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New Homeowner Guide Part 1: New Home, New Opportunity
The home buying process can be an overwhelming experience. Decisions made today can have ramifications for years, decades and possibly even generations down the road. At the same time, you’ve likely spent the months leading up to move-in day thinking about all of the changes you are going to make to your newly acquired property.

CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine Specimen evergreen shrub Irregular growth habit Long, stiff needles Dark green foliage If you plant ten different Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine shrubs, you will end up with ten very different shrubs. Unique and individualistic, the Thunderhead’s shape will be determined by a number of variables including sun exposure and branch development. It’s

CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Winter Red Winterberry Holly
Winter Red Winterberry Holly Deciduous shrub Thrives in wet soils but can tolerate dry sites Brilliant red berries in fall and into winter Needs male pollinator nearby for berry production While, the Witch Hazel might be the first to bloom and the Little Rocket Ligularia can get stretch into the fall, the Winter Red Winterberry

Stump Grinding: Getting to the Roots of the Problem
When we talk about tree care and tree removals (as we often do at CVTS-L), we generally talk about the higher branches that require aerial lift trucks or manually climbing through the canopy, or we talk about the precision and safety that is required when pruning or removing trees. Today we want to talk about

CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Princeton Sentry Gingko Biloba
Princeton Sentry Gingko Biloba Deciduous tree Fruitless cultivar Narrow/columnar growth habit Vibrant yellow fall leaf color As arborists, we often talk about trees as investments, and the Princeton Sentry Gingko Biloba might be a good one for people with larger properties. Growing to approximately 40’ tall, the tall, slender Princeton Sentry is known primarily for

The Authority in Tree Care: Evan Brumfield, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
In May of 2019, CVTS-L’s Evan Brumfield fulfilled all of the prerequisites and passed a rigorous exam to become an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. According to the International Society of Arboriculture: “The ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® credential is the highest level of certification offered by ISA. This credential recognizes ISA Certified Arborists® who

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Little Rocket Ligularia
Little Rocket Ligularia Herbaceous perennial Yellow flowers in mid-to-late summer 3-4’ tall and wide Can tolerate wet soils Anyone can find plants that bloom in spring and thrive in full sun, but we want to enjoy our landscaping all summer long. The late-blooming Little Rocket Ligularia is a perfect solution. It is native to wooded

Straw Erosion Netting and Successful Lawn Germination
They say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. While we understand that it’s intended as a moral lesson – a reminder to appreciate what we have because if we get caught up in comparisons, we will never be satisfied…. But our landscaping crews can confirm that sometimes the

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Northern Sea Oats Grass
Northern Sea Oats Grass Ornamental grass Very adaptable Foliage resembles bamboo leaves Very unique seed heads There isn’t much that Northern Sea Oats Grass can’t do. It thrives in moist sites, but it can tolerate dry soils. It loves full sun, but can tolerate some shade. It grows tall enough to conceal an outdoor HVAC

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Dragon’s Eye Pine
Dragon’s Eye Pine Ornamental evergreen tree Banding of yellow and green in the needles resemble a dragon’s eye Exfoliating bark Grows in an irregular habit From the tips of its needles to the bark on its trunk, every part of the Dragon’s Eye Pine is distinct. When viewed as a whole, the Dragon’s Eye Pine

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Little Lime Hydrangea
Little Lime Hydrangea Deciduous shrub Whitish green summer flowers that turn pinkish in fall Sturdy stems great for flower cuttings Smaller form of the popular Limelight Hydrangea The hard truth is that not everyone has a green thumb. If you’ve struggled to keep plants alive in the past or if you’re just looking for a

7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Mulch This Season
Mulching calls to mind images of pitch forks, wheelbarrows and being out in the hot sun for hours. But the challenge of mulching isn’t just the labor. Mulching needs to be guided by a strategy that factors in potential intrusions (grass and weeds) without jeopardizing the health of your trees. Aesthetically, mulch adds clean lines
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