Suncrest Landscape, Inc.

Fall Yard Prep El Dorado Hills #2 – Weed Control

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 08:56:00 GMT

To continue our discussion of fall yard prep in El Dorado Hills from earlier this month , fall is the time to take care of your yard in preparation for spring. Think of fall yard prep as feed and weed time. Feed your plants and lawn and take control of those perennial weeds.

Just like your lawn is gearing up for the winter by absorbing nutrients into its roots, weeds are doing the same. This makes them much more receptive to a systemic herbicide. Herbicides will be moved into the weed’s root system, which is exactly what you need to get rid of those problematic weeds. Better to do it now than the spring when they’ll be in a period of rapid growth and spread.

You need to do weed control in the fall, so long as the weed foliage is present and appears to be healthy. A lot of times this means to continue your summer watering into the fall. Strangely enough, the weeds need to be healthy in order for you to kill them off. The health of the weeds’ leaves are the key to successful absorption of any herbicide spray. You’ll want to use a combination of two weed killers to control the broad spectrum of weeds. Glyphosate for grasses and 2,4-D for broadleaves.

The weather also needs to still be relatively warm (mid 50’s during the day at least) for best absorption. Once weeds go into hibernation, your best bet is going to be to walk around the yard with trowel and rake in hand to remove those weeds.

Another way to aid in weed control is to fertilize your lawn . A strong, healthy lawn will leave less openings for weeds to take root.

The overall health of your yard requires time, knowledge, and personal commitment. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. will help ensure your yard is ready for the winter through healthy soil, effective drainage, and correct fertilization. We work one project at a time to ensure that you are always our first priority. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. today and let us help protect your home from drainage issues.

Fall Yard Prep El Dorado Hills #1 – Your Lawn

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 13:39:00 GMT

Fall is the best time to take care of your lawn and to prepare it for the spring. As winter weather approaches, plants start prepping themselves for the cold ahead. They pull all of the nutrients that they can and store them in their roots. This is to help them to survive shortened daylight hours, equaling less sun (and less photosynthesis).

Your lawn is looking to absorb any nutrients it can, which makes it very receptive to care. For now, continue to water and mow as you’ve been doing throughout the summer. To increase the health of your lawn, you’ll need to fertilize it. Fertilizing your grass in the fall both repairs damage from the summer heat and builds strong, deep roots for the winter.

Ideally, you want to fertilize at least 6 weeks prior to the first frost. In El Dorado Hills, that typically happens around the beginning of December. Given the atypical weathers that we’ve had the last few years, this may or may not be the case this year. Look for a fertilizer that is a 13-25-12 formula. The three numbers represent the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) that are present in the fertilizer. Nitrogen promotes grass blade growth. Phosphorous helps root growth, which you really want to push in November. Lastly, Potassium focuses on cell function and aids in the absorption of trace elements.

Look for a slow-releasing fertilizer, given the choice. Lawn fertilizers that have slow-releasing formulas are more costly, but they are less likely to burn your lawn. These fertilizers will also encourage uniform growth of your lawn. Just don’t expect a quick green up of your lawn. This will be more slow and steady.

The overall health of your lawn requires time, knowledge, and personal commitment. If you’re finding that after the warm, dry summer we’ve had in El Dorado Hills your lawn is looking tired and dead, you should consider professional help. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. can help ensure your lawn thrives through healthy soil, effective drainage, and correct fertilization. We work one project at a time to ensure that you are always our first priority. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. today and let us help protect your home from drainage issues.

Making the Grade in El Dorado Hills

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 18:05:00 GMT

With meteorologists promising a “Super Nino” this winter, is your yard prepared for when it’s raining buckets of water? Does your yard make the grade?

We’re referring to the grade of your landscaping and home. Most builders will ensure that when they’re developing a home, the site is prepped so that the soil elevation moves water down and away from the house to a proper drain. Over time, annual weather systems and changes to your landscaping will erode and change your yard causing poor grading where it was once adequate.

Why Care About Landscape Grading?

If your yard isn’t properly graded, excess water from storms ( and even irrigation ) will drain towards your home. This can cause a variety of problems from issues with moisture and mold at the foundation, to the weight of the water pushing against your home’s foundation causing cracks and soil erosion.

Your poorly graded yard can also mean a lot of trouble for your neighbors. You may inadvertently cause their yard to flood or erode due to your runoff. This can become a liability to you, the homeowner if damages are incurred as a result.

Did you find standing water around the base of your home or in the yard the last time it rained well? If you answer “Yes”, then you’re probably in need of a regrade. Now is the time to fix your grading while the ground is still dry and the storm clouds are out of sight.

Fix Your Landscape Grading Problems Now

Good landscape grading protects your home, your land, increases the stability of your landscape, and improves the quality of your soil. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. will review your site for soil composition, elevation, and draining, developing a plan to improve your landscape’s drainage. We adjust your site’s drainage by identifying problem areas, removing soil, reshaping your landscape, improving soil composition, installing appropriate irrigation systems, as well as installing new drainage measures, such as French drains , where needed.

Remember that the design of your landscape and the drainage of your home and yard go hand-in-hand. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. can help to design an effectively graded landscape that ensures your lawn drains effectively, and safely. We work one project at a time to ensure that your yard is always our priority. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. today and let us help protect your home from drainage issues.

Match the Look with the Lighting

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 19:13:00 GMT

You’ve just updated your yard. The landscaping looks excellent and inviting during the day, it’s low maintenance , and is water efficient . Come night fall, your dark yard could be a mound of dirt for all that you can see. Don’t let the night sky take away from the time, money, and effort that you’ve put into your yard.

Do-It Yourself Lighting vs. Professional Lighting

Enhance your yard at night with good lighting. Small, do-it yourself systems can provide adequate lighting, however larger systems are a must for achieving well-designed outdoor landscape lighting. At Suncrest Landscape, Inc. we do professional landscape lighting to extend the life of your yard throughout the night. Your home and yard need the right lighting, not only for curb appeal, but for safety and security as well.

The first step to good landscape lighting is to develop a solid plan. We start by identifying the areas of your yard and house that should be illuminated. Trees, water features, and interesting hardscape or foliage provide excellent opportunities for ambient or accent lighting. Your home’s architectural features, such as eaves, overhangs, and facades can also present places to create an inviting atmosphere.

Careful attention should be paid to ensure that entry, as well as access points of your home are well lit. Walkways should also be easy to see and follow, and inadvertently can become an interesting feature for your yard at night.

Deciding on the type of lighting to use is highly dependent upon the purpose of the lighting. For example, you wouldn’t use ambient lighting where you will be working over a lit grill at night.

There are typically three categories of outdoor lighting:

Ambient – For use where general illumination is needed, such as a seating area or pathway.
Task – Use these in locations where stronger, focused lighting is needed, such as over a cook area or entryway.
Accent – Just as the names implies, an accent light is meant to accentuate a feature or area of a yard. Choosing 3-5 focal points in an average-sized yard provide visual interest without being distracting.

Most of today’s outdoor lighting is low voltage, and therefore safer and less costly to install and run. Even with the voltage at a tenth of what it used to be, you’ll find that a 10.5 volt light fixture provides more than adequate lighting effects. Most top-of-the-line lighting comes with at least a one-year warranty on the bulbs and a ten-year warranty on the lights. Automated, wireless controls complete the ease and efficiency of your new modern, outdoor lighting system.

Remember, at Suncrest Landscape, Inc. we specialize in landscape lighting, as well as landscaping. Let us help you with lighting your home and yard. We work one project at a time to ensure that your yard is always our priority. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. today and let us help to illuminate your home and yard.

Low Maintenance Landscape Solutions

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:47:00 GMT

The most difficult aspect of having a beautiful yard is the healthy upkeep of it. Now there is no such thing as no maintenance landscaping. However, there is landscaping that is both cost-effective and low-maintenance.

Suncrest Landscape, Inc. uses techniques, tools, and knowledge of the environment to plan and execute attractive, affordable low-maintenance landscaping. Although we can’t share all of our landscaping secrets, there are a few simple things that you can do to create a low-maintenance yard that makes a good and lasting impression.

Lose the Grass
Traditional landscaping seems to always incorporate a considerable expanse of lawn. Once considered eye-catching, lawns require a lot of time, energy, and resources to produce the flawless and elusive green finish.Instead, consider using clumping grasses, such as mondo grass. These plants maintain their unique colors all year round, require little water, and need only occasional weeding, if planted densely. Plant a grid of mondo grass to make a statement.
Employ Hardscaping
Pull out that menagerie of finicky plants and bring in gravel, stones, and boulders. You can also incorporate brick or concrete to break up your landscape visually, while keeping it low-maintenance. Selecting small, medium, and large materials brings intervals into your landscape making it visually interesting.
Minimize Plants
Keep your total number of plant species to about a dozen or less. It’s easier to maintain a smaller variety of vegetation, especially if you select plants with similar needs. Look for evergreen or other plants that require little to no pruning, are drought-tolerant, and match the environment where you’ll be planting them. Use automated irrigation with a drip system, or other water-efficient watering method.
Light it Up
Bring in the spot lights, light strands, well lights, and hanging lights to make your landscape sparkle. Simple lighting is a low-cost way to highlight your yard’s best features. Just be sure to choose weather-resistant materials that don’t require an electrician to install them.

For more help turning your yard into an affordable escape that you’ll enjoy for years to come, Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. today.

El Dorado Hills Summer Yard Maintenance Tips

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 19:39:00 GMT

With summer waning and fall around the corner, your heat-infused yard is probably in need of some maintenance. Maintaining your yard during the summer is about keeping it healthy. Usually, this is in spite of the high temperatures and non-existent rainfall typical of El Dorado Hills.

Preserve Your Lawn

The first priority is your lawn. There are a few, simple actions that you can take to help preserve your lawn. First, raise the cutting height of your mower. By keeping the blades of grass longer the roots will also grow longer, helping your lawn retain moisture. You should also mow more frequently (such as weekly) to maintain blade length. Leaving a sprinkling of the lawn clippings can also help to retain moisture in your lawn the same way that bark and mulch help landscaping.

Prune Trees and Hedges

Next, summer is a great time to trim dead and dying branches from your trees. With trees fully leafed, look for tell-tale leafless or dead-leafed branches. Trim below the dead area where the tree is still green. You can also use the same logic on bushes and shrubs. Pruning trees and hedges during the summer will keep critters and pests out while keeping your foliage healthy.

Control Those Weeds

Make time once a week to walk your yard with a hoe or screwdriver to uproot weeds. It may seem like a lot of work the first couple of weeks, but making weeding a part of your weekly yard maintenance will save you time in the long run. You’ll be surprised at how a few minutes a week will keep weeds under control and out of your yard.

If your landscaping is suffering terribly from this dry, hot summer in the El Dorado Hills, it’s probably time for a different yard plan. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. for help turning your dreary landscaping into a private paradise. We specialize in beautiful, affordable landscapes under $5,000.

A Great Alternative to Your Yellow Lawn

Sat, 01 Aug 2015 16:30:00 GMT

Once the quintessential hallmark of Suburbia, sprawling front lawns have now become a mark of shame. First and foremost, dying yellow lawns are not attractive. But what can you do when California is regularly in the grip of a drought?

Make the satisfying switch to drought-tolerant landscaping. There are many benefits to having a drought-tolerant yard—both in the short and long term.

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Benefits:

Less watering required
Easier to manage and maintain
Save money in the long run
Inexpensive to create
Looks great

A drought-tolerant yard doesn’t have to look like the desert. There are a wide variety of plants and features that can make a yard attractive and water efficient, while avoiding becoming Death Valley.

Suncrest Landscape, Inc. will remove that yellowing lawn and old irrigation system from your front yard. We’ll re-grade your yard, improving the soil drainage . A new, drip irrigation system will improve how you water , avoiding waste. Mounding and sloping hills are a simple way to add dimensionality to your landscape. There are also hardscaping options that we can bring in to create variations in texture and form. Boulders, pavers, and even sculptures provide points of interest.

Ornamental grasses and perennial ground cover break up stone and ground, softening edges and lowering the overall temperature of hardscaping elements. There are many shrubs and evergreens that, once established, provide shade and height variance to your yard.

For color, a variety of flowers can be incorporated, such as lavender and sweet pea that are bright and colorful during the summer. Succulents can also add color and visual interest and there are many that don’t look like your typical cactus. A dry riverbed made of stone or gravel hints at water without requiring it. You can even add a water feature, such as a fountain that is much more water-efficient than watering your lawn.

This is not the first drought that we’ve experienced in the Greater Sacramento area, and nor will it be the last. Contact Suncrest Landscape, Inc. for help turning your yellowing lawn into one of the most enticing yards on the block. We specialize in beautiful, affordable landscapes under $5,000.

Setting Your Yard up for Success – Why Drainage Matters

Mon, 13 Jul 2015 14:25:00 GMT

Your yard’s drainage plays a vital role in the success of any and all landscaping, as well as the protection of your home. Through careful analysis and planning of your site, you can develop a solid plan for your yard’s drainage.

To ensure steady, even drainage for your yard, pay attention to the overall shape and where the water table lies. The exterior grading needs to keep water away you’re your home and any retaining walls or structures around the yard. This helps to prevent water from draining into a basement or settling near a foundation and causing rot and decay.

Most plants will die if planted in soil that leaves their roots either too wet or too dry. As was discussed in Top 5 Signs you have Drainage Issues , having a 50/50 ratio of solid soil to air/water is the ideal balance for good drainage and overall soil health. Poor drainage can be a result of the initial construction of a home. Construction tends to both remove the a good deal of top soil, as well as compacts the ground leading to slow water drainage and runoff. Poor soil drainage can also be a natural occurrence from wind, rain and usage.

There are several methods to improve drainage:

Altering the composition of the soil. Adding large amounts of compost or organic materials can help increase the porosity of the soil and correct slow or poor drainage.
Raising the height of the soil. By adding a foot or so of well-drained top soil, you can alter where the water table lies in relation to the planting zone.
Reshaping the landscape. This allows for more runoff by helping to move water away from places where the soil is overly saturated.

At Suncrest Landscape, Inc. we work to ensure that any new landscaping is critically assessed for the best drainage solution. We can also help to correct existing drainage problems in your yard in a timely and affordable manner. Yards can and do change over time. The good news is that poor drainage can be corrected.

Contact us for help with your drainage and landscaping. We’re always happy to come by and provide a free assessment.

What is a French Drain and Why it Matters

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:26:00 GMT

Have you ever noticed a permanent damp spot in your yard, or found water in your basement? Chances are you’re having a drainage issue with groundwater. This can happen for many reasons, but regardless you should get rid of it fast before it causes even bigger problems.

Surface water that lingers next to buildings or walls can cause mold and rot. If left unchecked, these can lead to structural issues with your house and health issues for your family.

This is exactly when a French Drain can come into play. Popularized in the mid-1800’s book “Farm Drainage” by Henry F. French, modern French drains (or sub-drains) are designed to manage water at the ground level. They are a low-cost, quick installation and more than worth the investment. Best of all, once a French drain is installed, you’ll be none the wiser that it’s there.

How does a French drain work?

First, a trench is dug near the site of the surface water drainage problem.
- It can be installed at various depths, depending upon the needs of the location.
The trench is graded so that water is diverted away from the home or retaining wall.
A layer of 1-2” of gravel is laid on the bottom for support.
A perforated pipe rests on top of this layer.
- The perforations allow ground water to naturally enter and exit the pipe.
The rest of the trench is filled with more gravel, typically followed by a layer of porous cloth.
- The cloth is porous enough to let the water through, but stops soil from leeching through and clogging up the drain.
The trench is covered completely with soil and your yard is put back to rights.
Lastly, the ground water now is redirected from the originally oversaturated soil and empties a safe distance away.

If you need to eliminate excess water from low points around your home and yard, a French drain is the way to go. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. provides affordable, professional engineering solutions for installing a French drain in the Greater Sacramento area. Best of all, the installation can take as little as 2-3 days without putting a huge dent in your budget. Contact us for help with drainage and soggy ground. We’d be happy to come by and assess your situation and provide a free estimate.

Being Water Efficient with Your Yard

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 22:29:00 GMT

It’s estimated that the average U.S. household uses 96 gallons of water daily towards watering their lawns and gardens. As much as 50% of that landscape irrigation is wasted due to inefficient watering methods.

Classically, there are two ways to do irrigation:

With a hose and sprinkler
Automatic underground irrigation

Modern irrigation systems are your best bet for water efficient, cost-effective watering. A well-designed, modern irrigation system can save both water and money. Spray heads and rotors are good for lawns. Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses work well in planting beds. Drip systems in particular are great because they put water only where you want it. But even with a good system, you can still waste water.

The easiest watering fixes happen through observation. Ask yourself:

Are your sprinklers positioned for maximum coverage?
Suncrest Landscape, Inc. plans the positioning of sprinkler heads for maximum efficiency and minimum waste.
Are the sidewalks near your lawn saturated after watering your lawn?
Position your sprinkler heads so that only the lawn and plants are watered.
Is your lawn and/or garden receiving too much (or too little) water?
Here’s an easy test for lawn health. Step on a patch of grass. If it springs back, it’s healthy and doesn’t need water. Overwatering plants and trees can lead to rot, decay and death. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. is both knowledgeable and familiar with the different types of plants’ and grasses’ watering needs.

What time of day do you water?
Both heat and wind can lead to evaporation and poor soil moisture. Water in the early morning when the sun is still low, if not down. There are even smart sensors that adjust the flow of water depending on rainfall or the moisture of the soil.
How often and long do you water?
Plants and grass get more out of short bursts of watering, such as 5 minute intervals three times per day, versus one, long 15 minute water. Whatever type of watering that you select, using a timer will make your watering more efficient.
How’s your soil health?
Adding new soil annually, as well as aerating your lawn helps your soil to retain water and encourage plant growth. Mulch around plants also helps to protect soil moisture, preventing evaporation and lowering the temperature of the soil. Shade trees are an excellent addition in landscaping to help protect soil moisture.

From initial grading to plant selection and placement, being efficient with your watering requires planning. At Suncrest Landscape, Inc. we have a specialized understanding of modern irrigation principles, technology and techniques. We first consider your specific environmental needs, from El Dorado Hills to Citrus Heights, throughout the Greater Sacramento area. Plants and grasses are selected that match and work with the climate, as well as the grade of the land. We group plants with similar watering needs in the same ‘zone’ to be more efficient in our watering design. Once your system is up and running, regular maintenance will help ensure that your irrigation is both sufficient and efficient.

Contact us for a free quote on improving your lawn’s water efficiency. At Suncrest Landscape, Inc., we work on one project at a time so that you have our complete and undivided attention.

Top 5 Signs you have Drainage Issues

Tue, 12 May 2015 18:22:00 GMT

An entirely too common problem that occurs in landscapes is poor drainage. If you have not experienced it personally, you’re lucky. But you’ve probably also seen evidence of it, particularly after a storm or even just regular watering.

One of the #1 killers of landscape plants is drainage problems. Plants will die in soil that’s too saturated with water. They actually have a better chance of surviving drought conditions than overwatering. Not only can poor drainage kill your plants, it also provides a breeding ground for insects, produces mold and other organic allergens, and can cause major structural damage to your home if left unchecked.

Most drainage issues are the result of poor grading, poor soil balance (you want a 50/50 ratio of air to moisture), or a high water table. The first step to solving any drainage issue is recognizing that there’s a problem to begin with.

Do you ever experience any of the following in your yard or around your house?

Surface Puddling/Ponding
Water stays on the surface, draining very slowly. This can be from soil that is compact or heavy (such as clay), and therefore can’t absorb much water. It can also be indicative of a high water table, which is when groundwater is close enough to the surface to seep through the top soil.
Discolored Soil
When soil has high water content it inversely has low oxygen levels. More often than not, it will appear bluish-grey in appearance. Higher oxidation produces warmer-colored soils.
Dying/Dead Vegetation
Plant roots in over-saturated soil will die from lack of oxygen in the soil. It only takes a few days for a water-logged plant to start dying.
Foul Odors
Smelly soil indicates that it has become highly organic and that it is being worked on by what are called anaerobic bacteria—these are bacteria that grow in places with little or no oxygen. The odors is the scent that they emit.
Soil Erosion
If water doesn’t soak into the ground it can cause runoff, which will pull loose soil across your yards as it travels along its path. It might appear as a multitude of small channels at ground level.

Many drainage problems exist because of a lack of understanding of the landscape. Suncrest Landscape, Inc. has over 15 years of experience handling drainage problems in the Greater Sacramento region. We are very familiar with the various local soils and can help to identify and discover a solution to your drainage problem.

From inadequate grading to poor soil composition, Suncrest is your go-to for drainage solutions. By building a complete picture of your landscape, we can determine the best, most cost-effective solution for meeting your drainage needs. In the long run, it’s much less costly to correct drainage issues in the beginning before they become an even larger problem for you and your family. Contact Suncrest and let us help fix your drainage problems.