Commercial and residential clients of Mirage Landscaping services receive the benefit of our three generations worth of experience working in Calgary. Over the years, we have developed a specialized landscaping schedule that we know helps lawns and gardens grow and develop each year, even through whatever a Calgary summer can throw at us. It remains a bit cool out so far, but that doesn’t mean that spring hasn’t sprung. Lawns are greening up, trees and shrubs are starting to bud, and we have spotted more than a few tulips poking their colourful heads up already.
Our annual landscaping service schedule starts with a thorough spring cleaning, and then for the following months your property will benefit from our customized landscaping services package for the ultimate summer outside.
Spring clean-up services
- Removal of gravel and debris from your lawn and garden areas
- Clearing out of leaves, branches, and twigs, that have fallen through the winter
- Power-raking of lawn areas to remove any excessive build-up of thatch
- Raking and edging of garden areas
- The first fertilizer application of the season
It is more than likely not quite time to mow your lawn when we arrive for your spring clean-up, as we like to delay the first cut until your grass has reached the proper height. Proper mowing does help stimulate healthy growth, but it is imperative that the first cut of the season isn’t too short. We always follow the rule of thumb to never trim off more than one-third of the total blade length. So, in order to keep your grass at the optimal height of two-and-a-half inches, we work to schedule our mows for when your grass reaches about three inches high.
It may be time to start contemplating your meadow, as well. We’re not saying that you have to give up your lawn entirely, but if you have a space that’s not being used to its full potential – whether it be because it’s too sloped, too sunny, too close to a road, and so on, it may be perfect to create a meadow. We love the process of maintaining a healthy lawn, but we also love supporting a healthy population of pollinators, which are essential for the growth of crops and 90 per cent of the world’s wild plants.
Need some air?
We can also arrange aerating services along with our spring clean-up. Aerators use knives or punches to puncture the soil of your lawn and introduce air to the root system of the grass to promote new growth. It also creates the perfect environment for fertilizer, allowing it and water to get directly to the roots of the grass, promoting deeper root development. With a good aeration, there is also less run-off of water. Watering becomes more efficient and grass becomes more drought-resistant, too.
May landscaping services
We start out May with bi-weekly mowing, but usually by the end of the month we will start coming by every week. In addition to regular visits for mowing, including litter removal and clearing of grass clippings, we also:
- Spray for dandelions on lawn areas
- Prep garden areas for seasonal flowers
- Weed gardens every two weeks
When the grass really starts to grow
Grass grows rapidly throughout the months of June and July, especially with regular watering. For these two months we provide these specialized landscaping services:
- Weekly lawn mowing and trimming
- Weekly weeding of garden areas
- Removal of litter from lawn and garden areas
- Clearing of lawn clippings from entrances and sidewalks
We’ll also ensure your tree wells and gardens remain nicely edged and neatly trimmed.
As the summer begins to wind down
- Weekly mowing and trimming lawn areas
- Edging of garden areas and tree wells
- Weekly weeding of garden areas
- Litter removal from lawns and gardens
- Clearing of lawn clippings from entrances and sidewalks
- Second application of fertilizer
- Trimming of all shrubs
As September arrives, we slow down the frequency of trimming and mowing to bi-weekly and continue to keep your property neat and tidy with regular maintenance.
Tending to your underground irrigation
Although it’s been a sunny April, large temperature variations have swung us from park and patio weather one day to hauling out shovels and parkas the next. Although the snow provided much-needed moisture for a very dry Alberta, most of us would have liked to have seen it delivered by rain. It’s still not quite warm enough to turn on your underground irrigation. We generally wait until it has been consistently above zero at night for about two weeks.
When it comes time, we thoroughly check our clients’ underground irrigation to ensure nothing has been damaged during the winter. As always, we highly recommend everyone consider installing underground irrigation for its ability to thoroughly sprinkle your property with the least amount of water possible.
Residential and commercial professional landscaping from Mirage
Mirage Landscaping provides year-round landscape maintenance and construction services in southeast Calgary. Contact us for a free quote for your outdoor project.
