Hayden McLaughlin, Owner of Belknap Landscape Company in Gilford
Q: How often will you come to perform maintenance?
A: Maintaining your landscape depends greatly on the plants, features and desired outcomes for your property. We don’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach as that seldom produces the best results. Instead, our dedicated account managers get to know each property and formulate a customized approach. While some tasks, such as mowing, may occur weekly, other tasks, including dethatching, deep-root fertilization and hardscape cleaning/sealing, may occur annually. We also consider how and when you use your property. In our area, many homes are weekend or seasonal retreats, so we cater our schedule to assure our clients get the most out of their time on the property.
Finally, we proactively check properties. Many landscapers will review your property while there to maintain it, but that should not be the only touchpoint. Our team seeks to understand what is happening on the property consistently by doing quality assurance and viability checks. These checks may result in a change of maintenance schedule or tasks we perform. Your property is ever-changing, and the best maintenance program is responsive.
Q: How do you keep a flower garden blooming constantly?
A: Having a flower garden adds color and beauty to an outdoor space. Many property owners prefer for these features to have blooms consistently throughout several seasons. This can require some effort and knowledge to achieve, but it essentially depends on two factors: planning and maintenance.
First, plant flowers that bloom at different times. Utilizing a bloom calendar, which is commonly available online or at a local plant nursery, will give you an idea of when plants are expected to bloom. This helps create a plan for installing plants with complementary blooming periods to allow consistent blooming across a longer time.
Second, give your plants the things they need to bloom. Planting in the right lighting and soil will affect a plant's ability to produce flowers. Maintenance, including weeding, fertilization and deadheading, also plays a role. Property maintenance will create conditions that encourage blooming occurrences as well blooming duration.
