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Celebrate Memorial Day and Father’s Day In Your Outdoor Space

                                                                                                                                                 After a long wait the summer season is finally here!  Perhaps it’s because of the unusually tough, cold winter we had, but we are all particularly ready for summer this year.  To make the most of it, and to make it last, it’s important to make sure our outdoor living space is ready, too.

Two of the most popular outdoor entertaining holidays are fast approaching: Memorial Day and Father’s Day.  Is your outdoor space ready?  Maximize the utility and beauty of your space by considering these:

  • Trees and shrubs:  The unusually long and bitter cold conditions last winter may have caused some damage.  Careful pruning, along with a layer of good mulch, will help bring the foliage back to good health, and will help improve its appearance enormously.  If you find you lost a tree or line of shrubs, we have mature trees and plants in our nursery. Be sure to check them out!
  •  Hardscape:  Summer entertaining will be easier when you create a spot to place tables and chairs for you and your guests.  Now is a great time to evaluate your hardscape, and add to them or rejuvenate them by adding a fire pit, seating wall or adjacent pathway. 
  •  Lighting:  You’ll never regret installing outdoor lighting.  It provides safety, creates atmosphere, lights up the grill for outdoor chefs, and will extend your entertaining hours each day.  Low voltage path lighting, porch lights or overhead lights all make your space cozy and inviting. 
  •  Grills:  Summer means outdoor cooking!  Make sure your grill is in good condition.  Consider adding counter space around the grill or a full outdoor kitchen to make it easier to create delicious meals.  Locating the grill a small distance from the crowd, yet close enough to still feel part of the party, will add to its utility.
  •   Plan color!  Carefully chosen trees and foliage can provide three season color interest.  Complement them with coordinating seating colors and flowers to complete your look.

We can’t predict the weather for this summer, but whether it’s hot and dry or warm and breezy, we’ll enjoy it more in our outdoor space.  Father’s Day grilling, Memorial Day flag-waving, followed by lazy afternoons and evenings – let’s make the most of it!

 O’Donovan Landscaping has over 45 years’ experience in the Naperville area.  Call us at 630-355-3370 to learn more about designing and installing new landscaping and hardscape designs for your outdoor area.  Make your home a welcoming retreat for years to come.

Get Your Landscape Ready for Summer

Spring Clean-upThe long, harsh Chicago winter is over and spring is officially here!  Now is a great time to walk around your outdoor space and see how your trees, shrubs, perennials and lawn are doing.  Outdoor spaces will benefit from a good spring cleanup now.  This preventive maintenance will bring big rewards all summer and into the fall.

Because of the unusually rough weather we had this winter, we’re hearing from customers about damage to landscape materials.  Some of the most common questions relate to:

Winter burn, especially on evergreens such as trees and bushes:  You may see brown branches on evergreens, and more prominently on the outer edges.  This is common winter burn.  Resist the urge to prune away these brown branches now.  They may simply fall off naturally in the next few months, revealing new growth.  Pruning now will only inhibit that new growth.  You may apply a small amount of fertilizer now, which will encourage the new growth.  The best thing to do is wait until June, and then take another look.  If the branches are still brown, pruning will be your best solution.  And of course, don’t forget to water! Read more about the affects of this year’s harsh winter in this Chicago Tribune article. 

Salt damage:  Applying salt to our sidewalks and driveways was a safety necessity this past winter.   Many cities and villages in our area reported that they depleted their salt supplies long before the winter ended.  All of this salt can result in damaged plants and lawns in the spring.  The best way to counteract salt damage is to apply water and organic materials to the affected plants.  Next, a layer of mulch will help retain the water and nutrients, protecting plants from further damage.

You may also see plants damaged by high winds, animals, and cold temperatures.  Before simply removing these plants, wait a few more months and see if they recover.  In the meantime, a good spring clean-up will help your yard by stimulating growth.  Cleaning out dead leaves from flower beds and around shrubs, raking the lawn to remove dead grass, and clearing away fallen branches will rejuvenate your yard’s appearance. 

Important additions to the yard are mulch and water.  Applying protective layers of mulch, and keeping up with watering, will give plants and trees the right start to the growing season.  O’Donovan Landscaping applies mulch and cuts a spade edge around your garden beds and lawn to provide protection and a neat appearance to your outdoor space.  Call us to schedule an appointment for spring clean-up. 

For over 45 years, O’Donovan and Sons Landscaping has been designing, installing and maintaining residential landscapes in Naperville and surrounding areas. We can help you design and install your new outdoor living spaces.  Contact O’Donovan Landscaping at 630-355-3370 to schedule an appointment!