Author Archives: Martin John Company

NOW’S THE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR PLAN FOR SPRING LANDSCAPING

Although it may still be winter in Chicago, this doesn’t mean that it’s too soon to start making plans to prepare your lawn and garden for the upcoming spring in a month or two. After all, a beautiful garden doesn’t grow by itself – a fair amount of planning and work will be needed to have it looking the way you want. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Get Started with Cleaning Up

The first thing you’ll need to do before making any specific landscaping plans is get your lawn and garden bed cleaned up. Start by picking up larger branches and twigs and then raking up smaller bits of debris and leaves that have accumulated in garden beds and the rest of your yard during winter.

Debris that isn’t picked up and removed will not only get stuck in your mower; it will prevent fertilizers and other plant foods from being able to be thoroughly absorbed by your lawn and plants.

2. Don’t Dig or Walk on Wet Soil

Soil should never be worked when it’s wet because this will cause it to form extremely hard clumps over time – and this can take several seasons to rectify properly. Even if soil appears to have thawed at the top, chances are that it could still have a hidden layer of ice lower down.

The easiest way to determine if soil is dry enough to work is to take a handful and squeeze it. If it crumbles through your fingers easily, it can be worked safely. However, if it forms a solid lump after being squeezed, you’ll need to wait a few days before doing anything.

3. Sharpen those Mower Blades

Although several avid gardeners diligently service their mowers by changing the oil and sparkplugs annually, many forget to deal with one of the most important parts – the mower blade. A blunt mower blade will not only make cutting your lawn more difficult; it will tear your grass instead of cutting it cleanly. This can cause your lawn to turn brown and also result in the development of fungus over time.

Various hardware stores offer mower blade sharpening services, but it is possible to sharpen it yourself in some cases. If you intend performing this as a DIY project, be sure to remove your mowers sparkplug before taking the blade off.

4. Mulch is your Friend

Once your garden beds have been cleaned, it’s time to apply a layer of mulch. This will not only help protect delicate plant roots; it will help prevent weeds from springing up between your prized plants. If any weeds make an appearance, pull them up gently by hand to prevent any damage from being done to the plants you want to keep.

Getting the basic preparation work done in your yard now will help ensure that you can go ahead with those landscaping plans you’ve been thinking about during winter. If you would like to enlist the help of professional landscapers in the Chicago area, contact us today to schedule an appointment with our team.

HOW TO PROTECT LANDSCAPING FOR THE HARSH CHICAGO WINTERS

Many homeowners think that winter is too challenging of a time to bother with gardening, but the truth is that this is the ideal time to start taking the necessary steps that will help protect your trees and plants against harsh weather and freezing temperatures. Keeping the following tips and advice in mind will help ensure that your plants are as protected as possible during this time of year.

Watering is Still Essential

Despite the fact that Chicago winter temperatures often drop to extremely low figures, it’s still essential for plants to be watered from time to time. To ensure that your plants will be able to use the water as effectively as possible though, you should wait until temperatures have climbed above 40°F. This will ensure that the ground will be warm enough to absorb the water.

Fertilize your Lawn

Providing your lawn with fertilizer will help ensure that it grows as rich and green as possible when spring arrives. It’s recommended that the fertilizer you use is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

During this time, your grass should be cut to a height of between one to two inches shorter than normal. This will not only help prevent the development of frostbite and snow mold; it can even help prevent mice and other smaller critters from digging nests in your grass as the cold weather approaches.

Keep Small Plants Covered

Smaller plants can be extremely vulnerable to frost and cold overnight temperatures. As such, these should be covered with anything that will be able to offer them protection against the cold. Items that can be used to place over them include old flowerpots, plastic bags, plastic bottles that have been cut in half or even that old fruit basket that is no longer looking that great on your kitchen counter. Some gardeners even go as far as using old quilts or blankets to cover fragile plants at night.

Protect Plants from Road Salt Exposure

If you have any trees or small plants that are close to a sidewalk or public road, there’s a strong chance that they will be exposed to road salt – which can cause irreparable damage to them. Be sure to exercise extreme caution when applying road salt near any tree roots or fragile plants – cover these if necessary to protect them.

Observe Climatic Conditions

Consider placing a thermometer and/or barometer at a strategic point in your yard so that you can track weather patterns and potential changes. This will help you to detect exactly when to expect sudden temperature drops or the arrival of rain and/or snow so that you can take the necessary precautions ahead of time to protect your plants.

Ensuring that all of the necessary precautions are taken to provide your garden with the protection it needs in winter can seem like an overwhelming task to tackle alone. If you’d like to learn more about preparing your lawn and garden for the harsh Chicago winters, speak with our team today.

HOW TO PREVENT CRABGRASS FROM TAKING OVER YOUR LAWN

With the warm February we’ve had spring seems closer than ever before.  Before we know it, trees will be budding and bulbs will be popping up from the ground.  Along with the beautiful signs of warmer spring days comes some other not-so-welcome guests including crabgrass.

Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds you’ll find in homes throughout the North Shore area.  It is also one of the most common complaints we get at Martin John Company.  We often hear our customers say “Help! My landscaping is becoming ruined by crabgrass”.  Don’t worry, we are always here to help will all of your lawn care needs.  In the meantime, here are some things you should know about crabgrass and how to keep it from taking over your lawn.

  • The best way to stop crabgrass from taking over the lawn is to prevent it from sprouting in the first place. This variety only needs about 24-48 hours of 55+ degree soil temperature to germinate.
  • When watching your soil for rises in temperature keep in mind that the type of soil and where it’s located matters. Sandy soil heats faster than clay-based and sunny area temperatures will rise quicker than shaded spot ones.
  • Use a pre-emergent herbicide before the first signs of crabgrass. Do not use this type of herbicide though if crabgrass is already present or if you have just installed sod.
  • Post-emergent herbicide can be used when crabgrass has already germinated and is present. Apply the herbicide only to crabgrass as it can kill certain varieties of grass.  In fact, if you begin to notice a browning landscape, you have used too much herbicide.  You will also want to follow-up with a second treatment to kill any crabgrass that has germinated since the initial application.

It is important to be very careful when applying herbicides as they can kill many types of grass as well the crabgrass weed itself.  A professional expert such as Martin John Company can help you better navigate this tricky task.

At Martin John Company, we want to help our clients maintain healthy, beautiful lawns all year long.  Not only are we here to help with basic needs such as weed management and lawn cutting, we can also assist with your more extensive projects.  From poor drainage to hardscape installation, Martin John Company is the preeminent landscaping leader in the Chicago area.

Let us help you tackle that crabgrass and more! Contact us today.

HOW TO PRUNE SMALL TREES & SHRUBS

If you are like most homeowners, you are more than a little intimidated by the thought of having to prune your small trees and shrubs each spring. Many are scared of taking too much off and permanently damaging the plant. Others simply don’t know where to begin when it comes to keeping their foliage in tip top shape. These fears often lead to either completing the task incorrectly or not doing it all. Both can lead to disastrous results for your outdoor landscaping.

There are many reasons why you should regularly prune your small trees and shrubs. First, it leads to healthier plants that are more able to withstand the harsh Chicago seasons. Properly pruned shrubs also have thicker foliage and more flowers leading to greater outdoor appeal. Plants which are regularly trimmed will enjoy a more natural form and continue to grow robustly. Lastly, pruning helps renew your small trees and shrubs giving them a fresh start for the new season.

The experienced team at Martin John Company helps countless clients with their many landscaping needs. Here are some of our best tips on how to prune small trees and shrubs:

• Use the right pruners or loppers for the job. Invest in quality tools and maintain them well for optimum performance.

• Remove branches which are weak, wayward or rubbing other branches. You often want to make your cut where the branch meets with another branch.

• Don’t prune on your timeframe; prune when it’s best for the plant. Individual varieties of plants should be trimmed when it’s optimal for their growth.

• Younger shrubs should be pruned gently often removing only the long, unbranched stems.

• Trim back to healthy branches and avoid leaving stubs along the way.

• Young or newly planted trees are best left alone. Only remove dead, broken or damaged branches as needed.

Most small trees and shrubs are best trimmed in early or late spring. There is no better time than now to give your landscaping a good cut. At Martin John Company, we help both residential and commercial clients with all of their lawn care needs. From professional trimmings to weekly grass cuttings, we provide the services you need to maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn. Visit our website to learn more about our expert trimming and pruning services.

WINTER LANDSCAPING IDEAS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGERS

Landscaping is just as important for commercial property owners as it is for homeowners. It can make your business more attractive, which helps provide a sense of professionalism and quality to existing and potential clients or customers. If you want to add some interesting landscaping but you aren’t sure where to start, check out the ideas below for some inspiration.

Keep Your Evergreens Trimmed

Whether you have evergreens on your commercial property in the form of shrubs or trees, winter is the perfect time to keep them trimmed back and pruned – especially if you use a professional service rather than doing it yourself. Rates are typically lower in the winter due to the slow season. Trimming and shaping now will lead to a better overall season in the spring. What’s more, if you have existing perennials, most of them will actually fare better if you trim them back in the winter months. This is true for everything from peonies to daisies to hostas and many others.

Add Mulch to Beds

It gets downright cold in Chicago. In fact, it gets so cold that even some hardy plants are at risk when the temperatures plummet and the winds start to blow. Mulch can save these plants – including those that die back into the ground and those that simply lie dormant. For the former, spread a layer of mulch over the entire plant at least two inches thick. This will provide some insulation and prevent frost from permeating the plant’s roots. For dormant plants, do the same thing, but leave a gap of about an inch between the layer of mulch and the plant’s stem. This will help prevent rotting and better protect your plants.

Stock Up on Burlap, Fleece, and Other Protective Materials

Depending on the season, it is not that unusual to see early bloomers like daphne and rhododendron just before another big freeze comes along – especially in late winter. Now is the perfect time to stock up on materials like hemp and jute cloth or even horticultural fleece that you can use to protect these fragile blooms through a cold snap. For especially fragile flowers, use some straw between the plant and the outer covering for extra insulation against the cold and the wind. Be sure to buy some gardening twine, too, to secure the cloth and prevent it from blowing away.

Plan for some Wintertime Color

Though the winter months usually mean bare trees and twigs in the Chicagoland area, there are some plants that can offer some serious color – even in the dead of winter – and truly stand out against the snow and ice. Ornamental varieties of popular vegetables like kale and cabbage can withstand cold temps and give you some gorgeous pops of pink and purple, and some Johnny Jump Up (also known as Viola tricolor) can offer some amazing yellow and deep purple in late fall and sometimes even in winter. Sweet Flag ornamental grass, which is native to Japan, is also ideal for Chicago winters, and it brings some lovely shades of green and chartreuse that are welcomed during the cold months.

A colorful, healthy landscape says a lot about your business. Though cold Chicago winters can strictly limit the plants and blooms that are available to you, there are still several options that can bring some unique architecture or bright pops of color throughout even the coldest winter months.

SPRING IS HERE! 5 PLANTS THAT WILL THRIVE THROUGH THE SUMMER

The arrival of spring brings with it many signs of new life, especially for gardening enthusiasts who want to keep their yards looking attractive. If you have been keen to start working in your garden, but haven’t been sure what to plant, the list below will be a great help in getting you started.

1. Common Foxglove

Although these will require two full growing seasons before flowering, the Common Foxglove’s stunning and vibrant petals will add a flamboyant appearance to what could otherwise be a dull and mundane garden. They will thrive in soil that has a high pH level and require partial shade to bloom at their full potential. Flowers may be yellow, white or purple and they reach heights of between 18 and 60 inches on average.

2. Yellow Sundrops

Sundrops will add a brilliant splash of yellow color to a garden and added bonuses include the fact that they are able to tolerate relatively poor soil and they are quite drought-resistant. However, it is crucial to ensure that the ground they are in can drain well and that they will be planted in an area that provides them with full sun exposure. These flowers grow between 18 and 23 inches in height and they are known to keep deer out of gardens – definitely an advantage in some areas of Chicago!

3. Knock Out Roses

Not only are these lovely and fragrant, they are also fast growing and extremely hardy. Knock Out Roses are also resistant to disease and able to thrive in areas where full sun is experienced. When fully grown, they will be approximately 4 feet tall and there are several different colors to choose from such as purple, pink, peach, yellow and white.

4. Yarrows

These flowers start blooming during late spring and will continue doing so throughout summer and they are known to attract several species of butterflies. A distinct advantage of yarrows is that they can tolerate poor soil and they will also bloom at their best in areas where full sun is experienced.

5. Salvia

This is part of the mint family and it works well in gardens or containers because it only reaches about two feet high and two feet wide when fully grown. Regular pruning will be needed to keep Salvia looking beautiful and it will thrive in areas of full sun. Some of the more common colors of these flowers include scarlet, purple, light pink and lavender.

Planting even a few of these flowers in your Chicago garden will not only provide your yard with a splash of color; you will be able to feel good knowing that butterflies and other insects will make themselves at home among the plants as well. If you would like to find out more about how you can have a summer garden to remember, contact our offices today. We have several team members who will be most willing to assist you with choosing the right plants and caring for them afterwards.

ARE YOU A PROPERTY MANAGER FOR A PARKING LOT? TRY THESE PLANTS TO KEEP THE CARS HAPPY

  • Being a property manager is no easy task, especially if it’s a parking lot that you are in charge of. Not only are you responsible for ensuring that the area is clean; it is essential to ensure that car owners are going to be satisfied with leaving their vehicles in your lot for extended periods of time. With shade being one of the main aspects of consideration in most parking lots, it will be essential to plant a few trees. Below are great examples of parking lot friendly trees that can be planted.

     

    Various Elm Species

    Although Dutch elm disease eradicated thousands of these trees across the country in the 1930s, various disease-resistant cultivars have enabled them to make a fantastic comeback. Many variants of Elm trees are highly suitable for use in vehicle parking lots because they can adapt to several types of soil and they are known for thriving during drought conditions. Another reason why these beautiful trees are ideal for planting in parking areas is because they are salt tolerant.

     

    Autumn Blaze Red Maple

    These trees are not only extremely eye-catching with their bright red foliage; they are relatively low maintenance as well. Fast growth of between three and five feet per year mean that these trees will not take long to provide a decent amount of parking lot shade. Autumn Blaze Red Maples can adapt to many types of soil and climatic conditions, while also resisting strong winds and damage caused by ice.

     

    Superior Hybrid Poplar

    If it’s one thing many parking lots are short on, it’s shade. However, when planting Superior Hybrid Poplar trees, you can be assured of enjoying plenty shade just a year or two because they are known for growing up to eight feet in a single year. If planted strategically in parking areas, they are able to provide virtually full shade during the hot summer months.

     

    Little-leaved Linden

    These trees make excellent additions to busy parking lots because they not only provide excellent shade; they have the ability to withstand the effects of pollution as well. Little-leaved Linden trees can withstand occasional drought and reach heights of between 60 and 70 feet at maturity. Although this tree’s leaves start off as a dark green, they turn a lovely clear yellow during fall. Flowers are pale yellow and quite fragrant.

     

    ‘Green Vase’ Zelkova

    Not only are these trees extremely resistant to wind, pests and diseases; very little maintenance is required to keep them in check as well. ‘Green Vase’ Zelkova trees are adaptable to most types of soil and they are drought tolerant, making them an excellent choice for most parking lots. These trees are also able to resist heavy amounts of city pollution.

    If you are a parking lot manager and you are keen to provide as much shade as possible for tenants, the above-mentioned trees will be excellent choices. Contact us today to find out more about obtaining and caring for them.

HOW LANDSCAPING SERVICES HELP SELL CHICAGO HOMES

The real estate market is booming right now.  It seems like every day there is a new home for sale and another one exchanging hands.  It is a great time to be seller especially for those living in the Libertyville and surrounding areas.

But as the house market continues to heat up so will the number of homes for sale.  Buyers will have more options and sellers will need to make sure their Chicago home stands out from the competition. This is where the little details like great landscaping can make all the difference.  Want to sell your home faster?  Consider hiring a professional landscaping company for help!

Here are some ways a professional landscaping team such at Martin John Company can help get your home sold:

  • Add some color… in the right spots. Landscapers are experts at what they do and, if they are like Martin John Company, have years of experience under their belt.  They know how to add beautiful, colorful flowers in just the right spots.  You are sure to have blooms that not only look great but also have the right amount of sunlight and shade to flourish.
  • Refresh the mulch. Bald spots in landscaping bedding and faded mulch is unappealing.  Landscapers can quickly and cost-effectively lay new layers of fresh mulch to all of the property’s beds.
  • Trim unruly bushes & trees. Are you a little intimidated by the thought of trimming your bushes and trees?  Many homeowners are terrified of taking too much off and damaging the plant.  But an unruly shrub can make your home look more like a haunted house than an appealing property.  Let the experts give your bushes and trees the cut they need.
  • Create a polished look. Do you still have remnants of last year’s growing season?  Branches on the ground, leaf piles in the corners and clumps of dead grass?  These all remind potential homebuyers of all the work they need to do once they move in.  Have a professional landscaping team give your Chicago lawn the much-needed attention it deserves for a polished look.

One of the biggest risks you can take is not dealing with poor landscaping before you put your home on the market.  When the appraisers come to value homes, they take this important feature into account.  Your property can appraise higher or lower depending on its curb appeal.  Potential homebuyers also take note of how well the lawn is kept.  It can be a differentiator between you and the house down the street.                                                                       

When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, there are few things that can improve your chances of selling your home more than professional landscaping.  For those in the Libertyville area and beyond, there is no better partner for your landscaping job than Martin John Company.  Our team can help you create that great outdoor appeal so your Chicago property can stand out from the rest.  Whether you need a quick spruce up or a more extensive overhaul, Martin John Company is ready for your call.  Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

FOUR UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF MOWING YOUR LAWN

We all know that a well-manicured lawn looks great. And don’t we all want to make sure we don’t have the longest grass in the neighborhood? There are many obvious reasons why keeping our landscaping in tip-top shape is beneficial.

But are there other reasons to give our lawn some regular attention besides the obvious answers? Here are four unexpected benefits of mowing your lawn:

  • Enjoy Even Growth. There are few things more unappealing than a patchy, uneven lawn. Mowing the lawn keeps the grass at a uniform level. This allows for better distribution of resources from the sun and water.
  • Keep Mosquitoes Away. Mosquitoes thrive in damp environments. When the blades get too long, moisture begins to accumulate making the area ripe for a mosquito infestation. Keep the buzzers away with regular trimmings. But don’t get your lawn too short! This can attract other insects such as grubs.
  • Only the Best Survive. Ever heard the term “survival of the fittest” – “only the strong will survive”? Your grass works in much of the same way. As we mow, we take out the weaker shoots and allow the stronger, more beautiful shoots to flourish.
  • Preventing Costly Fines. Many cities have ordinances regarding the upkeep of residential properties. Fines can actually be issued when a homeowner’s grass is found to be too long. Avoid costly fines by keeping it well-maintained.

What to do When You Can’t Keep Up

Sometimes taking time for regular lawn clippings just isn’t feasible. Maybe you travel for work or keep a busy schedule filled with soccer tournaments and dance recitals. Whatever the reason, taking care of the lawn doesn’t have to be neglected. Hiring a professional lawn care team to help you maintain a well-manicured property can be a great alternative.

If you are searching for the right landscaping team to help keep your lawn looking great, consider the best the Chicago Area has to offer – Martin John Company. We have been the chosen partner for homeowners throughout the Libertyville area and beyond. From weekly trimmings to snow plowing and more, our team provides clients the services they need for all of the Midwest’s many seasons. Contact us today to learn more.