• Mow your lawn short for the winter.
• Remove fallen leaves from your lawn by raking or blowing, but never block drainage ditches or curblines by raking your leaves into them.
• Cut back the brown tops on any perennial plants that have gone dormant.
• Remove snow from your plants by gently brushing the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs.
• Drain the gas tank on your lawn mower, or, at least, add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting ‘old’.
• Clay pots should be brought inside.
• Outdoor Furniture should be covered or brought inside.

In addition to these tips, here is one blog that talks about winterizing your lawn.   While, GrassSticher.com talks about reshaping your lawn and filling empty patches during the winter months. Read on…

“There are some lawn care tasks that can be done year round. In the south where the winter weather is not as cold or wet as the north, there are some jobs that are probably best done in winter.  During the winter months, grass generally goes to sleep. Some gardeners oversow with a winter grass such as rye, but that too tends to grow a little more slowly.

With the temperatures much cooler, you can get out and do many of the reshaping jobs that you may have put off last summer. If you have paving stones you want removed, an old concrete path removed, or perhaps a new one created, winter can be the best time to complete these tasks.  Reshaping a lawn can easily be done over the winter months with little effect on the dormant lawn.

Digging in and around your lawn will of course disturb it to some extent. If you have lifted sods of turf, be sure to return them and to press them back into place firmly. If you have created empty patches in your lawn, such as the removal of a central garden bed, or the lifting of paths or paving stones, then you will need to work on these patches to turn them into a lawn. If you have lifted paving stones or concrete, then let the patch breathe for a week or two before going to work on them.

After letting the sun and air (and perhaps rain) work on those bare patches, prepare the soil using a seeding tool. Sow your summer lawn seed quite liberally over the area and give it a light watering. The seed won’t germinate until early spring, but it will lay there dormant waiting for those first warm days. If you want some winter color, then blend some winter rye – it’s late in the season, but it may still germinate and provide some color. Do these jobs in winter before it becomes too hot.”

To request winter care for your lawn today, text: LandscapeATL to: 90210.

Text for a Free Quote!

Brought to you by GA Urban Ag Council.

Environmental Landscape Management (ELM), has provided premier Atlanta landscaping and Atlanta lawn care services for over a decade. We landscape Atlanta from inside the perimeter to areas as far out as forty miles. We provide landscaping services to residential, commercial, and government clients and are currently present in thirteen counties.

Position Title: Landscape Technician

We are seeking an individual that has the drive, determination, and a willingness to learn and grow with a professional landscaping company, serving Metro Atlanta. We would like to identify these individuals to be placed in a role that has room for growth. The position(s) is part time, requires a high school education or G.E.D., a minimum of one years experience, basic aptitude and understanding of landscape equipment, a good driving record & no criminal history. Landscape Technicians are responsible for landscaping duties, such as laying sod, planting trees & plants, installing outdoor lighting, irrigation systems, water ponds, decks, patios, walkways, fencing, & retaining walls and performing skid steer services, such as excavation, trenching, ground prep & more.

Contact us, if you meet our criteria and want to be a part of a hard working team!

Patio Slab Collection by Belgard

Belgard Hardscapes’ Lafitt patio slab collection of concrete interlocking pavers gives the look of natural stone with a slate-like texture. Pavers have a thinner profile than the Mega Lafitt paver line to allow for greater overlay opportunities and more economical usage. They are available in several colors and laying patterns.

Brought to you by Total Landscape Care.

Environmental Landscape Management (ELM) has provided premier Atlanta landscaping and Atlanta lawn care services for over a decade. We landscape Atlanta from inside the perimeter to areas as far out as forty miles. We provide landscaping services to residential, commercial, & government clients & are currently present in thirteen counties.

Position Title: Lawn Care Foreman

We are seeking 1 individual who has the drive, determination, & experience to lead a lawn care crew for a professional landscaping company, serving Metro Atlanta. We would like to identify this individual to be placed in a leadership role. The position is full time, requires a minimum education of High School / G.E.D. / Associates Degree preferred, a minimum of 5 years experience, & requires expertise in lawn care equipment, detailed lawn care techniques and practices, horticulture, good management skills, good driving record & no criminal history. Lawn Care Foreman performs & directs the activities of workers who perform lawn care duties, such as mowing grass, trimming, edging, blowing, aerating, over seeding, leaf clean-up, pruning of plants, trees & shrubs, ground cover installation¸ bed definition & fertilizing.

If you meet our criteria and want to be a part of a hard working team that will support you and help you reach your full potential in this industry, contact us today!

For more information about this position, click here.

Take the time to connect with ELM on Manta.  Here you will find our company information, including market research reports, business news, & more!

Along with The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), I would like to extend a heart-felt “thank you” to the many individuals of the ELM community who took time out of their busy schedules and money out of their personal pockets to donate to the 2011 Douglasville Executive Lock-Up.

“The event was hosted by Joe’s Crab Shack on June 8th. MDA was the beneficiary of more than $33,900 in cash and pledges.” By far, it was the most fun charity event that I have personally participated!

“Jailbirds”, like myself, were escorted by the wonderful drivers from the Douglasville Police Department and CarMax. Once we arrived to the jailhouse (Joe’s Crab Shack), we were dressed in prison stripes and our mug shots were taken.

Tiffanie Teel, ELM's President of Business & Marketing

As it turns out, I did not reach my personal fundraising goal of $800, until spending a few hours in jail.  However, after a few hours, many phone calls and texts, and your generous donations, I joined the “Kid to Camp Club” ($800 +) finishing out the day with $945 in donations & pledges.

The best part is the opportunity to donate has not passed you by.  My donation website will be opened through mid-July.  If you are still interested in participating in sending a child to camp this summer, click here to donate or text: ELMmda to: 90210 for the donation link.

Once again, thank you – thank you – thank you for your kind & generous donations that helped ELM support the MDA in 2011! 

Heading Back

Heading back refers to properly trimming limbs on the perimeter of the canopy to a suggested length.

Thinning

Thinning refers to removing any competing leaders the tree may have from within the specimen.  Don’t forget to practice the 45 degree angle rule while pruning.

As far as timing is concerned, I prefer to wait until the end of January before pruning these particular specimens.  In our region, you do not want to prune these trees too early because this may encourage new growth and therefore be harmful to the tree once winter arrives.

Crepe Murder

Become a victim of Crepe Murder and miss out on the true potential of these beautiful specimens.  Follow these techniques and have a healthy & vigorous tree, so you can enjoy those summer blooms!