Wayne's Weeds
Hello to all of you fellow landscape/gardeners! Welcome to Wayne’s Weeds on the Watts Landscape Service website. My name is Wayne Rayfield and I will be your host bringing monthly updates on timely landscape/gardening topics to help you maintain and/or expand your current landscape.  This website will also host other information pages under Dave’s Dig, hosted by Dave Watts, and Pest of the Month, a guide on seasonal condition and pest and problems that may affect your lawn and landscape plants. Be sure to check in monthly for all this great information!

My background includes a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and twenty years of practical experience in the Madison landscape design-build market.  I am a licensed landscape architect in the State of Wisconsin and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architecture. I, also teach a six-week course called “Home Landscaping” for Madison Area Technical College’s Adult Continuing Education Program.  

As I sit and gaze out the window at the bitter cold outdoors, I am quickly reminded that we are in Wisconsin.  However, one thing is missing…snow!  I know your thinking you don’t want snow and that I am crazy to suggest it.  However, besides the obvious aesthetic quality snow brings, the practical resource of snow is invaluable.

Extending from last summer and fall, the lack of precipitation from either snow or rain has created drought like conditions.  We must be aware of what this means to our landscape.  Any lawns, perennials, shrubs, or trees planted last growing season should be given adequate moisture through the fall until the ground freezes.  Plants entering the winter months with adequate moisture have a higher survival rate during the winter and spring months.  Plantings undergoing a lack of moisture will exhibit a higher mortality rate. 

Protect plantings (especially evergreens) with a wind barrier such as a burlap fence to protect the plants from prevailing winds.  Another deterrent against winter winds would be the application of an anti-desiccant spray applied to the foliage of the trees and shrubs. These sprays adhere to the foliage of the plant and help to reduce water loss due to evaporation. Again evergreens are the most likely candidate for this, since they retain their foliage year-round and are exposed and subject to dehydration in the winter months.  Anti-desiccant sprays can be bought at most garden and home improvement centers.

So what can you do now? Once the ground thaws and spring has sprung, be sure to give all of your plantings supplemental water by soaking the root zone until saturated.  Water again when soil begins to dry out at a depth of 3-4 inches.  Each planting site will vary on the frequency and amount of water required due to soil type, weather, mulch and other environmental factors.

If you’re considering having a landscape design drawn for your new or renovated landscape don’t wait till spring! The winter months are a perfect time to design and plan your landscape. We have a little more time now to create a functional yet creative plan, customized to meet your personal needs. Watts Landscape Service employs registered landscape architects and recent graduates of landscape architecture, who can meet with you on site, discuss your wants and needs, perform a site survey, and help you develop your dream landscape.  From redoing your front foundation plantings to new estates, we can develop a plan from start to finish.  Getting a plan done now will help to ensure a prime spot on the spring installation schedule as well.  A little planning now can ensure a successful landscape project this spring!

 

 

Your Landscape Professionals for over 50 Years
3570 Pioneer Road - Verona, WI 53593         Phone: (608) 833-3535    Fax: (608) 833-3534
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