Thursday, April 7, 2016

At The Nursery

Redbuds
Spring cometh, albeit in fits and starts as the latest cold wave blankets the Roanoke Valley. But the trees know what season it is, as these pictures of burgeoning buds attest:
Bradford Pears
Cleveland Select Pears
Cleveland Select Pears
Cleveland Select Pears
Redbud
Our Crape Myrtles, however, are biding their time. Bud-wise, they are 'keeping their powder dry' so to speak, until a hotter summer sun presents itself:

Catawba Crape Myrtle
Arapaho Crape Myrtle
Arapaho Crape Myrtle
Catawba Crape Myrtle

Monday, March 14, 2016

Consider the Ant and Be Wise

Last Friday week we had a bit of winter weather, some snow and slush mixed with rain. But promptly on Saturday, the ants emerged. They are smart little guys; they know when Spring has sprung, and were not fooled by a dying gasp of winter. The seasons have turned and they are ready to get on with it.

As is Ben's Creek Nursery. Along with our normal maintenance work, March begins some particular services suitable to the season, beginning with fertilization.

Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are the primary nutrients that feed your lawn and Easter is a prime time to apply fertilizer for most of our customers. But different grasses, sun coverage, and other factors require that an application of fertilizer be tailored to the actual conditions on the ground. Rest assured that our crews have the training and expertise to fertilize your turf safely and appropriately.

Another service peculiar to March is the application of preemergents.

Preemergents are weed control applications that are applied before the weeds actually show themselves. They work by preventing germination of the weed seeds, usually by inhibiting the production of an enzyme, and will not harm or damage your lawn or gardens. March is a prime time to apply preemergents, and our crews will be hard at work as the month proceeds.

We also offer additional services in March. For instance, mulch:



There's never not a time to mulch, but after a long, cold winter, mulch is especially in need of revitalization to perform its valuable functions: providing a clear, clean yardscape look, capturing moisture where it can do the most good, and protecting young plant life, newly emerging from winter dormancy.

And then there is the annual arrival of the ubiquitous mosquito:



Due in part to the continuing wet weather, once the temperature rises for a few days, mosquitoes will hatch from their winter dormancy and start doing what mosquitoes do. Ben's Creek Nursery is fully licensed and our crews are trained and ready, so call us today for an assessment and recommendation on what can be done now to keep the pesky ones from taking over your outdoors.

March Maintenance Services, on display

Friday, February 26, 2016

Featuring, Our Customers!


Our production department has worked overtime recently to make video compilations of our hardscape work, landscape installations, maintenance, and irrigation installation and repair.

Click, sit back, and enjoy!


Irrigation Video


Hardscape Video


Installations Video


Maintenance Video

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Upgrades: Pavers, Plants, and Drainage Control

Plant Installations
Pavers, plant installations, and most importantly, drainage control - these are just a few of the things our guys are into these days. Herewith some 'Before' and 'After' pictures:

Before Plant Installations & Drainage work
Before Plant Installations & Drainage Work
Plant Installations & Drainage Work
Drainage Work
Before Walkway Pavers
Walkway Pavers
Walkway Pavers

Walkway Pavers

Friday, February 12, 2016

Repairs and Upgrades

The lunch rush hour in Svalbard, Norway
In a few days, Svalbard, Norway will be waking up from 112 days of night, to bask in about an hour of sunlight. Under the circumstances, they can be permitted to take that day off, but we here in the States have no excuses for wasting daylight - no matter the cold. So, our guys have been busily assessing some properties in need of repair and upgrades, and there is no time like the present to get on with it.

Herewith a look at a couple of projects we are working on or preparing to work on.





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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Carpe Patio

Carpe diem, seize the day, our culture sometimes tells us. And that is how we sometimes treat our yards and gardens. We think of things we'd like, but don't do anything about it - and then suddenly wake up one day and feel that we cannot wait any longer.

For instance, among the many projects we are working on, all manner of people seem to be seizing the moment and installing back yard pool patios.  It's as if they all woke up one day and carpe diem became carpe patio, if I may coin a phrase.

And from concept to design to implementation, our guys can do it, as this recent project attests. Herewith some before and after pictures.

Before:




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