Winter Grass. Sounds like an oxymoron right? Not quite…
Annual Winter rye grass is an example of one type of grass that will keep your lawn looking green throughout the winter months. While not as heat resistant as many midwestern lawns, this type of rye grass does seem to enjoy (or at least survive) the harsh winters.
Perennial rye is a permanent lawn choice in cooler climate areas, while annual is seeded yearly and lives for one season.
Landscape Lighting can be a quick and easy way to increase the value of your beautiful lawn. Why only enjoy your front or back yard during the daylight hours? When deciding to install lighting, ask yourself the purpose…
Maybe you want to set a nice romantic mood, or maybe you are trying to increase the safety of your house at night. No matter the reason, make a sketch of your yard and decide where to place your lighting before you begin purchasing. This planning process should ensure that your next landscaping project will be a success!
Ryan Lawn and Tree has once again won Angie’s List Super Service Award!
Angie’s List is a website that aggregates verified consumer reviews of service companies as a way to “capture word-of-mouth-wisdom“. Angie’s list has around 1.5 million subscribers throughout the United States and Canada who post about 40,000 reviews each month.
The Super Service Award is presented to approximately 5% of eligible companies. Essentially the rating is determined by the number of positive and total reports received regarding the company. A company that has strived for excellent customer service, and has received recommendations through the Angie’s List website is up for consideration.
Thank you for helping us acheive this prestigious award every year since 2005!
Visit Angie’s List!
While the midwest weather has remained fairly mild so far, we all know that winter snow and ice storms are just around the corner…
Ice storms especially can pose quite a hazard; especially when large trees overhang your house or street. Dead trees and branches are likely to pose the greatest hazard during these storms, and broken or ragged branches are the most likely to develop tree-weakening diseases.
Pruning your trees late-winter or early spring will be best for most trees as it allows the tree to concentrate its stored energy on a few branches. This time of year is also a less busy time for tree surgeons and arborists.
Make sure to call your Ryan pruning experts to help prevent any damage from this year’s winter storms!
Landscaping your lawn has become more than just keeping your grass green and the flowers blooming… Lawn decorations are a fad that won’t seem to go away.
When deciding how to spice up your next landscaping job consider these popular choices:
1. Pink Lawn Flamingos: Yes, these pink plastic birds are still around. In fact, after half a century, a larger variety abounds than ever before!
2. Lawn Gnomes: These cute but creepy looking creatures can now be found in a never ending variety of sports jerseys, colors, and more…
3. Bathtubs/Toilets: Normally found in bathrooms – antique versions are sprouting up in many lawns. While water may not run through them anymore, watering of the plants contained within them will probably be necessary.
4. Boats: Have an old boat that will never see the ocean (or lakes) waves again? Well bury your version of the titanic into the soil and start growing some plants in it!
5. Dinosaurs/Zombies: Revive these dead species (if you can consider a zombie a species) in the comfort of your own back yard… or at least it was comfortable.
6. Behinds – A great way to keep those pesky neighborhood kids out of your lawn. A small sculpture of a gardner with his pants falling down his legs can be a great comic relief when the summer heat cranks up.
For a few more lawn decoration ideas check out Connect Utilities
Have you ever become bored while mowing your grass? Do you sometimes wish your front lawn looked like the outfield of your favorite baseball team? Well here’s a simple way to add a bit of excitement to your mowing escapade (and maybe work off that extra scoop of ice cream you had after lunch).
The answer to all your problems can be solved with two 5 lb. weights. You know… those things that have been collecting dust in your garage for the past few years. All you need to do is take these two weights and duct tape them SECURELY to the flap on the rear of your push mower. Mow your lawn in a back and forth pattern (drink plenty of water) and a beautifully striped lawn will be your reward.
Now if you get extra bored, mix up the pattern… maybe some diamonds or a giant spiral will fire you up.
For more information on how this contraption was invented check out this website.
While some NFL stadiums have taken to the artificial turf craze, all of us here at Ryan Lawn and Tree are happy to hear that natural turf is still top dog. According to last year’s NFLPA Playing Surface Survey, players overwhelmingly preferred to play on grass.
The survey revealed that 82.4% of responding players believe that artificial surfaces are more likely to contribute injury, 89.1% feel that artificial surfaces create more soreness and fatigue, and 89.7% feel artificial surfaces are more likely to shorten their playing career. While the players do prefer grass fields, most agreed that cities such as Pittsburgh and Chicago should give in to the artificial turf due to such harsh winters.
Next time you collapse into your La-Z-Boy on a lazy Sunday afternoon, take a moment to admire the field. Here’s a list of the top 5 playing surfaces in the NFL:
1. University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona Cardinals
2. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Chargers
4. Bank of America Stadium, Carolina Panthers
5. Lambeau Field, Green Bay Packers
Click to read more about the NFLPA Playing Surface Survey
While Ryan Lawn & Tree may be in the business of keeping your trees alive and healthy, the trees currently burning in your fireplace may seem most important during the cold winter months.
Firewood is one of the world’s oldest renewable natural resources. The wood is obtained from unusable or unwanted building supplies.
When looking for firewood choose wood that has been properly aged. Wood that has been air dried for at least a year will prove the most effective. When firewood is moist, the wood consumes its own energy to evaporate the water rather than throwing the heat off into your living room. To quicken the time that it takes for the wood to dry, it is split through the bark that holds the watertight seal of the tree’s inner core.
As a general rule, store purchased firewood in a dry place for at least one year before use.
To learn more about the history, identification, and use of firewood visit About Firewood
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We all know the Christmas Tree is a symbol of the Holiday, but here are a few facts that you may not have known about the tree:
To read more fun facts about the history and evolution of the Christmas Tree visit Christmas Tree Facts
Axel Erlandson (1884-1964) dedicated his life to the art of sculpting, pruning, and bending trees. The result: 28 beautifully sculpted trees that helped everyone appreciate the awe that nature can provide.
Here are a few pictures of the trees that Erlandson crafted:
The Ladder Tree: Created from two Box Elders, all nine rings on the ladder truly are climable. These trees can still be viewed in Gilroy, California at the Gilroy Gardens!
The Basket Tree: One of Erlandson’s most demanding designs, the basket tree is created by planting six sycamore trees in a circle. Through a process of slowing growth, and then speeding it up, the trees are grown together in a diamond pattern.
To read more about these wonderful trees visit A Short History of Axel Erlandson
