Northeastern Pennsylvania is an area rich in scenic, natural beauty, inspiring regional homeowners to create landscapes for their outdoor spaces to complement those surroundings. With the month of April, nationally recognized “Earth Month” is upon us, and what better time is there to reconsider the materials used in your home’s landscaping to insure purity and environmental friendliness. In particular, it is important to consider your choice of mulch – one of the most commonly used landscaping products.

“The benefits of mulch are numerous to a home’s landscape and soil quality,” explains Anthony Farda, owner of Farda Landscaping & Excavating. “Mulch maintains the quality of soil overall and holds in moisture for plantings. It prevents weed growth and protects plant roots systems by controlling the soil temperature. It also protects lawn areas and trees from adjacent traffic thru-ways.”

Mulch comes in many forms, but can most easily be defined in terms of both organic and non-organic options. Non-organic options, while inexpensive, pose great threat to a home’s landscape and have the added potential of causing a greater impact to our ecosystem overall. A common type of non-organic mulch is reused construction waste. Many reused construction materials contain chemical treatments which are then inherently part of the subsequently produced mulch. Even mulches made from trees or plants from land clearing may not be beneficial as they could have infestations from insects or have been previously treated with insecticides.

“With this type of mulch there is no guarantee that the materials contained within it are naturally occurring or organic in nature,” expresses Farda. “It’s important to realize that any chemical treatment used on a material ground up for mulch inherently becomes a part of your landscape once the mulch is used.”

There are other considerations to take into account when choosing mulch material. Dark mulching materials, such as black mulch, cause soil temperature to rise to levels threatening to the success of vibrant plant growth. In the case of black mulch, a Penn State University study reported that up to a five degree temperature increase occurred in soil covered in black mulch material. Also, rubberized and plastic mulching materials pose a threat not only to soil quality and plant growing conditions, but also to the larger ecosystem as they do not decompose.

The ever popular colored mulch products are also products which should be reconsidered due to their environmental impact. “We never offer colored mulch as an option; we use it only if the customer insists,” says Farda. “We counsel our clients on the benefits of using a natural product instead of a dyed product made from mulched waste materials.”

Farda continues, “Another downside of dyed mulch is that it can be aesthetically displeasing by visually standing out from the landscape instead of seamlessly blending in to the natural surroundings.”

With the myriad of environmental impacts posed by mulch materials, the importance of using natural or organic mulch materials becomes clearer. “At Farda Landscaping & Excavating, we use shredded hardwood bark mulch which we keep in stock by the tractor trailer load,” conveys Farda.

Hardwood bulk mulch falls under the product classification of natural wood mulch. Natural wood mulches are produced from multiple tree types and only from virgin wood.  Natural wood mulches are advantageous with benefits dependent upon the type of wood used in the mulch itself.

“The top benefits of shredded hardwood bulk mulch are weed control, moisture retention and visual appeal,” summarizes Farda. “The aged hardwood bark has a deep natural color, which perfectly mirrors and complements the natural landscape of our mountain region.”
 

Well-designed and well-maintained landscaping can add more than 14% to the value of a home. In fact, 95% of real estate appraisers surveyed agreed that landscaping ads to the dollar value of residential real estate -- and 99% believe that proper landscaping enhances the sales appeal of a home.
 

 

To get the best return on your investment, take advantage of the expertise of Farda Landscaping & Excavating. Farda will be able to help you plan ahead for landscaping that improves the value of your home for years to come.

In the last decade only one tree was planted for every four that died or were removed. This year, make a commitment to do your share: Plant a tree.

You can start in your own backyard. Of course, if space is a consideration, your choice of tree is critical. Ask Farda Landscaping & Excavating about the type of tree that is right for your landscape and surroundings.

Farda Landscaping & Excavating will be able to advise you on species that are virtually smog-resistant, evergreen for privacy, flowering trees, or even dwarf varieties that can be grown in containers or other confined places. Through Farda Landscaping, you'll also learn how to plant your tree and you will be able to arrange for ongoing landscaping assistance.

An unseasonably warm spring has resulted in early blooming across the Northeast Pennsylvania region and turned homeowners hearts and minds towards preparing their outdoor landscapes for this year’s gardens, blooming flowers, and family barbeques. A properly maintained and suitably ornamented landscape; however, requires planning, strategic budgeting, and thoughtful consideration to environmental considerations. Farda Landscaping and Excavating, a leading regional landscaping contractor for over 35 years, has offered their clients many strategies and insights into the 2012 landscaping season.

“We have had an extraordinarily mild winter, the mildest that I can recall in the Poconos since the early 1980’s,” express Anthony Farda, owner of Farda Landscaping & Excavating. “It’s easy to forget that it is only March. At Farda Landscaping, I would caution my clients to hold off planting annuals such as bedding plants like impatiens, begonias, petunias, and geraniums. We could very likely suffer a cold snap with frost and freezing temperatures. At Farda, our rule of thumb is waiting until after Mother’s Day to plant annuals and bedding plants.”

Resisting the urge to decorate with annuals does not preclude creating a flourishing spring garden. Hardy plant alternatives can be incorporated now to offer color and interest to the landscape. Additionally, the mild weather offers the opportunity to get the yard and garden ready for the growing season. This can be accomplished by edging beds, ridding them of winter debris, and adding a fresh coat of top quality shredded hardwood bark mulch.

Farda continues, “We are currently scheduling ‘spring clean-up’ jobs with our customers. This includes pruning and fertilization programs to help your lawn and garden put its best foot forward.”

With economic concerns still a reality, creating a landscaping wish list of what you are looking for, organized from necessities to desires, will serve as your guide when interviewing prospective contractors for your project. You will want to give each landscaper you interview the same wish list to consider and ask not only the cost of completing each work item you are considering, but the timeline for completion for each of those items.

“Many times our client wish lists exceed their budget for the whole project,” explains Farda. “In those instances, our approach is to work with clients to map out long range goals and arrange the work in practical stages – both from a budget and aesthetic perspective.”
 

Looking at trends for the 2012 growing season, homeowners are returning to a lifestyle that focuses on old-fashioned comforts and entertaining, touched with a modern day environmentally conscious sensibility.

“We are seeing a yearning for simpler times and home-keeping that marries simplicity with modern conveniences – all as a means of escape from our hectic daily lifestyles,” conveys Farda.

Farda continues, “Landscaping that is environmentally wise, offers designated composting areas, drought resistant plantings, and suitable gardening locations for growing your own food are all trends we are noticing. Of course, outdoor dining and cooking spaces remain an ever-popular request, as well as attractive and energy efficient outdoor lighting options to extend the hours in which to enjoy outdoor spaces.”

With more warm temperatures on the horizon, it is certain that regardless of which path to landscape beauty a homeowner chooses, it will be a beautiful growing season in the Poconos this year.

“We are so excited for this growing season,” concludes Farda. “We are looking forward to working with our clients to provide professional and creative advice for turning their homes into a serene oasis that can be enjoyed now, this summer, and always.”