Category: Landscaping

Warm weather throughout Central Florida is a beloved time to play outside, grill, and explore your own “backyard.” It’s also a great time to have your HOA management company start preparing the neighborhood for the hotter season ahead.

This will ensure the landscaping features are ready for the change in temperature and humidity and that they maintain a consistent look throughout the neighborhood.

When you work with a landscaping company, you get unrivaled knowledge of trees, plants, and grass. They know which plants are native to the area, which can withstand the temperatures, and which work well together.

1. Plant Native Plants

The climate is unique in Florida. When choosing plants for your landscape, go with ones that are native to the area and that can tolerate the weather patterns. This will make landscaping maintenance easier and allow those plants to thrive in the summer.

2. Check the Sprinkler System

Proper hydration is important for your lawn and plants. Overwatering and underwatering can both harm them. Ensure your sprinkler system is working properly and set the watering schedule to the morning. This allows water to be absorbed deeper into the ground, rather than be evaporated quickly by the sun.

3. Clean Up Hardscapes

If vegetation has taken over your paths and retaining walls, now is a great time to cut them back. Overgrown vegetation is not only unsightly but it also provides harborages for pests.

4. Remove/Kill Weeds

The longer you wait to pull weeds, the more likely they’ll spread their seeds throughout your property, leading to a bigger weed problem. You can pull weeds out by hand with a garden knife, cultivator, or hoe or you can use an herbicide.

5. Mow Your Grass On a High Setting

A common misconception we hear is that short grass is a sign that it’s healthy. But, it’s actually better for your grass to keep it pretty high. We recommend not mowing your grass shorter than 4 inches. This will protect the soil, keep it hydrated, and help limit weed growth. Plus, the roots will already be stressed from the summer heat.

6. Treat for Lawn Pests

Grubs, billbugs, cutworms, and many other insects can ruin a lawn, quickly. You need to stop them at the first sign of damage. Investing in lawn pest control is often the best way to eliminate these issues and prevent them in the first place.

7. Test Soil

Your lawn’s pH levels can impact its growth. Make sure it’s healthy by testing the pH of your soil. This can also be helpful in determining a treatment plan to ensure it absorbs the fertilizers you apply.

HOA Landscaping Contractors in Orlando FL

Plants and lawns thrive in the summer, but they’re also prone to pest infestations, drought, and rot so they need some extra attention this time of year. To make sure your HOA property stays beautiful and consistent all year round, turn to Grasshoppers. Our landscaping team specializes in HOA landscaping maintenance, everything from lawn care to hardscaping. Contact us today to see why so many HOAs have trusted us!

The right landscaping can help boost property values and keep your HOA community satisfied, but it’s often tough without the help of the right HOA landscaping company. This is why we at Grasshoppers are offering tips as we approach summer.

Unrivaled Plant Knowledge

When you work with a landscaping company, you get unrivaled knowledge of trees, plants, and grass. They know which plants are native to the area, which can withstand the temperatures, and which work well together.

Hardscaping Design

Hardscaping involves strategically placing gravel, bricks, and pebbles among greenery. Think retaining walls, walkways, firepits, and stone seating areas. Other options include ponds and water features. Combining plant life with hardscaping will add depth and layers to your landscape as well as boost its overall visual appeal.

Landscaping Plans

HOA landscaping contractors understand that HOAs have limited budgets. They not only stick to the budget, but they also work from a plan. If your community is focusing on mostly upkeep, they’ll provide year-round maintenance. If you regularly change out flower beds as the seasons change, they’ll design and install your flower beds as well.

Irrigation Services

Lawn care is more complex than it may seem. Landscaping contractors also take into account irrigation, fertilizer, weed control, and pest control for lawns. They’ll monitor for signs of disease or damage and treat them accordingly before they impact the entire yard.

HOA Landscaping Services

A well-sculpted and manicured lawn allows you to be proud of your community and it leaves a good impression. Hiring a professional landscaping company to care for it will save you time, give you peace of mind, and boost your curb appeal.

If you run a homeowner’s association (HOA), you know how strict the requirements are for the community. When you want to make sure your community is taken care of, contact the team at Grasshoppers. We proudly provide HOA landscaping services throughout the Orlando FL area. Contact us today to request an estimate and see how we can help your HOA community thrive!

Spring means new beginnings, renewal, and growth–a great time to prepare your landscaping for planting. While we only experience mild winters in the Orlando area, it’s important to prime your landscape for summer. But what should you focus on? We at Grasshoppers are offering some outdoor spring cleaning tips below.

1. Prune

Some plants benefit from being pruned in spring, while others benefit from being pruned in fall. Prune dead, diseased, and damaged foliage.

2. Cut Back Perennials

Perennials are plants that regrow each spring. If they’ve started to take over your landscape, you’ll want to give them a trim to allow for growth. Don’t be afraid to trim them down to the base.

3. Remove Fallen Branches & Debris

After pruning and trimming is complete, take time to remove branches and debris. Dead foliage can block growth. Removing it from your landscape will not only help tidy it up but also promote growth once the temperature warms up.

4. Replace Damaged Plants

After removing dead flora, you can replace them with new plants for the season. Do your research and make sure you’re choosing plants that are appropriate for the area you’ll be planting them in–whether in the sun or shade.

5. Mulch

Next, it’s time to apply mulch. Mulch helps keep your plants cool and moist, which is especially important in our Central Florida climate. Plus, it looks great and keeps weeds at bay. It’s a good idea to remove your old mulch before applying new mulch because too much of it can attract pests. Also, keep the depth of your mulch to 2 to 3 inches.

6. Check Sprinkler System

Spring is also a good time to ensure your sprinkler system is working properly. Check your rain shut-off device and make sure it works correctly. Then, turn on your sprinklers and walk through each zone, checking that filters and emitters aren’t clogged. This is also a good time to calibrate your sprinkler system to ensure each zone is getting an adequate amount of water.

Licensed Landscapers in Orlando FL

Spring cleaning your landscape is a great way to boost your curb appeal and make a positive impression. If you’re seeking a commercial landscaping company to handle your spring cleaning, turn to Grasshoppers. We proudly serve businesses and HOA communities throughout the greater Orlando Florida area. We offer tree care, lawn care, landscape design, flower bed installation, irrigation services, and more. Give us a call today for your personalized quote!

If you own a business, you know that time is money, and taking care of your own landscaping is a huge undertaking, especially if you have a large property. There are trees to prune, grass to mow, sprinklers to manage, and flowers to take care of. These examples alone are perfect reasons to hire a landscaping company to maintain your business. But that is just the tip of the iceberg, having a properly manicured lawn also comes with other benefits.

1. Curb Appeal

Never underestimate the power of curb appeal. The exterior of your building and the landscaping are the first things people see after all! Beautiful, well-kept looking landscaping may influence and attract potential buyers, thus increase more sales, while unmanaged eyesores may turn people in the other direction.

By beautifying your landscaping, you’re also showing customers that your business cares about its image.

2. Help Increase Your Property Value

Attractive and well-maintained landscaping can also provide you with a high return on investment as good landscaping help increase property values.

3. Support Sustainability

A great way to support sustainability in your community is to go green. Consider planting native trees and plants on your property or installing drainage systems to properly channel stormwater.

Plants and trees are great for the environment. They can filter out dust and pollutants from the air and help lower your heating and cooling costs. Trees are also attractive and can help make your business more appealing to customers. In fact, one study found trees highly influence consumer perceptions and behaviors.

4. Improve Safety

It’s important that you, your customers, and staff feel safe at your business. Keep in mind, trees can get sick and flower beds can be harborages for rodents and insects. Landscapers can diagnose plant diseases and provide pest control services on properties. They can also spot weak branches and prune them before they become safety issues. Not only that, landscapers will also ensure your walkways are in good condition as most companies also provide hardscaping services.

Lighting is another important aspect of landscaping that can improve safety. Not only can it highlight your storefront or business sign, but lighting can help people avoid stumbles in dark places or even help deter criminals.

5. Improve Employee Morale

In addition to these other benefits, landscaping your business is also a great way to improve your employee morale. You can provide them with a nice outdoor space to unwind and take breaks or even create a staff garden for team building and stress management.

Landscaping for your business is very important as you can see. If you’re interested in landscape maintenance, irrigation, patio installation, lighting, and more contact Grasshoppers. We specialize in commercial and HOA landscaping in the Orlando Florida area. We look forward to helping meet your landscaping goals.

Considering hiring a professional to perform landscape work on your property? That can be a big decision to make. You want someone who delivers quality work but that’s also safe and well-informed.

We want to help you find the right landscaping company that’s “a cut above the rest.” Read this blog post for tips and considerations to make when looking to hire a landscaper.

1. Read Reviews

Do your research. How long has the company been in business and what’s their reputation like? Scour the reviews on their website, Google, Yelp, BBB, and Facebook to see what kind of service they provide. Check their website for awards they may have earned.

2. Learn What Services They Offer

It would be a pain to have one company mow your lawn and another take care of your shrubs and flower beds. Do your due diligence and find a company that provides all of the services you need. Many companies do more than simply cut lawns. Take us, at Grasshoppers for example. We provide everything from lawn care and irrigation to hardscapes and outdoor lighting. We also provide lawn pest control services.

3. Are They Safe?

You want to be sure your family and pets are safe so you may want to learn if the company you’re going to hire:

• Goes through training
• Is licensed
• Performs background checks on their employees
• Is insured
• Uses EPA-approved products
• Carries worker’s comp

Some of these questions may be easily answered by visiting the company’s website.

4. Contracts

Some landscaping companies may require a contract before providing a service, especially when the client is an HOA or commercial property. Talk with your landscaping provider and learn what the contract entails before signing.

5. What’s Their Rate?

Related to tip #4, before signing any documents, you’ll want to know how you’ll be charged. Will they charge you hourly or by the service? Compare rates in your area for the same service. This is something you may also want to look for while researching reviews. Are customers satisfied with their service and rates?

We want you to have the quality lawn care service you want and need for your property. The right landscaping company can relieve stress off of you and increase your home’s value. Put your property in the right hands and due your homework when looking to hire the right landscape company.

Spring is right around the corner so now is a good time for you to begin thinking about your spring lawn care. Even though we experience mild winters here in Florida, your grass still goes dormant in cooler weather. Whether you live in Orlando or Longwood follow our spring lawn care tips for an immaculate lawn this spring.

Aeration

Do you have a lot of foot traffic on your lawn did you experience a lot of rainfall? These are common reasons your lawn may become compacted. Aeration is the process of removing small plugs of soil from your lawn to help relieve some of this compaction. It’s best to aerate warm-season grasses in late spring to early summer and to aerate cool-season grasses in early spring or fall.

Dethatch

Thatch is a build-up of turfgrass. Too much thatch is bad for your lawn because it can prevent your grass from getting the water and nutrients it needs to thrive. Spring is a great time to dethatch your lawn if you grow cool-season grass.

Fertilize

Most turfgrass in Florida should be fertilized around 4 to 5 times a year. You’ll want to apply fertilizer to your lawn roughly 3 weeks after your grass begins to green. If you apply it too early, you run the risk of fertilizing weeds too. We recommend you test your soil’s PH level and purchase a fertilizer that balances out the acidity on your property.

Mowing

A good time to start mowing your lawn is when your grass is long enough to be cut and when it’s dry. Also, mow your lawn at a proper height. Cutting your grass too short will help encourage weed growth and put it at risk of drought stress.

Reseeding

Spring is a good time to fix dead patches of grass by filling them in with new grass seed. You’ll want to avoid putting any herbicides on your lawn for at least 60 days after you reseed it. We recommend you cut your grass a little shorter before you overseed to allow the seeds to germinate better and afterward keep your lawn moist.

Weed Control

If you have a lot of Crabgrass invading your lawn, you can apply pre-emergent herbicides to keep the seeds from last summer from germinating. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product for the best timing and tips.

These tips will help you get a head start for a better-looking, lush green lawn. Need help tending to your lawn? Contact your local landscaping company like Grasshoppers. They have the tools and expertise to keep your lawn looking great year-round!

Are you having trouble attracting tenants to your property? You may want to improve your curb appeal. You see, when potential renters drive past an apartment or house that’s for lease, they want to imagine themselves living there. If your property is unkempt and isn’t attractive, potential renters may feel unwelcome. You want your investment property to stand out.

In this blog post, we’ll look at simple ways you can improve your curb appeal and help make your property more attractive to renters.

Plant Flowers

Flowers are not only aesthetically pleasing but many are very fragrant too. Surround your property with a pretty flower bed using a mix of native plants with attractive scents to make it appear more inviting.

Trim Shrubs and Trees

Do you have vegetation growing out of control? Hire a professional to correctly trim back your trees and shrubs. This will allow more natural light into your property and make it appear bigger.

Add Outdoor Lighting

Landscape lighting will allow your beautiful landscape to shine both day and night and provide safety. Landscape lighting will also add a tremendous amount of value to your investment property. For energy-efficiency, you could consider solar lights or LED bulbs.

Install Underground Sprinklers

Watering the lawn is one less chore a renter would have to do, potentially increasing their interest in your property. Underground sprinklers also help keep your grass lush and your flower thriving. They may also help increase a property’s value.

Create outdoor seating areas

If you run an apartment complex or duplex, does your property have outdoor seating available? Adding comfortable outdoor seats will enhance the property’s value. Some options for outdoor seating include benches, porch swings, picnic areas, and patio furniture.

Hire a Professional Landscaping Company

If you’re working to improve your property’s curb appeal, but you simply don’t have the time, hire a professional landscaping company like Grasshoppers to perform the design and maintenance for you. Since many rental agreements come with landscaping in their leases, now would be an opportune time to build a relationship with a landscaper you like.