Connecticut Landscaping and Tree Services

10/15/2014

Connecticut Winter Plants for your Winter Landscape | Hamden, CT

Winter Plants - Affordable Landscape and Tree Services - Hamden, CT The cold Connecticut winter season can make it very difficult for many types of plants maintain the proper nourishment and conditions to survive. As a property owner, you understand all of the hard work and dedication that goes into creating a beautiful landscape design and how discouraging it can be to watch it wither away during the Fall season and eventually die in the Winter.

The Hamden, Connecticut landscape design and maintenance professionals at Affordable Landscape and Tree Service want to assure you that the Winter season can potentially reveal a completely new landscape for your property, with new types of plants which produce colors, textures and shapes that cannot otherwise be achieved during the warmer times of the year. There are many plants available that can create beauty for your property and without all the hours of landscape maintenance that many warmer climate plants entail.

We have selected a few of our personal favorite winter plants that will add more green, interesting shapes, and will even blossom outside your window in the heart of winter. These plants will make terrific additions to your winter garden plans.

Planting a holly shrub is a great and convenient method of sprucing up a dreary winter landscape. The majority of hollies are deciduous, which means they will not lose its leaves over the winter, giving you much needed color to your landscape during the dull Connecticut Winter.
Plume grass is a beautiful feature to add to your landscape during the winter months. Plum Grass produces a feathery arrangement from early fall into late October, which can potentially continue to flourish well into the cold winter months. Plum Grass can also be removed from your outdoor landscape and be harvested for indoor arrangements. Plume grass when it is bunch together in a decorative fashion, can may spread to 5 feet. You must take into account that it possesses weak stems, which are particularly vulnerable during the cold winter months when high winds may occur, so it may be in your best interest to plant it in a wind protected location.
Babyberry shrubs are very popular for winter landscape design because they are very adaptable and require extremely low maintenance during the witner months. Barberry shrubs make great additions to the landscape and are known for their rich color and year-round garden interest. If you live in a heavily populated area, they are known for thriving in urban conditions and can even be grown inside a container of some sort.
Birch trees make will make a wonderful addition to your landscape. Birch trees can grow to be over 90 feet tall or more and possess beautiful fall leaves that turns bright shades of orange and yellow. Another popular feature of birch trees is the bark that begins to peel off the tree as the cold weather sets in. Depending on the type of birch tree, the bark can peel off in a very thin fashion and in the majority of time it appears as a white color.
The Winterberry holly is a deciduous type of holly, which will typically shed its leaves in during the early days of November, leaving behind an array of bright red berries. Most species of holly are either male or female, so you’ll have to pair them up to get berries. The best time to plant winterberry hollies is in the Spring time or early Fall seasons.

Affordable Landscaping & Tree Service LLC. offers landscape design & maintenance, tree removal, stump grinding, lawn installations, landscape masonry, and much more to the following towns and surrounding areas in Connecticut: Hamden, New Haven, West Haven, Woodbridge, Guilford, Orange, Milford, Fairfield, Stamford, Westport, New Canaan. Contact us today for a FREE Consultation!

09/15/2014

Preparing your Property for the Winter – Lawn Winterization | Hamden, CT

Winter Lawn Preparation - Hamden, CT - Affordable Landscape and Tree Services, LLC. The cold Winter months can put an major strain on your Connecticut lawn, especially if there has been a large amount of snowfall and your grass has been covered for months. The effects of Winter are most often seen in Spring when a lawn is slow to recover, or in worst cases – the lawn actually dies off from the Winter cold. Performing lawn winterization services is an important part of lawn care that must begin during the Fall season. During the hot and humid Summer months, many Connecticut lawns will undergo a recessing period as a way to protect itself from the heat, which makes the Fall season the best time to restore any damages that may have occurred during the Summer.

The goal of winterizing your lawn is to create the most healthy environment possible for your lawn in the Fall season, so it can combat the Winter cold and have a chance to successfully recover in the Spring season. The landscape professionals at Affordable Landscape and Tree Services have complied a list of tips on winterizing your property.

Begin winterization in the Fall: Now that the cool days and nights of the Fall season have begun, it is time to begin the winterization process. The earlier you begin preparing your lawn, the more nutrients your grass and plants will receive during the Winter and the more healthy it will appear in the Spring.
Aerate your lawn: Fall is the optimum time to begin lawn aeration. During the Summer, you lawn will typically receive much more foot traffic which can cause your grass to become quite damaged. The process of lawn aeration entails the disposal of plugs of soil, thatch and turf from the lawns surface. This will allow oxygen to absorb into the thatch layer and into the soil.
Rake leaves, remove tree limbs and debris: In the dreary Connecticut winter season, it is extremely important that your lawn receives as much sunlight as possible in order to stay healthy. The additional leave and debris that can accumulate during the Fall season can cause your lawn to be smothered. It is recommended that you removal all leaves and debris and continue to mow your lawn to the point where frost will begin to appear.
Overseed your lawn: You can repair damage spots by reseeding the areas of your lawn. The Fall season is the perfect time to overseed because there is typically a good amount of rain and the temperature is warm enough to allow the seed to germinate. By planting grass in the Fall, you will be allowing the grass to establish itself before the cold weather appears. If you got a late start on reseeding, it is still possible for you to plant your seeds because the seeds will go dormant so the snow will not hurt them. When the snow melts the seeds will begin to germinate and flourish in the Spring.
Water your Lawn: Watering your lawn for the entire duration of the Fall season will ensure that your grass and shrubs will retain the proper amount of water to survive the Winter months. When the freezing weather arrives, it is important to remember to drain your irrigation system and close of your outdoor faucet to prevent your pipes from bursting. You must also place your hose and sprinkler systems into storage.

We hope that you have found these lawn winterization tips helpful. Remember that the sooner you begin the winterization process for your lawn, the greater results you will receive for your lawn in the Spring. We understand that the Fall season can be an extremely busy time for families in Connecticut, so we want you to know that you can turn to the landscaping professionals at Affordable Landscape and Tree Services to take care of your property this fall and ensure an absolutely beautiful lawn in the spring. Feel free to contact us at anytime for a free consultation at 203-287-8894.

Affordable Landscaping & Tree Service LLC. offers landscaping and property maintenance services to the following towns and surrounding areas in Connecticut: Hamden, New Haven, West Haven, Woodbridge, Guilford, Orange, Milford, Fairfield, Stamford, Westport, New Canaan. Contact us today for a FREE Consultation!

08/15/2014

Fall Yard Cleanup Services – Leaf Removal – | Hamden, CT

Fall Cleanup Services - Affordable Landscape and Tree Service LLC - Hamden, CT The Fall season in Connecticut is widely considered to be the most beautiful time of the year. It can also be one of the most strenuous times of the year in regards to property maintenance and cleanup. When it is time to start thinking about removing all of the leaves and broken branches from your yard, you can turn to Affordable Landscape and Tree Services of Hamden, CT to get the job done efficiently, so you can sit back and enjoy the autumn season. We utilize top of the line equipment and experienced professional landscapers to provide you with complete yard clean up services.

By hiring Affordable Landscape and Tree Services to remove the dead leaves and debris that have accumulated in your yard, you will be able to better enjoy your property during the winter months. Also, removing the dead leaves, your yard, patios, and walkways will require less future cleanings by preventing the decaying leaves to leave dirt and stains on your hardscapes.

Some of our fall season property clean-up services include picking up of leaves, brush, and other debris that is covering your yard. However, our clean up services do not just encompass removing dead leaves and debris. There is much that can be done to prepare your Connecticut lawn for the long Winter season to have it looking vibrant in the Spring time.

We have compiled a list of our Fall Cleanup Services below:

Remove fallen tree limbs, leaves and other natural debris from yard, patios, and walkways.
Refurbish perennial beds. Remove dead annuals and compost them.
Prune broken or dead branches from decorative trees and bushes
Turn off water hoses, drain hoses, service irrigation systems, and store garden furniture.
Add any lawn treatments such as seed or fertilizer
Mow your lawn one last time before Winter season
All collected debris is removed from your property

Seasonal landscaping maintenance makes a world of difference in the health and appearance of your Connecticut lawn and landscape. You can hire the professionals at Affordable Landscape and Tree Services, to handle all of your Fall Cleanup duties. Allow us to utilize our knowledge and vast landscaping experience to make your lawn and landscape a healthier, more pleasant part of your life. You can contact us today at 203-287-8894 to request a free, no obligation estimate for Fall Cleanup Services, or for any of our property and landscape services.

07/05/2014

Keep your garden healthy through the summer months | Hamden, CT

Garden Installation and Design - Hamden, CT After a beautiful and pleasant Connecticut Spring, a change of seasons has brought on the hot and humid dog days of summer. For homeowners who dedicated the Spring season to planting and developing their gardens, you must now perform more maintenance and care in order to protect your garden from the rising temperatures and humidity.

Here are a few useful garden care insights and tips to help keep your gardens healthy and flourishing during the summer months.

Mulching is an excellent way to retain the moisture and keep your garden plants cool. Another advantage is its ability to combat weeds.
Watering your gardens thoroughly compared to only spraying the foliage will keep your plants hydrated.
It is important to clip blooms that have withered away from annuals and perennials
Monitor your plants for pest and diseases such as mosquito, beetles, fungus, rust disease, root rot, etc.
Harvest fruits and vegetables on continual basis. The more heavy fruits and vegetables need to be monitored closely and the larger fruit removed quickly so the vines are not damaged by their weight.

Many Connecticut homeowners who are not experienced gardeners can encounter difficulties while maintaining their gardens during the summer months because they do not understand the extra attention that their garden needs compared to the Spring time. Homeowners may realize that they do not have the extra time or experience that is necessary to keep their garden healthy. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to contact a professional landscaper such as Affordable Landscape and Tree Services to maintain your garden. We have the knowledge and will provide the care necessary so that your garden will flourish through the Summer months. Contact us today for a FREE consultation!

06/30/2014

A checklist for maintaining healthy trees and shrubs though the summertime | Hamden, CT

Tree and Shrub Installation - Hamden, CT Shrub and Tree installations are investments that enhance your Connecticut property, and create a positive first impression of beauty, and curb appeal. Healthy trees increase in value with age, purifying our air, and saving energy by providing shade and protection from strong winds. On the other hand, poorly-maintained trees can be a significant hazard and liability.

Please review the following checklist to ensure that your trees and shrubs will be healthy through the summer seasons.

Inspect trees and shrubs: Before leaves appear, inspect tree trunks and branches, looking for signs of disease or damage. You can contact Affordable Landscape and Tree to learn about inspecting trees and what to look for when identifying potential health hazards for your trees.
Prune dead branches: The ideal time to prune most trees is during the winter time. Remove any dead, damaged or broken branches that appear on the tree.
Mulch your landscape: A layer of mulch helps soil retain moisture and suppresses weeds. It’s most crucial when caring for younger trees, ones that have been in the ground up to 10 years.
Combat Pests & Diseases: You can contact a licensed arborist to learn which pests and diseases pose the most serious threat to your trees – and how to best treat them. New problems develop yearly, and older foes are often defeated.

We currently have a special where you can receive $250 off of of any job valued at $1000 or more and $550 off any job valued at $2500 or more. Call us at 203-287-8894 today!

Affordable Landscaping & Tree Service LLC. service area includes the following towns and surrounding areas in Connecticut: Hamden, New Haven, West Haven, Woodbridge, Guilford, Orange, Milford. Contact us today for a FREE Consultation!

05/09/2014

What to consider when hiring a Connecticut landscape company

You have decided to hire a landscaping company to transform your Connecticut yard into your dream property; where do you start? If you are not careful, you could hire the wrong landscaper, and it can wind up costing you time and money. The best place to begin is by defining your needs. Get an idea of what you might want. Look through magazines and websites and collect pictures of what you like. No two landscaping businesses are exactly the same. Some landscapers may only offer basic lawn care services. Others may specialize in creating beautiful stone features, creating ponds, installing fountains, and arranging custom flower presentations.

It’s important to do your research before making this important decision. There are 3 things to consider as you begin the search for a company that can bring your vision to reality.

Check references and read reviews – It is important to always ask your potential landscaping company for references. An established landscaping company will typically have online reviews or a website where you can find testimonials that customers have written about their and the quality of work they provided for their clients.
Review the company’s portfolio – Ask for an online portfolio from the company, or check their website for examples of work they have done. A professional landscape contractor can show you photographs of the projects that have completed and of properties they maintain. This is a great start to see if you like their work.
Get an estimate – Estimates should be provided in written format and should be detailed as to what is and what is not included. If it is more than you can afford, see where you can trim things down. Or better yet, don’t comprise what you really want, break the project into stages and complete it one section at a time

Landscaping can do wonders to improve your home from an aesthetic viewpoint by introducing colorful shrubs and beautiful trees and plants. It can also add interest and useful outdoor living space through the addition of decks, patios, walkways, and pools. Additionally, hiring a landscape maintenance firm to take care of your new or existing landscape can protect your investment.

Consider Affordable Landscape and Tree Services when choosing your landscaping company. We are experts in landscape, hardscape, tree removal and everything in between. Contact us today for a Free Estimate.

05/09/2014

Professional Connecticut Stump Removal Services

You may be asking yourself, why do I need to remove a stump? Or perhaps you’re even considering leaving it in your yard to decompose naturally. There are several reasons to remove tree stumps as quickly as possible after a tree is cut down. Their roots cause uneven sidewalks and cause the concrete to rise and people to trip. The roots increase in diameter over time. Paved surfaces, such as roads, driveways, and pavements can become hazardous over time.

When removing tree stumps on your Connecticut property, you have to make sure that even the roots are removed because even they are a safety hazard and, actually, are more hazardous than the stump itself. Removing tree stumps is not as easy as chopping wood.

Decomposing roots can have a negative impact on new trees or bushes planted in the area after a tree is removed. In particular, if a tree was diseased prior to removal, it is important to remove as much of the tree’s organic material as possible from the soil prior to planting any new trees or shrubs in the same area.

Stump grinding is the most efficient and effective method of removing tree stumps from your property. Unless you happen to have a stump grinder in your garage, you will need to rent one. It is best to hire a licensed, bonded and experienced stump removal specialist to remove your stumps, ensuring that quality work is performed in a safe manner. A professional stump removal company that specializes in tree trimming and removing stumps can take stumps out without damaging structures in the area or harming the surrounding landscape.

If you have a stump to be removed, please contact Affordable Landscape and Tree Service in Hamden, CT today by filling out our online Tree Services form or call us at 203-287-8894.

04/09/2014

Spring Lawncare Tips for a Healthy Connecticut Lawn

A healthy Hamden, Connecticut summer lawn starts with spring maintenance. When the snow starts to melt and winter’s receding snow reveals bare spots, invasive plants and other problems can occur, which can seriously jeopardize the health of your lawn through the Spring and Summer months.

Below is a list of 5 important Lawncare Tips, which will help you to achieve a beautiful landscape for your Connecticut property.

Cleaning and Repairing Your Lawn in Spring – Affordable Landscaping & Tree Service LLC recommends homeowners should take the necessary time to remove any debris from their existing yards such as: twigs, branches, leaves, pet droppings and winter road gravel. By raking the lawn this helps dethatch and promote growth.
Planting Grass in the Spring – As part of the spring startup process, dead or damaged grass patches should be reseeded in early March or April. The most important thing to do is to provide newly developing seeds with enough water for proper growth and development.
Fertilizing Grass in the Spring – Adequate fertilization plays a major role in producing and maintaining a dense, pest/weed-resistant turf for your Southbury, CT property
Lawn Care Equipment Maintenance in the Spring – A key component of having a lawn that is beautiful and healthy is making sure your lawn mower is in good condition. Be sure to service mowing equipment regularly and use a lawn mower blade sharpening service.
Don’t mow your lawn too short – Grass will grow best at approximately two inches and higher, so keep it a minimum of this height during the first few cuts in spring.

With so many things factors involved with properly maintaining your Connecticut property, why not hire the experienced professionals at Affordable Landscaping & Tree Service LLC to maintain it for you. Call us today at 203-287-8894 for a free estimate on your next property maintenance project.