Covered Porches: Extending Outdoor Enjoyment All Year Long

As autumn's vibrant colors unfold, many homeowners eagerly anticipate spending time outdoors, savoring the season's beauty. Although the brisk fall air is invigorating, changing weather can sometimes shorten the enjoyment of these outdoor spaces. Adding a covered porch to your Lititz home offers an ideal solution to extend outdoor living year-round. At Root’s Nurseries, we view landscaping as more than crafting beautiful yards; it’s about designing spaces that enhance outdoor enjoyment in every season. A covered porch in Lititz accomplishes just that, transforming your backyard into a cozy, year-round retreat.

The Value of a Covered Porch

A covered porch offers more than simple shelter from rain or intense sunlight; it creates a versatile outdoor living area to enjoy in all kinds of weather. Whether it’s sipping cider on a cool fall evening, watching snowflakes in winter, or savoring spring’s mild breezes, a covered porch fosters a year-round connection with nature.

Autumn Relaxation: As fall brings cooler temperatures, a covered porch becomes the ideal spot to unwind, wrapped in a blanket with a hot coffee while admiring the autumn leaves. Adding a space heater or fire pit can extend your enjoyment of the outdoors well into the fall. It also protects outdoor furniture from the weather, making it convenient for entertaining or personal relaxation.

Winter Coziness: Even in winter’s chill, a covered porch allows you to appreciate the outdoors without fully confronting the cold. By enclosing the area with screens or retractable glass, you can transform your porch into a winter haven, enjoying the snowy scenery from a sheltered spot. Decorate for the holidays or install outdoor heaters to make the space a cozy gathering place for festive events.

Spring Renewal: In spring, as new life blossoms, a covered porch offers the ideal setting to witness your garden’s awakening without being caught in sudden showers. It’s a great place for morning birdwatching, enjoying the fresh scent of rain, or relaxing with a book amid spring’s natural beauty.

Summer Shade: During summer, a covered porch offers a cool retreat from the sun’s harsh rays. It’s perfect for hosting barbecues, dining al fresco, or simply relaxing while staying shaded. This space allows you to keep an eye on children playing in the yard while enjoying a refreshing drink or conversation in the cool shade.

Landscaping to Complement Your Covered Porch

At Root’s Nurseries, we specialize in creating outdoor spaces that enhance both the beauty and function of your home. A covered porch can be seamlessly integrated with your landscape to create a cohesive and appealing outdoor environment. Planting deciduous trees nearby provides additional shade in summer, while in winter, bare branches let sunlight in. Surrounding your porch with seasonal plants, such as autumn mums or evergreen shrubs, enriches its natural charm, making it a true extension of your garden.

Additionally, the porch serves as a natural transition between the indoors and your landscaped backyard. By incorporating potted plants, hanging baskets, or even small trees, you can create a flowing connection from your indoor space to the outdoors. With carefully planned landscaping, your covered porch becomes the perfect blend of comfort and nature.

A covered porch isn’t just an addition; it’s a space that invites you to embrace the outdoors throughout the year. As fall sets in, now is an excellent time to consider how a covered porch could enhance your home’s outdoor experience. At Root’s Nurseries, we’re ready to help you design the ideal outdoor living space that aligns with your landscaping vision and lifestyle. Contact us today to learn more about creating a versatile, seasonal retreat. Call us at 717-898-0041 or contact us!

Residential Landscaping: Summer Watering & Planting Tips

As experts in residential landscaping in Strasburg, Root’s Nurseries has compiled tips addressing two of the most pressing landscaping concerns this time of year: watering plants in the heat and summer planting. With the current heat, it is crucial to properly care for your plants, and don't think the heat means you can't add to your landscape. Here are our tips for planting during the summer.

Watering Your Landscaping in the Heat

As summer temperatures soar, keeping your garden lush and healthy becomes a challenge. Effective watering is crucial to ensure your plants thrive even during the hottest months. Here are some essential tips:

1. Water Early or Late: Watering in the early morning or late evening helps minimize evaporation and allows plants to absorb moisture more efficiently. This practice ensures that water reaches the roots rather than evaporating in the midday sun.

2. Deep and Infrequent Watering: Rather than frequent shallow watering, opt for deep watering sessions. This encourages roots to grow deeper, making plants more drought resistant. Aim to water deeply about two to three times a week, depending on your soil type and plant needs.

3. Mulching: Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature and reduce weed growth. Organic mulches, like bark or compost, are particularly effective in conserving water.

4. Drip Irrigation Systems: Consider installing a drip irrigation system. These systems deliver water directly to the base of the plants, reducing water waste and ensuring that your plants receive a consistent moisture supply.

5. Monitor and Adjust: Keep an eye on your garden and adjust your watering schedule based on weather conditions and plant responses. During heatwaves, your plants might need extra hydration.

Planting and Landscaping Year-Round

Contrary to popular belief, planting isn’t limited to spring and fall. With proper planning and care, you can successfully landscape and plant even in the height of summer. Here’s how:

1. Choose the Right Plants: Choose heat-tolerant varieties that can withstand summer’s intensity. Native plants are usually well-adapted to local climates and require less maintenance. Consider drought-resistant species like lavender, sedum and yarrow for sunny spots.

2. Proper Planting Techniques: When planting in summer, dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball and add compost to improve soil structure. Water the plant thoroughly before and after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.

3. Shade and Shelter: Provide temporary shade for new plantings using garden umbrellas, shade cloths or even old sheets. This reduces transplant shock and helps plants acclimate to their new environment.

4. Consistent Watering: New plants need consistent moisture to establish roots. Water them more frequently during the first few weeks, gradually reducing the frequency as they become established.

5. Stagger Planting: If you’re planning a large landscaping project, consider staggering your planting. This approach reduces the stress on plants and gardeners alike, making the process more manageable.

6. Maintenance and Monitoring: Regularly check your garden for signs of stress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves. Address issues promptly by adjusting watering, providing additional shade or applying fertilizers as needed.

At Root's Nurseries, we believe that with the right knowledge and tools, anyone can create and maintain a stunning garden year-round. By following these tips for watering during the heat and planting throughout the year, you can enjoy a vibrant and resilient landscape regardless of the season.

Remember, every garden is unique. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experts for personalized advice tailored to your specific needs. Happy gardening from all of us at Root's Nurseries! Call us today at 717-898-0041 or contact us!

 

A Guide to Shade Trees

Are you looking to add dimension to your landscaping with new trees? The first of many decisions you’ll have to make is what kind of tree you want to add, on top of where to buy it and then where to plant it. At Root’s Nurseries, we are proud to carry a range of shade trees that will thrive in your Ephrata landscape!

Shade trees offer so much to any landscape, so we have compiled a short guide to shade trees to get you started. If you have more questions about shade trees or are ready to add a shade tree to your landscape – contact us!

Types of Shade Trees

There are many types of shade trees out there, but here are just a few of our favorites! These trees can help provide shade and all of their other benefits – and are all available from Root’s Nurseries!

-        Maples

-        Oaks

-        Elms

-        Hornbeams

-        Lindens

-        Zelkovas

If you are interested in learning more or want to know about other types of shade trees we carry, give us a call!

Benefits of Shade Trees

Your new shade tree will provide a wide range of benefits as it grows and matures. They not only improve the appearance of your property, but they also provide:

-        Shade from the Sun

-        Shelter for Animals

-        Cooler Temperatures

-        Better Air Quality

-        Soil Erosion Control

-        Increased Property Values

-        Climate Control

-        Noise Reduction

Caring for Shade Trees

Before you buy a new tree, be sure you have an idea of how to care for it! Many people assume that tree care stops once the tree is planted, and they aren’t too far off, but there are a few things that you should keep in mind to make sure your tree grows happy and healthy! Beyond simply pruning and fertilizing as needed, also keep these tips in mind.

-        Plant it Right. As roots will spread outward, be sure to dig a wide and shallow hole to plant new trees. The nursery where you purchase your tree can give you more specific guidance for the type of tree you purchased, so be sure to ask them!

-        Give it Room to Grow. Equally as important as planting it correctly to allow your new tree to thrive, you have to decide where to plant it. As many shade trees grow to be quite large, planting them directly next to your house does not give the roots space to grow as they will be hindered by your foundation. Be sure you think about the size your new tree will become, rather than simply how big it is when planting it.

-        Water Deeply. During any droughts, it’s important to make sure your trees are still being watered thoroughly. It is important to water deeply during especially dry weather so the water actually reaches the roots which are often 6-12 inches below the soil.

Are you looking for a shade tree for your home in Ephrata? At Root’s Nurseries we can help you choose the perfect shade tree to complement your landscaping and lifestyle. Contact us today at 717-898-0041 or contact us!

Prepare Your Residential Landscaping for Winter

Winter is only a little over a week away, but in Pennsylvania many residents have already faced winter weather advisories and snow. Before the next cold front sneaks in, be sure to prepare your residential landscaping in East Petersburg and the surrounding areas so it is protected from the harsh weather brought by winter.

Shrubs

While fall is the best time to prepare any delicate shrubs and hedges by wrapping them, early winter is another option. If fall has passed and you haven’t protected your hedges from thermal damage, wind and the elements yet – don’t fret! Protect them by wrapping them with a breathable material like burlap as soon as possible!

Additionally, if wildlife are common in your area, consider installing a deer fence or using spray to discourage your shrubs from becoming a source of food during a time where food sources are more scarce – leaving them chewed and damaged to start off spring.

Lawn

Setting your lawn up for success next spring can save you tons of time later trying to revive your lawn. To start, cut your grass short and remove any leaves or debris. While raking may sound like a lot of work, especially as the weather gets colder, it is still a necessary task for your lawn. Leaving the leaves blocks sunlight from the grass, which can cause it to become unhealthy and require major TLC come spring.

You can also make sure your lawn is coming back as green and lush as ever by applying a winterizing fertilizer before winter hits! While fertilizing outside of its grow season may seem counterintuitive, it can actually increase the durability of your lawn this winter.

Trees

Winter can be harsh on your trees, which is why it’s important to make sure they are well watered throughout the fall – especially if there hasn’t been much rain. Making sure your trees are watered properly throughout the fall will keep roots strong and protect the soil from drying out throughout winter.

Adding mulch can also help protect the moisture levels in the soil to keep your trees healthy from the roots up, as well as insulate the ground beneath to protect from the cold.

Landscaping

A layer of mulch or pine straw can help insulate your landscaping throughout the winter. Plus, it gives your landscaping extra nutrients that would otherwise be lacking during the colder months with less sunlight. Mulch can also help your landscaping from frost damage, which is especially important when it comes to the roots of your plants.

If you have any plants that are extra sensitive to the cold, now is the time to wrap them with burlap to protect them from thermal damage – just keep in mind now to suffocate them with a less breathable material!

Finally, you can apply herbicide in the fall to get a head start on controlling the weeds that will pop up in spring. Weeds are always better to deal with as early as possible.

Hire Root’s for Residential Landscaping

Is your landscaping prepared for winter? Sometimes the easiest way to prepare your landscaping is to hire a professional landscaping company! From understanding which plants are at risk of thermal damage to knowing how much water to give them, professional landscapers have the experience and expertise to set your landscaping up for early spring success. No more guess work on your end about which plants to protect and how!

For residential landscaping services in East Petersburg or the surrounding areas, call Root’s Nurseries today at 717-898-0041 or request a free estimate!

Steps to Prepare Your Commercial Landscaping for Spring

It is officially spring! Now is the perfect time to get your business’ landscaping ready for the growing season ahead. Prepare your business for renewal and growth that comes with spring and summer every year in Pennsylvania. Some things you might be tempted to accomplish by yourself, but many landscaping tasks are best left to a commercial lawn care service like Root’s Nurseries. Here are a few steps you can take to get your commercial landscaping ready for spring. 

First step: call Root’s Nurseries, your trusted name in commercial landscaping for the Mountville area. There are many benefits to hiring a commercial landscaper – including economic, environmental, physical and psychological advantages. A commercial landscaping company like Root’s can help to create unique and individualized design plans that welcome customers and also help to ease the struggle of maintaining the property.

Next, it’s time to prepare the soil. Over the winter season, the soil can become compacted. It’s important to loosen it up by turning or tilling the soil. Any well-composted mulch can be mixed into the ground. Then it’s time to plant. Now is a great time to fill out some neglected areas of the landscaping with new trees, shrubs and flowers.

Does your commercial landscaping need a complete overhaul? Commercial landscaping design can help plan out the best placement for new growth. Our professionals know what trees and plants do well in our climate as well as where they will thrive on your property. We also sell trees at wholesale for landscape contractors and garden centers. 

It’s also important to take care of any trees already planted in your commercial landscaping. Many trees and plants require a good pruning during this time of year. Cutting is necessary for trees that bloom on new wood. Late winter and early spring are great times to cut back old wood. When you prune, you can increase your plants’ fruitfulness and growth. This time also allows you to check out any branches damaged by the ice and snow. Plus, you can shape the plant before the buds come out of dormancy. By clearing and trimming those branches, you can enhance your commercial property’s look.

A professional commercial landscaping service can help you tackle these early spring projects. You can leave all the hard work, planning and planting to the professionals. If you are ready to improve your business by utilizing our commercial landscaping company, contact Root’s Nurseries at 717-898-0041 or contact us for a free estimate.