We will be taking a break this week from planning our outdoor space and look forward to March 20 2011, the first day of spring! Only 11 days away, it feels as though this spring is springing upon us just in time. With this winter seemingly extra difficult on even the most hardy of us, it's time to celebrate an end, and a beginning. Warmer, longer days will give you more time to enjoy the outdoors and improve your landscape. Here are five things to look forward to doing in the very near future: Spring clean-ups. All of that heavy, wet snow this year has surely taken a toll on the trees around …

Itching to get your soil tested after last week’s column? Well, after this rain filled week, I’m sure that more than one of you reading this right now have been inundated by ponding water on their lawn, or in their soon - to - be garden areas. The forces of heavy rains, warmer temperatures and quickly melting snow have combined to demonstrate beautifully, and in some cases quite inconveniently, one of the most notable features of soil structure - its drainage characteristics. Different types of soils drain differently, ans all have varying levels of nutrients  and organic matter in them. The …

Did you know that there are labs in the area that will test your soil for you and give you recommendations as to what additives can be applied to modify the soil pH, structure, and composition? In fact, one of these labs and leading agricultural schools is located right here in Massachusetts. UMass Amherst provides many services in addition to soil testing that can be found on their website. These services are available to the professional landscaper and homeowner alike. After last week’s article Designing Your Outdoor Space – Pt. 1 Don’t Forget the Spaghetti Stain, you should already be …

In this week’s edition of Scope of the 'Scape, we will start to develop a plan for your outdoor space. Over the next several weeks, we'll look at the different aspects that go into a good landscape design and pay particular attention to the specific function that each area serves. We will begin today by addressing the current state of your yard. Have you ever spilled something on yourself, and were not able to change out of the stained article of clothing because you were at a restaurant or an event, or just not near home? Most of us have at one point or another, and the first reaction is to …

In my first column; Winter is the Time for Planning Not Hibernation, I spoke about the trade event New England Grows, one of the premier horticultural and trade show events for landscape, tree service and grounds management professionals. This year’s event took place Feb. to 4 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Unfortunately, this year’s expo was cut short for many of us who work in the green industries, due to the major snowstorm that impacted the area. The show continued on, but many attendees, including myself were preoccupied with the task of digging out from the seventh …

Piles, upon piles of snow everywhere. This winter the white stuff has been falling on an almost every other day rate, and many of you have at least considered hiring a professional snow plowing contractor. But how do you know you are hiring the right one? Here are some tips for hiring the perfect contractor for your snow plowing needs.  1.) Is the contractor insured? This should be the first question asked to any prospective contractor. There is a very high liability in the snow and ice management industry. Poor road conditions and poor visibility can lead to mistakes, which could add up to …

As I write this article, the temperature outside is a frigid four degrees below zero fahrenheit. Strange time to begin a landscaping column wouldn't you think? Well, not exactly. In fact, winter is the best time of year to plan and research projects for the upcoming spring and summer around your home or business. With a plethora of learning resources available, winter is without a doubt the best time for planning your outdoor projects. Two of the nations largest horticultural trade shows take place every year in Boston. One of which, New England Grows, is an excellent resource for nearly …