Category: Newsletter

Fall Leaves

The bulk of the leaves are falling this month and as usual we are busy performing leaf removals at many properties. Removing the leaves keeps them from piling up on the property and helps keep the landscape looking neat through the season. If you would like for us to remove the leaves from your property, give us a call to be scheduled.

Gutter Cleaning

One tedious chore that tends to become an issue every fall is cleaning gutters. With all the leaves falling it doesn't take long for your gutters to clog and spill over, making a mess and posing a more serious issue if you have underground drainage. DJS performs gutter cleaning and would love to take care of this chore for you this fall!

Leaves on the Lawn

If you are like us, you are probably stopping to enjoy the beautiful shades of yellows, reds, and oranges we see filling the trees this time of year. This is personally one of my favorite times of the year! The leaves are beautiful, but the annual cleanup isn't so much to look forward to. It is very important that the leaves be cleaned up though. If leaves are left to lay on the lawn, they will smother and kill the grass underneath as well as detract from the beauty of the yard. Let DJS take care of your leaf cleanup this season and let the beauty of your landscape shine all through the season!

Fire Pits

Nothing quite goes with a crisp fall evening like a fire in the backyard. Whether its making s'mores or just relaxing listening to the crackle of the wood, a fire pit can be the center of many memories. We offer fire pits in a variety of styles to match any taste and always install with the utmost care to ensure it will last for years to come. Let us build you this centerpiece of outdoor living that is sure to spark great memories for everyone!

Winter Annuals

Fall is now in full swing and its time to replace your summer annuals with winter annuals. Replacing them now will keep them from dying in the ground and looking unpleasant in your landscape as well as give the winter annuals time to get in the ground for the coming cold. Mums, pansies, and greens such as kale are a great way to give your landscape a pop of color during the fall and winter months.

Proper Watering

One question we get so often this time of year is, "How much water does my lawn need since it has been seeded?" The proper amount of water to sustain yet not drown the fresh seed is 1" per week. Whether you have an irrigation system or water manually, it is vital your lawn receive the correct amount of water. The best way to measure the amount of water your lawn is receiving is by placing a rain gauge in your yard. This will measure any water your lawn is receiving, whether from rain or your irrigation system.

Sure We Can

So many conversations with customers start out by them asking "Can you" followed by whatever the specific question may be. You don't even have to finish the question; the answer is "Sure We Can!" Whatever the project may be that you have in mind for your landscape, we can handle it. Not only do we have years of experience in lawn maintenance and turf applications, our team has experience with hardscapes such as fire pits, outdoor kitchens, paver walkways and patios, and retaining walls. Water features, custom landscape design and installation, landscape lighting, tree and shrub applications, seeding and aeration, and winter weather care are all services we do and the list could go on! Suffice it to say, with the exception of high tree work, if it is in your yard, the answer is "Sure We Can!"

Fall Veggies

Summer is winding down and fall is just around the corner, but the gardening opportunities aren't over yet. Fall is the prime time for getting many of your vegetables in the ground so they are ready to harvest and enjoy by the holiday season. A few veggies to plant this fall would be endive, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, and turnip. So whether you're just looking to exercise your green thumb or get something home-grown on the dinner plate, planting a fall vegetable garden is an enjoyable way to get outdoors this fall!

Aeration and Seeding

Aeration and seeding is an important part of maintaining a healthy lawn over multiple years. The process introduces fresh seed which promotes new growth and thickness in the lawn. Aeration loosens the soil before the seed is applied boosting the capability of the seed to take. The seed is applied with a broadcast spreader over the entire lawn to ensure an even application. The seed we use is a proprietary blend of tall fescue grass that is blended for DJS only - our own private label, if you will. This important process of seeding and aeration will be beginning soon. Contact us today to have your lawn seeded and aerated!

Vacation Lawn Maintenance

Summer is beginning to wind down and schools will be starting soon, but many are trying to sneak in last-minute getaways before the school year starts. If you are one of our customers who do not receive lawn maintenance, but would like to while you are out of town, we would be happy to take care of it while you are gone. Just contact us and let us know when you need lawn maintenance.

Lawn Care

One of our goals as a landscape company is to ensure our customers have a lush, green lawn year-round. In order to accomplish this, we have designed a lawn care program that provides your lawn with the nutrients as well as the protection it needs to stay healthy.

Applications occur throughout the year and each one is applied at the optimal time to ensure the best results. Applications include fertilizer, lime, and pre- and post-emergent weed control. Fungicide can be added to the program to prevent and eliminate fungi growing in the yard.

This program used in tandem with our seeding and aeration in the fall has seen proven results over many years!

If your are interested in taking your lawn to the next level and have the lawn you have always dreamed about, we would be honored to help make that a reality! Contact us today about our lawn care program.

For the Birds

One neat summer activity that is easy to enjoy from the comfort of your home is watching the ruby-throated hummingbirds that visit North Carolina every year to breed. These birds are attracted to a variety of flowers but can easily be brought to your yard by the placement of a feeder.

Placing the feeder by a window is a great way to view these birds while indoors, and all that is needed for the nectar is four parts water and one part white sugar.Through the placement of a feeder you can enjoy the beauty of wildlife in the comfort of home.

Poison Ivy

This summer as you spend time outdoors, be sure to watch for poison oak and poison ivy. These plants typically can be
identified with their "leaves of three" although some kinds of poison oak can have five, seven, or nine leaves per cluster. Poison ivy can be seen as ground cover, a shrub, or a vine; while poison oak is seen mostly as a shrub. These plants cause an allergic reaction to most people and result in a very itchy rash. Treatment can be found at your local pharmacy but avoiding these plants altogether makes life a little easier.

Backyard Planter Box

We all love the taste of fruits, vegetables, and herbs picked fresh from the garden, but not everyone has the space or the time to install and maintain a full garden. Planter boxes are the perfect solution that will give you the capability to grow these fresh foods right in your own backyard! Our crews have installed many planter boxes and would love to help you find your green thumb this summer

Copperhead Awareness

As the weather warms and we spend more time outdoors, one danger to watch for is snakes, particularly copperheads. These poisonous snakes are found in NC and adapt fairly easily to urban areas. Copperheads like to hide in leaves, piles of brush or other debris, but also will bask in the sun; they will normally stay in an area that will provide both things. Keep an eye out for copperheads this season and remove any item that would give an easy place for a copperhead to find shelter.

Sun Protection

As landscapers, one of the precautions we must take is protecting ourselves from prolonged exposure to the sun. This is something that we must all be careful of in these hot North Carolina summers. We all enjoy being outdoors, but sun burn or sun poisoning is painful and can lead to skin cancer down the road, no matter ones complexion.

The American Cancer Society recommends wearing appropriate clothing that protects from the sun as well as hats and sunglasses. The proper application and reapplication of sunscreen helps filter UV rays that harm the skin exposed to the sun.

At DJS, we want all our employees and customers to enjoy the beautiful season we are in and to be safe in doing so.