Sod Hopper News

2010-07-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is the second year from when we did the Glenstone Drive landscape job. Here is what it looked like before we started.

You can see that it's as plain a slate as can be. This picture was taken in late spring just before the major ice storm we had here.

After loosing three of our best trees, we started by adding a cedar porch. Then we marked out a landscape design and went ot work.

This bed was built to attract butterflys and they are all over the flowers every day. Our beds are full of flowers and with an added low pressure water system it only takes minor weekly updates. We do minor weeding and trimming once a week and we have some sort of flower from spring till fall.

Landscape Projects "Time Line"

2010-06-09T14:15:00.001-07:00

Hey All!

Well we have had a very BUSY season so I would like to post for all you new clients how we go about setting priority for landscape jobs.

Basically our motto is "first come first serve". We do all we can as soon as we can. We even look at staging items we will need on your job ahead the project start time. Things like landscape blocks, dirt, mulch, tractors and larger equipment can be staged on the job site before and during the project.

There are two exceptions;

1.) If the customer request that they be there (on the job site) when their project is being done then we could have to move their job around and this can create unnecessary delays. What I mean is, if the customer is not ready when we get to their job then we have to push other waiting job(s) in front of them so that we keep from delaying any of those waiting.
This can be resolved by meeting with me prior to the job and going over every aspect of the project. Once this is done, give us the go ahead to complete your project like you have convoyed it. We have a "Satisfaction Guaranteed" policy so fear not, we will get it right because that's what you expect of us.

2.) If we have multiple jobs in the same area we will move jobs up the list to again save time.

We have yet to have a customer that hasn't recognized that we work hard and do what they expect. As I have said many times we work as hard as the customers wants us to.

One of our landscape updates

2009-12-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

This is the picture before I started on the landscape of this house.

This was the finished landscape project. One of the best things we did on this project was to add low pressure sprinklers. The picture here does not do the plants justice. It was a very nice year for this project and I will add an update this spring.

"Bowman" - The "Tear-Out"

2009-10-17T19:13:00.001-07:00

The first day was devoted to removing all the old plants and landscape beds. This started on Saturday 10/3/09 (Out with the old to make room for the new). Three of us worked on the project the first day and we where able to remove almost everything.

On Sunday we started the metal edging but quickly decided to start over on it. The weather had turned colder over the weekend and then on Sunday it started raining. So we really only had a day and half of good work time. There was a large amount of debris that we staged below the house and it looked like we had made headway.

The front of the house really looks blank without any plants however, the large yew was overtaking the house. The new beds and plants will add to the house but at the same time open up the view from the entrance to the house and from inside the house looking out.

"Bowman" landscape remodel

2009-10-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is the "Bowman" landscape job. I have not posted in a while but have had some request to see the process and I have been keeping up with the pictures.

This a large house that just needed its landscape to be re-done. It appeared that plants and beds where added over the years at different times and just did not make the house look as good as it could.

The umbrella tree was growing over into the walk way and old landscape lighting no longer worked.

Ice Storm

2009-03-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

I just about have everything cleaned up at my place now but we had one heck of an ice storm. On January 27th tree limbs snapped off like toothpicks and littered my yard. In the middle of the night I could hear limbs breaking and wondered how bad it was going to get. My house where slightly damaged but I am a lot better off than most. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to finish my yard and that’s after having a crew on my property for a whole day.

The damage has been compared to a very large class two tornado.

Here is one of the trees I lost in my yard.

Building Flower Boxes

2009-01-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

We have been having some fun this winter going to Master Gardener classes and learning more about plants and hardscapes. Last week we started work on some flower boxes. This box is located at the Bull Shoals White River State Park. We were there to help mostly because I love this park and plan on camping at it for years to come.

OK, more about the boxes... We were replacing a box that was put in more than 15 years ago. The old box was made out of treated lumber (the 4x4 rounded landscape timbers). The box still had good form but it was well overdue to be replaced. Earth seems to reclaim everything in time and it was well on its way to reclaiming the old timbers.
The park had 6x6 timbers to build new boxes out of which should keep them around for the next 20+ years.
You can't see it from this picture but there are a lot of angles in this box that complicated this build, however the box's overall form is turning out great and I can't wait to see the whole build.
Next week we will work on the second box next to this one and an added archway for a climber plant to be added to.
I will add more pictures as the build continues.

Last Leaves 2008

2008-12-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

Now that all the leaves are gone I thought I would throw up the last picture of leaves in my yard. The Dogwood is many years old and one of my spring favorites.

Also, our local 224th unit is coming home so, this was the last color here just before your return.

Welcome home 224th!

Preparation for Winter

2008-11-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

In November your plants, both indoor and outdoor, will need your focused attention.

Cool temperatures in the soil may cause your bulbs to take root and start growing. Make sure that you get your tulips and daffodils now too.

You might want to consider cutting back your perennials although there is no real rush as they can be left to spring. An expectation to this rule is the iris. You must cut them back and dispose of the leaves. This will avoid the iris borer from laying its eggs.

Transplant boxwood, roses, etc. Water them once a week as long as weather permits.

Now is a good time to add some more mulch. Spread around plants at the base to protect its roots from a drop in temperature.

Weather permitting you can stop cutting your grass in November. You do want to keep cutting it if it’s continuing to grow but that will likely happened cease them month. Do leave it at 3” for the winter.

You want to make sure you remove your leafs and be sure to rake or vacuum at least one time per week

November is going to be your last time to fertilize. Make sure you use one that is mostly nitrogen. Also, do a weed and feed application to control weeds.

Take a look at the stacks of firewood around your property. Firewood can attract roaches and other critters. Make sure they are stored far enough away so that the pests can’t get inside your home.

Mulch or Bag?

2008-11-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

For years I have heard that leaves from Oak are high in acid and that you need to bag and remove them off your lawn so the PH stays good in your lawn. Until recently I had no formal education into the matter.
The truth is that leaves get their nutrients from the ground and that by mulching them back into the ground you're actually putting a lot of those nutrients back into the ground. Then again if you have a large amount of leaves you might want to think about using them in more than one way. Leaves make a good base for mulch in your flower and garden beds.
Start yourself a compost bed this year. Mulched leaves can make a good base for your compost beds. Always mulch first and then use what you can where you can. If at the end of the day you just have to have that pristine no leave lawn and don't have any other room for them, bag the rest.

Fall Colors :-)

2008-10-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

This time of the year the Ozarks are full of trees changing color and those cool nights. For many years I thought the intense color of the leaves had to do with just the sap moving down in the trees but, really it has a lot to do with the temperatures.
I am currently attending Master Gardener classes in Baxter County. For any of you who have thought you might be interested in this sort of thing and just haven't made the step to apply and attend the classes, you're missing out. I have been going for two weeks now and I have learned more than I ever imagined. We only have a couple more day long classes but I really doubt that the learning will stop there.
Now, back to the trees; What causes the fall colors to intensify? Well, one of the biggest factors is the temperature, warm days with real cool nights will cause more intensity. We are well into the fall and the conditions are great for a spectacular fall. The current speculation is that the fall colors in the Ozarks will not reach there height in colors till late this month so, keep a camera close and let me know what you see.

bye for now
-Ed

Pay as you go Vs. Monthly Contract

2008-08-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

We offer two forms of payment for any services we offer.

Pay as you go - Simply as it is stated, you pay for services as they are completed - you pay for what services were completed. Some of our regular customers that are "pay as you go" would rather only pay monthly.

Yearly Contract - On a yearly contract you are contracting us for management of your lawn and landscape for the same price each month. The services are done during the growing season but the bill is leavelized out over a years time. For example if your lawn is a $60 lawn and needs to be mowed every week for a month with five weeks, you would only pay $120 and the balance of $180 would be forwarded to the months where no services are needed. Also under the yearly contract we will do minor bush trimming and limb removal as a way of saying thank you for your business.

Simply, if you want the best service for the least cost to you the yearly contract is by far the way to go.

New Sod Hopper Blog

2008-08-06T20:32:00.001-07:00

Well, as many of you know by now we have not been able to get our news letters out as quick as we had planned. Well, we are going to try working our news and events into this blog format to get the information out to all interested. Thank you for your comments and I hope you enjoy.