Colorful Seasonal Flowers

The end of summer does not mean your lawn has lose its color! Most people assume that the onset of cool evenings means they must accept that their bright green grass will fade and the blooms on their plants will disappear, but this does not have to be the case! Seasonal plantings are more than just annuals or perennials. Wrightsville Beach Landscaping and Lawn Care offers a seasonal color program to maintain your landscape’s beauty year-round. We offer design, installation, and maintenance of seasonal plantings and gardens.

In addition to new and colorful plantings, Wrightsville Beach Landscaping and Lawn Care specializes in maintenance of your existing landscape. Our professional staff can identify the best time to prune your trees and shrubbery, plant new trees at an ideal time for seasonal growth, and lay mulch in your flower beds to minimize weeds in the next growing season.

Contact us at (910)256-6345 to set up a consultation or inquire about our seasonal color program. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Changing the Color of Your Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are sometimes called “the mood ring of plants” due to their ability to change color depending on where they are planted. These colorful shrubs bloom from early spring until late autumn, and bloom in white (limelight hydrangeas) or varying hues of red, blue, or purple (macrophylla hydrangeas). Those who purchase hydrangeas seeking a specific color are often confused or frustrated when the bright blue hydrangeas they planted last year are producing pink flowers (or vice versa) this year!

So what determines the color of your hydrangeas? And how can you ensure that your plants will stay the color you want them? Other than limelight hydrangeas, which are white and do not change color, the hue of your hydrangeas depends on the soil composition where you plant them, specifically the pH level of the soil.

For macrophylla hydrangeas to bloom in a red or pink hue, the soil must be more alkaline (or less acidic) so a pH between 6.0 and 6.2 is ideal. For the highly sought-after blue flowers, the desired pH is between 5.2 and and 5.5.

Many gardeners wish to measure their soil’s pH level before planting their hydrangeas to ensure they can maintain their desired bloom color. pH level is essentially the concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil, and be easily measured with a store-bought pH testing kit or on your own with some distilled white vinegar. After placing a small sample of soil into a container, pour the vinegar on the soil and observe if it fizzes or bubbles. If it fizzes, it means your soil is more alkaline, and therefore will result in pinker flower. No fizz means your hydrangeas will likely bloom blue.

Luckily, modifying the color of your hydrangeas is fairly easy. As pinker flowers require more alkaline/less acidic soil composition, you can simply add Garden Lime to the area surrounding the plants. This common chemical can be found in most hardware or gardener supply stores, and should produce pinker hydrangeas by the next blooming season.

Blue flowers are achieved in a similar manner by adding aluminum sulfate to your soil. Coffee grounds, fruit and vegetables peels, or grass clippings can also be used to more naturally increase the acidity of soil.

If the hydrangeas are resistant to color change, consider planting the shrubs in large pots rather than adding them permanently to your landscape. Sometimes it can be difficult to modify soil’s existing composition, and it is especially difficult to change naturally-blue plants pink.

To maintain your adjusted-colored hydrangeas from year to year, remember to test the pH level of the surrounding soil often and adjust the amount of Garden Lime or aluminum sulfate as necessary. Without regular maintenance, soil will always revert to its original pH, and the color of your hydrangeas will follow.

For assistance with your hydrangeas or any other landscaping needs, please contact us at (910) 256-6345

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Wrightsville Beach Landscaping work featured in Wrightsville Beach Magazine

The home of Brett and Amy Matthews was featured as a “Home of Distinction” in Wrightsville Beach Magazine’s August 2015 issue. The article, “Paradise Found,” presents beautiful photos of the family’s inlet-view home, including the exquisite landscaping installed by Wrightsville Beach Landscaping Co, Inc.

Writer Danielle Boisse tells readers of the Matthews’ journey to make their dream home a reality, from the architecture choices to the decision to incorporate Brett’s trophy fish collection into their home’s design. The Matthew’s home and outdoor landscape are ideal for spending time with their children and grandchildren, and the couple believes they will spend the rest of their lives at this residence.

Photos of the work by Wrightsville Beach Landscaping are found on pages 62-63, 66, and 78-79. A virtual version of Wrightsville Beach Magazine can be viewed here, and the original article (without photos) can be viewed here.

For assistance with your landscaping needs, please contact us at (910) 256-6345

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Pet-Friendly Landscapes

It is important to keep our furry friends safe and consider their needs when designing an outdoor landscape. Our pets are part of our families, and have their own special needs when it comes to co-existing with your vision for your lawn.

The most effective way to protect both your lawn and your pet is to know your pet’s habits – knowing that your dog loves to dig holes in the grass or destroy your flowerbed gives you the opportunity to implement designs which could eliminate these behaviors.

Dogs dig holes for a variety of reasons, including wanting to cool off by laying in the cooler dirt below the grass on a hot summer day. If your dog incessantly digs and ruins your lawn, particularly during the summer, consider giving him or her more shaded areas or a comfortable doghouse that will offer shelter from the heat. Also be sure your pet has access to plenty of cool water throughout the day!

To keep your pet out of certain areas entirely, consider adding pet-friendly edging. Edging is the material that separates grass from flower beds or mulched areas, and many types have a sharp edge on top. Pet owners can opt to use metal edging with a rounded top or a brick/concrete edge, which are safer for both feet and paws! Other options include rounded stones or short shrubs.

It is also important to consider your pet when choosing plants and other materials for your lawn, particularly if you leave your pets outside unattended, because there are numerous common yard plants that are highly toxic for pets. Some common toxic plants include azaleas, lilies, oleander, daffodils, lily of the valley, sago palm, tulips, and hyacinths.

Another material to avoid is cocoa mulch, which is made of cocoa bean shells and can be purchased at most garden stores. Cocoa beans contain the same ingredients which make chocolate highly toxic to dogs: theobromine and caffeine. According to the ASPCA, there are many factors that affect how dangerous cocoa mulch is for your dog (his or her size, the amount of mulch ingested, the breed, etc.), so it is best to just avoid using it at all.

A final tip for a pet-friendly landscape is to make sure your pets keep a safe distance from your lawn immediately after the application of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. The products that keep our plants and lawns healthy can harm the digestive tracts of our pets, especially dogs, who may nibble on the grass. To be safe, make sure to observe the appropriate waiting period before letting your pet roam freely outside again. Their tummies with thank you!

Wrightsville Beach Landscaping’s chemical specialist can address any questions or concerns you may have about the products used on your lawn. Feel free to contact us at (910) 256-6345

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Why Landscaping Should Be A Priority

A healthy and well-maintained lawn is more than just a great first impression of your home. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, a manicured lawn contributes to the health of the environment and offers a better quality of life for you and your family.

An attractive lawn or landscaped area encourages us to take a break from our primarily-indoor lives and take a relaxing stroll outside. Spending time outdoors is linked to lower stress levels, more thoughtfulness and creativity, and a stronger immune system. Even taking your work or a book outside can increase energy levels and reduce mental fatigue.

A beautiful lawn and or landscaped exterior is a strong financial investment, offering a recovery rate of 100-200%, but also adds up to 15% to a home’s resale-value. Homeowners in the US believe that investments in lawns and landscaping are as good or better than other home improvements when considering the value of a home.

Another benefit of a healthy landscape is the cooling effect of a lawn on a summer day. Typically, a lawn is 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil. The front lawns of a row of eight houses offers the same cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning, or the output of 20 average home air conditioners. A cooler environment means more savings, as less energy is necessary to power electric air conditioners.

The health of a home lawn or landscape can also contribute to the overall health of the environment. Strong root systems secure soil to prevent erosion and can act as a filter as polluted water passes through the plants. Grass also removes pollutants and carbon dioxide from the air while producing large amounts of oxygen at a faster rate than native plants.

Maintaining your lawn’s health and appearance throughout the year is the a great step in improving the overall quality of your home’s exterior and positively impacting you and your family’s lives!

For assistance with your lawn care needs, please contact us at (910) 256-6345

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Yard of the month

The garden club has awarded yard of the month to numerous homes maintained by Wrightsville Beach Landscaping.

Beautification award from City of Wilmington

Beautification award from City of Wilmington for the preservation of Oak tree’s at the Galleria.

Beautification of lumina stations

The civic improvement committee of the cape fear garden club inc. recognizes the beautification of lumina stations for street front landscaping appeal.

Established Entrepreneur of the year

WBLL was awarded Established Entrepreneur of the year in 2007 from UNCW business dept.

“...pleased and impressed by such a fine landscape company as WBL, Provide first class service, superior quality, fair price, I highly regard them as truly the best for all your landscape needs.”

Phil Barker - Homeowner & Builder

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