in Rockville MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Rockville, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed, installed, and cared for landscape projects and irrigation systems.

Landscaping in Silver Spring MD: Common Lawn Diseases and Pests that Cause Brown Spots

Those brown spots in the landscaping at your Silver Spring MD home may be caused by common lawn diseases and pests. These include:

  • Thatch, which is a buildup of decaying grass blades chokes out healthy grass, and prevents water and fertilizer from reaching the ground. More than ½ inch of thatched grass is enough to cause problems.
  • Grubs cause problems in mid to late summer; you can tell you have grubs when your sod easily pulls back from the ground like a carpet. You need to treat for grubs when you see more than ten per square foot of lawn.
  • Chinch bugs love warm-season lawns, and are active especially in hot sunny patches beside driveways and sidewalks. When you walk across your lawn, the small adult black and white bugs will stick to your shoes.
  • Caterpillars and other pests can also chow down on your grass. You will see blades of grass that look like they’ve been munched on and you may see birds and wasps feeding on these pests.
  • Fungus thrives in moist conditions, and causes brown spots in spring and midsummer. They may show up as circular or irregular brown spots, or you may notice a spotting or infected pattern on the blades or a generally dying/thinning out.

There are other causes of browning in your lawn caused by humans, animals, and poor growing conditions. For help in determining the problems with your landscaping in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Silver Spring, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed, installed, and cared for landscape projects and irrigation systems.

Landscaping in Bethesda MD: Trees You Should Avoid

They may look beautiful and provide a lot of shade, but there are certain trees that you should avoid in the landscaping of your Bethesda MD home. These are:

  • Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) – these trees have weak, brittle wood, that may break during bog storms. Their roots are shallow and invade sewage and sprinkler pipes. They are also known for cracking driveways and walkways.
  • Ash (Fraxinus) – These are sturdy and tough trees; unfortunately, they won’t be around long term. They are vulnerable to the emerald ash borer, and that little beetle is going to be wiping out this species of trees. So, if you’re looking for a long-term tree for the landscaping at your Bethesda MD home, you should look elsewhere.
  • Hybrid Poplars (Populus) – These grow fast and look good, but don’t last long-term. These Poplars are susceptible to diseases, and most won’t last more than 15 years.
  • Willow (Salix) – Beautiful but have water-hungry root systems that invade and clog drain fields, sewer lines, and irrigation pipes. The wood is weak and prone to cracking, and the tree is relatively short-lived, lasting only about 30 years.
  • Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) – These became a suburban favorite, until everyone realized that they are highly prone to splitting and cracking when it reached maturity.
  • Mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) – For anyone that is allergy prone, these trees release massive amounts of pollen in the late winter, and can cause severe reactions.
  • Black walnut (Juglans nigra) – These trees produce a significant amount of pollen and nuts you will have to clean up in the fall. Worst of all, these trees secrete growth-inhibiting toxins that kill nearby plants, wreaking havoc on flower beds and vegetable gardens.

For more information on trees you should avoid in the landscaping of your Bethesda MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Successful landscaping begins with a solid design that includes a balanced choice of plants, shrubs, and trees for your Bethesda MD property. Every East Coast landscaping installation is completed with the utmost care and attention that you expect from a professional landscape company like East Coast Landscape Design.

Take Steps to Protect Your Landscaping in Silver Spring MD

Deer are a big problem in suburban Maryland; they can cause some considerable damage to landscaping in Silver Spring MD. However, there are some steps you can take to protect your trees and prevent devastating damage.

Deer are famous for devouring summer gardens, and they can also destroy your grass. But the real damage from deer comes in the fall, when deer rub against trees to remove the velvet off of their antlers. And the rubbing continues during the mating season, stripping the bark off of your trees, preventing the trees from getting the right nutrition. Older trees will become susceptible to disease, and young newly planted trees can be destroyed. So what can you do?

  • Apply deer repellant prevent deer from chewing and eating brush and trees (although it will need to be reapplied after rain or snow).
  • Add tree fencing around a grove of trees, at 6-8 feet of height.
  • Place tree guards made of chicken wire or mesh netting to protect individual trees.
  • Prune lower limbs from trees during the winter to discourage deer from nibbling on fruit trees and rubbing on others.

For more information on landscaping in Silver Spring MD, please contact the expert landscapers at East coast Landscape Design. We understand that a professionally designed, properly installed and maintained landscape adds beauty and function to your home. It also adds immense value and curb appeal to your Silver Spring, MD home.

Maryland Landscaping Water Features: Cleaning Water Fountains

Maryland water features, like water fountains, need to be cleaned to enhance the appearance of any fountain and keep fountain waters sparkling. Water fountains come in many different materials, which require different cleaning solutions. Here are some tips:

  • Ceramic fountains may be cleaned with warm soapy water and a cloth or sponge, and a thorough rinse. Slime or mineral deposits may require a light scrubbing with a non-abrasive pad.
  • Resin and fiberglass fountains require careful cleaning, because they scratch easily. Use a soft cloth and warm soapy water or with special fiberglass cleaning products.
  • Copper fountains have a protective powder coast or clear finish coat to retard tarnish/greening; others are natural copper. Clean copper fountains with Pledge or another good quality furniture cleaner and a soft cloth. Apply a light coat of car wax/turtle wax and buff every few months to maintain the gleam. Never use a strong commercial copper cleaner on natural or powder copper fountains. Copper cleaners actually damage copper finishes by removing the coating and natural patina.
  • Stainless steel fountains should be cleaned with a wet or dry cloth and stainless steel cleaner. Never use abrasive cleaners or pads that scratch the shiny surface. Avoid bleaches and chemicals that discolor or damage the finish.
  • Always follow explicit manufacturer’s recommendations on how to clean a fountain.

Installing a water feature, like a fountain, can add so much to a Maryland landscape. Adding a water feature to your Maryland yard, large or small, is easier than you think. For more information on Maryland water features, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team utilizes 3 decades of experience along with safety- tested protocols to create natural water features in various types of Maryland landscapes.

Arbor Day – Add a Tree (or Two or Three) to Your Landscaping in Bethesda, MD

Whether your plant a tree on Arbor Day – or select another beautiful day – you won’t regret adding a gorgeous tree (or two or three) to your landscaping in Landscaping in Bethesda, MD.

Trees Add Beauty and More
Besides adding to the beauty to your landscaping in Bethesda, MD, a tree also adds value to your home, filters pollutants, and adds clean oxygen.  Trees regulate the air temperature around them, through the evaporation of the water in leaves, and provide homes for song birds and other woodland creatures.

Shade trees can offer a comfortable and cool place to sit or play, and can part of a passive solar heating  and cooling plan. Deciduous trees help shade the yard and house during the hot summer months, and let the warm sunlight through when they lose their beautiful leaves in the fall and winter.  And who can beat the calming sound of the wind rustling through the trees?

Trees Help Mental and Physical Health
Speaking of a calming influence of trees, a recent study found that children who view nature from their window feel more patient and less frustrated about tasks. These children also have more enthusiasm for their school work, and feel more satisfaction with life.  A different study from the International Society of Arboriculture revealed that hospital patients recover faster when their room has a tree view.  Surgery patients who can see nature from their hospital rooms recover 10% faster and need less pain medicine than those patients who view brick walls.

Want to explore adding a tree (or two or three) to your landscaping in Bethesda, MD?  Please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Whether you want to create a sophisticated backyard landscape, a peaceful outdoor room, an English rose garden, or you want to update your existing landscaping in Bethesda, MD, the trained professional landscapers of the East Coast Landscape Design team and owner, Mark Simpson, are here to make your dreams a reality.