On Sunday, March 24, 2013 the St. Louis area was hit with a big snow storm. Pretty ironic considering the calendar says it’s Spring. While everyone was hoping for beautiful, warmer weather, we were plowing snow.
Last year the area experienced an early Spring and this year it seems that Spring is pushed back. Sometimes that is not a bad thing in the landscaping industry.
In case you are wondering, the snow storm was considered to be a record setter. We haven’t had this much snow since 1980. Here are the totals for this storm:
Lambert Airport 12.6”
Mount Olive, Illinois 16.2”
Godfrey, Illinois 15.3”
Hazelwood, MO 14”
O’Fallon, MO 14”
St. Charles, MO 13.3”
Hardin, Illinois 14”
Valley Park, MO 9.8”
University City, MO 8.8”
Clarksville, MO 13”
When this snow melts, we will be continuing our efforts to perform bed maintenance. Now is the time that we start sending out our bed maintenance crews to make our customer’s look great again. Some customer’s are visited annually (once a year), semi-annually (twice a year), monthly, or even every other month. Whatever the program you have signed up for, we will be coming soon. Keep your eyes out for us.
If you or someone you know is looking for help with your flower bed maintenance, Spring bed mulching, composting, or leaf removal the professionals at West County Gardens can help. They specialize in spraying & feeding of shrubs and trees, turf fertilization, lawn mowing, turf maintenance! Call West County Gardens today at (314) 423-9244 or email them at westcountygardens@yahoo.com to see what bed maintenance program works best for you.
Bed Maintenance is set to start back up again in St. Louis
Fall and Winter isn’t quite over and Spring is right around the corner. Now is the time that we start sending out our bed maintenance crews to make our customer’s look great again. Some customer’s are visited annually (once a year), semi-annually (twice a year), monthly, or even every other month. Whatever the program you have signed up for, we will be coming soon. Keep your eyes out for us.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about our bed maintenance program, please call if you have any questions or would like a proposal to clean your beds at (314) 423-9244.
Thank you for choosing West County Gardens.
West County Gardens, Inc. is now an approved contractor for the Deer Creek Watershed Alliance program.
In regards to the RainScape Rebate Program (aka Rain Garden), we can assist homeowner’s who live in the following municipalities:
• Brentwood
• Clayton
• Creve Coeur
• Des Peres
• Frontenac
• Kirkwood
• Ladue
• Maplewood
• Olivette
• Richmond Heights
• Rock Hill
• University City
• Warson Woods
• Webster Groves
For more information and FAQ’s on the RainScape Rebate Program, please visit www.deercreekalliance.org.
Invasive and/or native plants are suggested for Rain Gardens. You can find plants by visiting www.grownative.org.
Excerpts from deercreekalliance.org
Watersheds Explained
A watershed is an area of land where stormwater runoff will ultimately drain to a particular stream, river, wetland or other body of water. As individuals, our actions have a direct impact on the quality of our water resources. Stormwater runoff occurs when rain falls or snow melts and flows over the surface of the ground in the watershed. Hard surfaces like rooftops, driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.
Stormwater runoff can pick up soil, trash, fertilizers, chemicals and other debris, and carry it into a storm sewer, which transports it directly to a lake, stream, river or wetland in your watershed. Anything that enters a storm sewer goes untreated into the same waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water. The way you take care of your home and yard impacts water quality.
Did you know that if yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, weeds, prunings, brush, and small twigs that are naturally found around the home, are disposed of along a creek or in the storm drain it can impact the water quality?
Yard waste decaying in creeks and rivers decomposes in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic life can’t survive in water with low oxygen. As yard waste decomposes, plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are also released. These nutrients promote the excessive growth of algae in the water. As the water becomes polluted, it does not support aquatic life and becomes a health hazard.
Leaves and woody debris naturally accumulate in streams and creeks, however, when you collect and dispose of yard waste along creek banks, the added yard waste covers the ground and keeps out the natural vegetation that helps to stabilize the bank. This practice leads to increased erosion and sedimentation that clouds creek water and destroys habitat for aquatic life. Improper disposal of yard waste increases the accumulation of debris which in turn can lead to blockages that inhibit proper drainage. Although it is common for some homeowners to dispose of yard waste along creek banks, it is not good practice.
Please let us know how we can assist you in this process. If you or some one you know is looking for stormwater runoff or erosion in St. Louis, garden maintenance, winter clean up or landscape maintenance please give the landscape contractors at West County Gardens a call at (314) 423-9244. Along with the other residential landscaping services, we also specialize in gardening services, yard maintenance, planting beds, landscaping bushes and shrubs, and estate maintenance. We will be happy to give you a quote and see how we can work you into our schedule.
New Equipment Purchased…
Recently we purchased a mini excavator from Pat Kelly Equipment Company.
We were approached by Dan Christian from Pat Kelly about this piece of equipment and after some serious consideration, we decided it would be a good move for WCG and be a useful addition to our fleet.
We couldn’t be happier! It’s a great asset on jobsites and here at our lot. Very handy to have around. We are constantly coming up with new ways to utilize it.
A special thanks to Dan Christian at Pat Kelly Equipment Company. We recommend them for your next purchase!
If you or someone you know is looking for a custom landscaping or a landscaping company in St. Louis, please call Charlie today at (314) 423-9244 to discuss options that can be used to create your dreams. We will also create a free landscape design to allow your vision to come to life.
Hail and Pavers…can be a bad combination!
Several months back the St. Louis metro area was victim of a bad hail storm. Many families found that their roofs, fascia, gutters, siding, and vehicles were damaged. Insurance claims were filed.
Well, it came to our attention by one of our customers that their recently installed paver patio suffered damage as well. It seems that the hail chipped away corners and edges of their paver patio. This is something that we have never seen before.
Therefore, we consulted with the manufacturer for some answers. In the end, it was considered that replacing the bad pavers was the best thing to do. The customer’s homeowner’s insurance covered the cost and the repairs were made.
If you should ever have this happen, please call us at (314) 423-9244 for a free estimate. We are experienced and would be happy to help.
If you or someone you know is looking for a custom patio or walkway in St. Louis using landscaping pavers, please call Charlie today at (314) 423-9244 to discuss paver options that can be used to create the outdoor space of your dreams. We will also create a free landscape design to allow your vision to come to life.
With the Holiday season almost upon us, we have been very busy cleaning up leaves and performing flower bed maintenance for our customers. Our intention is to always make their homes look picture perfect for their family and friends who are visiting and celebrating the season.
The cold weather rarely hinders our job. We work year around. However, during the winter months, we prefer to install hardscapes because our maintenance services are coming to an end and it keeps our crews employed.
If you or some one you know is looking for flower bed maintenance in St. Louis, garden maintenance, winter clean up or landscape maintenance please give the landscape contractors at West County Gardens a call at (314) 423-9244. Along with the other residential landscaping services, we also specialize in gardening services, yard maintenance, planting beds, landscaping bushes and shrubs, and estate maintenance. We will be happy to give you a quote and see how we can work you into our schedule.
Happy Holidays!!
There are a few benefits of permeable pavers. They help preserve our environment and water. They reduce the amount of storm water runoff entering our natural waterways carrying contaminants and pollutants. The voids between the permeable pavers promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil and help recharge the ground water. Applying permeable pavers results in less storm water runoff, which means our streams and riverbeds are less likely to flood as often. An added benefit of this is a reduction in the rate of erosion of riverbanks and steam beds.
Belgard’s collection of permeable pavers are:
Subterra Stone
Eco Dublin
Turfstone
Aqua Roc
Please call Charlie today at (314) 423-9244 to schedule a free estimate and see how Belgard pavers enhance your home and keep your carbon footprint low.
Do you wish that your existing outdoor lighting system would cover more area(s)?
Do you have a new landscape feature that you would like to accent?
Do you have to change bulbs frequently?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then we have a solution for you…
We are now offering an annual maintenance service that will do all of the above plus give you peace of mind that your system is operating at this maximum efficiency.
Professionally installed and maintained outdoor lighting systems increase the safety and beauty of your home or business, while also adding resale value. Low voltage lighting highlights the architectural elements of your home, and accentuates the features of your landscape. We can design a beautiful lighting display for your focal point; a fountain, a statue, the weeping branches of your Japanese Maple tree, focus a light onto the gentle splashes of your waterfall and get more bang for your buck from the features of your landscape by being able to view them even after dusk.
During your scheduled visit, if you have an existing system, we will change all the bulbs, clean the fixtures, adjust fixtures for proper brightness and effect, and check the transformer and timer for the most effective settings. We are also available to discuss expanding your system to cover more areas or accent a new landscape feature at any time. If you are looking for a landscape lighting and currently do not have a system, we will provide you with a free estimate for installing a lighting plan that suits your needs.
If you or someone you know is looking for professional landscape lighting for their St. Louis home, or looking for low voltage lighting to highlight their home or business, please call West County Gardens today to discuss your landscape lighting needs at (314) 423-9244.
Ever thought about having a custom driveway or walkway built for your St. Louis home? Create warm welcome and grand entrances. The secret to getting your home noticed? Curb appeal and more curb appeal. A driveway or walkway built with pavers makes an inviting first impression your visitors will long remember. But don’t be fooled by their beauty, pavers are as tough as you’ll find. When it comes to standing up to winter’s harsh chill or summer’s blazing heat, pavers will outperform ordinary concrete and asphalt…hands down.
Nothing makes an entrance like a walkway or driveway crafted with distinctive elegance of pavers. Whether through classic patterns recalling cobblestone streets or textures with the rugged look of ancient roman cut stone, creating the perfect first impression to your home is as easy as opening your door.
Here are a few paver options for your to consider:
Belgard
Unistone
Pavestone
Belle Stone
Romanstone
If you or someone you know is looking for a custom driveway or walkway in St. Louis, please call Charlie today at (314) 423-9244 to discuss paver options that can be used to create the room of your dreams. We will also create a free landscape design to allow your vision to come to life.
| Ladue | Frontenac | Central West End |
| Clayton | Town & Country | Kirkwood |
| University City | Olivette | Webster Groves |
| Chesterfield | Creve Coeur | Glendale |
