Hire It Done
You're Ignoring Your Yard's Best Planting Season | Sherwood Forest Garden Center
If your yard looks tired in August, your first instinct may be to wait until spring. I would not be so quick to do that. In this episode of Hire It Done, I sit down with Ashley Thomas of Sherwood Forest Garden Center, a family-owned Rochester-area garden center and landscaping business that has served homeowners for more than 50 years. We get into the late-summer and fall decisions that can make landscaping easier to manage and help you avoid problems that show up around the house later. Ashley breaks down the practical side of watering, plant placement, clay soil, deer pressure, mulch, hardscapes, landscape design, and project budgeting. We also talk about why fall can be a smart planting window in Michigan, why the prettiest tree is not always the right tree for your property, and why a good landscaping plan should account for sun, shade, drainage, mature plant size, maintenance, and budget before the work begins. Question: When is the best time to water plants in hot weather? Answer: Ashley recommends consistent watering for recently planted material and says morning or evening is preferable to the hottest part of the afternoon. The goal is to get water to the roots, not simply spray the leaves. Question: How do you choose the right tree for a yard? Answer: Start with the location, not just the appearance. Consider sun, shade, mature size, nearby concrete, the roofline, and how the tree may affect the property as it grows. Question: Can you plant successfully in clay soil? Answer: Yes, but drainage matters. Ashley explains that digging too deep in heavy clay can leave roots sitting in water, so planting depth and how water moves through the area need to be considered. Question: Is fall a good time to plant in Michigan? Answer: In the episode, Ashley explains that late summer and fall can be a useful planting window because homeowners have a shorter active watering period before frost and dormancy. Planting can continue while the ground remains workable. Question: How can homeowners tell if mulch is too thick? Answer: Ashley points to molding or white spores in the mulch as a sign that too much material may have built up. Before adding another layer, inspect what is already in the bed. Question: When should homeowners start planning next year's landscaping? Answer: Start before the spring rush. A landscape designer needs time to understand sun, shade, drainage, existing plants, site conditions, and the overall goals for the property. Question: When should budget come up in a landscape design project? Answer: Right away. A realistic budget helps the designer choose plant sizes, features, and project phases that fit the homeowner instead of creating a plan that has to be rebuilt later. If you are planning landscaping, drainage work, hardscaping, planting, or other home improvement projects, this conversation gives you a better list of questions to ask before spending money. Watch the full episode, connect with Ashley and Sherwood Forest Garden Center, and visit HireItDone.com when you need help finding trusted home improvement professionals. Connect With Sherwood Forest Garden Center Website: https://www.sherwoodforestgardencenter.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-thomas-2636bb62/ X: https://x.com/sherwoodForest4 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_thomas1217/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.l.thomas.77/ #HireItDone #LandscapingTips #MichiganHomes
