Winter Landscape Maintenance...So Much You Can Do, Now

Well, it is still Fall in the Midlands. Although we have had this very odd cold spell, we will soon return to our normal South Carolina climes.

Beyond planting and planning (see 

Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!, the coming Winter months are a great time to do some landscape house-keeping which will save you time and make the growing season more enjoyable.

Expand and/or re-shape plant beds: This year's growth may have outgrown the borders of your plant beds. Rather than handcuff your plants to some un-natural and unattractive size, expand the border and perhaps give it a new, interesting, but manageable shape. 

Pressure wash: Depending on temperature, you may not wish to wash anything thing too high (The backsplash can get quite discomforting.); however, this is a great time to pressure wash driveways, walkways, retaining walls, decks and foundations. Most of these surfaces have collected all types of debris and foreign matter during the last several months.

Repair stone, paver and brick walkways and patios: Some of the materials used on your walkways or patios may be a little or very cattywampus. There could be many reasons, but typically this is due to underlying roots. 

Whatever the case, repair or eliminate the cause and reset the stones, pavers or bricks.

Continue lawn care: Most, if not all turf grasses in this area are warm season grasses. Although their leaves' (blade) growth may slow or stop, their roots are not dormant and still need a few elements - water and air. The ground temperature in the Midlands rarely goes below 42 degrees for the first four inches, which is where your grass roots and those of most other plants live.

Leaves, pine straw, etc. on your lawn can block sunlight, limit air exchange and trap moisture. Rake, blow or mow (bag attachment preferred) this debris from your lawn. You may wish to use some of this as mulch in your beds even if you plan to place fresh mulch later. This will help keep your plants warm and retain moisture.

Occasionally water your lawn if we go without rain for a while. Do so during early daylight hours on a nice sunny day above freezing.

Edge your lawn borders, particularly if you have St. Augustine or centipede grasses, as their stolons (surface stems, so to speak) may still be reaching outward.

Install ground lighting: Obviously, we have less daylight hours during winter, so this is a great time to install ground lighting. This can be done for aesthetics, safety or security, or all the above.

Prune: All types of pruning can be done this time of year on a variety of plants. And, I am not speaking of taking hedge trimmers to your plants, but proper pruning.

This can be done to reduce a plant, remove dead and awkward stems and branches, raise canopies (limb up) and to thin plants which have been trimmed repetitively, to improve their health.

Proper pruning on many flowering shrubs will help produce individually larger blooms while leaving a balanced backdrop of foliage.

Plant and Plan: Save yourself from being overwhelmed by Spring and Summer landscaping goals by getting started sooner. Please go to Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!

In other words, Winter is a wonderful time to balance out your budget and time spent on your landscape, and your plants may have a happier Spring.

We provide all these services, so please contact me to see how we may assist you...803-553-5757 or use the Contact Us button above.

Thank you.

Happy Holidays!

Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!

Fortunately, here in the Midlands of South Carolina, the ground temperature never approaches anything near freezing. Therefore, you can plant most any plant from now until Spring.

Most of the plants you and I will find are growing in a pot at some nursery and will be much happier in the ground, whereas the ground temperatures are in the forties.

So, quit fretting about planting in the fall and winter. And, just get busy doing it. There are several advantages to doing so.

• You get ahead of Spring fever when costs are elevated and availability lessens.
• Your plants have spent more time developing their roots and later have more resources for blooms.
• Fall and winter planting requires less watering and maintenance.
• Weed control is more manageable. 
• Overall, most plants will be more productive and dramatic in the Spring if they get an early start...which is now.

 

  If you don't want to deal with a new plant bed or aspect of your landscape right now, then start planning for late winter or spring. Call me or someone else so that we can begin restoring a plant bed, creating a new one or perhaps getting creative with another aspect of your property.

The sooner, the better, so that we may plan well ahead of plant availability and cost.

We can soon begin clearing out old unwanted plant beds and plants, designing new beds and vignettes. 

Therefore; you may more so enjoy the Spring, Summer and seasons to come.

Keeping My Bay Laurel at Bay

 

Bay Laurel - After Three Years of Rehab

I've had this beautiful Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) for many years and for the most part, I would be concerned about her height. 

She didn't need pruning often and this was a task I definitely enjoyed. The scent she emits is quite nice and I also had a Rosemary plant in this cool kettle pot just beneath her...olfactory bonus.

However; a few years ago, I realized it's spread (width) was more of a nuisance as it was not making taking the trash out so easy. I keep the trash and recycle bins to the right, hidden from the street by the fence and a Sasanqua. It was beginning to get difficult opening the bin lids.

I surveyed the Bay Laurel and realized it had three co-dominant stems. So, I removed the one closest to the issue, basically removing one third of the plant.

Bay Laurel - Halfway through Rehab

She was none too happy about this. She looked awkward, but I had a plan. I let her do what she wanted to do for a while and then pruned the new growth to promote future growth in a lateral fashion toward the area I had just eliminated. 

I couldn't have replaced the one co-dominant stem I removed, but I could definitely balance the plant over time.

I truly wasn't rehabbing the plant because of an issue she had (I've done so many times with other plants.). I basically caused the need for rehab by asking her to do something she did not want to - lose a third of her branch structure. 

I wanted to make her fit in the space to meet my desires so I must care for her in a different fashion until all looks well.

Bay Laurel - After 1/3 Reduction

I've pruned hundreds of plants with various objectives, but this is one of the most severe.

Some of the branches I have coaxed have now matured and are putting out new growth to complete her natural shape.

After another pruning in spring, she should be back to her natural shape and most future pruning should be for aesthetic and health reasons.

Patience is definitely a virtue.

Last Call for Boston Butts...and, about the United Methodist Men (UMM) of Bethel

Yes, it is!

The response was fantastic in the spring, butt The MOB (Men of Bethel) of Bethel United Methodist Church are looking forward to the coming Boston Butt Bonanza this fall.

Insert: The United Methodist Men of Bethel United Methodist Church (Women are are always welcome.) is a group of guys whom worship and meet once a month. We share our beliefs and concerns as wells as volunteer and raise funds for a variety of efforts, whether it be a musical instrument for a student, cleaning supplies for Epworth or backpacks for Satchel Ford Elementary. Our coffers aren't deep, yet we are often able to assist when help is needed.

Once again, we are having our semi-annual Boston Butt Bonanza (bigger and better) and this is a wonderful time to let someone else do the cookin'.

In fact, these wonderful cuts of pork, smoked and prepared by Award Winning Smokers - DOKO Smoke BBQ - will be available just in time for fall and upcoming holidays.

Do we even need a holiday to enjoy such flavor? Heck no.

Get creative! You can freeze your butt off (in the freezer) and feed your family and friends later, host a party or have some bona fide pulled pork for your next picnic.

No ifs, ands; just butts - one of the best butts you'll ever get your hands on.

The Butt: A cooked-weight of approximately seven (7) pounds of shapely deliciousness, packaged in tin foil...Only $40.00.

If you run out of ideas (silly thought) for what to do with your Boston Butt, you can always leave a few pounds for making Chalupas.

If you are not a fan of Boston Butt or still have some hanging out in your freezer, you can always designate your purchase to go to Epworth Children's Home. They are nothing, butt fans.

Proceeds go to church and community projects including funding for Family Promise (hosting homeless families once per quarter), sponsoring and volunteering for the National Prayer Line the first Saturday of each month and funding for Sheriff Leon Lott's Elder Watch Program.

Tickets are now on sale through October 17 at the Bethel United Methodist Church office Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 4600 Daniel Drive in Forest Acres.

OR, you can use the purchase feature below and select as many butts as you can handle.

Please enter Epworth if purchase is for Epworth Children's Home.

Pick-up for the Boston Butts will be between 4PM to 7PM Friday, October 25. Pick-up will be in the rear parking lot, off Willingham Drive.

IMPORTANT! If you use the on-line purchase feature above, please print and bring your receipt when picking up as this will serve as your ticket. Your receipt will come from dingbretsen@gmail.com, so please check your e-mail spam or junk folder if you don't shortly find this in your in-box.

Please contact Doug at 803-553-5757 if you have any questions or difficulty ordering.

Thank you, very much!

K N O W I N G,  L O V I N G,  S E R V I N G

It's That Time Again...Time for Some Boston Butts!

Yes, it is!

The response was fantastic in the spring, butt The MOB (Men of Bethel) of Bethel United Methodist Church are looking forward to the coming Boston Butt Bonanza this fall.

Once again, we are having our semi-annual Boston Butt Bonanza (bigger and better) and this is a wonderful time to let someone else do the cookin'.

In fact, these wonderful cuts of pork, smoked and prepared by Award Winning Smokers - DOKO Smoke BBQ - will be available just in time for fall and upcoming holidays.

Do we even need a holiday to enjoy such flavor? Heck no.

Get creative! You can freeze your butt off (in the freezer) and feed your family and friends later, host a party or have some bona fide pulled pork for your next picnic.

No ifs, ands; just butts - one of the best butts you'll ever get your hands on.

The Butt: A cooked-weight of approximately seven (7) pounds of shapely deliciousness, packaged in tin foil...Only $40.00.

If you run out of ideas (silly thought) for what to do with your Boston Butt, you can always leave a few pounds for making Chalupas.

If you are not a fan of Boston Butt or still have some hanging out in your freezer, you can always designate your purchase to go to Epworth Children's Home. They are nothing, butt fans.

Proceeds go to church and community projects including funding for Family Promise (hosting homeless families once per quarter), sponsoring and volunteering for the National Prayer Line the first Saturday of each month and funding for Sheriff Leon Lott's Elder Watch Program.

Tickets are now on sale through October 17 at the Bethel United Methodist Church office Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 4600 Daniel Drive in Forest Acres.

OR, you can use the purchase feature below and select as many butts as you can handle.

Please enter Epworth if purchase is for Epworth Children's Home.

Pick-up for the Boston Butts will be between 4PM to 7PM Friday, October 25. Pick-up will be in the rear parking lot, off Willingham Drive.

IMPORTANT! If you use the on-line purchase feature above, please print and bring your receipt when picking up as this will serve as your ticket. Your receipt will come from dingbretsen@gmail.com, so please check your e-mail spam or junk folder if you don't shortly find this in your in-box.

Please contact Doug at 803-553-5757 if you have any questions or difficulty ordering.

Thank you, very much!

K N O W I N G,  L O V I N G,  S E R V I N G

Free Fresh Bay Leaves

I just pruned our Bay Laurel tree (more about that in another article) and I have thousands of leaves to give away should you want some for seasoning some of your favorite recipes.

They have been placed, still on-branch, in a pile on Willingham Drive at Bethel United Methodist Church near the rear parking lot, not far from the Blessing Box.

If you are interested, please get them as soon as possible, as drying in direct sunlight is not best for them. 

I dry bay leaves occasionally and keep them jarred in the kitchen, but if I haven't, I just go out and cut the leaves I need. I do this if and only if the sauce, soup, etc. has a cooking time over an hour.

Bay leaves go through favorable flavor changes when dried or with time in heated fluids.

There are several methods for drying bay leaves or you can use fresh if you have a slow-cooking dish you wish to make soon. The following link provides very good instructions on doing so: https://seasonsinthekitchen.com/a-guide-to-bay-leaves-how-to-dry-bay-leaves/

The plant is very healthy and the leaves look fantastic. If you find a bad one, simply discard it.

I had to make a variety of cuts, so you should be able to choose a branch or a few which suits your needs and then remove the leaves at home. Or, if you plan to naturally air-dry them, you may wish to leave the leaves (sorry) attached and allow this to happen on the branch.

Have a Wonderful Labor Day!

 

TakoSushi - A Culinary Blessing to Forest Acres

I first went to TakoSushi over ten years ago when it was on Assembly Street across from the Capitol. I loved the food, the feel of the restaurant, and the staff.

Their newest location is at Forest Park Shopping Center, anchored by Lowes Foods on Forest Drive. It's in the location of the old Baskin Robbins, nearest Forest Drive.

I had mentioned the restaurant and the name to many friends and most thought it was fusion food of far east and southwestern cuisines, as the name may imply.

It is not. It is a variety of both cuisines, standalone and done quite well. And, the menu is not short on creativity and taste. If you cannot find one thing on the menu you like, then you are the type who may best stay home and eat pimento cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

They found out what works...and it does.

I discovered it had recently opened and went there today. The bar is a block-U shape (the best for meeting people and conversing) with about 20 upholstered bar stools. Each side has a jumbo flat screen and there are two others on opposing walls.

They have built an outdoor patio with about six four-seat tables and my server, Nico, said they will be covering this soon.

It's not clinical, in feel, like Poogan's, which I believe they totally f'ed up in light of the restaurant's history.

We, in Forest Acres, now have a cool place with an inviting bar and a killer menu, that is open from lunch to the evening.

Please check out TakoSushi with some friends or family and tell others so they may enjoy what this place is all about.

I