GARDENSDOWN SOUTH

July 2011

Our Flag“T L I C ?”HE ARGEST N HESAPEAKE

a publication of:a publication of:

Y L A H SOUR AWN... VOID EAT TRESSY L A H SOUR AWN... VOID EAT TRESSBY ARY TEADMANC S

S P MUMMER OND AINTENANCES P MUMMER OND AINTENANCEBY OB URKINB G

In the middle of the summer we have many options for things to do. Keeping up with a yard may not always make the list.Often times, the mid-summer heat and all of the outdoor activities can really do a number on your landscaping, especially yourlawn.

I asked the team to put together an article on “Tips for dealing with Summer Lawn Stress”. This month features some effectivesolutions for lawn recovery from heat stress and which lawn practices you should avoid. On the lighter side, we are featuringan article regarding entertaining family and friends in your yard with a handful of great tips for a successful event that willshowcase your lush landscape.

Though the 4th of July has come and gone, I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to ourArmed Services, past and present,for their undying dedication to our independence. I encourage all Americans to celebrate Independence Day year-round, buyAmerican products, support local business and keep the flag flying.

Please visit www.basnightlandandlawn.com/testimonials/ for a fantastic article about our enormous flag at our farm!Kent Basnight

President

Kent Basnight

President

225 Sign Pine Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322 757-436-0149 www.tidewatermulch.com

Services & Resourcesfor LandscapeProfessionals

and Homeowners

Authorized Dealer & LandscapeEquipment Repair

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Mulch Stone Soil SandCompost & Other Bulk MaterialsPavers Trees Shrubs Tools &Equipment Equipment Service

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featuring

Chesapeake, Volvo Pkwy. & Executive Blvd.

Where to Start:

Distance:

What to See:

Parking lot by small lake,

near Executive lvd and Volvo Pkwy.

.4 Miles

B

Entry Monuments/Signs,

Observation Areas, Stunning Lake Fountains,Lake Walking Path, USS Cole Memorialwith a Beautiful View of the Large Lake.

Liberty Executive Park

Cole Lake

Dedicated to the brave men andwomen who served on the USS Cole

when it was attacked in Yemen onOctober 12, 2000. We will remember

your efforts always.

Dedicated by Liberty Property Trustand the tenants of Liberty Executive

Park. October 11, 2001

StartHereStartHere

TrekComplete

TrekComplete

Cole Lake DedicationCole Lake Dedication

Heat stress on a lawn can be a serious problem inJuly and August. During the summer, grassutilizes the energy stored in its root system,sustaining the plant but shrinking the root system,making the turf vulnerable. Extended periods ofheat and humidity, bright sunshine, warm nights,with little to no rain can add up to trouble. Theheat and lack of rain call for watering, butexcessive moisture has the ability to createdisease conditions.

Start with a strong spring regimen promotingroot growth and a healthy plant prior to thesummer months.The best time to water is in the early morninghours (between 2AM and 6AM).Raise mowing height, reduce mowingfrequency, and keep traffic off the lawn.Do not de-thatch or aerate as these practiceswill further stress the lawn.Do not fertilize or apply herbicides duringstress periods.

Tips for Dealing with Summer Lawn Stress:

DesirableDesirable

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

& TURF MANAGEMENT

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

& TURF MANAGEMENT

WATER FEATURE

MAINTENANCE

WATER FEATURE

MAINTENANCE

For water garden and koi fish pond owners,summer is the time of year when the most activitytakes place above and below the pond’s surface.Maintain a healthy water garden environment thissummer with the following easy care tips.

-During warm summer days, pond fish are moreactive and they eat more which means greaterwaste production. Use an automatic feeder tomonitor how much food your pond fish receive perfeeding.

- As pond water warms up, itsteadily loses its ability to hold on to oxygen. Yourpond should have One-Half to Two-ThirdsAquatic Plant Coverage, which not only providesadditional oxygen to the pond, but acts as asunscreen for Koi.

The water garden experts at Basnight offer ponddesign, installation, maintenance and service. Weare the only Certified Aquascape Contractor inHampton Roads. Give us a call today.

Prevent poor water quality due to overfeeding

Add more oxygen

SeasonalSeasonal

Bob GurkinLandscape Design & Sales

Free Consultation 757.436.9617.

A Certified Aquascape Contractor(CAC) ensures that you are gettingthe best contractor the water gardenindustry has to offer.

CAC's must attend continualtraining and educational seminars,as well as maintain a proven recordof outstanding work and dedicatedcustomer service in order tomaintain their certification.

Certified Aquascape Contractor

Cary SteadmanTurf & Ornamental Manager

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ROUND 1 - Early Spring (Feb/Mar)

ROUND 2 - Spring (Apr/May)

ROUND 3 - Summer (June/July)

ROUND 4 - Late Summer (Aug/Sep)

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ROUND 5 - Late Fall (Oct/Nov)

ROUND 6 - Early Winter (Dec)

Basnight’s Warm Season Turf Program(6 Rounds customized for you)

Free Consultation 757.436.9617.

Dow AgroSciences

Potscaping - (PAWT.skay.ping) Artfullyarranging shrubs and flowers planted in pots andother containers. —potscape v., n.

Instead of being limited by your climate,potscaping allows you to garden throughout theyear. Place your pots outdoors during the summerand bring them in during the winter. Potscapinghas been popularized by the availability ofappealing garden containers in ceramics, woodand other materials. Potscapes can contain avariety of plants, such as: annuals, perennials,bulbs, vegetables, herbs, ornamental grasses,small shrubs, and houseplants. Well coordinatedcolors, interesting foliage textures, and varyingplant heights can bring the pot to life.

Are those pots too heavy to move? Sit them on asmall platform with wheels. If you don't like whereyou placed the pot or you want to move them closerwhen you are entertaining, it will be less backbreaking.

Extend your outdoor space and provide interestyear round with custom potscape designs byBasnight. Call our friendly staff today.

Is your property suffering from erosion due to asteep grade? A retaining wall may be the rightsolution for you.

When installed correctly, a retaining wall is notonly functional, it can be visually attractive. Thisarticle will focus on the more popular concreteblock wall systems. These wall systems come inmany shapes, sizes, textures and colors to bettercompliment your needs.

Aside from solving erosion problems, concreteblock wall systems can be used as decorative lowseat walls, planters, fire-pits, or provide a changeof grade on a paver or stone patio.

It is highly recommended that the installation ofconcrete block wall systems as a retaining wall becompleted by a certified and insured contractor.There is a bit of math and proper preparationinvolved in a successful retaining wall project.Regardless of what your needs are, Basnight hasthe right answers for you. Call today to speak withone of our expert designers.

Free Consultation 757.436.9617.

VerticalVertical

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

& CONSTRUCTION

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

& CONSTRUCTION

Ryan BakerICPI Certified Installer

ColorfulColorful

EAGLE BAYHardscape Products

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Solve steep grade soil erosion issues

(Retaining Wall).

Provide multiple levels of grade on a

paver or stone patio.

Decorative low seat walls.

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Fire-pits

Planters and garden beds.

Concrete Block Wall System Uses

Free Consultation 757.436.9617.

Lantana, Potato Vine, English Ivy,

Black Flash Peppers, Petunias,

Vinca, Sago Palm, Croton,

Dracaena and Mandavilla.

Potscaping Plant Ideas

Christian BasnightLandscape Design & SalesVirginia Tech Horticulture 4 yrs.

RETAINING &

DECORATIVE WALLS

RETAINING &

DECORATIVE WALLS

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What’s The Damage Doc? SPECIAL SUMMER FEATURE

If you have a dog but still want to have a green lawn, you may be facing a few problems.As a dog owner, you have noticed circular yellow dead spots with dark

green rings in your lawn. This is referred to as “dog spotting” and is caused by dog urine. The urine contains high levels of nitrogen and the “spotting” effect is

similar to the excess fertilizer, which can burn a lawn.

Now that you have an understanding of why the dog urine is caustic to your lawn and plants, what can you do to resolve this? Obviously getting rid of your

“best friend” is not an option. The following are a few tips to help out.

1) Thoroughly watering an affected area immediately after urination with a garden hose will dilute the nitrogen. This is not always a perfect solution, as you

may notice irregular dark green patches. This is due to the urine being diluted and now acts as a fertilizer for the plant material.

2) Try giving your dog a supplement or food additive that is designed to neutralize the nitrogen in the urine. Consult your veterinarian before starting any type

of supplement. Some of these solutions can harm your dog.

3) Introduce dog urine tolerant plants into your landscape. Most plants that can withstand high levels of salt are good alternatives. An example would be plant

material that grows well in seaside areas. Even though they can be tolerant, it does not mean that consistent dog urination will not damage them.

4) Install Kentucky 31 fescue which is more tolerant to “dog spotting” than most grasses.Another alternative is to grow a clover lawn.

5) Another option is to train your dog to only use only a specific area of your yard to do their “business”. To facilitate clean-up, make sure that the area has a

surface of dirt or gravel.

use of

Survive the summerKeep that Lush Relaxing Feel

It is that time of year! Summer is a great time to entertain family and friends with outdoor get-togethers. This is the perfect opportunity to show off yourlandscape. Throwing a party doesn't have to be a costly experience; whether it's enjoying the outdoors with a barbeque, holiday event, wine and cheese or apotluck. Most importantly, with these simple tips, you can relax and enjoy being the host.

Make sure to arrange for plenty of seating and table surfaces based on the number of guests. Create destination areas throughout the landscape for people toroam and mingle. Placing tables with desserts, snacks and tasty drinks throughout the space will keep people moving about and enjoying the landscape. If youare having a daytime party and it is very hot, provide seating under shade trees, pergolas, outdoor umbrellas and awnings. Create artistic arrangements orcenterpieces by cutting flowers, foliage and branches from the plants in your landscape. Place your cut floral bouquets in empty cans or mason jars, which aregreat for candles too. Galvanized tubs, buckets and planting pots work great as ice bins to keep drinks frosty. Set up glasses, a bottle opener and a towel nearbyfor your guests' convenience. If you offer mixed drinks at your party, set up a bar area fully stocked with liquor, glasses, mixers, stirrers, garnishes, napkins andclean ice. Consider biodegradable plates that you can throw into your compost area at the end of the event. A great way to keep insects away from the foodserving area is to have fans oscillating nearby. Or you may consider lighting tiki torches and citronella candles. Make sure to have several rubbish containersnearby to keep the party and landscape clean and orderly.

Landscape lighting is a great way to keep entertaining your guests as the sunlight goes down. Not only is it extremely beautiful, it is a safe way to guide you andyour guests through the landscape. Use a combination of low-voltage outdoor lights, lanterns and candles. You can also light a fire in an outdoor fire pit whereyour guests will relax and gather around.

Now that you have your party planned out, it is a good idea to make sure the appearance of your landscape is top-notch.A landscape clean-up usually consistsof trimming/pruning plant material, weeding, re-mulching and defining the bed lines. It is also nice to plant more flowers for the impact of color. If you want alush relaxing outdoor entertaining space, give our expert staff at Basnight Land & Lawn a call today.

EXPERT TIPS

GARDENS DOWN SOUTH R E A D E R S U G G E S T I O N

GARDENSDOWN SOUTHa publication of Basnight Land & Lawn

225 Sign Pine RoadChesapeake, Virginia23322

CALENDARCALENDAR

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH US

Facebook.com/Basnight Land & Lawnwww.basnightlandandlawn.comChesapeake (Main Office) 757.436.9617Williamsburg 757.564.1555Richmond 804.275.5263Nags Head 252.715.1833Fax 757.436.0112

Oyster & South estival2011

f

November 19th

Greenbrier Farms

For more information visitwww.seeyouonthefarm.com

•or Fescue Grass to

3”-3.5” and Bermuda Grass 2.5”-3”.• Spot treat weeds in beds with contact

herbicide.• Don’t mow lawns that are stressed

(Easy method to define stress, if youwalk across the lawn and after 3 hoursthe path is visible, the lawn needs to bewatered.)

• Monitor for insects and diseases.• Prune needle evergreens and shrubs

that have flowered.• Monitor lawns, shrubs, annuals and

trees for stress.• Tend perennials and annuals (dead

head and remove dead materials).• Late summer apply lawn grub control.

When summer’s heat arrives, raisemowing height f

to

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