One of your first springtime chores will be to spruce up your landscape after a long winter. The best and quickest way to give your surroundings a “facelift” is by spreading a layer of fresh mulch. Besides looking great, applying organic or inorganic material around trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and any vertical surface including walls or utility boxes, offers additional benefits.
Organic mulch, in particular, will:

1. slow evaporation of water, saving time on watering your plants and money.
2. insulate the plant roots (cold weather)/reduce soil temperatures (warm season).
3. reduce or prevent soil erosion.
4. keep fruits and flowers clean of soil that might be splashed or spattered onto the plant by rain or water.
5. help control weeds that compete with the roots for water and nutrients.
6. enhance seed germination.
7. provide protection from mowers, other equipment, foot and vehicle traffic.
8. reduce soil borne fungal problems.
9. improve soil structure, fertility, and aeration as it decomposes.
10. create an aesthetically pleasing appearance for any landscape. Choose a dyed mulch that complements the exterior of your home for a wonderful first impression.

There are two types of mulch—organic and inorganic. Organic mulches include bark mulch, pine bark nuggets and peat moss. They break down during the growing season and, in the process, add organic matter to the soil. Organic mulches are attractive, come in a variety of colors and can be used alone.

Marble chips, pebbles and lava rock are common examples of inorganic mulches. They also are decorative and may be used alone or in conjunction with plastics or landscape fabrics. Just remember, even though plastic is used, silt can build up between rocks or chips and create an area for seeds and weeds to germinate. Inorganic mulches do not have all the environmental advantages that organic products provide.

It is important that you don’t spread too much mulch in one area causing plant stress and/or death. New mulch bed layers should be 2-4 inches deep. If re-mulching beds, you may need to remove the old layer and add a light layer (1/2” to 1”) of new mulch twice a year. Try to avoid mulching heavily around perennials like irises and daylilies that multiply by underground root structures.

Avoid covering up trunks and roots as you mulch around trees. Called “volcano” mulching, this practice can lead to insect damage, rodent infestation, bark rot and other diseases. Spread mulch 3-5 inches away from young trees and 8-10 inches from mature trees. Extend mulch evenly to the tree’s dripline.
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When purchasing mulch products, it is important to seek out a reliable source, otherwise, mulch could be full of noxious weeds creating many future problems.
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Calculating how much mulch your job will need can be a snap. Environmental Hardwood Mulch is most effective between 2 and 4 inches thick. If your working area is 10 feet by 10 feet and 3 inches deep, it will require 27 cubic feet or 1 cubic yard. Use the formula below to calculate your mulch totals.

10ft x 10ft = 100sq / 4 = 25 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet = .92 cubic yards
SKI Landscape offers quality hardwood bark mulch in a variety of colors to complement any landscape. Contact us if you have any further questions at 317-757-5000 or www.skilandscape.com.

​March 9 is the start of Daylight Saving Time, which begins at 2:00 A.M. that day. Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set the clocks one hour ahead!

Before alarm clocks, folks hired "knocker-uppers" to tap on their windows and wake them up.
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A sneeze travels about 100 miles per hour.

Bananas are considered berries, but strawberries aren't.

Shamrocks are the national plant of Ireland often worn on clothes on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. They are types of clovers. The word shamrock comes from the Irish word that ultimately means "Young Clover". The shamrock is a three-leaf clover. The odds of finding a four-leaf clover is 1 in 10,000. It is considered very lucky if you find one!

Pot up summer flowering bulbs to be transplanted outdoors later, including tuberous begonias, caladiums and cannas.

Sow seed or plant seedlings of cool-season and half-hardy annuals, including calendula, larkspur, poppy, snapdragons, English daisy, pansies and sunflowers.

Cold and flu season is still plaguing Indiana. The following foods can be added to recipes to help fight ailments: Clementines are rich in vitamin C and loaded with folate, potassium, vitamin A and other disease-fighting antioxidants. Cardamom has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Lentils are a frugal protein alternative to beef, chicken and fish. Hazelnuts are a great source of healthful omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E and calcium.

The first successful goldfish farm in the United States was opened in Martinsville, Indiana in 1899.

Insect populations have yet to develop, and the remaining wild seeds, nuts and fruits have either been utilized or become undesirable. Because of these challenges, March is one of the most crucial months to continue feeding your backyard birds.

1. ​Begin drawing landscape plans and selecting plants. Order seeds and plants.
2. Consider these winter plants in your landscape plan for birds. Trees—crabapple, redbud, spruce, maple, dogwood.  Shrubs—sumac, bayberry, holly, firethorn, viburnum.  Perennials—black-eyed Susan, coneflower, switchgrass, sedum.
3. The odds of being a leap-year baby born on February 29 are pretty slim—just 1 in 1,461 (or 0.068 percent).
4. The birthstone for February is amethyst, which is said to symbolize love. The word amethystos translates to "not drunk" in Ancient Greek. 
5. In the Victorian era, mean-spirited Valentine's Day cards were called "Vinegar Valentines."
6. Pistachios can boost gut health. They are also high in antioxidants, lutein, and zeaxanthin that can help reduce risk of chronic eye disease.
7. Sprinkling baking soda on your front steps will provide traction and melt the ice. Unlike rock salt, kitty litter or sand, it won’t damage outdoor or indoor surfaces or shoes.
8. 90% of the world’s popcorn is grown in Indiana.
9. Gold is the only metal that doesn’t rust, even if it’s buried in the ground for thousands of years.
10. People get more colds in wintry weather than in summer because we spend more time indoors surrounded by co-workers, friends and family who already have colds.  Moisture-less, humidity-free air also dries up airways, making them vulnerable to airborne viruses that invade bodily defenses and come under a counterattack by the immune system.

 

The Roman calendar initially only had 10 months, with January and February not included. This is due to the fact that during the coldest and darkest months, the government and military were not active.

Use a light touch on the brakes when stopping on snow or ice.  Apply brakes firmly to a point just short of locking up and ease off the brake pedal slightly.

Creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes is a common cause of house fires.  A fireplace inspector will check for creosote deposits that may be blocking the chimney, as well as for dangerous cracks in the brick of the chimney.  

The opening of Ellis Island in New York City on January 1, 1892, which allowed for the immigration of nearly 20 million people, was one of the most significant milestones in American history.

Natural remedies may make you feel better when the winter blues strike—a walk, a bite of chocolate, some time in the sun.

Eli and Peyton Manning are the only set of brothers to play quarterback in a Super Bowl. They are also the only brothers to both win the Super Bowl MVP award.

Indiana is presumably named from the fact that the land lying along the Ohio River was purchased from the Indians.

Moist to wet snow that falls when the temperature is around 32 degrees is best for building a snowman.

Snow appears white because snow is made up of individual ice crystals arranged together. When light hits snow, it bounces all around the ice crystals and the “color” of all the frequencies in the visible spectrum combined is white. While white is the color we see in snow, individual ice crystals are actually clear.
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Velcro—derived from velvet and crochet—was first created by Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral when he noticed burrs stuck to his clothes and dog's fur while walking in the woods in 1948. Originally each Velcro tape was made by hand and took forever to produce. A manufacturing process to increase production was patented in 1955.

3 billion Christmas cards are sent every year in the United States. 

Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, it does not actually mention December 25 anywhere in the bible. In fact, some historians think Jesus was born in the spring, not the winter at all! Christmas on December 25th was not celebrated until about 336 AD.

Extend the life of holiday plants, such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus, by placing them in a cool, brightly lit area that is free from warm or cold drafts.

Apply mulch to bulbs, perennials, and other small plants once the ground freezes.

Along with the usual nuts and seeds, red squirrels dry out mushrooms in trees to make their own mushroom jerky to survive the winter.

Be prepared for power outages and other emergencies by making sure your house and car are outfitted with well-stocked emergency kits. The basics include bottled water, a hand-crank radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a cell phone charger (hand-crank or battery-powered is best), food, blankets, and a first-aid kit. At home, keep essential documents in one easily accessible place.

Reindeers that live above the Arctic circle live in total darkness for weeks at a time. A small area of tissue behind the animal’s retina changes color from gold in the summer to blue in the winter and this allows them to detect ultraviolet light and to see in the dark.

According to Guinness World Records, the coldest temperature was set on July 21, 1983, in Vostok Station, Antarctica which was -128.6°F.

 What do you call a person who loves winter? Chionophile. Chion is from the Greek word khiōn,  which means snow.
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Indiana’s highest point, Hoosier Hill, is in the area referred to as the “Corn Belt.” It rises 1,257 feet in the air.

Stressed yews                                           Red Maples need more water                Too much mulch

by Denise Whitney and Ann Wolski
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Even though we saw a deluge of rain showers recently, it had been an abnormally dry September and plants are stressing from a lack of water. After a couple of years in a row, the lack of water is adding up to create even more problems for plants, trees, and grass.

Deciduous plants such as maples, sweetgum, and oaks, show water stress by dropping leaves, turning colors early, or dying from the top down.

Evergreens are especially affected by drought.  One day they are green and healthy, the next day they are dead.

Drought conditions can severely affect the health of a lawn. Signs of drought include discoloration, blade curling and wilting, thinning and patchiness, slow or no grass growth, weed growth, dry crunchy grass, visible footprints on the lawn, and cracked soil.

Stressed plants are more susceptible to insects, diseases and other traumas like heat. They will not thrive. With this year being so hot and dry, foliage is extra stressed. Watering now is the best way to help them out.

Knowing the plant’s characteristics, hopefully, ensures that they will be watered properly. Watering needs to be done so that it reaches the root ball on new plants. Feeder roots are usually in the top 18” of soil. Plants that like moist soils will need more than plants that like well-drained soils. Over watering is just as bad as no water!

Right now, all plants need water. Water enough to go through the turf and mulch to reach the roots. Water at the drip edge of the plants where the feeder roots are. The drip edge is the area at the ends of the branches. Do not forget to water under the plant to ensure good coverage.

Evergreens are especially at risk of losing moisture as they constantly transpire throughout the winter. While deciduous plants drop their leaves, evergreens do not drop their needles, so they are always losing moisture. Evergreens are also likely to suffer winter burn if they are too dry. Evergreens can be watered throughout the winter months if the ground is not frozen. Evergreens should be mulched by applying mulch rings around the tree. The rings should be at least 3 feet in diameter and 2-3 inches deep. Leave a 2-3 inches space between the base of the trunk and the inner mulch ring. Trees need to breathe.

If turfgrass is not growing due to drought conditions, the lawn should be mowed less frequently. Never cut more than the top 1/3 of the grass and leave the clippings on the lawn to return vital moisture and nutrition to the soil.  Allow the grass to go a bit brown, irrigating as needed which is preferable. No need to water to saturation and trying to keep a perfectly green lawn. One inch of water a week will keep the grass from going dormant.
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Even with the rain remnants of Hurricane Helene, Indiana is still in a state of dryness. Significant precipitation is not predicted for the near future, making proper watering techniques and overall correct plant care essential.

October is from the Latin octo, which means “eight”. The number “eight” is said to be a symbol of wealth, prosperity, peace and fertility. 

What flower bulbs do you plant in autumn? Think daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, tulips, hyacinths, irises, and alliums. These flowers are call “dormant perennials.” They need the cool, moist autumn soil to awaken them from their dormancy so that they can begin growing roots in preparation for the spring.

Documented evidence of an activity resembling football can be found in the Chinese military manual Zhan Guo Ce compiled between the 3rd century and 1st century BC.

Once the hour of daylight dwindles during autumn and the green chlorophyll in leaves is gone, other pigments come out. Carotenoids give leaves their brilliant yellow and orange colors. Anthocyanins are found in deep red and purplish leaves. The presence of tannins means leaves will turn brownish or tan.

Trying to concoct an artificial substitute for rubber, General Electric engineer, James Wright, combined boric acid with silicone oil in 1943. The result was a gooey, bouncy blob which was not suitable for making tires but became a popular kids’ toy later called “Silly Putty”.

De-thatch and/or aerate your lawn.

Keep plants, especially newly planted stock, well-watered until the ground freezes.

The word "pumpkin" showed up for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella.

Snakes use their tongues and a special structure in the roof of the mouth called the Jacobson’s organ to “taste” what is around them.
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Sliced bread was invented right here in Indianapolis.  Wonder Bread’s Indianapolis branch was the first place to start selling pre-sliced loaves of bread.

Check out how we make our quality mulch, the beauty behind cloud iridesence and what the heck is an "old vine"! Click here to enjoy the SKI Landscape quarterly newsletter! ​https://conta.cc/3SgM8T5