If you’ve invested money and hours of energy on creating the perfectly landscaped yard for your home you are probably concerned about the environmental threats that could undo all of your hard work. While storms, bugs, and deer pose a threat to your gardens, rabbits have the potential to be devastating to your beautifully manicured yard. But what can you do to deter rabbits from destroying your gardens? Here are some simple things you can do to repel rabbits and keep your landscaping looking perfect.

A rabbit in a garden

Choose Plants Carefully

One thing you can do when planning your garden is to choose plants that rabbits simply don’t like. Gardens are a great place for rabbits because they offer both shelter and food. By choosing plants that rabbits won’t eat you can discourage them from taking up residence in your garden. Likewise, by avoiding thick shrubs you can limit the amount of burrowing space for rabbits. Being prey animals rabbits like to take shelter in dense plants, so by avoiding these plants you can make your garden more inhospitable.

Use Repellents

If you’ve already planted your garden or the above tip isn’t working for you, consider using a repellant. There are spray repellents on the market that deter rabbits by making the plants taste bad and therefore less attractive to them. Spray deterrents are the most economical way to keep rabbits out of your garden, but do take some effort to maintain. Another deterrent option is an ultrasonic device that makes a noise to scare rabbits away, however its effectiveness is fairly limited.  

Use Fencing

If all else has failed you can install decorative fencing around your gardens to prevent access for the rabbits. While fencing may not be your top choice, in some situations it is necessary (especially in vegetable gardens). Because rabbits burrow it is necessary to install fences that go underground as well as above ground.

While rabbits are cute and fuzzy and look harmless, they can cause major damage to your landscaping if not kept in check. There are many things homeowners can do to prevent rabbits from ruining their gardens that require a limited amount of work. If you are in need of a landscaping company in Catonsville, MD or are struggling with a rabbit problem, give us at Vin’s Total care Landscaping a call today!

Spring is right around the corner here in Maryland and you may be anxious to start planning your garden. But when you plant is just as important as what you plant when it comes to the success of your flowerbeds.Let’s take a look at the best things to plant early in the year so that you can ring in the Springtime at long last!

A bundle of primsoe

Primrose

Primrose have a beautiful flower ranging in color from white to yellow that bloom during the spring and summer. Primrose is a great option for many homeowners because they are very hearty and tolerate a wide range of conditions. Primrose don’t seem to have any trouble with very damp soil, which makes them do well during Maryland springs when it is rainy and wet a good bit of the time. Where primrose are planted is dependant mostly on the amount of sun and shade you have in your yard, as well as the average summer temperature. In very hot climates they do best in partial shade, while in more moderate climates they can tolerate full sun.

Bluebells

Bluebells are a beautiful addition to any garden. In contrast to the yellow and pink flowers of spring, bluebells offer a pop of periwinkle and blue to your garden. Bluebells don’t bloom for as long as the primrose, but they are gorgeous all the same and make a great addition to your garden for spring, while allowing for other blooms in summer.

Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox is much more attractive than it’s name, adding a low lying flowering plant to your garden. These beautiful purple and white blooms are easy to grow and will tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions. As its name suggests, creeping phlox creeps, meaning it has a tendency to spread, making it a great option for large areas. The blooms of creeping phlox last just for a short while in the spring, but during the summer months it offers ground coverage that requires very little maintenance, making it a great option for steep hills or other areas you’d rather not have to mow.

Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding hearts are one of the most interesting and beautiful spring flowers you can add to your garden. Unlike the other flowers described above, bleeding heart blooms hang from a branch, rather than grow on a stem. These blooms are a deep pink color with a white center and grow in the shape of a, you guessed it, heart. Bleeding hearts are not quite as hearty or easy to care for as other plants, but they are well worth it for their beautiful and unique appearance.

If you’d like to add some color to your yard this spring and summer, give us at Vin’s Total Care Landscaping a call. We can help you design the perfect flower beds for your needs by selecting the best flowers for your yard and your desired maintenance level. We are a landscaping company in Catonsville, MD who takes great pride in our work, and we’d love to help you take great pride in your lawn.

Despite the frigid temperatures here in Maryland during the winter months it is still the perfect time to start planning out your spring garden! Beautiful, perfect gardens take time and planning, but there are some simple things you can keep in mind when determining what you’d like to incorporate. Let’s look at some tips for designing the perfect garden that will add to your beautiful home and last for many months.

A grouping of climbing roses

Plan Out Spacing

One of the biggest things to consider when planning out your garden is spacing. Do you have just one of two flower beds to work with or do you intend to extend your garden throughout the yard? Consider adding some beds throughout the yard spaced out from each other to elevate the appearance of both your home and yard. Having garden beds throughout the yard can bring it all together while adding interest to your home’s curb appeal.

In addition it is important to plan out plant spacing within each bed, or around the house. If you want to incorporate pants that will grow significantly from year to year it is important to plan ahead and allow space for them to grow.

Incorporate Natural Features

Adding natural features to your garden can be a great way to take it to the next level. Boulders can be a great addition to large yards and provide an anchor for garden beds that aren’t against the house. Likewise large existing trees can be a great anchor for a garden bed.

Within a flowerbed natural features such as stone can add to the beauty while also offering good drainage for certain types of plants. Using stone along the edging of a garden is also a great way to create a natural, flowing barrier between the mulch and the grass.

Use Complimentary Plants

Once you have determined where you’d like your gardens and what general layout you’d like it to have, it is important to pick plants that work well together. Not only is it important to select plants that vary in appearance to create a diverse and attractive garden, but it is also important to select plants that require similar care.

When choosing plants make sure they will do well in that area of your yard. You may love two types of plants and want to put them together, but if one takes full sun and the other full shade, you are setting yourself up for failure. The same can be said about the water needs of the plant. Mixing desert plants with lush plants needing daily watering may look nice, but neither plant will do well in the long run.

Think About Maintenance

And finally, when planning your garden think about the amount of time you realistically have for maintenance. Hiring a landscaping company is a great way to maintain your lawn and new gardens, but you still need to take daily care into consideration. Choose plants that fit with your lifestyle so you can spend more time enjoying them and less time caring for them (or replacing them).

At Vin’s Total Landscaping we are proud of the beautiful lawns and gardens we create and tend to. We’d love to help you design the perfect garden for your tastes and your needs. If you are in need of a landscaping company in Catonsville, Maryland give us a call today. It is never too early to get started on your dream garden!

Whether you’re planting a garden or laying a new string of bushes, mulch is going to be an essential part of the puzzle. Though you may have used it many times in the past, you may not know why. Knowing is half the battle, so let’s take a look at what mulch is and what it does exactly so that you can make better use of it.

a Robin standing in a patch of mulch

Mulch Matters for Your Garden

Mulch is an essential part of landscape maintenance. The primary purpose of mulch is to cover the soil. Now, covering the soil has several benefits that will help your plants and your landscaping on the whole.

  1. Retaining Moisture- Plants need water and sunlight to thrive, as you probably already know. One of the biggest benefits to adding mulch to your garden is that mulch will help the soil retain water.
  2. Gives Structure- Scientists have found that adding mulch to your landscaping will help reduce erosion and support the land as you build on it. This can be invaluable to places that rest on a hill.
  3. Weed Control- Mulch can also help with controlling the growth of weeds. Like all plants, weeds need sunlight to live. The mulch can prevent them from being able to get started with their dirty business.
  4. Organic Mulch Makes Happy Soil- Organic mulch can help to infuse the soil with nutrients that will make it better for your flowers, bushes, or anything else.

Which Kind of Mulch is Right for Your Landscape?

So, now that you know you want to add mulch to your garden, you might be wondering what kind of mulch is going to be best for you. Here’s some of the top mulches:

Shredded or Chipped Bark – Though it won’t feed the soil like other types of mulch, bark doesn’t need to be replaced as often as the more degradable types.

Chopped Leaves – Not only are they readily available during the fall, they’re also highly nutritious for the soil. Unlike bark, chopped leaves will break down quickly and will need to be replaced often.

Cocoa Hulls – These are on the more expensive side, but they’re very good at retaining moisture. They’re also quite attractive. However, they are dangerous for pets, so avoid them if you have dogs or other animals that like to play in the yard.

Vin’s Landscaping Can Help You Get Mulched!

If you need help with any aspect of your landscaping, you can call on Vin’s Total Care Landscaping, LLC. We can mow the lawn, attend to your fallen leaves, or design and install a beautiful new landscape. The sky is the limit! So, give us a call today and we can talk you through your options.

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