Author: VistaPro Landscape & Design

Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Alternatives to Grass

Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Alternatives to Grass

If you love having a beautiful backyard, but aren’t a big fan of all of the upkeep that it takes to maintain the lawn, you might be interested in installing a low-maintenance alternative to grass instead. Whether you’re looking for drought-tolerant options or a set-it-and-forget it ground cover, there are plenty of plantings to consider…. Read more »

Choosing Between Brick and Concrete Pavers for a Patio

Choosing Between Brick and Concrete Pavers for a Patio

Though brick and concrete pavers are installed the same way and both offer years of use and durability, there are numerous differences between the two that can influence your choice of materials for your patio. Brick is made from clay that is formed into shape and cured by baking in a kiln. Concrete pavers are… Read more »

Worried About Snow? It Can Actually be Good for Your Lawn!

Worried About Snow? It Can Actually be Good for Your Lawn!

You might think of snow as something your yard has to battle during the chilly winter months, but snowfall can actually be good for your lawn. There are a few ways snow can benefit your yard to keep it healthy and beautiful during the warmer months of the year. Snow as an Insulator Snow is… Read more »

Recycle Fallen Leaves in Your Garden This Fall

Recycle Fallen Leaves in Your Garden This Fall

Fall has officially arrived, and that means two things: you’ll be enjoying the crisp cooler weather, and start dreading the day when you have to spend hours raking and removing leaves from your yard. We know it can be a huge hassle to remove leaves from your yard, but it’s an important part of keeping… Read more »

Choosing a Paving Material for Your Patio

Choosing a Paving Material for Your Patio

Choosing a paving material for your patio doesn’t have to be a headache! Luckily for you design-inclined folks, there are tons of great options out there that will complement lots of different styles of patio furniture, all of which will work great for outdoor entertaining. And what more can we ask of our patios aside… Read more »

5 Veggies to Plant in Your Fall Garden

5 Veggies to Plant in Your Fall Garden

Summer growing season might be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you have to call it quits in your vegetable garden just yet. If you’re still itching to spend some more time in the garden, August is the perfect time to plant a fresh round of fresh veggies to harvest in the fall…. Read more »

Keeping Japanese Beetles Out of Your Garden

Keeping Japanese Beetles Out of Your Garden

Japanese beetles were first found in North America in a New Jersey nursery in 1916. With no natural predators to regulate their populations, the insects soon began to devour plants in gardens up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Today, the Japanese beetle is still one of the most common and destructive invasive pest species in… Read more »

Why You Should Mulch Out, Not Up

Why You Should Mulch Out, Not Up

Spreading mulch around trees doesn’t just serve an aesthetic purpose; it helps the tree to absorb water and nutrients as well. If you don’t mulch your trees correctly, however, it can actually do more harm than good. The most common mulching mistake is the practice of building mulch up around a tree trunk, rather than… Read more »

Water-Saving Strategies for Lawn Care

Water-Saving Strategies for Lawn Care

During the sweltering months of summer, it can take a lot of water to keep your lawn looking healthy and green. If you’re not careful about your watering habits, it can wind up costing you a bundle on your utility bills. The good news is there are a few simple things every homeowner can do… Read more »

Keeping Deer Out of Your Garden

This time of year, roving herds of deer are a common sight in neighborhoods in Maryland. In addition to being a dangerous nuisance to drivers, whitetail deer can also be a real headache for gardeners. Deer love to munch on plants like hostas, pansies and impatients. They’re also fond of many of the same fruits and vegetables humans like to eat as well. If you have a garden in this area, chances are you’ve had to chase a few deer off from time to time. You may have even lost some of your favorite plants to the wandering foragers. This year, let’s take a few extra precautions to deer-proof your garden. Repellants There are a number of repellant products on the market that you can apply around your garden to deter deer from stopping in for a snack. Most of these repellants use naturally-occurring chemicals like Sulphur, ammonia and capsaicin to make your garden less appealing to deer. For best results, you should rotate different types of repellants throughout the season and reapply them after rainfalls. Predator Urine This is a different kind of deterrent that tricks deer into thinking there are predators around your garden. Many people find predator urine to be an effective way to keep deer away, but it can be expensive to maintain around a large garden. Spray applications need to be reapplied as often as once a week. Granular options are typically less expensive and more practical for use in large gardens. Other Scare Tactics Deer are easily spooked by unfamiliar noises and movement. Placing ornaments like wind chimes and wind spinners around your garden can make deer nervous about getting too close. A simple fishing line suspended about three feet above the ground can also help to keep deer out of your garden. Deer are incredible jumpers, but they don’t particularly like to climb over things. Plant Carefully Keep plants that deer are most attracted to close to your house. Conceal them with other plants that deer are less likely to be interested in. Planting pungent herbs like garlic, mint and lavender can help to mask the scent of other more appetizing plants. Adding thorny or prickly plants to your garden can make it less appealing to deer as well.

This time of year, roving herds of deer are a common sight in neighborhoods in Maryland. In addition to being a dangerous nuisance to drivers, whitetail deer can also be a real headache for gardeners. Deer love to munch on plants like hostas, pansies and impatients. They’re also fond of many of the same fruits… Read more »