Latta Springs Landscaping Tips
Content
Special Edition Latta Springs Landscaping News
Latta Springs Landscape Committee News
The Latta Springs Landscape Committee works with the HOA and management company to enhance the natural beauty of our community within the restrictions of the HOA regulations and budget. Committee members oversee the common areas and recommend improvements to those areas, such as planting, pruning and mulching. They also encourage homeowners to enhance the natural beauty of their landscape and ensure that homeowners’ landscaping meet the HOA covenants. Round-Up won’t do it). And know that even though the leaves die back in the winter, there is still urushiol to be found in the vines that spread underground. If you are exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac (less likely as this grows in wet areas and is not as common), wash skin thoroughly with a heavy duty or grease cutting soap, or use an over-the-counter poison ivy treatment solution to remove the oil from your skin. If you end up with a rash, don’t scratch! Apply calamine or another anti -itch topical. If the rash worsens or spreads, you may need to visit the doctor.
Protect Your Irrigation System
If you have an irrigation system, late October or early November is the best time to winterize the system so you don’t end up with broken and leaking pipes . The basic steps are: 1. Shut off the water to the irrigation system at the main. 2. Release pressure in the pipes by turning on the valves. 3. Make sure that all water in the system has been drained. If you would like to learn more about doing it yourself, there’s an informative article at http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/winter.htm, or you may find a neighbor with an irrigation system who can help. Otherwise, go ahead and have it done by a professional. Don’t forget in the spring to test for leaks as soon as you turn the irrigation water back on—no one wants a surprise water bill!
Do I Need to Aerate and Overseed?
The soil in this area of NC is heavy on clay and tends to be acidic. It makes growing grass an uphill battle. If you have a Tall Fescue yard, the best time to aerate is in the fall. For Bermuda yards, early June is best. The first step is to adjust the pH, if needed, by spreading powdered lime over your yard. Aerating is the second step. A core aerating machine is used to punch holes in the dirt every few inches (approximately 12 punches per square foot). This allows oxygen to get to the grass roots and helps to break up any thatch in your yard. It also makes it easier for water and fertilizer to get to the roots. If you choose to rent a thatching machine, you may want to go in with a couple of neighbors to reduce the cost. Two things to remember: if you can’t find a rental place that takes reservations, you’ll need to get there early as this is a popular fall rental; and even with the machine, this is tough work—if you aren’t used to strenuous work, you may want to pay someone to do it! Overseeding is the next step. Use a spreader to put down good quality grass seed, followed by a starter fertilizer. Make sure you buy the right kind of grass seed and don’t go for the really cheap stuff—it doesn’t always germinate. Finally, make sure your lawn gets plenty of water to get the seed to germinate. The seed should be kept damp until it germinates. This should take 1-2 weeks. Once it sprouts, cut your lawn watering back to a deeper watering less frequently.
Are You Allergic To Urushiol?
Most of us are. Urushiol is the oily compound in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac that causes that fun itching and rash so many of us experience. Latta Springs is a wonderful place to live. Unfortunately, the poison ivy vines agree. A picture of poison ivy is shown here. If you s ee this in your yard, you’ll want to spray it with a heavy-duty brush killer (regular
Trimming Your Trees
The maples should be trimmed based on the diagram provided. As a general reminder, maples should only be trimmed in fall or winter to avoid damaging the trees. Generally, branches should be cut to within 1” of the trunk. When trimming, remember that when the trees begin to grow in the spring there will be some downward growth. Trimming the trees higher than the height shown may look awkward now, but will look better after the leaves grow back. The diagram shown below has the recommended measurements; however there are cases when you will need to take the tree higher than shown—especially if it is blocking a stop sign or street sign. Also take care as you are trimming to remove any bands, rope or plastic that may be leftover from when the trees were planted by the builder. Numerous trees in the neighborhood have rope dangling and several will be damaged by plastic ties around their branches and trunks. Trees planted more than 12 months ago should not require staking except in unusual cases. Special Request from the Town of Huntersville: The Town has asked that all residents and HOAs clear tree limbs within 2’ of any traffic signs to ensure visibility. Other requirements can be found at www.huntersville.org.
your property and make suggestions at no charge. There are also websites with tons of helpful information. The best choice you can make is to use native plants in your landscape. These plants will generally do better than nonnatives, requiring less care and survi ving our NC weather patterns. Non-native plants that have adapted well to the NC climate are referred to as “naturalized” plants. A great example is the Japanese maple tree. It is very important to make sure you do not use invasive plants in your yard. These plants are typically non-native, have few or no natural “enemies”, spread quickly and choke out native plantings. Some garden centers still offer these plants for sale, so you’ll need to know which ones to avoid. A surprising number of commonly found plants are on the invasive list, including mimosa trees, English ivy, and Bradford Pears. A great source of information is the NC Native Plant Society. Their invasive species list can be found at: http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/list.htm The society also offers a list of recommended native and naturalized plants.
Perennials, Annuals, or Bulbs?
Garden centers sell many types of flowering plants for your yard and garden. If you read the tags, you will see these plants classified as either annuals or perennials. Annuals are flowers that typically live only one season. These include snapdragons, begonias, petunias, marigolds, etc. Annual flowers are usually inexpensive, grow quickly and give your yard a great punch of color. While the majority of these flowers love sun, a few, like impatiens, are good for shady areas. Most annuals should be planted i n the spring after the last frost (usually around April 15 in our area). Annuals that are heat tolerant may last all summer. Pansies are the best choice around here for fall annuals, as they tolerate the cold much better than other annuals. Perennials are hardier plants that go dormant during the winter months but will generally come back in the spring. These include verbena, coreopsis, English daisy, black-eyed Susan, Gerbera daisy, iris, etc. Perennials will generally cost more because they do not need to be replaced each year. They can be planted in the fall, but you may find a better selection in the spring. Flowering bulbs are another popular choice. These include tulips and daffodils. Bulbs should be planted in November and mulched for the winter. These flowers will bloom every spring for years to come.
9/18/10
Crazy Grass!
As anyone who has planted decorative grasses or daylilies can attest, these are generally fast and furious growers. If your grasses & lilies have gotten out of control, you can easily split their roots and transplant a portion of the plant to another area (or give it to an unsuspecting neighbor ). These plants are dormant in the late fall and winter, so this is the perfect time to split the roots and replant.
Beautify Your Yard – Go Native
Most home buyers gravitate toward homes with established trees and attractive landscaping. While you can hire a professional landscaper to work with you on a plan based on your outdoor activities and usage of the space, many of us are comfortable doing the work ourselves. There are so many wonderful plants, the challenge can be picking the best ones to use in your yard. Most nurseries are more than happy to help you find the best trees or shrubs for your yard; many will even look at a sketch of
Get the Lowdown on Mowing & Edging
Here are some mowing tips: Cut your grass to 2.53.5 ” in height; shorter can cause it to become stressed in the heat and allow weeds to gain a foothold. The exception is the final cutting in the fall—you can go a notch or two lower then as the grass goes dormant for the winter. Cut no more than 1/3 of the height at any time. Cut when the grass is dry and make sure your lawn mower blade is sharp (if the blade is dull, the grass will look like it has been ripped instead of cut). If you cut regularly and the grass is not too high, you can leave clippings on the lawn. If you bag it, include the clippings in your yard waste bin. Advanced Disposal will accept yard waste bags for any overflow. If you do not use transparent bags (so they can see the contents), then leave the tops open. Edging along the sidewalks and driveway weekly gives a “tended” look to your yard and is easier to maintain. If you have not edged in a while, it may be worth paying someone to edge with professional quality equipment, and then you can maintain it.
Planting Times, Trimming Times
Timing can be everything when trimming bushes or pruning trees. While many trees are best pruned in the late fall and winter, most bushes do better with a trim in early spring. The exception here are flowering bushes and trees, which should be trimmed AFTER they flower. As an example, rhododendrons set their flower buds in August and September, so if you trim in the spring, you will lose the flowers. Waiting until after they bloom will provide a much better garden show! For information on when to trim a specific type of plant, check out www.gardenguides.com. There is an art to pruning your trees and bushes. Ideally, trees should be shaped and cross-branches or other deformities removed when the tree is young. The North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNCC offers a useful guide on how to prune to achieve great results. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/agpubs/ag -071.pdf
Mulching Around Your Trees
A little mulch around your trees is a good thing —but too much in the wrong spot can be deadly. Do not mulch any higher than the base of the tree where the trunk begins to fan out a little. Doing so will create stress to the tree and eventually result in disease and insect infestation. Also be on the look-out for girdling root. (This commonly occurs in maple trees.) This is a root that grows around the trunk of the tree, tending to strangle the tree. You can expose them by removing all soil and mulch around the base of the tree. If the tree is young, you may be able to remove the girdling root yourself by cutting it off, otherwise consult a certified arborist.
Some Popular NC Trees
Southern Magnolia Red Bud River Birch Red Maple Southern Red Oak Flowering Dogwood Eastern Red Cedar Crape Myrtle
Don’t forget to mix colors and textures when adding new plantings for aesthetic interest!
My, How Things Change
Have you ever pulled out the pictures you took of your house when you first moved in and compared them to what your house looks like today? We don’t usually recognize how much the trees have grown and the plants matured until we compare to how it used to be. Give it a look —you’ll be amazed!
BEFORE
AFTER
9/18/10
Latta Springs Landscape Committee News
The Latta Springs Landscape Committee works with the HOA and management company to enhance the natural beauty of our community within the restrictions of the HOA regulations and budget. Committee members oversee the common areas and recommend improvements to those areas, such as planting, pruning and mulching. They also encourage homeowners to enhance the natural beauty of their landscape and ensure that homeowners’ landscaping meet the HOA covenants. Round-Up won’t do it). And know that even though the leaves die back in the winter, there is still urushiol to be found in the vines that spread underground. If you are exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac (less likely as this grows in wet areas and is not as common), wash skin thoroughly with a heavy duty or grease cutting soap, or use an over-the-counter poison ivy treatment solution to remove the oil from your skin. If you end up with a rash, don’t scratch! Apply calamine or another anti -itch topical. If the rash worsens or spreads, you may need to visit the doctor.
Protect Your Irrigation System
If you have an irrigation system, late October or early November is the best time to winterize the system so you don’t end up with broken and leaking pipes . The basic steps are: 1. Shut off the water to the irrigation system at the main. 2. Release pressure in the pipes by turning on the valves. 3. Make sure that all water in the system has been drained. If you would like to learn more about doing it yourself, there’s an informative article at http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/winter.htm, or you may find a neighbor with an irrigation system who can help. Otherwise, go ahead and have it done by a professional. Don’t forget in the spring to test for leaks as soon as you turn the irrigation water back on—no one wants a surprise water bill!
Do I Need to Aerate and Overseed?
The soil in this area of NC is heavy on clay and tends to be acidic. It makes growing grass an uphill battle. If you have a Tall Fescue yard, the best time to aerate is in the fall. For Bermuda yards, early June is best. The first step is to adjust the pH, if needed, by spreading powdered lime over your yard. Aerating is the second step. A core aerating machine is used to punch holes in the dirt every few inches (approximately 12 punches per square foot). This allows oxygen to get to the grass roots and helps to break up any thatch in your yard. It also makes it easier for water and fertilizer to get to the roots. If you choose to rent a thatching machine, you may want to go in with a couple of neighbors to reduce the cost. Two things to remember: if you can’t find a rental place that takes reservations, you’ll need to get there early as this is a popular fall rental; and even with the machine, this is tough work—if you aren’t used to strenuous work, you may want to pay someone to do it! Overseeding is the next step. Use a spreader to put down good quality grass seed, followed by a starter fertilizer. Make sure you buy the right kind of grass seed and don’t go for the really cheap stuff—it doesn’t always germinate. Finally, make sure your lawn gets plenty of water to get the seed to germinate. The seed should be kept damp until it germinates. This should take 1-2 weeks. Once it sprouts, cut your lawn watering back to a deeper watering less frequently.
Are You Allergic To Urushiol?
Most of us are. Urushiol is the oily compound in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac that causes that fun itching and rash so many of us experience. Latta Springs is a wonderful place to live. Unfortunately, the poison ivy vines agree. A picture of poison ivy is shown here. If you s ee this in your yard, you’ll want to spray it with a heavy-duty brush killer (regular
Trimming Your Trees
The maples should be trimmed based on the diagram provided. As a general reminder, maples should only be trimmed in fall or winter to avoid damaging the trees. Generally, branches should be cut to within 1” of the trunk. When trimming, remember that when the trees begin to grow in the spring there will be some downward growth. Trimming the trees higher than the height shown may look awkward now, but will look better after the leaves grow back. The diagram shown below has the recommended measurements; however there are cases when you will need to take the tree higher than shown—especially if it is blocking a stop sign or street sign. Also take care as you are trimming to remove any bands, rope or plastic that may be leftover from when the trees were planted by the builder. Numerous trees in the neighborhood have rope dangling and several will be damaged by plastic ties around their branches and trunks. Trees planted more than 12 months ago should not require staking except in unusual cases. Special Request from the Town of Huntersville: The Town has asked that all residents and HOAs clear tree limbs within 2’ of any traffic signs to ensure visibility. Other requirements can be found at www.huntersville.org.
your property and make suggestions at no charge. There are also websites with tons of helpful information. The best choice you can make is to use native plants in your landscape. These plants will generally do better than nonnatives, requiring less care and survi ving our NC weather patterns. Non-native plants that have adapted well to the NC climate are referred to as “naturalized” plants. A great example is the Japanese maple tree. It is very important to make sure you do not use invasive plants in your yard. These plants are typically non-native, have few or no natural “enemies”, spread quickly and choke out native plantings. Some garden centers still offer these plants for sale, so you’ll need to know which ones to avoid. A surprising number of commonly found plants are on the invasive list, including mimosa trees, English ivy, and Bradford Pears. A great source of information is the NC Native Plant Society. Their invasive species list can be found at: http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/list.htm The society also offers a list of recommended native and naturalized plants.
Perennials, Annuals, or Bulbs?
Garden centers sell many types of flowering plants for your yard and garden. If you read the tags, you will see these plants classified as either annuals or perennials. Annuals are flowers that typically live only one season. These include snapdragons, begonias, petunias, marigolds, etc. Annual flowers are usually inexpensive, grow quickly and give your yard a great punch of color. While the majority of these flowers love sun, a few, like impatiens, are good for shady areas. Most annuals should be planted i n the spring after the last frost (usually around April 15 in our area). Annuals that are heat tolerant may last all summer. Pansies are the best choice around here for fall annuals, as they tolerate the cold much better than other annuals. Perennials are hardier plants that go dormant during the winter months but will generally come back in the spring. These include verbena, coreopsis, English daisy, black-eyed Susan, Gerbera daisy, iris, etc. Perennials will generally cost more because they do not need to be replaced each year. They can be planted in the fall, but you may find a better selection in the spring. Flowering bulbs are another popular choice. These include tulips and daffodils. Bulbs should be planted in November and mulched for the winter. These flowers will bloom every spring for years to come.
9/18/10
Crazy Grass!
As anyone who has planted decorative grasses or daylilies can attest, these are generally fast and furious growers. If your grasses & lilies have gotten out of control, you can easily split their roots and transplant a portion of the plant to another area (or give it to an unsuspecting neighbor ). These plants are dormant in the late fall and winter, so this is the perfect time to split the roots and replant.
Beautify Your Yard – Go Native
Most home buyers gravitate toward homes with established trees and attractive landscaping. While you can hire a professional landscaper to work with you on a plan based on your outdoor activities and usage of the space, many of us are comfortable doing the work ourselves. There are so many wonderful plants, the challenge can be picking the best ones to use in your yard. Most nurseries are more than happy to help you find the best trees or shrubs for your yard; many will even look at a sketch of
Get the Lowdown on Mowing & Edging
Here are some mowing tips: Cut your grass to 2.53.5 ” in height; shorter can cause it to become stressed in the heat and allow weeds to gain a foothold. The exception is the final cutting in the fall—you can go a notch or two lower then as the grass goes dormant for the winter. Cut no more than 1/3 of the height at any time. Cut when the grass is dry and make sure your lawn mower blade is sharp (if the blade is dull, the grass will look like it has been ripped instead of cut). If you cut regularly and the grass is not too high, you can leave clippings on the lawn. If you bag it, include the clippings in your yard waste bin. Advanced Disposal will accept yard waste bags for any overflow. If you do not use transparent bags (so they can see the contents), then leave the tops open. Edging along the sidewalks and driveway weekly gives a “tended” look to your yard and is easier to maintain. If you have not edged in a while, it may be worth paying someone to edge with professional quality equipment, and then you can maintain it.
Planting Times, Trimming Times
Timing can be everything when trimming bushes or pruning trees. While many trees are best pruned in the late fall and winter, most bushes do better with a trim in early spring. The exception here are flowering bushes and trees, which should be trimmed AFTER they flower. As an example, rhododendrons set their flower buds in August and September, so if you trim in the spring, you will lose the flowers. Waiting until after they bloom will provide a much better garden show! For information on when to trim a specific type of plant, check out www.gardenguides.com. There is an art to pruning your trees and bushes. Ideally, trees should be shaped and cross-branches or other deformities removed when the tree is young. The North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNCC offers a useful guide on how to prune to achieve great results. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/agpubs/ag -071.pdf
Mulching Around Your Trees
A little mulch around your trees is a good thing —but too much in the wrong spot can be deadly. Do not mulch any higher than the base of the tree where the trunk begins to fan out a little. Doing so will create stress to the tree and eventually result in disease and insect infestation. Also be on the look-out for girdling root. (This commonly occurs in maple trees.) This is a root that grows around the trunk of the tree, tending to strangle the tree. You can expose them by removing all soil and mulch around the base of the tree. If the tree is young, you may be able to remove the girdling root yourself by cutting it off, otherwise consult a certified arborist.
Some Popular NC Trees
Southern Magnolia Red Bud River Birch Red Maple Southern Red Oak Flowering Dogwood Eastern Red Cedar Crape Myrtle
Don’t forget to mix colors and textures when adding new plantings for aesthetic interest!
My, How Things Change
Have you ever pulled out the pictures you took of your house when you first moved in and compared them to what your house looks like today? We don’t usually recognize how much the trees have grown and the plants matured until we compare to how it used to be. Give it a look —you’ll be amazed!
BEFORE
AFTER
9/18/10
