The Landscape Design Site Landscaping Blog

It’s almost time for that much deserved long Winter rest. However, there may still be a few things left to do on your fall gardening checklist. And usually because mowing the yard one last time is the last chore, the lawn mower is one of the last tools to be put up for the Winter. Make sure you maintain it right in the Fall and it will serve you well for years to come. In the following article, Woods Houghton give a few good tips and advice for putting your lawn mower up for the Winter.

Well you have mowed your lawn for the last time this year and it time to put it to bed for the winter. A few simple steps, before putting it and other summer use small engines to bed for winter, helps ensure starting up and good performance for seasons to come.

The first winterizing step is caring for the engine’s fuel system. The best way to do this is to run the engine out of fuel until the engine dies. This removes all the gasoline from the carburetor and prevents gum deposits. A gasoline stabilizer may be added to the fuel tank instead, but if you chose to use a stabilizer you need to run the engine for about 5 minutes to get the stabilizer in the total system. The remaining fuel can be left in the tank over winter.

The next step is to change the engine oil, even if the oil in the engine has not reached the 50-hour service mark. Remove the spark plug while the oil is draining. Pour about a tablespoon of engine oil into the spark plug hole and pull the starter cord two or three times. Replace the spark plug and add new oil to the engines crankcase. The engine is ready for long-term storage.

I also recommend cleaning caked on grass from the underside of the deck. This prevents the deck form rusting and makes it last longer. Also, do not store the clipping bag with clippings. They will mildew and rot.

Put the machine where it will be dry and out of the weather. A shop rag or old towel over the top of engine helps keep out blowing dust and dirt. Do not use a plastic cover because plastic acts as a vapor barrier causing condensation under the cover that can oxidize ignition parts and make starting difficult in the spring.

I believe Fall has arrived. And I know that when it turns Autumn here in the desert southwest, it must be Fall everywhere.

For some folks, Fall is a time for a rest from the garden, mowing the lawn, and any landscaping plans. For others, it’s simply another gardening season with different methods of growing and planting.

As for myself, I have to go with the first group. I do love my yard and simple landscape and the therapy they provide me. However, after spending a Spring and Summer in a lot more yards than just my own, I look forward to the break.

Regardless of which group you fall under, there are still maintenance tasks as well as preparation for next Spring and Summer. So for that, I’ve grouped together a few tips for preparing the Fall garden as well as using the Fall and Winter garden.

Fall Garden Checklist
While a lot of this may be common sense and part of the avid gardeners Fall checklist, there may still be a few items here that haven’t been thought of. And for those that probably won’t get to any of it anyway, it’s a good read and an opportunity to say “hmmm, now that’s a real good idea”.

Planning Next Years Garden
Now, here’s where you can get ahead and cut down on having to do Everything in the Spring. Next Spring isn’t when you make plans for your new garden or landscaping. You’ll lose too much needed time. And some Spring gardening tasks such as planting certain bulbs and large trees will give better results when taken care of in the Autumn.

Planning Next Years Garden Part 2
Planning a garden to be beautiful, useful, and inviting for the entire next year growing seasons, requires some focus on plantings and how they respond to the seasons and different times of year. Once you have an idea of how you are going to use your garden, consider it as it is during the different seasons.

Fall Planting Tips
I wrote this article a long time ago but felt it has a place of mentioning in this post. For some plants and especially large trees and shrubs, Fall is the optimal planting season. This article has some good points and things you may want to consider if you’re planning on adding any plants in the Spring.

Winter Gardening For Birds
While this may be most appealing to the year ’round gardening folks in group two, some of you hibernaters may get some enjoyment from the songs and presence of Winter birds. Attracting birds to the Winter garden doesn’t require a lot of hard work. It just requires a little planning.

While these few tips and ideas are far from everything we could cover about Fall, Winter, and Spring gardening, they may give you a little to think about and a few new good ideas. And for those of us inclined to stay in our easy chair, it’s a good way to spend a few minutes on a lazy day.

Judging from my own work load and waiting list, I’d say there must be a shortage of landscaping contractors and landscapers. Even in September I’m having to turn clients away. However, from what I know of my competition, there are plenty of landscapers to do the work. But for some reason they’re all telling me that their business has slowed down for the year. Why isn’t anyone calling them?

Fact is, there isn’t a shortage of landscapers. There is, however, a shortage in good character, good business practices, and trust.

- This post is in regards to the new Free Directory Of Landscapers And Landscaping Contractors that we’ve added to the site. Hopefully it will make it a lot easier to find a designer or company in your area. However, regardless of what source you use to find a contractor, I want to point out in this article that it is ultimately up to you to make sure you get quality and don’t get burned.

Evaluate A Contractors Character And Reputation

What is the most important quality to look for when hiring a contractor?

Is it he who creates the best design? No. Of course, you want to make your initial contacts based on their design styles and quality but you do not want to hire someone based solely on that. Is it the biggest most visible company? Absolutely not. Remember, these big companies started small. And to exclude a smaller unknown company may be missing the best design, quality, and company for the job.

How do you evaluate character? Of course you want to ask for references. However, you can’t trust that completely. Do you think a company is going to give you a list of their unsatisfied clients? I doubt it. So besides getting their list, you need to check with the BBB, your chamber of commerce, and the “word on the street”. A few things you need to find out about a company are:

Third Party Companies

Using the big third party companies that match you with pre-qualified and pre-screened contractors isn’t any guarantee. I recently got a call from the biggest one out there. They had project requests in my area and no one to give them to. All that was required of me was to pay $26.00 for the lead information. No background check, no screening, no questions. Just $26.00. So what does that tell you? Maybe, you really can’t trust them either.

You have to do the homework. If you don’t have a reference from a good friend or any good “word of mouth” leads, the background check is up to you. Like I said earlier, the first step is to get into contact with a designer that creates designs and quality that you like. Then, if your initial “gut feeling” is good when you meet them, check the company out.

Landscape Contractor / Landscaper Directory

We have created a free directory of landscapers portfolios that will allow you to look at individual company designs, projects, pictures, and plans, and to also directly contact design companies based on their work. The Landscapers And Landscaping Contractors Directory is open to everyone and is even free for active contractors and landscape designers to list their companies and web sites.

While it may take a while for every State in the directory to become populated with companies, I’ve also partnered with a third party company to pick up the slack until the directory fills up (no, it’s not the biggest one - just one I trust). See Find Landscaping Companies And Contractors if you can’t find anyone in the new directory.

Remember, image and visibility counts for a lot but is no guarantee of satisfaction. Some bigger companies have the logos, the trucks, the matching uniforms, and the visibility. While this is a good indication of an orgainized company, it’s not a “go ahead” to just write a check. And another thing to remember is that some of the smaller landscaping companies are the most creative and trustworthy. Some are small because they choose to stay small. And this, as in my own company, allows for more personal and dedicated attention to each landscape design, client, and project.