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Nature’s Perspective Landscaping Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

Nature’s Perspective Landscaping has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“After years of hard work, dedication and attention to quality from each and every one of our employees, we are honored to earn this award,” stated Tom Klitzkie, President and CEO. “Customer satisfaction is very important to us and we are thankful for our customers’ business and their positive comments.”

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Nature’s Perspective Landscaping can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to Nature’s Perspective Landscaping in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

Case Study: A Garden For Birds and Butterflies

With winter in full swing, we hope you enjoy the first of several case studies to bring you inspiration and ideas for your garden. Spring is only a few weeks away!

The owners of this charming vintage home, nestled in the heart of Evanston, love nature, gardening and entertaining. As volunteers at the Chicago Botanical Garden, they bring their efforts home to beautify their yard and attract birds and butterflies. But they were running out of room for their many plant additions, and also lacked an outdoor setting in which to relax and entertain.

To create more gardening space, we removed the lawn and converted most of it into beds. In order to “bring the party to the garden”, we added hardscaping. A curved bluestone path welcomes guests. A curved raised planter, built of the owners’ reclaimed street pavers and topped with rockfaced bluestone coping, sits along the path, near the back door. The planter brings herbs closer to the kitchen, at arm’s reach, and also doubles as seating. Stepstones off the path lead to a round bluestone patio in a location that surrounds guests with lush greenery, a perfect setting for bookworms and social butterflies alike.

With a colorful array of edible and ornamental plants, a bird bath and bird feeder, the garden provides food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young, and was recently designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation*.

*For more information on certifying your garden, please visit http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife.aspx

Melt Ice… Responsibly

The winter solstice was December 22… the shortest day of the year. Since then, daylight continues to lengthen, and we are on the upward climb toward spring, although it may look otherwise.

Weather forecasters predict a cold and snowy winter, and as our first substantial snowfall arrives, so do the dangers of icy, slippery surfaces on stoops, steps, walkways and drives.

To melt ice and improve traction on surfaces, Sodium Chloride (commonly known as rock salt) is readily available and inexpensive. It is also the most harmful de-icer we could use. Plants can be damaged from sodium chloride, evergreens are burned, grass is killed along the edges of paved surfaces, it causes mortar to fail and concrete to develop pockmarks. It also causes serious pollution to our waterways.

Only 2.5 percent of all the water on the planet is fresh water (not saltwater). Of that, less than 1 percent is available to us… the majority of the earth’s fresh water is frozen in the glaciers. Here in the Chicago area, we are blessed not only with Lake Michigan, but many other small lakes and almost countless streams and rivers. Unfortunately, these bodies of water are rapidly becoming damaged by the large amounts of salt that run off our roads and walks.

We recommend using Calcium Chloride rather than the less expensive Sodium Chloride. Although calcium chloride is still a salt, it is the least damaging choice to plants, animals, paving and the environment. It costs more but the environmental benefits should outweigh that. It is also effective at much lower temperatures than rock salt, continuing to work at 5 degrees Farenheit. The latest trend in large scale ice and snow removal is combining the calcium chloride with an organic liquid such as beet juice! Beet juice reduces the amount of salt that is used and makes the salt that is used more effective.

Salt melts ice when it is in liquid or brine state… it does not work when it is dry. It needs to mingle with the moisture on the ground and become a liquid, and then it starts the melting process. This chemical reaction takes time, but if the salt is pre-wet with an organic liquid such as beet juice, it instantly starts working. Wetting the salt also reduces it from bouncing around when it hits the pavement, and so it stays where it should rather than going on to the lawn or planting beds. The salt is also diluted it so it is less damaging to plants and animals. This amazingly simple solution reduces salt usage by 30%.

Perhaps your municipality is already using this method; if so, give them a call and say “Thank You” for being so forward-thinking and conscientious. If not, suggest they consider it.

Happy Holidays From Nature’s Perspective

We wish you health and happiness this holiday season. We value our customer relationships and say Thank You for your business. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the coming year. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Nature’s Perspective.

What Do We Do All Winter?

What do we do all winter? That is a question we are often asked. Nature’s Perspective does not do snow removal…we use a subcontractor. So what exactly do we do all winter?

• We renew our spirits and prepare for the New Year ahead.
• We take a close look at how the season went and look for areas to improve.
• We take a vacation; the office is closed for two weeks over the holidays.
• We analyze how we worked and how we could work more effectively and efficiently.
• We sleep a little later and go home a little earlier.
• We design projects for clients that are thinking ahead.
• We work 4 days a week rather than 6.
• We develop our marketing strategies.
• We attend seminars and trade shows.

Before you know it March arrives and spring is not far behind and it’s back to the races!

The Ash: Beautiful and Fleeting

The recent string of crisp, clear autumn days allows us to get out and appreciate the beginning of the seasonal leaf color change. Honeylocust trees started the show with their warm golden color, and now the Ash trees are approaching full glory. Maples will follow.

We are dedicating this issue of Nature’s Notes to Ash trees as they put on their season-ending show. It is always important to take time to enjoy our surroundings, but with the Ash tree, it’s especially the case. The Green Ash has a clear bright yellow fall color, and the White Ash exhibits one of the best purple/maroon fall colors with highlights of yellow. When they are at their peak color, they look like they are glowing inside. Absolutely beautiful and fleeting. 

Some of us are lucky enough to have seen American Elms when they arched gracefully over entire streets, making a perfect tunnel of foliage; most of us have only heard stories. Dutch Elm disease became prevalent, and Elms quickly disappeared. Now, the Ash is going the way of the American Elm and soon may be a rare sight in our yards.  Ash trees are dying due to the Emerald Ash Borer, but steps can be taken to protect them.

The following useful information is from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. If you are lucky enough to have a healthy Ash tree, take care of it. Protective injections are effective and can be done by a certified arborist. Water, fertilize and mulch as needed. Such beautiful trees are worthy of preserving for future generations to enjoy.

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Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer, (Agrilus planipennis tairmaire) is a small (1/2 inch long, 1/8 inch wide) metallic green beetle native to Asia. While it was first found in Michigan in 2002, it is likely that the beetle population had been established quite a few years before discovery. Discovered in Kane County Illinois in 2006, the beetles’ presence has since been found in Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKaIb, DuPage, Grundy, Iroquois, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, McLean, Ogle, Will and Winnebago counties. EAB’s natural spread is moderate, but its artificial spread can be rapid by people unwittingly transporting this pest through infested firewood and landscape waste. Artificial movement of infested trees has exacerbated the EAB problem in Illinois and North America. To protect our ash trees, it is our responsibility to minimize the spread of EAB by not transporting firewood outside of its local area. Fireplace owners should buy firewood from a known local source and burn all of it before May 1. Campers should buy firewood at your destination and/or burn all wood before leaving the campsite.

Life Cycle

The adult emerald ash borer emerges May-July and the female lays numerous eggs in bark crevices and between layers of bark. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days into larvae which bore into the tree where they chew the inner bark and phloem creating winding galleries as they feed. This cuts off the flow of water and nutrients in the tree, thereby causing dieback and death.

 Ash Trees

Ash trees are very common in landscapes and most species, mainly white ash (Fraxinus Americana) and green ash (F. Pennsylvanica) are native to Illinois forests. It is estimated that as much as 20 percent of street trees in the greater Chicagoland area are ash.

Characteristics of Ash

* Compound leaves made up of seven small, glossy green leaflets (5-9 leaflets).

* Leaves, twigs and branches grow symmetrically in opposite pairs.

* Bark of mature trees is gray and furrowed, often appearing in a diamond pattern.

* Some ash trees will produce small canoe paddle-shaped seeds.

* Seedless ash trees are common.

* Some ash produce conspicuous hard, brown “flower galls” on their twigs.

Signs and Symptoms

The most visible sign of infestation is crown dieback. Branches at the top of the crown will die and more branches will die in subsequent years. As the tree declines, ‘suckers’, or new young branches, will sprout from the base of the tree and on the trunk. The bark may also split vertically and woodpeckers may feed on the beetle leaving visible damage on the bark. Successful treatments with insecticides are limited but continue to be studied. All ash trees near any new infestation will most likely become infested and die.

Adult beetles emerging from trees will leave a unique “O” shaped exit hole. This is a small 1/8 inch diameter distinctly “D” shaped hole that may appear anywhere on the trunk or upper branches.

Other Stressors

Ash trees may suffer from a number of insect disease or other problems that can cause similar symptoms.

Native borers also attack ash trees and leave different exit holes. The round or oval holes of native insect borers are not “O” shaped and are usually smaller or larger than those of the EAB.

You Can Help

DO NOT MOVE FIREWOOD

* Emerald Ash Borer can easily be transported in ash logs.

* Purchase firewood locally (within county) from a known source.

* Be sure to use all the firewood in the cold months so that no hidden EAB larvae or adults can survive on logs left through the spring.

* There are both state and federal quarantines in place that restrict the movement of ash logs, branches or other material in certain areas. The entire state of Illinois is under a federal quarantine, which restricts the movement of regulated articles across the state line. Additionally, an internal state quarantine is in effect for all or parts of 25 counties in northeastern Illinois. If you give or sell any ash stock or other hardwood originating from within the internal state quarantined area, inform the person receiving the wood of that fact and the restrictions on wood movement.

* Check www.lllinoisEAB.com for more detailed information.

* Monitor the health of ash trees. Look for dead and dying branches at the top of the tree’s crown and other EAB signs and symptoms.

If You Think You Have Emerald Ash Borer

If you suspect your tree has EAB, please take some digital photos of the tree and close-ups of the symptoms it is expressing and email those with contact info to: agi@jflinois.gov.

For assistance in identifying suspect insects and symptoms:

* Contact your city or village forester, arborist or public works official for assistance

* In the City of Chicago, contact 31 2-74BEETL (312-742-3385)

* Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 800-64 1 -3934 or visit www.lllinoisEAB.com

* Contact your local University of Illinois Extension office by visiting http://web.extension.uiucdu/state/index.html or by calling 217-333-5900

* Visit www.emeraldashborer.info or http ://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/

* Contact The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic at 630-719-2424 or www.mortonarb.org

* Contact a certified arborist. To find one in your area, visit http://www.illinoisarborist.org

* Call the national EAB hotline at 866-EAB-4512.

www.lllinoisEAB.com

Division of Natural Resources

Bureau of Environmental Programs

P0 Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281

217-785-2427 voice/TDD

Fall is a Great Time to Plant

Everyone knows that spring is a great time to install plant material, but fall is equally good. In fact, fall-installed plants undergo less stress and can be less work on their owner. Although a deciduous plant’s leaves drop off or a perennial plant’s top dies back, its roots are still active. The ground usually does not freeze in the Chicago area until well into December; this allows plants’ roots to continue to work to repair themselves from the transplant. They are actively growing any time the soil temperature is 40 degrees or above so that in spring, when the temperatures warm, they are more ready to support the above-ground portions of the plant.

So if you are thinking of installing a new garden or just a few new plants in your yard, now’s the time for planting!

Here are some of our favorite landscape plants with great fall color.

Beautyberry

Burning Bush

Dwarf Fothergilla

Kousa Dogwood

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Porcelainberry Vine

Redbud

Serviceberry

Virginia Sweetspire

Spring-Flowering Bulbs With Deer and Rabbit Resistance

Labor Day, the traditional end to summer, has come and gone. For us at Nature’s Perspective, we have started the fall season. The cool weather has added to the feeling that fall is here.

Fall is a wonderful time to establish new plantings or reconfigure existing gardens. Warm days lead to cooler nights and rainfall becomes more regular. Trees, shrubs and perennials have started to slow down growth and begin their winter dormancy. The leaves are starting to change color and drop, but below ground the root system is continuing to grow, repairing any damage from transplanting or the harsh summer. This continues until the ground freezes. Even the Kentucky bluegrass lawns are responding to the cool weather with fresh green growth, a last hurrah before winter.  However, at this time of year we should actually THINK SPRING! Spring-flowering bulbs can only be planted during the fall. Everyone is familiar with colorful, showy Tulips and cheerful Daffodils that are the mainstay of the bulb garden. There are many other spring-flowering bulbs that are not as well known, but definitely should be in everyone’s garden. We created a list of some lesser known bulbs that are also resistant to deer and rabbits! Think about the possibilities of adding small pockets or large swaths of color to your garden starting as soon as the snow melts in March with Snowdrops and Winter Aconite and continuing until the Allium finish the show in June.

Listed in order of their appearance, you can count on the following bulbs to bloom and perform beautifully in your garden.

MARCH

Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, do well in our area and emerge very early. The small, three-segmented, drooping white flowers are 5″ tall and stand out dramatically above their silver-green foliage.

Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis,  is another early bloomer. The solitary, yellow buttercup-shaped flowers grow 6″ tall and are surrounded by bright green bracts that look like a collar around the blossom.

Reticulated Iris, Iris reticulata, has little vibrant purple blooms with a gold stripe appear above thin-straplike leaves. 8-12 inches tall.

Glory of the Snow, Chionodoxa, are low growing plants, reaching 4-6″ high with grass-like leaves that appear the same time as the flowers. Star-shaped flowers face upwards and last two weeks or more, and are available in white or blue. (March/April)

APRIL

Scilla, Scilla siberica, also called ‘Squill’, has vivid blue flowers and stands about 5″ tall. You can see some strikingly beautiful and very large drifts in many North Shore gardens where they have been naturalizing for many years. Some varieties are available in pink and white, but the blues are spring time knock-outs.

Windflower, Anemone blanda, is a charming border plant with daisy-like flowers that comes in a variety of blues, pinks, violets and white. The foliage resembles parsley and the plant stands about 6″ tall.

Grape Hyacinth, Muscari armeniacum, is the largest of the minor bulbs with tiny deep blue flowers densely clustered, like miniature grapes, on a firm stalk. The flower cluster is about 5″ long and the plant grows to 7″ or 8″ tall. They bloom a long time and produce a striking effect when planted in drifts.

Species Tulips, Tulipa spp., bloom in early spring and are smaller in size than the better-know hybrid tulips. Growing only 4-12” tall, they nonetheless come in many shapes and colors, and naturalize better than hybrid tulips in the garden. T. greigii grows 8-12 inches tall and blooms in mid spring, and is available in pink, yellow, orange, red, ivory and peach. T.  linifolia grows only 4 to 6 inches tall with vibrant red flowers.

MAY

Camas Lily, Camassia leichtinii, is a mid-sized plant that sends up slender purple, star shaped flower stalks atop its grasslike leaves.  Plant these in an undisturbed area, and they will naturalize in your garden for years. Foliage dies back in early summer. 24-32”h.

Crown Imperial, Fritillaria imperialis, are large plants that send out stately, impressive 3-foot tall flower stalks. Nodding whorls of colorful flowers in red, yellow or orange red are topped by a crown of spiky, glossy leaves. Great for the back of the border or in a location you want to make a bold statement.  

JUNE

Ornamental Onion, Allium spp., is naturally deer-resistant and comes in different forms and sizes. Purple Sensation Allium  has 2? to 4? diameter purple globes on sturdy 24-30” stems in early June. Globemaster Allium is a tall and architectural plant, with, huge, globe-shaped purple flower heads on 3- to 4-foot stems. Beautiful next to peonies and irises.

A Wet and Wild July

From nearing record heat and drought to breaking all records for rainfall during the month, we have lived through a wet and wild weather month this July.  We have survived, but hopefully our plants have, too!

As we watched the weather zap the moisture from lawns and gardens, we issued a watering alert to you all, advising everyone to be sure to water everything in their yard. Just as we were about to announce a second warning, a period of storms began that led to the single most rainfall in a day with nearly 7” falling in the Chicago area on July 23^rd, 2011. That was followed by several more severe storms with heavy rainfall to end the month, breaking the record held since 1889. What a crazy weather month for us and our landscaping.

What does this mean for your garden and lawn? Most plants will incur damage from all this water, if their roots are saturated with water for longer than 24 hours. If your yard is soggy but not under water, the larger plants are probably going to be fine. However, in shady areas with water-logged soils we are seeing grass begin to rot out. Luckily, mid to late August is an ideal time for overseeding to establish a new lawn before winter. We have also noticed powdery mildew and other fungus diseases on the lawn. These usually resolve themselves, but if you are concerned, and the lawn seems to be in serious decline, it can be treated with a fungicide. We have had several calls about mushrooms and colorful slime molds in lawns and mulched beds. These are nature’s way of breaking down decomposing organic matter, and they won’t hurt any living things. They can be scraped away if they are bothersome. NEVER eat a mushroom you find in the garden unless you are sure they are not poisonous!

Ornamental grasses and heavy flower heads of hydrangeas and other flowers have been bent down with the rain. Propping them up with a garden stake will restore them to their beauty. Leaf spots seem to be everywhere… typically the fungus that caused them is gone, but the blemish remains.

Many trees and shrubs sustained damage from the strong winds and will need pruning. If you had a tree struck by lightning, contact an arborist for evaluation, it may not show signs for weeks or months, but it could have been weakened and have become a hazard to property.

We are ending the month of July with record-setting rainfall, but this doesn’t mean we don’t need to water again until September! As always, watering our outdoor green space does not mean that one or two storms will sustain our plants for weeks on end. It is important to watch the amount of rainfall each week and the condition of your yard to determine the need for watering. Normally, on average your garden will need at least 1” per week in order to maintain healthy blooms and good color from you plants, trees and lawn. If the plants are newly installed (less than 2 seasons in your yard) they will need more water, closer to 2″ in a week’s time. It is easy to check if its time to water by exploring the moisture level in your planting beds or below your sod. Simply dig into the soil and touch the soil. If the first 3-4” below the surface are dry, its time again to water.

Below we have provided some simple watering guidelines:

Trees and Shrubs:  Place the open end of the hose at the base of the plant and allow it to gently flow onto the root ball of the plant.  The rate of flow should be such that it soaks into the soil without running off or puddling. You can water each plant individually, ten minutes per four feet height of plant, or place a sprinkler to cover the area for several (3) hours.

Groundcover and Perennials:  These plants have much smaller root balls than their woody companions and thus will need more frequent watering.  Sprinklers are the easiest way to apply water.  A sprinkler should be set to run for 1 to 2 hours allowing water to penetrate the top 6 – 12” of soil.

Don’t forget to water your lawn!  After 2 weeks without rain, the crowns start to die. Your watering should penetrate 8 – 10” into the root zone to be adequate.

If you have an irrigation system check for “dry pockets”. As plants grow, the spray may not reach all the way to the back of the bed or over the taller perennials. We recommend running through the entire system during the day watching as each zone works to be sure it is irrigating  all your plants. 

Remember to give your yard the attention it deserves and protect both the value and beauty of your landscaping.  For more information call us or visit our website at www.naturesperspective.com.

Ornamental Grasses and Sedges For Shade and Deer Resistance

Many gardens in the areas we serve have two factors that can make gardening difficult….deer and shade. If you love the look of ornamental grasses but thought they couldn’t possibly survive in your shady, deer-troubled garden, think again. There are actually a number of beautiful ornamental grasses and sedges that not only tolerate shade, but seem to be resistant to deer. They would make an unexpected yet wonderful addition, with their fine texture playing off other plants that typically inhabit a shade garden, like hosta and fern.

These are our favorites: 

Bowles Golden Sedge.

Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’, Bowles Golden Sedge, is a beautiful sedge with vivid yellow foliage that seems to glow in partial shade. This plant grows in a tight, densely tufted mound and is somewhat upright in habit, and would thrive in a water or woodland garden or moist location. 12-18” h. 

At left: Evergold. At right: Ice Dance.

Carex hachioensis ‘Evergold’,  Evergold Sedge, has thin, creamy leaves edged with green margins. More fountain-like and delicate looking than ‘Ice Dance’, it creates a striking, whorly mound that, when massed, lights up dark corners of the shade garden. 8-12” h

Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’, Ice Dance Sedge, is a small, somewhat upright sedge with deep green leaves edges with distinct white margins. The foliage lasts well into winter. 8-12″ h.

Colorful, quaking seed heads of Northern Sea Oats.

Chasmanthium latifolium, Northern Sea Oats Grass, is a tall, bamboo-like ornamental grass with graceful arching stems with bluish green foliage and tolerates full sun to partial shade. Its flattened, saw-toothed flowers change in color from green in summer, to copper in fall and then tan in winter. Oat-like seedheads are great in dried arrangements. 36-48”h. 

Aureola Hakone Grass was the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Hakonechloa macra, Japanese Forest Grass, is bamboo-like and noted for its movement in breezes, offering a cascading or an undulating behavior much like flowing water. The variety ‘Aureola’, with its yellow blades striped with green lines, is wonderful in shady areas or evening gardens, and complements dark leaved plants. Prefers moist, humus-rich soil. 12-18”h.

Tall, airy panicles of Tufted Hair Grass are especially beautiful when backlit.

Deschampsia caespitosa, Tufted Hair Grass, is a clump-forming, cool season grass that sends out wide, airy panicles of subtly tinted, tiny flowers high above the plant, appearing cloud-like. It thrives in a moderately shady, moist location with organically rich soil. 24-36” h.

Striking, unusual seedheads of Bottlebrush Grass.

Hystrix patula, Bottlebrush Grass, is a medium sized, upright ornamental grass that is very shade-tolerant and native to the US. Leaf blades are a pretty blue-gray, but what’s striking about this grass are the beautiful, bottlebrush-like flower spikes it sends out in summer. Very deer- and rabbit-resistant. 36-48”h.  

Grass or flower? Snowy Woodrush could be both!

Luzula nivea ‘Lucius’, Snowy Woodrush, looks like an ornamental grass, with its thin, deep green blades, but it is actually a member of the Rush family. This plant is surprising in that it looks like an ornamental grass, yet it bears small clusters of fluffy white flowers in early spring and summer. If you have a moist, shady location you’d like to brighten, give this plant a try. 24”h.

Prairie Dropseed can tolerate a wide range of soils, but generally prefers dry and rocky.

Sporobolus heterolepsis, Prairie Dropseed Grass, is a clump forming, warm season native grass has with airy, scented spikes that hover over finely textured. hair-like medium green foliage. Its fragrance is likened to buttered popcorn, hot wax, and some say it has hints of coriander. Foliage turns a beautiful, golden with orange hues in fall, fading to light bronze in winter. A tough grass that tolerates a wide range of soils, including heavy clays, but it prefers dry, rocky soils. Can thrive in light shade. 18-24″h.