Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

During the unforgiving Houston summer, most gardeners prefer the shade to tending plants when the sun is at its highest point.

Is this a case of what’s good for the gardener good for the garden? A shaded garden is a harbor of protection for many plants. By planning wisely and selecting the right plants, everyone can enjoy a shade beyond green.

The gradients of shade are not easy as black and white but can be grouped into three types:

• Deep shade – Located under dense, low-hanging branches or on the north side of a high wall or house.

• Medium shade – Situated under higher and less dense branches where there is light but not direct sun.

• Open shade – Found under a thin, high canopy of trees, beneath a trellis or shady cover. Shade tolerant plants and those that favor partial sunlight can flourish in the open shade.

First of all, soil preparation is paramount with plants in the shade since tree roots will be competing for moisture and nutrition. Organic matter will keep things moist, add nutrients and improve soil texture. Clay soils may benefit from the added sand.

Shady locations are often dry, so consider how your shady garden will be watered. Though not cheap, an underground irrigation system is a consideration. A soaker hose makes an even more economical alternative.

A local guide from a county extension agent can identify potential plants. The plants need to be shade plants that will also flourish in this climate zone. Plants vary in different shade.

Creating a shade garden takes time and planning. Let Embark Tree and Landscape Services do the work so you can enjoy your garden. Call them at 713-462-3261 or go to www.embarkservices.com

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Do you remember Hurricane Ike? The best approach to hurricane season is to make plans before and after a hurricane with a certified arborist.

Properly maintaining your trees will help eliminate hazards and reduce their threat to your family and property.

Pruning not only eliminates hazardous deadwood and decayed limbs, but also provides more even weight distribution in the canopy. Your risk can further be reduced by removing dead or diseased trees.

An arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture can make a professional assessment of your trees and recommend steps to prepare your property for a hurricane.

A professional arborist can also help you identify trees which are dead, dying, or in irreparable decay. In these extreme cases, the hazard may necessitate the trees’ removal .

After a hurricane, homeowners need to be aware of their choices before removing or treating trees. A certified arborist will tell you that some trees can be saved while others will be better off as firewood, though it may look devastating.

Preventing injuries and property damage are easy determining factors before removing a tree. Some reasons to chop down a leaning tree include the likelihood that it will fall on a person or building.
If the lower trunk of a tree is cracked or broken, the remaining trunk will most likely fall. Removal makes more sense since the crack will not close and the tree remains a safety risk.

Removal is the best course when the major roots are severed or broken. Medium-aged and mature trees with damaged roots should not be because they are unstable and unsafe. Large roots are required for large trees for structural support.

When making plans for hurricane season, a call to Embark Tree and Landscape Services should be first. Contact us at 713-462-3261 or go to www.embarkservices.com

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Long held as a symbol of strength and endurance, the oak seems a worthy object to compare to our fathers.

In advance of Father’s Day, the two share qualities admired by many.

Nations have chosen oaks to symbolize their countries for their longevity. Oak branches adorn the coat of arms for Estonia while the oak is the national tree for the United States, Bulgaria, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Serbia.

Oak leaves are important symbols in the armed forces, as any officer will tell you. A major or lieutenant commander earns a gold oak leaf while a lieutenant colonel or commander gets a silver oak leaf. Also, oak leaves, acorns and sprigs comprise different arrangements for each branch of the service.

The oak is an important tree, providing housing, food, and protection for birds and animals. Many different species of oak trees can be found all over.

Just like the oak, fathers also provide housing, food and protection, not for birds and animals but for their children and spouses.

For many men, the strength and longevity of the oak is something to which they aspire. Just as oaks need to be strong and majestic, fathers -- along with wives – need to withstand the storms of life and thrive and grow for the sake of the family.

Like acorns under an oaks canopy, a father must watch as its vulnerable offspring learn to put down roots and thrive on their own.

In his epic work Self Reliance, writer Ralph Waldo Emerson artfully captured the comparison between a father and an oak and subsequently, a parent and a child.

“Is the acorn better than the oak which is its fullness and completion?,” Emerson wrote. “Is the parent better than the child into whom he has cast his ripened being?”

For those who understand the strength and longevity of a father, an oak stands as a symbol familiar and fully alive, no matter what the age of the child.

Honor your father with a floral arrangement from Embark Floral that can be shipped anywhere in the world. Call us at 713-468-2440 or go to www.embarkfloral.com

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Just like shaping up for summer time, now is the time of the season to increase your house’s curb appeal.

Small improvements to your lawn, flower beds and along your walkway can be inviting to potential buyers. Quick and easy ideas can make the difference when trying to make the right impression.

Curb appeal makes buyers driving or walking by eager to stop and investigate the interior.

The lawn should be a carpet welcoming people to your house and should look its best with fresh mowing and neatly edged. To make sure that it’s green and full, be sure to water and apply fertilizer.

Flower beds with a new layer of bark mulch will invigorate the look of a yard. A side benefit will be keeping weeds from growing.

Whatever plants already there should be trimmed, pruned and ready for their close-up. Anything dead or dying needs to be removed.

Planting summer annuals will make the front walkway into a colorful path for your home’s potential buyers. An explosion of color in a planter near the front step will announce their arrival.

Using native plants give them a better chance of surviving the summer heat than a non-native plant. A professional can let you know which ones will endure the sun’s unrelenting rays the best.
Make sure that the side yards and backyards are ship-shape as well. Buyers have been known to investigate without an invitation.

A summer spruce-up for curb appeal can make your house is worth moving into and not have buyers moving on. Let the professionals at Embark Tree and Landscape frame your house with a healthy lawn and garden by calling them at 713-462-3261 or going to the Web site to make an appointment.

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Taking care of man’s best friend means controlling fleas during the summer when these pests thrive.

If your house is flea infested, a pest control operator may be the best choice since service staff can access specialized products that the public can’t.

After becoming well-established, fleas are tough to control. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of control when it comes to these pesky bugs.

The first step is taking care of the pet. Treat your cats and or dogs with an insect growth regulator and or an oral medication that prevents hatching of flea eggs. The local vet or pet store can provide the best advice.

Addressing the situation indoors and outdoors next will maximize success.

For the outdoors, think like a pet to get good results and understand where they like to hang out, rest and sleep the most. They’re living the good life, so treat soil in shaded areas where pets spend a lot of time. Patios, porches, sidewalks and garage floors may need to be treated as well.

The pet bedding in their dog house should be washed or replaced and then treated.

For indoors, be sure to clean thoroughly so fleas will have no place to go. Mop, vacuum and dust, including floors, cushions, under curtains and furniture. Be sure to toss the vacuum bag contents after use.

Again, the pet bedding probably at the foot of your bed or elsewhere should be washed or replaced and then treated.

Curtains and furniture cushions are nice dark cool places for fleas to escape the Texas summer. The service pro will treat those with an aerosol or fogger.

Flea control, at best, is a difficult task that may take several applications of a pesticide and weeks to control.

Trust the professionals at Embark Pest Control to rid you of your flea problem. Call 713-462-3261 for a free, no obligation quote or fill out the online form to have a specialist contact you.