275 results for author: Mike Jones
Landscape lighting
Landscape lighting has come a long way in recent years. Including super-efficient LED lamps (for both new and existing systems), more sophisticated timers that adjust not only for daylight savings but, also for longer and shorter days! New, more elaborate systems can adjust/dim light levels, control individual lights, be controlled from your phone and even change colors. How about “setting up your holiday décor” by simply adjusting your landscape light colors via your smart phone!
Brookfield great escape
Hawks created this great escape in Brookfield for these homeowners who wanted to sit and enjoy the small pond in their backyard. We used all natural materials including lannonstone outcropping walls and steps, full range bluestone (both patterned as well as irregular), and tumbled lannon cobbles. The patterned bluestone “rug” set in the irregular bluestone sets off this great space when viewed from inside.
Pruning Big Leaf Hydrangeas (macrophylla)
The timing of pruning is very important on this plant. They bloom on old wood, so pruning is done in summer before next year’s flowers start to set. You may prune as the plant is flowering. Weak and poorly formed branches should be removed and on well-established plants, some good branches could also be removed to force new growth that will have flowers next year. Don’t prune after July! Flower bud hardiness is a concern, sometimes because it is too cold, other times because the plant breaks dormancy too early.