~Spring Flowering Bulbs~

     October is a great time to plant Spring flowering bulbs. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start digging.

                                             

• When purchasing bulbs always make sure they are firm and free of rot        
• Try to choose bulbs that are bigger in size, the smaller bulbs may not flower the first growing season
• Bulbs prefer soil with good drainage, this will help to keep the bulbs healthy and rot free
• When preparing the hole make sure it is at least three to four times as deep as the bulb
• When planting use a fertilizer like Bulb tone to help give your bulbs a boost
• Before placing your bulbs in the ground put them in a paper bag with baby powder. This will help to keep the little critters away.
• Always try to plant in mass quantities for a bigger splash of color

                                                         

Happy digging!

Jessie Randa
Garden Care Manager
Chris  Mark & Sons, Inc.
CMS Flora
508-564-4610

10 Reasons to Subscribe To This Blog

There are many blogs out there, even many landscaping blogs, but here are 10 great reasons for you to subscribe to THIS blog!

1. We are you LOCAL landscaping company. We know your lawn, we know the area, who know what to look for in our region. We've been serving the area for 40 years and within that 40 years, we have established great relationships with the local home owners and businesses.

2. Read this blog to stay informed! We blog on a weekly basis so you will get up-to-date landscaping information. If it's happening now, or should be happening now, you'll know about it!

3. You could learn something new! We blog about a wide variety of landscaping topics. Our services range from basic lawn maintenance to gardening and stone work. Subscribe to the CMS Blog and you are bound to learn something new!

4. Get reminders! Since we blog about what is current, you'll be reminded of what to do and when so that your landscaping stays as beautiful as the day it was installed. Our Fertilizing Managers blog regularly to keep you up to date on what is needed at certain times of the year to keep your lawn healthy and strong. Not sure when to spray for Winter Moths? We'll let you know!

When is the best time to prune hydrangeas? You'll read out it here!

5. Save! We regularly post coupons and savings offers on our blog. If you subscribe, you will get these offers sent right to your email! This way, you'll never miss a way to save on your landscaping needs!

6. Our bloggers are trained professionals! You can be sure to get the best information from our bloggers because they are Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professionals (MCLP) along with many other certifications in their field.

7. Like to do your own landscaping? You'll find great DIY tips here on our blog. Whether you read about a certain project or see a photo of something you'd like to do yourself; you'll find it here! 

8. Have a question? Our blog is a great place to ask it! At the bottom of each blog post, there is an area for comments. Feel free to comment or ask the professional! The best part is, our blog is open 24/7, so ask away!

9. We can give you ideas! Not everyone can think of everything they'd like to do to enhance their landscape, sometimes you need help coming up with ideas. That's what we're here for! Use our blog as a resource for your next landscape project!

10. Stay in touch! Don't have time to call during office hours? Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you! 

To subscribe to the CMS Blog and follow by email, simply scroll to the very bottom of the page and click 'Subscribe to posts" you can also enter your email address to receive an email each time a new blog is posted! 

Happy Fall

Happy Fall!

This is one of the best times of the year to do projects in the landscape. Helping your grass recover from a long hot summer is ideal in September and early October. Lawn renovations, aerations and overseedings are ideal as there is much less competition from weeds and there is very little heat stress. We often get some decent help from mother nature when it comes to rain as well.

Gardens can be cleaned up pruned back and prepped for winter. In addition, nothing says fall like adding some seasonal favorites like mums, kale, and asters. These plants are more cold tolerant than traditional garden annuals and add some pop to your fading gardens. Dont forget the cornstalks, pumpkins and hay bales!

It's never too soon to get on the list for fall cleanups. The leaves are just starting to turn but before you know it we will hustling to get yards cleaned before the snow starts falling.

Chris Mark and Sons Landscaping can address these and any other landscape needs you might have . Drop us an email or give us a call and talk to one of our knowledgable staff members about your fall property needs.

Thanks for reading.

Brian Mark
Owner
Chris Mark and Sons Inc.

Grass-cutting tips for a healthier, happier lawn

Here are some simple mowing tips to promote a healthier lawn:

Mowing is one of the most fundamental practices for keeping your lawn happy and healthy. Keeping your lawn short and attractive, however, is more complicated than just running a lawn mower over the grass; factors such as grass height, mowing frequency, and type of mower used play an important role in the health of the grass. In addition to looking good, the denser grass that results from proper mowing also aids in the prevention of weeds, diseases, and pests.

Cut off one-third of the grass blade

Cutting off more than one-third of the grass blades’ height hinders your lawn’s ability to grow and remain healthy. If you let your grass grow too high and consequently cut off more than one-third of the blade to get it to the desired length, you may damage the root growth—this forces the grass to grow slower and work harder to recover, leaving your lawn vulnerable to weeds, diseases, and pests.

In instances when your grass grows too tall, it is recommended to mow the lawn more frequently than usual and slowly reduce the cutting height until you reach the desired height.

Additional lawn-cutting tips to consider:

-  As a general rule, grass should be mowed more often in the spring (every three or four days) when it’s actively growing than in the summer (every seven to ten days) when heat or droughts slow growth.

-  Don’t forget that with any grass type, removing too much leaf mass stunts grass growth; the plant won’t be able to make enough food to maintain a healthy growth.

-  Try to cut your grass when the leaf surface is dry—this will eliminate clumping.

-  Occasionally vary the mowing direction to reduce wear patterns; grass leaves tend to lean in the direction they’re cut, so mowing from different angles will reduce wear on the lawn.

Grass-cycle!

If you mow your lawn frequently enough to keep it healthy, you should be able to leave any resulting clippings in the grass. Clippings are generally good because they decompose quickly and return nutrients to the soil, with a few exceptions: if your lawn has a disease or contains a lot of weeds, or if a large amount of clippings is produced, it’s best to discard clippings until the grass is healthier.

If you have any questions, comments, or would like to add to this Blog please feel free to drop us a line through our website www.ChrisMarkandSons.com or on our Facebook page.

Best,

Tom Bowers MCLP

Chris Mark and Sons, Inc

Tom@ChrisMarkandSons.com

Contents: http://www.bestpickreports.com/blog/post/grass-cutting-tips-for-a-healthier-happier-lawn

It's Time to Rejuvenate!

We at CMS hope that everyone has been having a great summer! We cannot believe it is almost over!

Now is the time of year that you want to rejuvenate your lawn and get it looking great for the fall season. Often times, the long dry summer can put some stress on your lawn and make the grass look dull. In order to help your lawn bounce back, we've put together a few options for lawn rejuvenation plans. Check out the different options below and contact us to schedule your lawn rejuvenation today!

Chris Mark & Sons, Inc.

1270 Route 28A, Cataumet MA

508-564-4610

Info@ChrisMarkandSons.com

www.ChrisMarkandSons.com

The CMS Referral Advantage

CMS Landscape Construction

Have you been thinking about adding a new stone walkway or patio? Maybe you have been looking at those stone fire pits or outdoor fireplaces - If so, give us a call! 

Our professionals will help you design and then install a beautiful new stonework project!  

Do you need additional stones in your driveway or want to completely replace the stones with crushed shells? Or, maybe you'd like to repair a stone wall. 

Chris Mark & Sons Inc. can do all that and more!

www.ChrisMarkandSons.com

info@ChrisMarkandSons.com

508-564-4610

Choosing the Right Plants For Your Yard

This morning on Fox 25 News, I saw that they are sharing landscape and gardening tips from the folks at Weston Nurseries! Today's clip was how to choose the right plants for your yard. Check it out here, and check back often! I'll be reposting each segment on our blog!

Click here to be directed to the Fox 25 Morning News page

~Life in the Garden~

A few plants that will help add a little life to your garden this season:






~Bee Balm
~Lantana
~Perennial & Annual Salvia
~Goldenrod
~Coneflower
~Butterfly Weed
~Milkweed
~Sunflower


      ~Butterfly Bush
      ~Joe Pye Weed
      ~Zinnias
      ~Cosmos
      ~Spider flower
      ~Catmint                                 





The list goes on and on. Not only can you attract wildlife throughout the summer months, but you can also help the birds to survive by planting shrubs that provide shelter and berries during the winter season. Here are a couple of sites with lists of plants and exactly what type of birds and butterflies they will attract.
                                               
http://butterflywebsite.com/butterflygardening.cfm

http://www.birds-n-garden.com/birdgarden.html



We would love to see what kind of life you have in your own back yard! Post the photos on our Facebook page!

Happy gardening!

Jessie Randa
Director of Horticulture
Jessie@chrismarkandsons.com

The CMS Transformation!

We here at CMS decided that it was time for a transformation.

It was time to spruce up the front of our main office, and with materials from J&J Materials, we were able to create a beautiful entrance as well as a great way to show examples of stonework!

Scroll through the following pictures to see the transformation!

It begins!

The area in front of our main offices is prepped 

The first section is completed! The entrance walkway is installed.

This is what it looked like as the walkway was laid out.

On to the next section!

Completed!

With a day or two of great weather, the front patio was finished! Love the mix of stone and design!

A close up of the curved walkway

A little color to brighten up the entrance!

Spring 2012

Happy spring or perhaps it's happy summer with these amazingly warm temperatures!

I have been doing the spring kick off with Chris Mark and Sons for nearly 30 years now and every year brings unique challenges and experiences.Some years it is warm temps and an early start and other years its cold and snow. Sometimes the equipment is a breeze to get up and running and other times it poses real frustrations. There is also that wavering emotion of excitement and trepidation as we await service confirmation from our loyal customer base.

There is one constant with the start of a new season however; the pride I have in knowing I work with such an amazing crew. I have worked with many of our staff for over 10 years now and in the landscape industry that is quite an accomplishment. I am always amazed at the eagerness of the staff here at CMS to embrace new ideas and learning. Every year team members add new certifications and skills, attend seminars and classes in an attempt to broaden  their knowledge base. I am always proud to get reports about how polite and helpful our employees are. It is a difficult task running a successful small business on Cape Cod but with the right gang in place it can sure make it easier.

As you begin your spring kick off this year; keep in mind the enthusiastic staff here at CMS. If you have questions, ideas or needs there is no better group to get you headed in the right direction.

Enjoy the spring!

Sincerely,
Brian Mark MCLP
owner
Chris Mark and Sons Inc.

Lawn/Tree Healthcare in the Spring

    Some of the most important work that is done on your landscape is done in the Spring! Limestone and fertilizer are not only the tools used to keep your lawn healthy and your trees growing but you may be surprised to know how much they help the environment.

     First things first, limestone applied in the Spring adjusts the p.h. of the soil as we have all heard but what does that mean? Why does the acidity in my soil need to be adjusted? These are questions that I have personally heard while applying my customers limestone. Well, the answer isn't a complex one. If the soil is too acidic the grass on your lawn will not be able to access all of the nutrients applied by your lawn care professional. This doesn't mean that your grass won't grow but with year after year of fertilizing without adjusting the p.h. there is a buildup of nitrogen in the soil and with our sandy soils in New England we get leeching into the water table. We use a special limestone that breaks down quickly and oftentimes you can see the lawn green up with the nitrogen that was previously unreachable.

     If you are going to do it yourself there are a few things to keep in mind. First thing, it's recommended that 50 lbs. of limestone be applied per 1,000 square feet. You may be surprised how small an area that is! Also when you buy your limestone at the store, check the back of the bag. Most of the time you will find that the contents are 40-60% limestone and the rest is clay fillers.

     Well, I hope this information helps answer some of the questions customers have asked me over the years and please remember, if you have a question and you see me doing an application on your lawn or your neighbors. PLEASE come and talk to me, I won't bite! I do this for a living and I love to talk about what I do.

Bob Barrett
Lawn/Tree Healthcare Tech.
Chris Mark & Son's Landscaping
Lic. # 33096
MCLP #1578

Spring Fertilizing and Moth Treatments!

The Start of a New Season

    Winter is coming to an end and spring is in the air.  Some would say we skipped winter all together this year.  Its an exciting time for people in the landscape business. 

    With the thought of warm weather, the once almost dead phone now rings every few minutes with potential new clients looking to enhance there landscapes.  The friendly faces of workers coming back to work to make an honest days pay.  With all the hustle and bustle trying to get all the machines fixed by your start date, its a good feeling to finally get the machines fired up.

   This Spring may be a little more rushed than the usual.  The crocus and daffodils have already started sprouting and before you know it, the grass is going to start growing and the forsythias are going to start blooming which means its time to start with your crabgrass control.  Because its going to feel like Spring sooner than later, it's important to get started with your clean ups.  You don't want to get caught trying to blow or rake out your perennial beds when everything has started blooming.  Its not a good feeling when you have now trampled and killed everything.

 My recommendation this Spring is to pick a nice day in March and get started.   Its never to early to catch a little Spring sunshine.

Abe Faria
General Manager
Chris Mark and Sons Landscaping

Help keep your house bug free this summer!

7 News Boston had an interesting report last night on this year's bug season.

Since the winter has been so mild, experts are forecasting the bug season to start earlier than usual this year. Mosquitoes, ticks, spiders and other creepy crawlies will be in larger numbers this year and they will be trying to get into your house! One thing that the report talks about is how a well maintained lawn can decrease the number of bugs in your home.

Bugs like well kept lawns, so they are more likely to hang out in your grass then in your house if you keep your lawn mowed and take care of all those sunken areas where water can pool. I found this very interesting because I would have thought that an area of tall grass and untamed bushes would be a more inviting place for insects, but I suppose keeping the lawn well maintained keeps you stepping ON the bugs and not walking through, helping them hitch a ride on your pant leg!

Jennifer Bellmar

Chris Mark & Sons, Inc.

CMS Flora

508-564-4610

Jen@chrismarkandsons.com

The Extended Version!

Check out the extended version of our TV commercial!

Cape and Islands Wedding Group

CMS Flora would like to announce their participation in the Cape and Islands Wedding Group Bridal Show! 

Customer Referral Discount!

It may seem early to be thinking about your lawn but Chris Mark & Sons, Inc. would like to remind you to think ahead and tell your friends!

Our best form of advertising is YOU and we would like to thank you with a $20 credit to your account for each new customer you refer to us!

Simply tell as many friends and family members about CMS as you can, make sure they mention your name when scheduling their service, and then you receive $20 off!

It's as easy as that! Now get talking!