Dealing With Cicadas: Do’s and Don’ts

People all over the Cincinnati area are wondering again about dealing with cicadas. For many people, cicadas are a new phenomenon. But even those who lived through the last invasion 17 years ago may need a refresher on these winged visitors. Read on for a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to cicadas and your landscaping.

Don’t Panic

With their red, beady eyes and impressive (for an insect) size, cicadas do look a bit scary. Rest assured, they don’t harm people or pets. So, don’t panic if they land near you or even fly into you.

Do Protect Young, Woody Plants

Cicadas burrow up out of the ground as nymphs, shed their husks, then fly up into the trees, where they chorus loudly and mate for several weeks. The females make slits into twigs or trunks of small trees to lay their eggs. Established trees may suffer damage at branch tips. (You may even see this damage to leaves, which is called “flagging.”) Young trees or shrubs could sustain heavier damage, so it’s best to cover them with mesh or cheesecloth for the six weeks or so this spring when cicadas are here.

Don’t Use Pesticide

As mentioned, cicadas aren’t dangerous. They don’t carry disease or pose a threat to most plants and trees, so there’s no need to plan an assault; chemical or otherwise. Just leave them be and they will leave us in just a few weeks.

Do Thank a Cicada Today

Cicadas do offer a few benefits: One of them is that they aerate the soil for us. You may come across the holes they leave behind in your garden beds or around the base of trees. Anything that eats insects (yes, that includes some humans) looks forward to the brood emerging as a swarm of tasty snacks. The cicadas also serve to help “prune” established trees and they return beneficial nitrogen to the soil as they die. You can compost the dead cicadas if you like.

Don’t Hesitate to Call Us 

With our decades of experience, we’ve helped clients through other cicada visitations over the years. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about this natural phenomenon and how to prepare your landscaping for the onslaught.

Outdoor Living Trends for 2021

Spring is finally here and summer is just around the corner. A little rain can’t keep us out of the yard! Looking forward to spending some time outside soaking up vitamin D? Read about the hottest trends in outdoor living.

Outdoor Kitchens

Cooking and eating outside is a great way to spend a little more time outside each day. You might also be able to invite more people over once restrictions on gathering are lifted. Save money by cooking and entertaining at home.

You can decide how complete you want the space to be. A variety of appliances are perfect for outdoors like a grill, cooler, refrigerator, pizza oven, table or bar. 

If you have limited outdoor space, you can use a bar cart to easily move things outside. You can also have a fold-up table.

Privacy

Most of us have spent more time at home in the past year than any year before. Consequently, we have learned to make use of every square inch of space on our property. People are bringing the indoors outside, and with that comes the need for privacy. No one wants a nosy neighbor watching you do your morning yoga or the hot sun beating down on you for hours on end. More and more people are turning to solutions to increase the privacy of their backyard oasis, including covered patios and plant barriers. 

Covered patios and pergolas are “hot” trends that can keep you cool. Bioclimatic pergola systems are a unique feature to add to your outdoor living space. The Axis Smart Glass Bioclimatic System by Suntech-Albayrak Group won the 2021 IBSx Award for Best Outdoor Product.

Tall plants, like hedges, placed around the edges of a yard create a natural fence. They can also block off just a portion of the yard with a patio or pocket garden. For those with smaller spaces to work with, sheltered side yards work just as well. Other options include living walls, curtain screens and trellises. 

Outdoor Offices

Hybrid and remote work have taken precedent for businesses today. Having an office space outside prevents feelings of being cooped up inside a stuffy house, especially during the beautiful, albeit hot, summer months. The best place to create these spaces is at the back of the house with direct access to the patio and yard. Cubicles are about 6 feet by 6 feet, so if you can afford that much space you can create an outdoor office.

Important pieces to have are a seating area and table. Make sure they are built to withstand outdoor weather conditions. Relevant decorations include lighted cubes, portable rechargeable lanterns and outdoor speakers. Just be sure to not leave any important papers or electronics outside if the area isn’t covered! An awning or covered patio can keep your space out of the elements. Adding amenities like water features or fans reduce outside noise, and adding plants makes the area more calming. 

Garden office “pods” or sheds are another option, although more labor intensive. An 8-by-10-foot space is suitable for an outbuilding. The best part? No traffic on your commute! It’s just one reason these work sheds or pods are one of the top outdoor living trends for 2021.

Backyard Cottages

You might have heard of a “she shed,” but how about taking it to another level with a whole cottage outside? They are also called accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or “granny flats.” Make sure to check with your local building codes before designing. 

You can use the space to house older relatives or adult children needing a home, or simply create an outdoor retreat to escape the mess of the main house. Other uses include study spaces, spare living suites, home offices, gyms or meditation studios. The primary use of the space will determine the decor you need. 

Complementing the building with greenery will help it flow visually in the backyard. With a new build, you can fully customize the style of your cottage or you can purchase a prefabricated unit. One of the walls can be all windows to allow for a view of the garden. Having AC or fans will keep you comfortable inside. 

Your Favorite Outdoor Living Trends 2021

What would your dream outdoor living space look like? Seiler’s Landscaping specializes in creating award-winning landscapes for everyday moments. Contact us today to bring the inside out.

Designing a Pocket Garden for Reading

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”

—Chinese proverb

Pocket gardens take up little space but can make a big impact in your yard. If you have a small area to work with or simply want to create a cozy nook for escaping with a good book, consider incorporating a pocket garden for reading into your landscaping. These quaint spaces will give you stories to explore every time you step foot outside.

What Is a Pocket Garden?

Pocket gardens are perfect for small spaces. They feature patches of plants in tight areas. They might be a necessity if you feel like you live on a postage stamp and need to break up the space. Or, if you have a larger yard, you can opt for smaller spaces to create a cozy atmosphere and a variety of themes throughout your yard.

Also called literary or Shakespeare gardens, the nooks they create are perfect spots for reading.

Make a Plan

The first step in creating a pocket garden is to create a plan. A crucial piece of information for the plan is who will be using it. Will it just be for you to sneak away from the world? Or does your whole family need to fit in the nook? The garden can be adapted either way. The more people to fit, the bigger the space needs to be.

Deciding where in your yard to locate the garden is another crucial factor in planning. You might keep it away from your patio or other outdoor living space so that those areas don’t feel crowded. If you’d like to maintain open space for kids to play, your pocket garden for reading probably shouldn’t be right in the middle of the yard. 

Consider sun exposure in various areas because that determines what type of plants will work best. For example, most succulents need a decent amount of sunlight, but ferns can handle shady spots. Choose areas that could use some sprucing up with more color or texture. Areas of the yard that you already find relaxing are good places to start. Consider other existing features like steps or pathways, too. Putting plants in between rocky steps is a unique touch, and pocket gardens that appear at the end of a meandering path are a whimsical addition to any yard. 

Create a Theme

A common practice with pocket gardens is establishing a theme. If you have more than one pocket garden, you can incorporate multiple themes into your yard. A few possible themes include edible gardens, butterfly gardens, moon gardens, tropical gardens and native gardens. The plants and decor you choose will help make the space fit the theme. You can also design the space based on your favorite book or author. Does the main character spend her afternoons pondering life while pruning roses? Does the chef at the protagonist’s local diner use home-grown garnishings?

For help with planning a pocket garden, consider partnering with a landscape designer for guidance. 

All the Fixings

The plants you and your designer choose to incorporate should require little maintenance and not pose a threat of invading. They should act as foils for one another, contrasting in color and height so each selection stands out. Succulents are a great choice for your garden because they can grow in tight spaces; they also don’t require much watering. The design should take plants’ blooming seasons into account so the garden has life all year long. One rule of thumb for design is to aim for 80 percent flowers and 20 percent grasses. 

Since you will use this garden for reading, you will want it to be a quiet space. Consider adding a barrier around your garden with hedges, trellises or tall planters. Soft surfaces will absorb sound, so plant lots of flowers with textured surfaces. If the sound of trickling water is calming to you, consider adding a water feature. This will add peace to the space and distract you from the distant noise of traffic or neighbors. 

Don’t forget to incorporate lighting so that you can read any time of the day. Outdoor string lights are a fun feature if you have a wall, fence or tree to hang them from. Landscape lights can be incorporated along the ground to illuminate plants and the space you are relaxing in. You can also have a small table and reading lamp, if the size allows.

Having comfortable seating is crucial for a space meant to bring relaxation. Rustic options such as twig furniture or a retro glider are popular. Or you can add a simple outdoor chair or bench. Leopold benches have a minimalist design that won’t detract from the colorful blooms around you. Swings are a fun option, as well. Don’t forget the cushions to keep you comfortable. 

Your Landscape’s Next Chapter

Pocket gardens are a great feature if you want to take your love for reading outside. For help bringing the Bard to your yard, please contact us online or call (513) 791-2820.

Designing a Grill Island: For You or Your Grill Master

You have dreamed of it. You have planned it. You deserve it. Yes, we are talking about your very own, custom-designed outdoor grill island. And why not splurge a bit on this backyard amenity? There’s something special about food hot off the grill.  

When dreaming up your grill island, be sure to consider location, location, location. That seems like it is just one thing but it is everything where a backyard grill island is concerned. Even with our sometimes harsh Cincinnati climate, you can grill outside year ‘round. Consider the path of sunlight in your yard and plan accordingly. Would you like some kind of roof over the grill island to protect you from the sun or snow accumulation? How close to your house do you want your island to be? Where will you eat outside? These factors will all help determine where to place your grill island. 

Island Elements

Obviously the star of the grill island is the grill. Do you research online and at local grill dealers to ensure you are getting the grill that is right for you. The size of the grill will also help determine how large your island should be. 

Photo courtesy of Unilock

Storage is another factor to consider when designing a grill island, which can be outfitted with cabinets and drawers. How much storage space should you include? Consider the items you tend to need while grilling. Just think about all the times you’ve been outside cooking and had to yell, “Honey, can you bring me the…”  

• Wire brush

• Spatula or turner 

• Tongs

• Flat pan with a lip for veggies

• Kebab skewers

• Tin foil

• Meat thermometer 

These items will need to be kept handy, but out of sight to keep your grill island from looking cluttered.  

Beyond the grill, you might opt for other appliances in your grill island. Consider adding a small refrigerator for drinks, condiments and anything else you’d like to keep chilled while you make dinner. A sink is handy for washing hands and rinsing dishes. The combination of a grill and a kegerator could be a dream come true. We can help you source these outdoor appliances.

Speaking of drinks, an outdoor bar can be a natural extension of the grill island. If you don’t plan for it, you will wish you had. And you know friends will want to gather around the bar, so think about adding seating to the area as well. 

As you design your grill island, think about the type of countertop you’d prefer. Remember you want the surface to be easy to clean, durable and good looking. Stone or concrete countertops can fit the bill. 

Grill Islands Inside and Out 

When we add grill islands to our clients’ outdoor living spaces, we start with a metal frame and, typically, a gas line. The frame provides sturdy structure and houses the grill, cabinets and other appliances. The frame can be faced with brick, pavers or engineered stone to give the island a look that complements your home’s hardscaping. Once the structure is complete and the appliances installed, you’re ready to fire up the grill.

Would you like to plan a (grill) island getaway? Talk to our expert designers and planners who can help you create an oasis of good food and great company in your backyard. Contact us today.

Making Phased Landscape Design Work for You

Renovating your landscaping or creating all new landscaping around a just-built home can feel overwhelming. If you’d like to take the project in smaller chunks, consider a phased landscape design. This type of approach can also help you with budgeting time and money.

First things first: It’s best to start with a master plan for the whole yard. This plan, created by a landscape designer, envisions the big picture for all aspects of your landscaping. Starting with a goal in mind allows you to choose which phases to tackle first. It should also help you avoid situations like having to dig up already planted beds to run plumbing and electric for an outdoor kitchen. 

Where to Start

To create a comprehensive landscape plan, Seiler’s clients work with our designers to map out a complete vision of their dream landscaping. From there, we work with our crews to put the plan in motion. 

So where should you start? A good rule of thumb would be to begin with what best increases the “value” of your home. We are not necessarily talking about value in monetary terms. For instance, if you and your family want to spend more time in your backyard on a new patio, then invest the time and effort on that portion first. The outdoor living space will increase your enjoyment of your yard, which is definitely valuable. 

Here are some parts of a master landscape plan that can be done in phases: 

• Hardscaping: These structural parts of your property plan include things like patios, walls, walkways or fencing.

• Plantlife: Trees, shrubs and perennials can be added all at once or in phases depending on where in the yard the plan locates them. 

• Structures: Pergolas, outdoor fireplaces, decks, grill islands… any of these planned amenities can be added right away or a few years down the line. 

• Lighting: Beautiful well-placed lights can up the wow factor in your landscaping fast. Installing lighting during the hardscaping phase makes sense if you have room in your budget. 

Behind the Plan

Still not convinced that a master plan is worthwhile? Keep in mind that our designers bring expertise to your plan. We understand how different types of soil affect plants. Our plans take into account the balance of sunlight and shade in your yard. And we offer proven experience with the types of plants that grow and thrive in our climate

A phased Landscape design allows you to: 

• Make a plan in terms of budgeting. 

• Do the doable. 

• Stay within your budget, which can lower stress for you and your family.

• Make sure you like the direction your yard is heading and course correct if you would prefer changes.

Phased Landscape Design Questions? 

How can we help? We are experts in putting together comprehensive landscaping plans. Contact us and we will schedule an appointment to hear about your dream yard and start to make it a reality. 

Flowering Trees

Who doesn’t love flowers? The blooms on these trees bring color and life to landscaping.

From sweet to showy, choose a flowering tree to amp up your home’s curb appeal.

Cloud Nine Dogwood

The overlapping white petals of dogwood blooms do float like clouds. The early spring flowers give way to dark green leaves that turn red-purple in the fall. This species prefers partial shade but can stand up to full sun. This tree just explodes every spring with layers of gorgeous blossoms.

Why Choose This Tree?

• Glossy red berries that birds love

• Cold hardiness

• 15- to 30-foot height

• Billows of petal-like blooms that measure 4 inches across

• Horizontal branches that make good nesting sites

Forest Pansy Redbud

This tree follows its flower performance with a second act: brilliant scarlet purple spring leaves that mature to a deep maroon color. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. This is one of our top pick’s because it takes everything you love about redbuds and mixes it with gorgeous colored foliage.

Why We Love This Tree:

• Pink flowers on bare branches in early spring

• 20-foot height

• An upright, rounded shape

• Unique, heart-shaped maroon leaves that may turn slightly orange in fall

Coralburst Crabapple

There’s nothing sour about this crabapple tree. Slowgrowing and compact, this cultivar maintains a lovely shape year after year. Look for coral pink buds in the spring, followed by bronze-red ornamental fruit. Semi-double rose-pink blossoms arrive in early spring: the perfect antidote to gray winter days.

Choose This Flowering Tree For:

• Deep green foliage

• Mounds of fluffy flowers

• Resistance to fireblight, cedarapple rust and mildew

• Tolerance of poor soil

• A burst of spring color

Add Beauty to Your Landscaping

If you’re ready to bring flower power to your yard, contact us. We’d love to discuss the options with you in a free, no-obligations consultation.

Ornamental Trees Bring on the Bling

Like a great piece of jewelry, ornamental trees add a bit of bling to your landscaping.

They might be small, but they are mighty in terms of visual impact. Putting an ornamental tree in just the right spot pulls a whole landscape together. In our last blog post we talked about our favorite shade trees; here are our picks for top ornamental trees:

Cutleaf Japanese Maple

Tuck this specimen in a corner of your home, in a courtyard, or by your deck or patio. If you are partial to an Asian garden look, this tree is a must-have. Be sure it has protection from strong wind and bright afternoon sunlight. This lovely tree is no diva: it shines, but won’t take over your landscape.

Choose this tree for:

• Lacy, elongated leaves that create a delicate look

• Fall color that ranges from orange to red

• Its weeping cultivars, which have graceful arching branches

• Mounding growth, which retains low height

Weeping Redbud

The lavender flowers of redbud trees are always a welcome sight after a long Cincinnati winter. This new genus of redbud has unique weeping and twisting branches that cascade down to the ground. Unlike its wild cousins, this redbud cultivar remains compact between 4 and 6 feet tall. Sure this tree offers gorgeous flowers and pretty colors, but it’s also tough and hardy.

You’ll love this tree for its:

• Pinkish purple flowers that bloom in early spring

• Dark green heart-shaped leaves throughout the summer

• Yellow fall foliage

• Petite size

• Low-maintenance character

Lilac on Standard

Dense and deciduous, the Lilac on Standard is a sweet lollipop-like tree. Perfect for a formal garden, or as a pop of color near your patio or in a front yard bed. The tree blooms later than common lilacs to keep the color going in your landscape. You get all the beauty and fragrance of lilacs in a neat tree form.

What makes it a favorite:

• Sweetly scented, bright purple flowers

• Nickel-size leaves that resist mildew

• Neat outline and polished shape

• Dwarf height of 7 feet tall

• Sun-loving nature and adaptability to all soils

Ornamental Trees and More

These are just a few of the tree species we recommend for Cincinnati landscapes. If you would like to add year-round beauty to your yard, contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

Shade Trees for Your Cincinnati Landscape

Shade trees are some of our favorite trees to plant around Cincinnati homes. These workhorse trees offer benefits all year long. In the summer, a carefully placed shade tree can cool your deck, patio or house and give your air conditioner a break.

Colorful foliage is a visual treat every fall. And when the leaves drop, you can thank these trees for allowing winter sunshine to filter in and warm your home. Here are a few of our favorite shade trees:

Red Sunset Maple

A moderately fast-growing tree, this red maple cultivar shades a yard with green glossy leaves that turn first orange-red then brilliantly red in the fall. A moist site makes this tree happy. It adapts to a range of climates and tolerates full sun to partial shade. This is one of our top picks because you can’t beat the gorgeous foliage of the Red Sunset. It’s a showstopper.

Choose Red Sunset Maple for:

• Superior fall color

• Good branch structure

• Reddish winter buds and winged summer fruits

• Small red and yellow flowers in the spring

• Impact: A full-grown tree will reach 45 to 50 feet in height with a 35- to 40-foot spread

• Its ability to stand up to the cold

Japanese Lilac Tree

If you’re looking for a shade tree that stands out, this one is for you. Also known as a Chinese tree lilac, this species grows to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It’s a trouble-free, low-maintenance lilac that prefers full sun. Don’t let the gorgeous flowers and beautiful shape fool you: This tree is tough and hardy.

What we love about this shade tree:

• Showy, fragrant white flowers in panicles (long flower clusters) reaching 12 inches long

• Rounded oval crown

• Blooms after other lilac blooms have passed

• Reddish-brown peeling bark on younger branches

• Dark green leaves

• Hummingbirds and butterflies love Japanese lilac trees

Lacebark Elm

Make space in your yard for this tree—it will reward you with shiny dark green leaves all summer long. Lacebark elm is a tough tree with a graceful rounded shape. It’s medium- to fast-growing and easily reaches 40 to 50 feet in height with a 40-foot spread. With Cincinnati’s hot summers, we like a tree that can tolerate drought.

You’ll love this tree’s:

• Multicolored bark that flakes to show gray, cream, orange, brown or green patches

• Leaves that turn in shades of yellow to reddish purple in the fall

• Good resistance to Dutch elm disease

• Small dark green leaves

• Adaptability to a variety of soil conditions

• Durability

Shade Trees and More

If you would like to add more shade to your front or back yard, contact us for a no-obligation consultation. Our landscape designers are thrilled to share their tree expertise.