Fall is finally here! But with the respite from hot Georgia weather comes piles of fall leaves. Depending on how many trees you have in your yard, this can be a real problem. How can you get rid of fall leaves? Read on to find out!

• Compost – Composting is a wonderfully environmentally friendly way to get rid of leaves. A good compost requires both carbon (or “brown”) ingredients along with green ones. Dried leaves make a great carbon for composting. Shredding the leaves will make them compost quicker, but this step generally isn’t necessary.
• Insulation – Leaves can make great insulation for plants. Encircle your fragile plant with wire fencing (chicken wire works great) and fill the space with dry leaves. This can also work with container plants.
• Mulch – Dried leaves can also make a great mulch (just make sure you’re mulching the right way). The easiest way to mulch your yard with leaves is by running the lawn mower over the leaves and spreading out the leaf clippings. Please note that this only works with relatively small amounts of leaves. Too many leaf clippings can block sunlight from reaching your grass, resulting in damage to your lawn.
• Family Fun – Okay, it may not be the #1 choice for your lawn, but while you’re raking up those leaves for compost or mulch, take a moment to play in the pile. After all, a pristine lawn is the perfect space to have fun with your family this fall!

When caring for your lawn, Simply Green strive to exceed your expectations every time. For professional Atlanta lawn care services, contact us at 770-923-0387 today!

Your sprinkler system is a crucial part of your landscaping. A properly installed (and maintained) sprinkler system allows you to conveniently irrigate your grass, shrubbery, and trees. Keep your sprinkler system in good shape with these sprinkler system tips from Simply Green Lawn Care.

• Regular Sprinkler Maintenance – Regularly check to make sure all sprinkler heads are unblocked and are pointed in the proper directions. Also, always be on the lookout for soggy areas of your yard, as this could be a sign of a broken line or leak. You certainly don’t want to pay for extra water that’s only going to damage your plants and lawn.
• Prep for the Cold Season – It’s important to prepare your system for cold weather. Freezing lines can easily burst in the winter months, resulting in costly repairs. Avoid this by emptying your system and turning it off during winter months when not in use.
• Don’t Overwater – Overwatering is a waste of money, and it can damage your plants and errode your yard. In addition to being mindful of how much you’re using your sprinkler system, you also need to keep your gutters and downspouts clean. If your gutters are obstructed, overflow from your roof (combined with regular watering) can result in an overwatered lawn. Hydretain is also a huge help with preventing overwatering.
• Use Hydretain! Hydretain is a new kind of soil treatment. With Hydretain, landscape watering requirements can be reduced by up to 50%, all while decreasing fungus and disease. Hydretain absorbs and stores water, making your watering more efficient.

Call us at 770-923-0387 for more information about Hydretain, to schedule a water management treatment, or for any other Atlanta lawn care services!

Mulching is important. Proper mulching can help fight weeds and reduce soil erosion. Mulching is also important for the health of many plants. Mulch helps preserve soil moisture, keeps plant cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and can even lead to better aerated soil.

However, if laid incorrectly mulch can damage your plants. Here’s are three tips to correctly use mulch:

1. Use the right amount. Different plants need different conditions to thrive. Often three inches is required for best results, but this entirely depends on your plants. New beds should have between two and four inches of mulch. However, perennials often only need one or two inches, while most annuals do best with around one inch.
2. Avoid mulch build-ups. Too much mulch at the base of plants may cause bark decay. It’s important to not use so much mulch that your plants rot. Build-ups can also accidentally create homes for rodents, snakes, and other pests. It’s very important to make sure you don’t over mulch your area.
3. Consider mulch additives. During the spring and fall months, it might be a good idea to add a pre-emergence herbicide to your mulch. This step can help reduce summer and winter weeds from overtaking your beds.
   

As you can see, there are a lot of important things to consider when mulching. Knowing how to use mulch (and getting it right the first time) is imperative for the health of your plants. If you want help keeping your Atlanta residential or commercial lawn healthy and looking great all year, then contact us today at 770-923-0387.

Looking for low-maintenance plants to beautify your Atlanta landscaping? Thankfully, our warm weather provides ideal conditions for lots of good Georgia landscaping plants. Here are a few of our favorite easy to care for plants that thrive in Georgia:

1. Crape Myrtle – Crape Myrtles are known for their beautiful and long-lasting summer flowers. Flower colors range from white to a deep purple or red. Plus, various species of crape myrtles make for great shrub borders, screens, or even container plants.
2. Japanese Maple – This small tree, also known as Acer Palmatum, can grow to around 15-20 feet tall, with a nice, broad spread of roughly 10-15 feet wide. Japanese maples are known for their beautiful green and red foliage.
3. Hydrangea – This shrub produces large, elegant globes of flowers. These blue to purple flowers bloom during summer and spring months, adding beautiful pops of color to your landscaping.
4. Witch Hazel – These shrubs feature abundant flowers. The flowers themselves range in color from blue to lavender, bright pink to rose, as well as a cool white. Sometimes, these colors can all bloom at the same time, even from the same plant, since the petals’ color is determined by soil pH!
5. Camellia – This compact, evergreen shrub sports white to red shades that can bloom from fall to spring. Camellias require little effort to thrive and make excellent container plants.

Of course, not all plants are easy to maintain, and even the lowest maintenance plants can require professional care from time to time. If you’re ready to get your Atlanta lawn looking great, or if your plants and shrubs need a little extra attention, then contact Simply Green Lawn Care. We offer plant health care and tree services to keep your landscaping healthy and looking great all year!

We all know how much of a hassle mosquitoes can be here in Georgia. Thankfully, there are some great plants and flowers that mosquitoes hate. Here are 5 natural bug-repellent plants to grow in your backyard or garden:

• Lavender – Lavender repels just about every bug except for bees. Plus it has the added benefit of smelling wonderful! You can also dry some clippings from your lavender plant to hang inside to keep away moths and other indoor pests.

• Petunias – Petunias are a great way to add some color to your yard while repelling pests. Their flowers have a slight licorice scent that aphids, hornworms, and squash bugs hate.

• Garlic – It tastes delicious and bugs hate it! This is a great plant to add to a garden to keep mosquitoes and other insects away.

• Basil – Mosquitoes and flies hate the smell of basil. This makes it a great plant to add to an herb garden. It can also do well in a container, so it can be a nice aromatic addition to a porch or seating area. And of course, it tastes great too!
• Lemon Balm – Lemon balm has a citrusy lemon scent with a hint of mint. Mosquitoes hate lemon balm but butterflies and bees love it! This plant can spread like a weed, so keep this one in a pot to avoid it taking over your yard.

If you’re looking for Atlanta lawn care or landscaping then contact Simply Green Lawn Care today at 770-923-0387 or request a free estimate and lawn analysis!