It’s hard not to think about making the earth around us a little better on a week like this. Earth day was on Wednesday,and Arbor Day is today! There are many different ways to make our homes and communities a little greener, but one simple way to do your part is by planting a tree. But before you run out and plant a forest of trees in your front yard, there are a few things to consider.

Simply Green Lawn Care has these easy-to-follow steps for planting a tree:

1. Select a good time of year. Late spring and early summer are, generally speaking, not good times of year to plant trees. Now, in the months of April and May, is the best time to go out and
2. Be careful where you dig. Most yards nowadays have buried cables and lines that run to your house. So be cautious when digging so you don’t end up without internet for a few days.
3. Find a suitable tree for your area. Different trees grow better in different regions. For instance, peach trees thrive in the Georgia soil and climate. Do a little research before planting something that may not do well in your region.
4. Select a good location. Remember, this tree will grow. Take that into account when choosing a spot. Plant away from your house and power lines, the tree should be able to grow unobstructed.
5. Dig a hole 4-5 times the width of the root ball.
   1. Big enough to work with.
   2. Roots need broken up soil to spread.
   3. The point where tree comes out of the ground should be slightly higher (1/4 to a 1/2 inch) than the rest to avoid over watering.
6. Time to plant! Place the tree, gently, in the hole you just dug, and check to make sure it doesn’t sit too deep or too shallow
7. If the soil you are using is not rich, mix some compost in when filling the hole.
8. Use stakes if necessary for the first year or so.
9. Pat yourself on the back, you just added that much more oxygen and greenery to the world!

Here, at Simply Green Lawn Care we love our dogs! So it seemed only fitting to host a contest this year for people and their furry friends! We want to give you an opportunity to share pictures of your dogs, and win prizes. There will be two different contests to enter; one will be “Best Dog” and the other will be “Best Puppy,” with the winners being selected at random. The winners of the contests will each receive a $100 Visa gift card! Entering the contest is easy, and only takes a few minutes, so what do you have to loose! If you are eager to enter, follow the guidelines below:

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY

Submitting an entry is as easy as one, two… Well, just one and two; it couldn’t be simpler!

• Like our page
  
• Fill out this form
  

CONTEST RULES AND TERMS

• To be eligible to win, each participant must like our page, and fill out the submission form in its entirety.
• The photo should include a picture of your dog or puppy. (No inappropriate photos)
• Only one submission per person.
• We may use your pictures for promotions.

Share this contest with your friends, the more the merrier! The Furry Friends Contest will run one month from its start date (4-15-2015), and we wish all of the participants the best of luck!

As we talked about last week, April is Gardening Month. We hope that our last entry about the basics of gardening enticed a few of you first-timers to exercise your green thumbs this season! If are gardening this season, you have probably realized already that different plants come with a different set of care instructions. This week, Simply Green Lawn Care wants to talk about herbs. Most of us have used herbs like basil or thyme in our kitchens when preparing meals or drinks, so these plants are great to have on hand.

Basil

• Water and Sun: Basil is one of those plants that likes a steady supply of moisture to stay at optimal health. If your basil is planted in the ground, or in a spot where it does not move, use mulch to help retain the moisture in the soil. Planting basil in a container you can move in and out of the sun may make it easier to care for this plant.
• General Care: Be sure to pinch off flowers to keep your basil plant producing.
• Harvesting: Basil is at its most flavorful and fragrant just as it begins to bud. So, this is also the best time to harvest.
• Uses: Most commonly used in tomato sauces or pestos. Basil can also be chopped and sprinkled over a salad.

Mint

• Water and Sun: Mint should be planted in an area that receives regular sunlight. This herb, like basil, likes to receive a steady supply of moisture. So, if you plant your mint in the ground, use mulch to help retain moisture in the soil.
• General Care: This is one of those plants that can be neglected a little bit and still bounce back. Just be sure to keep it evenly moist.
• Harvesting: You can harvest a mint plant up to 3 times in a season, or, like a lot of people, pick the leaves off as you need them.
• Uses: Mint Juleps are a great way to use your mint, and enjoy a hot summers day. Mint can also freshen up a fruit salad, or enhance a tea.

Thyme

• Water and Sun: Thyme should be given a lot of sunlight each day (avoid heavy shade), and planted in soil with good drainage. Water your thyme in the warmer months of spring and summer every 10 to 15 days at a depth of 1 inch.
• General Care: Thyme needs little care to be bountiful.
• Harvesting: Don’t take more than 1/3 of growth at any one time. You can pick leaves throughout the season as needed, or harvest the whole plant when it begins to bloom.
• Uses: Thyme is used a lot in cooking nowadays. It has been used to put a new spin on scrambled eggs, in dry rubs, on breads or stuffing chickens.

Rosemary

• Water and Sun: Rosemary should receive a lot of sun, and needs well drained soil. Rosemary should be watered sparingly.
• General Care: Make sure to prune rosemary on a regular basis to keep it from getting lanky. Rosemary can grow to be a large plant so it needs a good deal of space.
• Harvesting: You can cut the stems of rosemary at anytime for freshness. During the winter months, rosemary should be brought in doors. You can also dry the leaves and store in an airtight container for use year-round.
• Uses: Rosemary can be used in soups, sprinkled on top of fish or chicken, or as an oil infusion.

Happy Garden Month! This year, like years before, many people will try their hand at gardening for the first time. Like anything new, we first need to begin with the basics. Having a solid understanding of the fundamentals of gardening will give you a great foundation to build from for years to come. Simply Green Lawn Care located around Atlanta, GA has several steps to follow to get you playing in the dirt this spring!

• Pick a location – For the most part, plants are going to need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day to yield the best results. Scope out your yard, and see what parts receive a consistent amount of sun everyday. Also, consider proximity when selecting a location to start. Is there a source of water near by? Easy access from the house for cooking? Take some time for this part of the process, it is very difficult to change locations once you’ve planted.
• Get your supplies – Decide what supplies you are going to need. If you are just starting out, you really don’t need anything fancy, just a few basic supplies like a trowel, gloves, soil, pots (if doing a container garden), shovel and pruners.
• What will you grow?! – This is where the fun really starts to happen. Make a visit your local nursery, or anywhere that provides gardening essentials. Take your time, walk through the aisles of vegetables, herbs and flowers and pick what you like! Ask yourself questions depending on what you are planting. What will I eat the most of? What textures look good next to one another (flowers or decorative plants)? If you want a more uncommon plant like an heirloom variety, think about looking at the seeds section. It often provides a wider variety of plants.
• Design – It’s up to you! Whatever you envision for your garden, go for it! Make sure to look up a few basic rules of gardening as guidelines while planting, especially when dealing with ornamentals, an aesthetic design guide can really help.
• Maintain – Once you’ve gone through the above steps, all that’s left to do is maintain your garden and reap the rewards! But what is needed to keep your garden at optimal health?
  • Water your plants regularly. Plants require a good deal of water to survive. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger in the soil; if it is dry, make sure to give them a bit of water. Also, water your plants at the beginning of the day if possible. This will allow the sun the dry of the leaves, and help avoid fungal diseases caused by moisture. If you notice that some of your leaves are beginning to brown, take your pruning shears and cut it at the base.
  • Keep the weeds out! Check your garden everyday for encroaching weeds. Pick them and discard away from your garden.
  • Expect pests. Insects and critters are almost always a sure issue, and there are many different methods for dealing with the issue.
  • Last, but not least, enjoy it! Gardening is a really great way to get outdoors and relieve from stress from the day. Happy gardening!

The weather is getting warmer, the grass is growing and it’s that time of year again to start considering watering your lawn. There is no exact, or correct month of the year to start watering your grass. It really all just depends on the conditions. But before you get started for the year, Simply Green Lawn Care located near Atlanta, Ga has several things for you to consider.

• Check your Local Watering Laws – It is important to adhere to the local water restrictions when watering your lawn. Go to www.georgiadrought.org to check your local laws.
• When to Start – Like we said before, there is no one correct time to start watering your lawn. Even after a stretch of dry hot days, you may still not need to water your lawn. One way to test the readiness of your grass, is by performing a simple step test. If you step on your lawn and it doesn’t bounce back, it may be time to bring out the sprinkler.
• How much? – It is important to remember that you can give your lawn too much water. The idea is to keep the top 6” of your soil moist; most lawns require 1.0”-1.5” of water per week during the growing season.
• Watering Schedule – The best time of day to water your lawn is early in the morning when temperatures are cooler. Between the hours of 4 am and 10 am are generally the best times to do this. This will allow the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing disease and water waste due to evaporation during the heat of the day.

As always, you can contact us with any lawn care questions you may have!

Simply Green wants to wish you a happy first day of spring! This time of year conjures up images of blooming flowers,spring break and some of the first barbecues of the year. But spring of 2015 has started off on a brisk and rainy note. If you have lived in Georgia for any extended period of time, you know that the weather here can be pretty fickle. Today may have called for hot chocolate, but tomorrow may be iced lemonade. So, just what can we expect for the first weeks of spring this year?

According to the 2015 Farmer’s Almanac:

• Today (March 20): Cloudy, with a brisk 48 degrees in the morning. Temperatures will rise to 70 degrees by 4 pm.
• Saturday (March 21): Sunny, with a low of 54 degrees, and a high of 73 degrees.
• Sunday (March 22): Rainy, with a low of 52 degrees, and a high of 59 degrees.
• March 23-31: We can expect the weather to cool down a bit, with a few warm days and some rainy periods.

APRIL

• Overview: The average temperature will be 66 degrees (3 degrees above avg.). Precipitation will be around 2.5″ (0.5″ below avg.)
• April 1-4: It is expected to be sunny and nice out for the first days of April.
• April 5-9: Expect these days to be rainy, and then nice and sunny.
• April 10-21: This block of days will bring with it a few thunderstorms and warm temperatures.
• April 22-25: It will be sunny and warm for these days.
• April 26-30: It will start out rainy, then sunny and will cool down around the 29th and 30th.

The official first day of spring is just a week or so away, and we are already beginning to see signs of the season. Much of what makes a successful lawn for the warmer months, is preparation. Simply Green Lawn Care is dedicated to ensuring your lawn looks its best, and has listed these questions to ask yourself before spring arrives.

Spring preparation checklist:

1. Have you cleaned up your yard? Winter is a messy season; leaves have fallen, sticks and debris are probably in your yard. Make sure to rid your yard off all of the leftovers from winter so as not to damage your spring lawn.
2. Have you given your lawn its initial cut? It is good to get started cutting your lawn as early as the weather permits. Set your blades a little lower, and this will cut out the dead parts of your grass, and allow for more sunlight to reach the bottom of the blades.
3. How is your equipment? Check your lawn care equipment to make sure everything is in working order. Is your mower running properly? Are your blades sharp? Check everything so you don’t have to wait to get started!
4. Pre-emergent? It is a good idea to treat your lawn with pre-emergent after that first cut. This will help in preventing crab grass from sprouting.
5. Have you fertilized your lawn? This is something else you should do after that first cut. Feed your lawn with fertilizer, for the best results.

Answer all of these questions, sit back and watch your yard flourish! Preparation is key when pursuing a lush green lawn.

It’s still pretty cold outside, in fact, it seems that it is snowing or freezing every other day. Here, at Simply Green, spring is the last thing we are reminded of when we step outside this March. This doesn’t mean that spring lawn care procedures should not be followed though. It’s cold now, but in the coming weeks, we will see the sun begin to shine again and weather will begin to feel like spring. One thing we all need to do in spring, is to start scalping our warm season lawns!

So how do you scalp a lawn properly, and why?

• Firstly, make sure you have warm season grass, like bermuda or zoysia. Cool season grasses, like fescue, will not
  

  Scalping lawn

  benefit from cutting it shorter this time of year.

• Before you start, make sure all of the left over frost from winter is gone. If frost still exists, you could actually do more harm than good.
• You might wonder, just how short you need to cut for it to be considered scalping. Put your mowing blades on its lowest level to efficiently scalp your lawn.
• The act of scalping your lawn removes dry and dormant turf, and can actually help prevent weed problems during the coming months.

History is not often synonymous with lawn care. But its roots are rich and vibrant, dating back to medieval times. Many events, inventions and occurrences had to happen to bring us the yards of today. Simply Green has compiled a timeline of key happenings in lawn care.

• The lawn, as we know it, seems to have European origins. Some of the earliest lawns were the grasslands around medieval castles in France and Britain. These areas were kept clear of trees and shrubbery so guards had a plain view of what was around them.
• 16th Century – The renaissance of the 16th century saw lawns being deliberately cultivated by the rich in France and England.
  • The greenery used was most likely not the grass we are used to today. Something like thyme may have been used for ground cover.
• 17th Century –  The first closely and meticulously manicured lawns appear. It was still a luxury only the rich could afford, because teams had to be hired to use scythes, and weed the grass. Having a manicured lawn in these days was a status symbol and a mark of wealth.
• 1800’s – The lawn didn’t become widely popular in North American until the Industrial Revolution. It was seen as an unnecessary expense up until then.
• 1828 – The term, “landscape architecture”, was coined by a Scottish man, Gilbert Laing Meason, in his book, On The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy. Though this term was used in reference to painters, it worked its way into lawn care.
• 1830 – Englishman Edwin Bear Budding was granted the patent for the first mechanical lawn mower, known as the reel lawn mower.
• 1915 – The U.S Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Golf Association collaborate to find the right types of grass to suite all climate types. Some of the grasses in contention, are now household names. Bermuda from Africa, Blue Grass from Europe  and Fescue are all tested for American soil.
• 1940 – The rotary push mower is invented.
  • Inventions like the lawn mower make lawn care more realistic to the average homeowner.
• 1963 – The riding lawn mower is invented.

Today the average homeowner spends about 4 hours a week and 5 to 8.5 days out of the years on their lawns. We have come a long way since medieval castles.

Let us help you keep history alive! Contact us for your landscaping needs!

Photo Credit: Flickr 2.0 CC via Antonio Cinotti

Most businesses love to hear of a job well done from its customers. Here, at Simply Green, a good customer testimonial means more than just a pat on the back though, it’s also a reminder of why we do what we do.

If you walk into our office, you will see a wall that is dedicated to our team member’s outstanding customer service. When customers tell us a team member is going above and beyond expectations, both the customer’s name and the team member’s name are placed on the George Morrell Customer Service Wall of Fame. George was one of the partners at Simply Green, but he lost his 18 year battle with cancer in October 2012.  George is missed around here, and anytime our customers brag on our team members, it reminds us why we are in the business of providing service. So if you want to brag on one of our team members, please do, it really makes our day! We love what we do, and strive to keep your lawn looking better and better.

Keep us in the loop, and let us know what we can help you prepare for spring! Also, follow Simply Green Lawn Care on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus for more up-to-date lawn care and Simply Green news.