- (219) 476-7400
Monday, March 3rd, 2014
YUMMY!!! Great for dipping veggies or as a dressing! Keeps for a long time in the fridge too.
Becky makes it all the time!
Monday, March 3rd, 2014
I know it is difficult to think about watering plants with all of the snow we have had this winter. If we end up having a dry spring though our plants, especially evergreens, will need some help from us to get their required refreshment. Evergreens continue to lose moisture through their foliage throughout the winter and with the ground being frozen they cannot replenish what they lose. It is similar to food that is left in the freezer too long, freezer burn. Some branches may look dead but don’t be tempted to prune them back. Give the plants time to push out new growth with warm spring temperatures. Plants can overcome an amazing amount of abuse. Keep in mind; If it is a dry spring be sure to get out the hose and start watering.
Monday, March 3rd, 2014
Normally a March newsletter will contain some references to how great it is that the birds are out and the first bulbs are starting to poke through the mulch. Not this year! It is still winter and looks to stay that way for a minute. There is hope I guess. The first day of spring in March 20th. That is less than three weeks away. The average high temperature for March is 46.7 degrees which is a far sight from what we have been looking at lately. It has to get warm sometime this month. Doesn’t it? Let’s keep our spirits up and make lemonade from our climate lemons. All this snow will make some great snowmen once it thaws enough to make a ball from it. Ice fishing has been up this year. You probably gained many years of experience handling your snowblower this year. No one can take that away from you. When those 50 degree days come they will feel REALLY warm. Hang in there kids. April, theoretically should provide us with many 60 degree days.
Monday, March 3rd, 2014
The so called “Polar Vortex” has been hard enough on man and beast. Your plants have also been going through and extreme test of fortitude the impact of which will not be fully evident until late spring or early summer. There are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about your plants’ health. Leave the snow where it is. While the white fluffy stuff is cold it is actually an insulator for the plants beneath it. So when the air temperature dips to -40 the plants could still be at a balmy -8 which could mean all the difference. When the weather does finally start warming up leave your plants alone. Even though all you will want to do is play in the garden leave the pruners in the garage. The plants need time to wake from their winter hibernation. Big leafed hydrangeas, for example, may look dead but by pruning them now you can guarantee the flower buds will not survive for their summer glory. When it comes to the garden this spring just leave it alone. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. There will be plenty of other outdoor things to do while you garden warms up and wakes up. Think Spring!
Saturday, March 1st, 2014
View Article
Hardscape Showcase
By Mike Dahl, LC/DBM Editor
Landscape Contractor/DBM received many outstanding hardscape submissions for this issue and it was a difficult choice as to which ones to feature. So a showcase to highlight some of those not chosen was in order, and even that presented dilemmas. Ultimately, these projects were selected because they display a wide variety of styles, materials, and features from throughout the country (and one from Canada). You’ll be seeing more of the remaining submissions in future issues.
Tuesday, February 4th, 2014
Valparaiso, IN, February 4, 2014 – Smalls Landscaping of Valparaiso, IN has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The woman owned, award-winning landscape design/build firm was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.
The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2014” badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.
Saturday, February 1st, 2014
View Article
The Components of Commercial Care
LC/DBM Staff Report
As the U.S economy continues its long climb out of the hole it nosedived into, companies and organizations will find themselves with more discretionary income, which is welcomed news for industries that provide service to commercial entities. Landscape companies are among the grateful.
According to Mike Dyck, the general manager of the equipment manufacturing company, Masco Sweepers, commercial service “is an area where the sky is the limit.”
With that in mind, LC/DBM surveyed this particular landscape to help your business set up, or ramp up, commercial maintenance services.
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Yeah, it has been wicked cold this winter. It seems everyone has that one memory of the coldest, nastiest storm they remember. Nancy and Becky always use “The big storm of ’78” as their benchmark. I don’t know how many times I have heard the story of how they spent two weeks digging the county out using the big front end loaders. The snow was up to the cab and the loaders ran for weeks on end. Nancy, my mom, was pregnant with me at the time and was out working away. There is no rest for the weary in this family.
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
We don’t like bad news, but here it is. Impatiens have been a part of our annuals program as long as we can remember. This year though, there will be a change. Downy Mildew, a parasite that kills impatiens, has taken hold so many of the usual impatiens are no longer viable. Several new varieties will be available next year, but in the meantime we will be replacing many impatiens with begonias. We would also like to warn you to be very careful if you choose to buy impatiens from retailers. Downy Mildew will certainly kill any plants that are not specifically tolerant to it.
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
This one was a bit of an accident. We discovered this wonderful combination in Arizona of all places; Necessity being the mother of innovation and all that. Best of all, this is super easy and delicious.
Smalls Landscaping
310 North 325 East
Suite A
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 476-7400
Toll Free: (855) 476-7400
Fax: (219) 476-7500
