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When the temperatures start to dip in September, October, and November, it's the ideal time to give your Alabama Gulf Coast landscape the preparation it needs to thrive through winter. Krob Landscape is your local solution for things like lawn care and landscape design, but did you know we also offer a wide range of other landscaping services for residential and commercial properties in Mobile and Baldwin County? With expert services from Krob Landscape, it's easy to "put your landscape to bed for the winter" and ensure a healthy, beautiful lawn and garden come spring.
Here’s how Krob Landscape can help protect and enhance your outdoor spaces for the cooler months ahead:
To foster robust regrowth, many plants benefit from being trimmed back—but it must be done at the correct time of year for the best results, or you risk losing next year's flowers or leaving the plant susceptible to pests, disease, and harsh winter temperatures. Krob Landscape’s team understands the right timing and technique to prune and cut back shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses, helping your plants look their best, year after year. You can trust Krob to handle these delicate tasks and ensure your plants are well-prepared for dormancy.
Mulching is one of the best ways to shield plant roots from fluctuating temperatures and winter frosts. By adding a layer of protective mulch, Krob Landscape helps keep soil warm and retain moisture, protecting your landscape’s foundation. Our experts will assess your landscape’s needs and apply the appropriate mulch in key areas, fortifying your plants for the winter and beyond.
September and October bring a cascade of falling leaves. It's a magical time of year, but the charm of autumn leaf-fall can also present challenges to your property, if left unmanaged. Fallen leaves can smother grass, attract pests, and contribute to diseases that harm your landscape. Krob Landscape offers comprehensive leaf removal services to keep your yard clear, healthy, and looking great through fall and winter.
The Gulf Coast can face heavy rains just about any time of the year, which can lead to soil erosion and wash away vital nutrients. This time of year, most plants go into a dormant phase, and if you have exposed soil, it may stay that way for a while. Krob Landscape can protect exposed soil with landscape fabric, erosion control blankets, and other solutions to prevent erosion and stabilize your plant beds. Our team will prepare your landscape with the right techniques to weather winter and early spring rain storms, keeping soil in place for the health of your plants.
Take the guesswork out of lawn fertilizer—leave it to your local landscape experts!Aerating and fertilizing before winter can make a significant difference in your lawn’s health come spring. Aeration allows nutrients to reach deep into the soil, while a fall fertilizer boosts root strength, giving your lawn the resources it needs to endure cooler temperatures. Krob Landscape’s fall aeration and fertilization services provide your grass with the strength it needs to withstand winter.
Freezing temperatures can damage irrigation systems if left unprepared. Krob Landscape’s irrigation winterization service includes draining and insulating pipes to prevent cracking, ensuring your system is ready for use when warmer weather returns. This proactive step helps you avoid costly repairs and prolongs the life of your irrigation equipment.
While preparing your landscape for winter, Krob Landscape can add seasonal touches like fall flowers—think colorful mums or asters—that thrive in cooler weather. We also provide a thorough yard or commercial landscape cleanup, removing debris and dead plants that could harbor pests. A tidy landscape not only looks great but also provides a healthier environment for your outdoor space as it transitions into winter.
Preparing your landscape for winter involves more than just a quick clean-up—it’s about equipping your yard, garden, or commercial landscape to thrive through the challenges of the colder months. The friendly, experienced landscaping experts at Krob Landscape offer a range of fall maintenance services designed specifically for the unique climate we enjoy in Mobile County and Baldwin County, AL. Whether you’re looking for leaf removal, mulching, erosion control, or irrigation winterization, our team is here to make sure your landscape is set up for a healthy winter.
Reach out today at 251.945.5157 or contact us online to schedule professional fall landscape maintenance on the Alabama Gulf Coast!
If you're looking for ways to enhance the outdoor spaces around your home or business, maybe it's time to think beyond the lawn, flowering plants, and trees. As beautiful and inviting as healthy landscaping can be, the smart way to make your residential or commercial property look better all year long is to invest in attractive and effective hardscaping features.
Krob Landscape is probably best known for providing coastal Alabama, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the Florida Panhandle with stellar landscape design, installation, and maintenance services, but we can help you in even more ways: In addition to tending to the living plants in your landscape, we're also your local experts for professional hardscaping services.
We help property owners and managers in Mobile County, Baldwin County, and surrounding areas transform ordinary landscapes into extraordinary outdoor living areas. Our hardscaping designs and installations complement your home or business, adding both beauty and functionality to your environment.
Keep reading to learn more about our hardscaping services on the Alabama Gulf Coast and neighboring counties—or contact us today at 251-945-5157 to start a discussion about hardscape options for your property!
Hardscape elements are the more structural, non-living features of your landscape. Hardscaping is typically made of "hard" materials, hence the name: Features made of treated wood, metal, concrete, stone, or gravel all qualify as hardscaping. Popular hardscape elements include things like stone or gavel pathways, flagstone patios, retaining walls, and other permanent fixtures. These types of features may serve both functional and decorative purposes, and they are available in a wide variety of materials, styles, and colors. It's possible to achieve a vast array of looks to create your desired aesthetic, from rustic and relaxed to elegant and formal. Because elements of hardscaping are not alive, they provide a consistent and durable enhancement to your property and can be enjoyed in every season for many years to come.
Effective hardscaping is often the backbone of a well-designed landscape. Whether you need a retaining wall to prevent soil erosion, a system of walkways to provide safe, tidy access to different parts of your property, or a patio for more comfortable outdoor entertaining, the experienced and friendly crew at Krob Landscape can help you design a customized hardscaping element that adds structure and function to your outdoor space.
Serving cities and communities throughout Mobile County and Baldwin County—as well as other places across our area of the northern Gulf Coast—our hardscaping team is dedicated to helping you create a cohesive and inviting outdoor environment.
If you have a specific vision for your outdoor space, your local hardscape professionals at Krob Landscape are skilled at translating your ideas into realities with high-quality materials and professional installation. But what if you're unsure of what your property needs to give it that "wow factor"? Our talented hardscape designers offer expert consultations to assess your outdoor area and make recommendations that maximize your space's potential. With our decades of experience, we help you see your property's exterior with fresh eyes so you can get the most from your outdoor space!
We're proud to deliver excellent hardscaping solutions at competitive rates for our neighbors in coastal Alabama. With the pros at Krob on the job, you can count on reliably high-quality work and clever solutions for your most challenging landscape conundrums. We can assist you with a broad range of hardscape features, including the following:
Walkways: Guide guests through your property, protect your lawn, and add a welcoming touch with well-designed walkways in any of a variety of materials and finishes to coordinate or blend seamlessly with your building's exterior.
Flagstone Patios: Turn your outdoor living space into an oasis ideal for hosting guests or relaxing in peace and quiet. Flagstone provides a sturdy, convenient surface for furniture and more, with the added benefit of a classic, natural look.
Fire Pits: Enhance your outdoor living area with a custom stone fire pit, perfect for cozy gatherings and adding a warm, inviting focal point to your landscape.
Rock or Gravel Driveways: A rock or gravel driveway offers a low-maintenance, affordable solution that blends well with a variety of architectural styles.
Retaining Walls: Prevent erosion and add usable space to your property with a modern, attractive retaining wall.
Rock & Boulder Design: Incorporate large boulders for a striking focal point in your landscape. Add interest without any extra upkeep: Attractive boulders are the ultimate choice for low-maintenance durability and longevity.
Gravel Bed Medium: Another long-lasting feature for your landscape is gravel bed medium, offering erosion control with a a clean, modern look.
Didn't see what you had in mind on the list above? Please give us a call! We specialize in custom hardscape solutions and will be happy to discuss your plans and accommodate you if at all possible.
If you're considering boosting the curb appeal of your home or business—or maybe upgrading your backyard into a private sanctuary—call Krob Landscape! Our comprehensive range of residential and commercial landscape and hardscape services make it easy to enjoy all the benefits of a rejuvenated landscape. We're a local, family-owned company dedicated to providing top-notch service at reasonable rates, with free quotes upon request. We invite our neighbors in Baldwin County and Mobile County to get in touch by calling us at 251-945-5157 or contacting us online.
Let's improve your property and create an outdoor space you'll love for years to come!
Rejuvenate your commercial landscape with a fresh design from Krob Landscape!
During the winter months, landscape design is probably the furthest thing from your mind, but it's actually the perfect time to re-evaluate your commercial property's outdoor spaces and plan for the year to come. Our winters on the Alabama Gulf Coast tend to be mild, and they don't last that long. Before you know it, trees will be sprouting new leaves and springs blooms will be brightening the world around us.
Ask yourself: Is your commercial landscape ready to invite people in, next spring, or could it use a little work—or maybe even a total redesign?
The friendly and skillful landscaping professionals at Krob Landscape have extensive experience with not only the maintenance of commercial properties in Baldwin County, Alabama, but also with landscape design and installation. We offer excellent landscape services at competitive prices for commercial clients of all kinds, whether you own a stand-alone commercial building or act as property manager for a multi-building property, retail shopping center, apartment complex, multi-family community or property association.
Call Krob Landscape today to discuss how we can assist you!
Has your landscaping seen better days? Plants get old and die, hardscaping deteriorates, lawns become patchy, and landscaping styles change. What seemed perfectly fine several years ago now looks drab, neglected, and sad. When you see something daily or every week or two, you get used to it and tune out gradual changes. You may not notice that your commercial landscaping has visibly declined over time—but to someone seeing it with fresh eyes, it can communicate loudly.
Does looking at your current landscaping make you smile—or feel a little down? Does it communicate success and prosperity—or failure and austerity? Does it look fresh—or tired? Is the design conveniently and practically designed for the needs of your customers, clients, patients, or visitors? Does your landscape and hardscape design helpfully guide people where they need to go, or does it impede or confuse them? If you were driving down the road and saw your landscaping, would you find it inviting?
People are instinctively drawn to attractive and well-maintained spaces, even if they don't consciously recognize it, and on some level they make assumptions about the businesses and people behind those spaces. Landscaping that looks well-kept suggests that the people inside will take good care of us, too.
We're more likely to stop and stay in a place that looks valued and cared-for than in one that seems forgotten and rough around the edges. If your commercial landscape is lacking in curb appeal, you could be missing out on business without ever knowing why.
Of course, not all of our clients need to take the time to make an honest appraisal of how their commercial property comes across to others. Maybe you're well aware of exactly how your property's landscaping looks to a new observer because you've just come into ownership of it and have specific renovation plans for its improvement. Or perhaps you're starting business in a new building in Baldwin County and need to build up the landscape from scratch. That can be overwhelming, so you may want some guidance in where to start.
Whatever your circumstances, Krob Landscape can help! We assist commercial clients with properties of all types and scales. Whether you're starting from a blank slate or improving upon what's already there, our commercial landscape designers can give you the support you need. From professionally implementing your own ideas to drawing up a unique, customized design for your approval, we'll provide exactly the level of support and service that you require.
If your commercial property is due for an upgrade and a refresh, there's no better time to go ahead and install irrigation at the same time! We offer irrigation design, irrigation installation, and irrigation support. Keep your plantings looking great for longer by ensuring that they receive the optimal amount of water. Our professional irrigation team can make dry, dead lawn and frizzled-up plants a thing of the past!
With an experienced local landscape company at your side, you get the benefit of our nearly forty nears of experience and expertise. The professional commercial landscapers at Krob have specialized knowledge about landscaping design in this beautiful part of the world. We can put that to work for you, assisting you in identifying the most effective and innovative ways to make the most of your space. Allow Krob Landscape to enhance your commercial property, with both beauty and function in mind.
Once you get your new landscape design installed to perfection, we can also help you keep it that way! We offer a comprehensive range of commercial landscape services, including RLM (Regular Landscape Maintenance) programs, so your beautiful commercial landscape can continue to look its best, through spring, summer, and beyond.
To discuss our many services or to request a free quote, please call us at 251-945-5157 or contact us online!
If you're responsible for managing a commercial property, you have a lot of responsibility resting on your shoulders. When you're balancing so many duties, landscape maintenance may not seem particularly urgent. After all, the grass can't complain, and people don't tend to think about shrubs on a daily basis. However, while you can let the lawn care slide for a week here and there, it's only a matter of time before minor problems snowball into major ones.
With landscape maintenance, as with many things in life, the key to success is consistency. That can be a little tricky when you're dealing with so many demands on your time and attention. Fortunately, there's help! At Krob Landscape, we recognize how busy our clients are, which is why we offer Regular Landscape Maintenance (RLM) programs that ensure your commercial property receives the consistent, attentive care it requires to stay at its best, all year long.
Keeping your commercial landscape in tip-top shape takes effort and commitment, but it delivers results that make it unquestionably worthwhile. Consider landscape upkeep as an investment in improving and protecting your business. Keeping everything trim, tidy, and looking its best boosts your commercial property in terms of aesthetics and safety:
Whatever type of commercial property you manage, you want to appeal to potential customers, visitors, or residents. If your commercial landscape looks neglected, you're missing out on the chance to make an excellent first impression. Unkempt lawns, out-of-control weeds, and sickly plants can give passers-by a bad feeling about the business behind the landscape. They may think—even if only subconsciously—that a poorly kept landscape is a sign that your business isn't responsible, capable, or detail-oriented. It may even lead to lost business, if they decide to go elsewhere.
On the other hand, with an aesthetically pleasing commercial landscape, you immediately and convincingly communicate to the rest of the world that your business is attentive, successful, and prepared to tackle any challenge. Well-maintained and appealing landscapes naturally draw people in closer, so why not use that to your advantage by bringing customers to your door?
This is especially important for those managing multifamily properties or other commercial properties where people are likely to be walking around and enjoying the landscape—but really, anyone should give some thought to the safety of their property's exterior spaces. If landscaping is neglected for too long, a number of problems can arise and escape notice. The following are just a few that come to mind:
It's always wise to protect the safety and comfort of visitors, guests, and residents of your commercial property. You're also protecting yourself and your business from potential liability issues by avoiding accidents and injuries! Having routine landscape maintenance keeps weeds, grass, and plants under consistent control and helps you more easily see any issues that need to be addressed. (Your trusty landscape technician will be able to notice and alert you to many of these things, as well.)
So, knowing how important landscape management is for your commercial property, have you considered setting up a Regular Landscape Maintenance (RLM) plan? It's a great way to simplify this aspect of your life: Your property receives the consistent, top-quality landscaping services it needs without repeatedly infringing on your valuable time or taking up more mental bandwidth.
Krob Landscaping makes it easy!
Krob Landcape will work with you to develop a comprehensive plan for your unique commercial property's specific needs. No two properties are exactly the same. Each has its own set of circumstances that require different solutions or maintenance schedules. Also, your landscape goals won't necessarily be the same as someone else's. That's why we customize your RLM to meet your precise requirements.
You'll look through our impressive list of landscape services and select the ones you want. We can advise you to help you make the best choices to achieve your goals within your budget. In addition to the basics of lawn care, we can make seasonal changes to your landscape, such as adding seasonal color and plantings. We can also prune, fertilize, and perform other season-specific tasks, as you wish—at the best time for your plants, to deliver optimal results.
Together, we'll build a maintenance schedule that meets your approval.
Yes, that's it. Once your plan is in place, we'll come out as scheduled to perform the tasks you've selected. You simply make the convenient monthly payments, then leave it all to our dependable landscape technicians. You won't have to remember a thing—but of course if you have any additional concerns or wish to amend your RLM program in any way, we're only a phone call away!
Your commercial landscape will reap the benefits of stable, routine attention and care. As the seasons change, your RLM plan will change, as well, to meet the shifting needs of your lawn and plants. We deliver timely, cost-effective services that maintain your commercial landscape to perfection! You can count on Krob Landscape to deliver professional and attentive service while you focus on the rest of your duties. It's one less thing for you to deal with, month after month!
Call Krob Landscape at 251-945-5157 or contact us online to discuss how our RLM program can simplify and improve your commercial property's landscape care. We offer professional landscape services for all types of commercial properties, including multifamily, retail, hospitality, industrial, and office properties. We look forward to hearing from you!
These past couple of years have brought disruption, change, and a downright different way of looking at life and the world around us. But one of the best ways to get ourselves back to some semblance of normal, is to get back to a good routine. (Uncle Earl said he’d give up his bad routines if people didn’t think he was a quitter).
So, it’s time to stretch those arms, lose an hour of sleep to Daylight Savings Time, and think about planting, caring or even a redesign of the landscape surrounding your business. And at Krob, that routine is our routine.
There are five important aspects we consider when it comes to your commercial landscape and landscaping needs:
• Design • Landscape Installation • Grounds Management • Plant Healthcare • Water Management
Step back and look at your business space. Really look, and what do you see? Is it a place you would pull into when seeking out services? Do the aesthetics appeal to you in a way you would want to do business with you? If you are questioning your answers to these simple questions, then you know you might need some advice. We’re here to help with your design. We will sit with you, look over your current landscape and offer ways to work with you to put your vision into the landscape of your business. We can start from scratch, do a modification or renovation, or a simple moving and/or re-purposing of what you already have. We can also show you why design should include your irrigation needs.
We are a fully equipped landscape company, so new construction or projects small and large don’t scare us, because we have the equipment and expertise to take on any project. We are knowledgeable and well-staffed, and therefore, efficient in executing a landscape plan. But, we don’t sacrifice safety for speed. Our crews are well-trained and always remain safety conscious.
At Krob, we don’t have a specific season. We believe in year-round maintenance and care, and will work with you to build a comprehensive plan that includes seasonal changes – both in color and plants; we prune when pruning is required; and we will develop a timely, yet cost effective plan that calls for us to maintain your commercial surrounds on a routine basis.
While all plants need four basic things for survival: good soil, good water, good light, and good air, plants also require certain nutrients in order to thrive. And if you have ever planted anything, you know that all dirt is not created equal. Plants grown in some parts of the country will not live in others, unless similar conditions exist, and part of that is knowing what is needed to allow for those plants to live and grow and be their beautiful self. That’s where we come in. Experienced in understanding soil needs, irrigations requirements, and design of landscapes to take advantage of available lighting, we can give you the look you desire while maintaining your plants through quality nutrient management, as well as our thorough knowledge and understanding of where and when to apply specific products for insect and weed control and overall beautification of your landscaping.
On average, humans can only go about 3-4 days without water. Well, guess what? For fruits, vegetables and flowering plants, it’s about the same. That’s right. After just a few days, much like us, plants begin to break down and do what they can to survive what to them are drought conditions, often with devastating results for your landscapes. So, unless you have nothing but cacti or other succulents surrounding your office, your plants need water. Krob Landscaping is attuned to your property’s watering needs, and can provide expert services for irrigation systems, water quality testing, French drains, and more.
Krob Landscaping is proud of our dedicated team, and we will gladly work with you in solving new or existing landscape requirements. Check out our Gallery to see our team in action and view some of the results we have provided to the Gulf Coast - https://www.kroblandscape.com/gallery
Spring has nearly sprung, so come see us and let us help you. It’s one routine you’ll be glad you got back to doing!
You with your favorite wooly socks, a cup of hot chocolate (with floaty marshmallows, of course), and watching the snow pile u………Wait, what?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac (and cousin Earl, who fancies himself an amateur weather-guesser), winter in the south for 2021 could be a mixed bag of ups and downs with temperatures and precipitation. So, you never know.
What to do then?
First, we need to remember that the lawns, trees, flowers – your landscape, is dormant, not dead. While it needs the winter to rest and replenish, it still requires some care and maintenance. And as we’ve talked about in previous blogs, preparation now will lend itself to beautiful lawns (and less startup care) come springtime. With that, let’s focus on what needs to be done.
Pruning, Pulling, Mulching
In our zone (8 or 9), the late winter to very early spring is the perfect time to do the vast majority of your pruning, because it allows the plant to be protected against incisions that cause plants to dry out, which happens if temps drop below freezing. Pruning should be done on dry days to ensure diseases aren’t introduced that could be waterborne. This is also the time to pay attention to your plant’s shape and location of lower branches and to prune the plant in question according to the desired outcome.
Look at your flowerbeds and outside planters and yank out those annuals that have seen better days, and you’ll be closer to ready when it’s time to plant anew.
You can use this time to mulch around plants, especially those that are younger (i.e. saplings), or add wire mesh and burlap to protect them from frost or freezing temperatures.
Take a look at your Hardscape, too!
When you’re not having to worry about what to cut, grow, pull or plant, it’s a good time to look at your more permanent structures (hardscapes) and see if you can move, remove, add or change locations or styles. Things like benches, hanging pots, trellises, and so forth, are easy to get lost in the spring and summer if there is overgrowth or other elements pulling your eye away. But, like grandpa in a union suit, winter reveals all! Take a look around to ensure you are happy with your design, and if not, consider changing elements to new locations.
You can also dress up your planters, pots and other hardscapes with winter features such as wreaths, pine boughs, ornaments, and on and on.
Is that It?
Not by a long shot. Part of landscaping concerns the tools you use. Some good tips to keep in mind:
Drain your mower’s gas and oil. Most experts agree that just adding a fuel stabilizer is not good enough. Older gas will gunk up carburetors, clog fuel lines, and potentially damage other parts. Oil, which can do similar damage, should also be removed from your mowers.
Drain your sprinkler systems. Find your main valve and ensure it is completely shut off. Then you should wrap it with insulation or even use just a plastic bag sufficiently wrapped around the valve and then duct-taped to withstand the winter months. If you have drain valves for your lawn zones, open them to release any standing water. And don’t forget to shut off your automatic timers!
Sharpen your tools. Get out those pruning shears, shovels (yes, shovels), tree or pole saws, and so on, and put ‘em on your bench and get busy, or find a local tool sharpener and you’ll be ready once pruning or planting season begins.
Need Advice?
Krob Landscape has been through a winter or two (or three, or…ahem), knows the land well, and so are happy to impart our love for our area and its winter requirements with you. We are experts in maintenance, removal, design and installation of all things landscape, whether commercial or residential and will listen to your needs and then help to either build a plan or a quote to provide any necessary services we offer to keep your landscape the example of beauty.
We are grateful for your business with us, thankful for your continued trust in us and know this season of giving lets us give you the best advice and ideas to keep your trust.
We hope to see you soon and wish y’all Happy Holidays!
Soon it will be time for Turkey Trots, turkey basting and for the woodsy types, turkey chasing. But before you get all up into who ate the last piece of Thanksgiving pie, consider your grass. That’s right, before it goes into hibernation, your lawn deserves some final touches to make it ready for a wintery nap.
All I Need is the Air That I Breathe
Before the weather outside gets frightful
And the fire feels so delightful
Prior to the first frosty blast
Make sure to aerate your grass
This fun jingle above is a reminder to all homeowners and caretakers: before the first frost of the season, aerate your lawns. Why? Like us, grass needs a little breathing room, and aerating also helps with the inevitable crowding that happens over the course of the warmer months. Plus, you will want to fertilize and by opening the soil a bit, this helps the grass store those needed nutrients it will need later on. And when it “springs” back to action, your grass will come up healthier and lusher!
Weed, Seed and Feed
Typically, the fall season brings about good conditions in which to work your lawn. Using either a good weeding tool or by hand, remove anything you identify as a weed. A broadleaf herbicide will also do the trick (make sure it’s labeled “selective”, as these should not harm your grasses). Also, remember it’s best to spot-apply the herbicide rather than treating the entire lawn.
The soil will generally be softer and moister (easier to work), especially with all the rain we’ve had this year! So, using a good, stiff garden rake, scratch the top layer of your soil; use a good seed (see last month’s blog to find out more about seed selection); generously spread - highlighting bare spots; then finish with a covering of straw to keep birds from treating your hard work as an invitation to eat.
You can also fertilize with compost or commercial material found at most home centers or nurseries. And lastly, keep the seeded areas well-watered until you see new growth.
Raking and Piling that which Falls
It can bring a smile to watch your kids, the neighbor’s kids, or your pup jump in a leaf pile, despite the work that goes into creating that pile of fun. But leave them too long, and your lawn will not find it funny. Piles of grass or leaves not meant for compost can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass underneath, hurting growth. Leaves or grass left on your lawn can cause weakness in the grass or the onset of winter diseases. The same can be said for that heap of joy causing mold by trapping moisture that can’t naturally evaporate. Take the time to remove the leaves and grass, and your lawn will thank you for it next year.
Questions? Advice? Help?
We at Krob are more than a full-service residential or commercial landscaping company, with a desire to help you with your design, maintenance or installation needs. We are your neighbor. And we care about our community and those we serve with our knowledge and expertise. Come by and see us, or give us a call if you have questions about your lawn, your garden, or if you just have general landscaping questions or concerns. We’re here to help.
See you soon, neighbor!
That Doggone Grass!
Author and Naturist Hel Borland once said, “Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence“.
If there’s one thing most any homeowner or caretaker of a yard knows, it’s that grass loves to grow, and grow, and grow. It will lend itself to growing in cracks of concrete, on trees, heck, even in between house siding! But sometimes, that tenacious grass doesn’t look like we want: lush green is more like not-so-lush brown. And when it’s like that, lying on a beautiful lawn at night to watch the stars, instead feels you’re lying on a bed of nails while performing a circus act. No thanks!
Where to Start?
One of the first things to consider if you are going to start a lawn, or attempt to recover or further a lawn, is what growing zone you and your lawn are in. For most of us along the Gulf Coast, it is Zone 8 (some say 9, but an 8 ½ is probably more realistic).
Once you have that knowledge, now your search for the right seed or products to support seeding can begin. Yes, believe it or not, there are actually recommendations for which grass to grow according to where you (and your lawn) reside!
When to Start?
Okay, so you know the zone, now comes buying the seed. I mean, after all, the seed is seed, right? Wrong! Are you seriously going to buy a house without taking a walk-through first? Aren’t you curious to know if there are any problems lurking before you sign documents? Well, guess what, grass selection requires the same diligence!
You want to read the contents of whatever container you are considering to find out about percentages of weed seed (less the weeds, better the seeds), drought tolerance, disease and insect resistance.
Now, remember talking about zones? Yeah, here’s where that comes in handy. Knowing the zone helps to know which variety of grass to purchase because there are cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. There’s Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, centipede, ryegrass, and so on. (A Krob tip: stay away from annual ryegrass – it’s only good for the year!). And within genus grass types, sub-types exist. Uh-huh, that’s right. Fescues can be creeping red, chewing, or sheep, to name a fescue – oops, I mean to name a few!
That It?
Ahh - you’ve spread, sown, scattered, or downright chunked the seed, and now it’s time to prop up your feet, grab a nice tall glass of sweet tea and watch that grass fixin’ to sprout. Sorry, but there’s oh so much more. Mulching, fertilizing, watering, and keeping pesky neighbors off the lawn are also a requirement if you want that ‘Yard of the Month’ lawn.
So, just like shopping for a house or a Washer Dryer set, educating yourself on what you are buying will save you lots of trouble (weeding, dying grass) later on.
Krob Can Help!
Do you want more porch sitting and less mowing? Call us! We provide complete and total lawn care and maintenance. We can help you navigate the outdoor lawn and garden centers to find the right and proper material you need if you decide to go it alone. Or, we will work with you on developing a comprehensive plan to bring your lawn to a place of enjoyment.
Truth is, grass produces oxygen (and 2,500 sq. ft. lawn can provide enough oxygen for a family of 4 – unless y’all are football players, then it might only be 2!), helps filter the quality of the air we breathe, can help cool a house, provide erosion control, and other benefits. So, with all that grass provides us, shouldn’t we care all we can about our lawns? And the best place to get advice, get a plan, or get it done for you, is right here with the lawn experts – Krob Landscape!
What Is Known
If you live near or are visiting the Gulf Coast area, you should know hurricane season around here is now. More specifically, hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th - September being the most active month, with the climatological peak happening around the 10th of September (that’s climate geek-speak for statistically the most likely day to find storm activity in the Atlantic Basin).
Hurricanes are caused by a lack of wind shear combined with warm water, a mishmash of evaporation, higher winds and other phenomena that, mixed together, create the potential for destructive weather.
Our big storm from last year, Hurricane Sally, produced over 3 million cubic yards of debris – more than Ivan did ten years previously, at an estimated damage value of $5-7 Billion! Almost no one was immune to some sort of landscape loss.
Predicting is not Preparing
We are all aware of the weather changes along the Gulf Coast as fast as all get out, and during these summer months when we’re not preoccupied with pools and beaches or praying for football, we’re watching or listening to the latest news for rain, humidity – and hurricanes. But paying attention to weather patterns in the form of cones or cooked spaghetti and making decisions based on predictions can be a recipe for disaster.
When it looks as though we may be in the path, even early on, it’s time to review things like food, water, fuel, an alternate means of power (i.e. batteries, generators), and your or your family’s evacuation plan. What is too often overlooked, however, is preparing the outside of your home, to include your landscaping.
But preparing also means thinking of hurricanes BEFORE you plant! Tree locations, for example, should be carefully considered, like proximity to a structure can be the difference between windows being replaced or surviving the storm.
Give us a call when you are looking at design, and our experts will help you consider the possibilities to get the maximum appeal from your trees as well as help determine practical locations to minimize storm damage.
Prevent Pots & Plants Being Projectiles
When getting prepared for the impending storm, think beyond just the rain. There’s the potential for high winds, flooding, flying debris, and so on. Wrap larger plants in a heavier burlap tied with rather robust string, rope or bungees. Build a canopy around garden plants, wrapping them if possible.
In the case of storm prepping, look at your beautiful design of potted plants, not as the work it will take to piece it back together once it passes, but the projectile you may have sitting close to your vehicles, homes or other out-buildings. Move the pots to a more protected area, such as under the cover of a garage or carport. If they are sensitive or delicate plantings, bring them inside temporarily.
Planning is Prevailing
You’ve taken all these steps or some form thereof, and now you’re ready, right? Not so fast. What about your gutters? They need to be cleaned out.
Take another look at your trees to ensure there aren’t more limbs to take out, palm fronds to pull down or cut, or pieces already on the ground. Think about pruning to create some better openings for the wind to pass through.
And once the storm has passed, there is the cleanup involved. Heavy limbs, upturned sod or garden patches, etc., all need to be addressed as quickly as possible.
One thing to remember: take pictures and document ALL of your damage. Landscaping included!
Now What?
The aftermath of any devastating storm can at times be overwhelming, but with a post plan in mind, the days ahead need not be quite so daunting. When steps are taken before the storm, it can make a big difference when it is deemed safe to venture out and survey what you are facing.
But you are not alone. Krob can help, both before and after. We will help with design to potentially reduce plant loss to a storm. And we clean gutters, do clearing of debris, can blow off roofs, and so on.
Krob knows hurricanes, so give us a call or come see us today!
Curb Appeal Attracts Customers
A recent survey of a southern community found that 74% of the public will frequent businesses based on landscaping, including parking lots and areas in front and around your building.
You can stand out amongst your competitors with thoughtful and tasteful design, installation and maintenance of the outside spaces surrounding your business.
More than owners think, consumers will pull into a parking lot, only to pull away if the business looks unkempt or uncared for, even without knowing anything else! Point is, make your curb appeal, appealing.
Focus On Your Business
The world seems to be spinning faster and faster each day, with little signs of ever slowing down. And that spin requires more of your time to be dedicated to the success of your business – meaning less time for those pesky tasks which nevertheless affect your bottom line.
Like the landscaping. By partnering with Krob, we’ll take the stress out of “just another thing to do” for you. We listen, suggest, then we’ll implement our shared vision of what you want for your customers, for your company.
Let us do our business, so you can do your business.
Landscape Companies Have the Proper Tools
Nothing is more aggravating than needing the right tool for whatever task you are wishing to accomplish. And just as the right wrench, ladder or software can save time for either the DIYer or business owner, so can having the right landscaping tools.
Problem is, good landscaping requires much more than just a garden rake or shovel of some kind. Garden tools, fertilizer, ladders, trash removal material and so on, not only make the job easier, they can make the difference between “eh” and “wow!” However, the investment can be significant if you want to do it yourself.
But Krob relieves you of having specific tools, and of keeping a schedule to maintain your yard or lawn. We also use premium tools and material, meaning your landscape is not only done well, and on time, it’s done with quality results.
Think Safety
Trees are your thing, so you’d like to incorporate them into your design. Gardens add to the overall pleasing effect of your business, and you’d prefer a natural-looking area surrounding your location.
But with trees come limbs, branches or sticks, and so does the opportunity for them to fall where and when they shouldn’t, and often when you least expect or realize it. Nature is a wonderful thing, but pests love it, too.
Krob’s professionals can spot and properly care for trees before they are a liability, and are trained to spot potential pest control problems so that your landscape is maintained not only aesthetically, but with safety in mind as well.
Lower Your Energy Bills
That’s right, lower them. By selectively planting well-placed trees and shrubs, you can provide shade to your place of business, and help reduce heat absorption, which in turn lowers air conditioning requirements. Shrubs protect from heat against your building’s walls and windows, while trees can help with taller structures.
Krob will help select the ideal spots, and their expertise ensures your building is protected against both erosion and water saturation, by allowing wind flow and drainage away. Smart!
Be A Community Leader
Your street, your block, your neighborhood. The poet Alexander Smith once said, “A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity.” When you care about how you look, others take notice.
And when they care, the seed is planted for everyone to care about, now, and in the future. Your commercial landscape means more than just beautifying your immediate spaces, it means you believe in bringing others around you up.
We at Krob believe in working with businesses to develop comprehensive yet elegant landscapes and are committed to helping you succeed by creating a pleasing and carefully planned design.
Let Krob partner with you to increase value and save time while beautifying the world around you and your business. Call us for a quote today!
Providing Complete Landscaping Services in Mobile County, Baldwin County, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola, the Florida Panhandle & Surrounding Areas