For Spring Color, Plant Fall Bulbs

Nothing signals spring is on its way quite like the first hints of yellows, reds, and pinks from emerging spring bulbs. Crocus, Hyacinth, Daffodils, and Tulips provide glorious spring color and reassurance that the dreary winter months will soon give way to warmer temperatures and a return to the outdoors.

Spring bulbs are also one of the simplest ways to add color to your home's exterior. Plant the bulbs 4 to 5 inches below the soil in the fall. Bulbs can be planted once day time temperatures are consistently under 70 degrees, typically in October, but be sure to plant the bulbs before the ground freezes to ensure spectacular color during the spring thaw.

There are many different varieties of spring bulbs, and depending on the color and bloom time desired, will greatly improve the look of your home's exterior. Bulb placement can also have a significant impact on your home's preexisting landscaping. When planted in groups of ten or more, bulbs give off dramatic color, and when used as a hedge or outline for other spring plantings, provides expert design and contrast. Bulb plants can also look amazing simply scattered throughout the yard or flower beds.

Call the experts at Total Landscape, Inc. at (314) 416-0517 for recommendations on specific varieties and types to maximize the "Wow" factor at your home.

Tis the Season to Let Total Landscape, Inc. create a Total Wonderland for you!

Once the holiday season gets into full swing it seems as if there is never enough time to accomplish everything on your list. From shopping, to cooking, and entertaining, preparing for the holidays can quickly become a daunting challenge, taking the spirit out of the holiday.

This year let the holiday helpers at Total Landscape, Inc. take one burden off your shoulders. We at Total Landscape, Inc. specialize in all areas of lighting and decoration. Imagine your ideal holiday scene, including wreaths, garlands, glowing lights, and holiday decor. Now think about how long it would take to accomplish this yourself, not to metion the danger of climbing a ladder, while struggling with strands of lights.

At Total Landscape, Inc. we understand the desire for a show stopping holiday display, and we know that funds can be tight this time of year. Our holiday lighting and decoration services are designed to take the hassle out of the holiday, and at a very economical price. This year give yourself the gift of time by allowing Total Landscape, Inc. to design, install, maintain, takedown, and store your holiday decoations.

Call us at (314) 416-0517 and let Total Landscape, Inc. help you celebrate in style!

You Could Do It Yourself...But Why?

Imagine your ideal backyard. Would it have a pool or outdoor kitchen, perfect for entertaining with family and friends? Perhaps your dream yard would have a large patio with colorful plants to attract wildlife. Or maybe your vision of the perfect yard is a private and serene escape, where you can relax to the sounds of a bubbling fountain or coy pond. Whatever your vision of an ideal outdoor space, Total Landscape, Inc. can make it a reality.

You could go through the hassle of designing a plan for your yard. First purchasing the equipment needed, installing the materials, and spending countless hours performing back breaking labor to create your outdoor escape, but why when one call to the professionals at Total Landscape, Inc. can solve all these problems. Even a small outdoor design or construction plan can quickly become a huge and expensive project when trying to do it yourself. Total Landscape, Inc. employs the professionals, knowledgeable in all areas of outdoor design, construction, and maintenance to provide our customers an effortless and hassle free experience.

The "before" picture above shows a coy pond, hidden by large trees, providing the homeowner no real benefit as there was no suitable space to enjoy this feature. After a "mini makeover" performed by Total Landscape, Inc. the coy pond now provides show stopping beauty and complete relaxation. Total Landscape, Inc. installed a patio, lighting features, new landscape plantings, and created a spot for the homeowners to dine, entertain, or simply unwind, while listening to the gentle bubbling of this gorgeous waterfall and pond. The finished result, pictured below, would have taken a landscape novice multiple weekends, hours shopping, days spent digging, placing stone, and struggling to install lighting. By calling Total Landscape, Inc. this job was completed in a matter of days and for an economical price, providing the homeowner with trusted professionals to handle the project from start to finish, hassle free installation, and the joy of a beautifully landscaped outdoor space. Let Total Landscape, Inc. create your ideal backyard, call today to schedule a no cost consultation to transform your outdoor areas.

Update your home's outdoor areas and increase the value, beauty, and living space

A customers backyard BEFORE an outdoor makeover from Total Landscape, Inc.

The same backyard AFTER Total Landscape, Inc. designed a plan to optimize the beauty of this outdoor space

At Total Landscape, Inc. we specialize in outdoor transformations. Turn an unused, under-developed, or ignored area of your backyard into a welcoming and enjoyable space to relax with family and friends. Whether looking to add privacy, a patio, or even a pool to your outdoor spaces, Total Landscape, Inc. has the professionals available to handle any job.

Updating a landscape or patio design makes a huge impact on your home's exterior, and is a relatively easy and quick way to increase your home's living space. In this climate, an investment in outdoor landscape and construction is a wise choice, as these updated areas can be utilized throughout most of the year. From early spring to late fall, temperatures in the area are fairly moderate, allowing ample time to enjoy a patio, garden, or pool.

A landscape or construction plan can be developed to include existing plants, trees, and patios. This is a great way to give your outdoor space a mini makeover while maintaining the shade, privacy, and aesthetics that large trees and plants provide. Mature trees and plants are worked into an overall design scheme, saving time and money.

The "before and after" pictures show at the top of the page showcase a recently completed pool, patio, and landscape renovation. This landscape update beautified the customer's outdoor area while retaining the privacy and eesthetic characteristics of existing trees. Including a reconstructed patio, this new backyard oasis is the perfect spot to relax, entertain, and enjoy your home's outdoor attributes to the fullest.

Whether looking for a complete yard overhaul or simply a landscape update, money spend in improving outdoor spaces is a wise investment. Let Total Landscape, Inc. create the outdoor escape you've been longing for. Call today to set up a consultation with a member of our award winning design team, (314) 416-0517.

Japanese Beetles infest the St. Louis and Illinios Areas

While not native to the United States, the Japanese Beetle has quickly become one of the biggest insect infestations this region has experienced. First found in the US in 1916 at a New Jersey nursery, the Japanese Beetle has spread across the country at a relatively quick pace due to the fact that it does not have many natural predators because of its hard body. The picture shows a group of Japanese Beetles feasting on plant foliage from www.mobot.org.

The Japanese Beetle begins life as a grub and can reek havoc on lawns and plants because they feed on roots in the dirt inches below the surface. In mid June, as temperatures begin to warm, the matured beetle emerges from the dirt, and begins feeding on trees and leaves.

The adult Japanese Beetle has a metallic green head and copper colored wings covering its back with six tufts of white hair on both sides of the beetle’s body. The Japanese Beetle measures 3/8 of an inch in adulthood and can fly about five miles a day when searching for new feeding or breeding grounds.

Known to quickly skeletonize plants and trees, the Japanese beetle will feast on soft leaf tissue, leaving the tougher leaf veins, giving the appearance of a “leaf skeleton” behind. Some of the most susceptible plants and trees are those with soft leaves, including the
● American Chestnut, Elm, Linden, and Mountain Ash trees
● Black Walnut Tree
● Flowering fruit trees such as cherry, plum, peach, apple, and crab apple
● English Elm tree
● Gray Birch tree
● Holly Hock
● Chestnut tree
● Japanese and Norway Maples
● Grape vines
● Roses
● Zinnia

Plants and trees known to be resilient to the Japanese Beetle include the
● American Elderberry and Sweetgum tree
● Black Oak Tree
● Boxelder Tree
● Boxwood Tree
● Butternut Tree
● All varieties of Evergreen trees
● Holly bushes, Magnolias
● Lilac
● Red and Silver Maple trees
● Flowering Dogwood trees



The best defense against the Japanese Beetle is ensuring the dirt and plants purchased from local nurseries do not contain Japanese Beetle larva or grubs. If only a few Japanese Beetles are present they can be hand picked from the plant or tree as well as any damaged leaves. The presence of Japanese Beetles or damaged leaves will only attract more beetles to the area, so if the infestation is relatively small this removal may prevent any more beetles from moving into the affected location.

If the infestation is more severe there are many available insecticides which can be used depending on the level of infestation and life stage the Japanese beetle is in. A different insecticide should be used for adult beetles than is used for grubs which have not reached maturity.

Experts recommend against using a bug bag or pheromone trap. While these methods are effective in catching a great deal of Japanese Beetles, it is believed that they attract beetles from far away in numbers greater than what would not normally infest a property, and can reek havoc while on their journey to reach the bag or pheromone.

Protect Your Family from the West Nile Virus by Installing Proper Drainage to Reduce the Mosquito Population on your Property

Mosquitoes are not just an outdoor annoyance; they also can be carriers for the dangerous West Nile Virus. While there have not been any human cases of the West Nile virus this year, mosquitoes tested in St. Louis County were found to be carriers of the virus. According to the Center for Disease Control, standing water is one of the leading causes of mosquito infestation (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm).

Standing water provides mosquitoes the perfect place to breed and lay eggs. That means the more areas of standing water you have on your property, the higher the population of mosquitoes you may have, and the greater your chance of being infected with the West Nile Virus. With the high amounts of rain St. Louis has experienced this year standing water has become a big concern and if not properly handled can cause big problems. Prevent mosquitoes from turning your yard into their breeding ground by eliminating areas of standing water through proper drainage channels.

At Total Landscape, Inc, we specialize in correcting drainage problems, and reducing mosquito populations through a safe and environmentally friendly way. Drainage control from Total Landscape, Inc. can eradicate standing water, while improving the look of your property in a nontoxic and green manner.

Let Total Landscape, Inc. correct your drainage problems, improve the look of your yard, and reduce the potentially harmful mosquito population on your property. Call today to schedule a no cost consultation to solve your drainage problems.

Think Spring Patios and Fire Pits

Well it appears the cold temperatures are finally gone and we can now turn our thoughts to warmer thoughts outdoors. Weather its awakening the landscape or designing new ideas to better enjoy our outdoor environment now is the time to THINK SPRING. Two of the most enjoyable parts of our area are Spring and Fall. With temperatures in the mid low and mid 80s and humidity at a minimum now is the time to get out and enjoy your outside landscape.

At Total Landscape Inc. we can design the perfect backyard environment that is exactly what you want in the budget you are looking for. We create patio and fire pit spaces that meet every taste from limited to extensive. Our goal is to understand your goals and design a project that is exactly what you want. Our approach allows us to manage your project from start to finish even when multiple contractors are needed.

So if you wanting to improve your outdoor environment give us a call and let us design the outdoor environment you have always dreamed of. Call today at 314 574 0970 or visit our website and request a no obligation consultation.