“You can see faces, but you can also see the stars!”
~ Michelle, Lancaster, PA

Landscape lighting is an efficient way to extend the useability of your garden, while highlighting special features and creating a softer, more intimate ambiance in the same space. We highly recommend landscape lighting for several reasons: Extend your garden time–lighting allows you to enjoy your garden into the night, and opens a new way to experience the same environment.

Add elegance–With well-planned lighting, intimacy and privacy are heightened, and no glare interrupts your view.

Provide security–Safety and reliability are hallmarks of the lighting solutions we provide. Changes to walks, such as steps and turns, are natural reasons to illuminate your garden so that your guests are comfortable and arrive safely.

Care to light up treasured garden spaces? Give us a call to see how: 717-653-1273
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& celebrant of Light!)

When planning a garden, vision is essential. Envisioning outdoor living spaces that provide joy and beauty in all seasons is an important first step in crafting a garden.

However, many people who have a great ideas for their garden remain continually frustrated with the results, usually because the garden does not receive the care it needs after it has been installed.

To fulfill a garden vision, garden care is vital. Appropriate care requires knowledge of plant habits and growth rates, and the best plant care techniques. It also requires skilled, experienced eyes and hands to see the potential and then develop valuable plants into works of art. Garden care also takes effort, not just to accomplish the regular tasks of planting, pruning, cutting, and shearing but also to keep on caring. When the desire to care wanes, achieving a noteworthy garden is almost impossible. If you are frustrated by your garden, ask yourself if it is receiving the care it needs. If not, consider ways to restore the health and loveliness you first imagined.

With proper care, the value of your garden investment will increase, as plants grow in size, vigor, and beauty. The returns will be great if you learn how to care for it properly or hire an experienced, knowledgeable, and skillful crew to take care of it for you.

Hanselman Landscape specializes in nurturing gardens across Central and Southeast Pennsylvania; we would be honored to partner with you to realize the garden you first envisioned.

~Contributed by Pete Dymond
Hanselman Landscape Garden Care Specialist

Although mulch can help to control weeds and erosion, retain moisture, and increase soil nutrients, it can threaten the well-being of any plant if applied too deeply. There are two important requirements to keep in mind when applying mulch:

1. KEEP MULCH AWAY FROM PLANT STEMS. The stem (or trunk) of a plant is prone to insect entry, rot, and strangulation by girdling roots if over-mulched, so it is important to keep mulch well away from plant stems. To find where the stem or trunk begins, locate the root collar. This is the dividing line between the stem and the roots and is usually found at the flared portion of the trunk to which the roots attach. The root collar should always be kept dry and visible; NO mulch should be applied above this point. If a plant is buried too deeply, the root flare will not be visible and the trunk will look like a telephone pole when it disappears into the earth. If the root flares on your plants are buried, remove the excess material to allow the root collar to remain clean and dry. Read our important guidelines to remember when mulching.

2. MULCH LIGHTLY. When mulch is too deep, the flow of water and air to and from the roots is cut off and valuable plants can actually suffocate. The finer the mulch, the thinner the application should be. Fine, soil-like mulch should only be applied about one inch thick; coarse mulch can be applied to a depth of three inches. Previous years’ mulch must be raked away from plants before adding new mulch, as it will have become compacted.
The photo below shows a light dressing of Pine straw mulch, our preferred mulch. It is attractive, light, and therefore easier on plants and those who mulch! (Note the visible root flares.)

Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& advocate of thriving plants)

In this week’s discussion of mulch, you will again notice our bias toward mulches made with Pine products, since they offer great beauty throughout the life of the mulch while creating the healthiest environment for plants. Today we will present another of our favorites:

PINE BARK MULCH

Pros:
Appearance – The striking red color of pine bark mulch slowly fades to a more neutral brown and provides a stunning contrast to the green foliage of plants.
Weed Free – Pine bark, like pine straw, doesn’t generate a weed-friendly habitat.
Mold Free – The nature of Pine bark decomposition inhibits the growth of molds and funguses.
Permeable – Pine bark is a very loose mulch. This allows the mulch to remain water permeable throughout its lifetime.
Appealing acidity – Pine naturally has a higher acidity than hardwoods. This means that the decomposition of pine straw increases the acidity of the soil, producing a better soil composition for most plants.
Good value – Although slightly more expensive than most premium hardwood mulches, it is still a very good value.
Durable – Pine bark decomposes slowly. A single mulching could easily remain effective and attractive for up to three years.

Cons:
Price – Most people experience some sticker shock at the price of pine bark mulches. Because It is difficult to find, it is more expensive than other varieties of mulches. However, its durability and healthy properties makes it a reasonable value over time.
Floating – Because of its light weight and loose nature, shredded Pine bark is prone to drifting during heavy rains and may require a small amount of clean-up afterwards. However, this lightweight, loose quality provides a much more plant-friendly option than the easily-compacted shredded hardwood mulches that are so commonly used in our area.

–Contributed by Peter Dymond
HL Garden Care foreman

In this week’s discussion of mulch, you will likely notice our bias toward mulches made with Pine products, since they offer great beauty throughout the life of the mulch while creating the healthiest environment for plants. Today we will present one of our favorites:

PINE STRAW MULCH

Pros:
Attractive appearance – The light tan color and lacy texture of Pine straw combine to create a striking contrast with shrubs and trees that actually highlights the plants it surrounds.
Weed resistant – Because Pine straw breaks down so completely, it doesn’t generate the habitat that is most conducive to weeds.
Mold resistant – The nature of Pine straw decomposition inhibits the growth of molds and funguses.
Permeable – Even as the summer wears on, Pine straw’s loose thatch allows water and moisture to penetrate the soil beneath while continuing to limit the growth of weeds.
Appealing acidity – Pine naturally has a higher acidity then hardwoods. This means that the decomposition of pine straw increases the acidity of the soil, producing a better soil composition for most plants.
Good value – Although slightly more expensive than most premium hardwood mulches, it is still a very good value.

Cons:
Hard to find – In the Northeast, Pine straw mulch is not very common. This makes it harder for the average customer to find and potentially more expensive.
Light weight- Since Pine straw is so light, application can be slightly more susceptible to windy weather. However. once the Pine straw has gotten wet, this lightness no longer remains a problem, as the Pine straw creates a natural thatch that ensures it remains in place.

–Contributed by Peter Dymond
HL Garden Care Foreman

Spring is almost here! It’s just about time time to spruce up your garden with a new layer of mulch. But before you borrow your brother-in-law’s pickup truck and run to the nearest mulch provider, make sure you are selecting the proper mulch for the plants in your garden. In the next few posts, we will look at several types of mulch, highlighting their positive and negative characteristics. You will likely notice our bias toward mulches made with Pine products, since they offer great beauty throughout the life of the mulch while creating the healthiest environment for plants. Today we will present the mulch most commonly used in this area:

SHREDDED HARDWOOD MULCH (also called TANBARK MULCH)

PROS:
• Common – This is the most common type of mulch and is easy to find.
• Least expensive – Shredded hardwood mulch is also the least expensive type of mulch.
• Many options – Shredded hardwood mulch provides a number of options, such as color and how finely it is shredded.

CONS:
• Fades quickly – Shredded hardwood mulch tends to bleach significantly throughout the summer.
• Prone to fungus – These mulches are also prone to unsightly and even damaging funguses (see photos below).
• Prone to weeds – Shredded hardwood mulch does not decompose well. They breakdown fairly slowly, which would be fine, if not for the fact that as they do, they create a soil mixture that is promotes the growth of weeds and volunteer trees.
• Dense build-up – Another byproduct of hardwood mulch decomposition is that, after numerous yearly applications, plant roots are buried under a dense carpet of mulch and no longer receive adequate air and moisture. During the hottest, driest months of the year, plants may shrivel and die because water can not penetrate this thick crust. In the long run, the initial savings may be expended to replace dead plants.
• Low acidity – Most plants prefer a more acidic soil composition than hardwood mulch provides.

–Contributed by Peter Dymond
HL Garden Care Foreman