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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

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Caesar’s Brother Iris
Caesar’s Brother Iris Herbaceous perennial Thrives in moist soils Dark purple spring blooms Grows to approx. 2.5-3.0 feet tall By the time May comes around, so many plants are in bloom that even the prettiest of them can get lost in the landscape. The Caesar’s Brother Iris is a perennial late bloomer whose dark purple

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Tricolor Beech
Tricolor Beech Deciduous tree Purple and pink variegated leaves Foliage is most vibrant and dramatic in spring with its new growth Orange/Copper fall leaf color This attention-getter is in its full glory during April and May when its purple and pink variegated leaves are coming out. The new leaves of the Tricolor Beech are bright

The Spider Lift Versus the Emerald Ash Borer
We first started calling attention to the threat posed by the Emerald Ash Borer on this blog way back in 2012 when we advised people that “success is ultimately determined by both tree condition and treating the tree before it is challenged by EAB.” We continued tracking it on the blog through 2013 when it

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Mount Airy Fothergilla
Mount Airy Fothergilla Deciduous shrub White early spring flowers that look like cotton balls, before foliage breaks Orange and red fall leaf color Deep blue-green leaves If you are thinking about spring flowers, you would do well to consider the Mount Airy Fothergilla. That’s when this shrub produces its beautiful white flowers, which are said

CVTS-L Profile: Allie Wilson, Landscape Intern
When Allie Wilson was looking for a summer job in her field, her advisor referred her to Cumberland Valley Tree Service – Landscaping. Wilson was a freshman with a love of all things outdoors who was working towards her Associate’s degree in Forestry at Penn State Mont Alto. Her two summers as a Landscape Intern

Fake Grass – Real Problem Solving: The Decision to use Artificial Turf
It was initially the client’s idea to use artificial turf, and admittedly, we were skeptical. However, the closer we looked at property within the context of the larger project, the more inevitable it seemed. We were talking about a strip of grass – maybe five feet wide – between two multi-story buildings. There was little-to-no

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel Blooms in late winter into early spring (February) Yellow, red, and orange fall foliage Large, spreading, deciduous shrub Fragrant flowers Resembling a large shrub, this smaller tree produces pleasant oranges and reds in the autumn months, and when it is properly maintained, it has a very pleasing shape. Witch Hazel is most famous,

The CVTS-L Landscaping Plant Guide: Sangu Kaku Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Sangu Kaku Coral Bark Japanese Maple Newer stem growth turns pink/red, intensifies in winter months Pale green leaves with some red in the margins Yellow fall foliage Deciduous tree This smaller, ornamental deciduous tree produces attention-getting green leaves with red borders in the springtime and vibrant yellow fall foliage. And then, when other plants are turning brown

Landscaping on the Edge: Green Walls, Privacy Screens and Natural Alternatives to Fences
A perfect landscaping project is one that combines both form and function. In terms of aesthetics, landscaping projects provide gorgeous social media-ready before-and-after pictures that are easily shareable (be sure follow us on Facebook and Instagram!). However, when we are discussing a potential project with a client, we begin by exploring how they imagine themselves

Winter Plant Health Care Guide: Seasonal Needle Drop
Every year we get an increase of calls from concerned property owners who are alarmed to see that their recently planted evergreen trees are changing color and dropping a substantial number of needles. This is a very common situation that we encounter in both our Landscaping, Plant Health Care and Tree Care divisions. Fortunately, the prognosis is

The NEXT 40 Years – Maintaining a Culture of Investment (and RE-investment)
Because 2018 marks the fortieth anniversary of Cumberland Valley Tree Service – Landscaping, we’ve posted a series of articles outlining our history. The first post was about safety because, well, safety is always first, and then we went back and acknowledged the people who gave us a leg up when we needed it and challenged
Franklin County, PA
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