Winter protection for roses
Hybrid roses, beautiful but sometimes intimidating, can bloom year after year with a little protection during the winter. Mound soil about a foot high around the base of the plant; place hardware cloth tight to the ground and wrap around the plant, filling with oak leaves or straw. This will help to protect from freezing temps and rabbits feasting on the plant. To help avoid desiccation, don’t prune back canes of the plant until spring.
Mary Kowalski
More info on Hybrid rose winter care
Shrub rose winter care
Welcome home
The entry steals the show for this newly built home in Mequon. With an English made fountain as the entrys focal point, natural materials such as patterned bluestone, (full range), and tumbled cobbles were used with a unique interwoven design. Landscape lighting completed this installation making the space beautiful both night and day.
Plant now for the beauty of Spring Bulbs
Don’t forget to plant those spring bulbs in fall. The following are some that I incorporate in my designs which are super hardy and deer resistant. I love Grape Hyacinth, Giant Hyacinth, Daffodils, Allium, Snowdrops and Glory of the Snow. Have fun and plant some bulbs!!
Getting the most out of a quaint backyard
Hawks created a beautiful raised patio/rear entry for this home in Wauwatosa. The project included custom cut curved limestone steps, an upper brick and bluestone patio, a lower brick patio as well as a built in grill/bar for entertaining. A limestone wall with bluestone caps along the side acts as both a railing as well as a seat wall.
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!
Pachysandra problems Volutella disease
Pachysandra is a wonderful ground cover, but a stem and leaf blight can wipe out an entire planting. Brown to black blotches on the leaves and stems and unusual large dead patches of plant is what to watch for. If you catch it early enough, three early spring applications of commercial strength fungicide will help keep the disease under control.
