I know it’s overused at this point, but it’s a phrase that jangles around in my head every morning as I watch the weather forecast and plant my day.   As a gardener, weather rules my day to day life and this fall it has been a little difficult to get all of my fall tasks planned and then executed with all the rain.   But rain or no, it’s time to put our summer gardens to bed for the season, assess what we have (and what we’d like to add) and set ourselves up for happy healthy gardens next spring.  In my opinion, fall is arguable the most important gardening season we people in New England have.  Good preparation now can save us loads of time and effort in the spring.  Here’s a basic checklist of what I look for and do in fall gardens.  As I cut back all my soft perennials, I’m mindful of how the plant will regrow next year and I cut the stems to a length I know won’t interfere with next year’s growth or leave me with a mess at the base of the plants that come up.  It’s much more time consuming to...

The 2017 Maine Flower Show was a success for Terrapin. When Terrapin Landscapes was asked to build a display at The Maine Flower Show, there was no hesitation. It sounded like a lot of fun to do what you love and showcase it. The time and effort that went into this by our staff was immeasurable, but we were right… they truly enjoyed it! We are thankful for each of them and are proud of what they accomplished. As a result, Terrapin Landscapes took home 3 awards from the judges: Best Use of Native Plants, Best Theme and Best in Show! The display was titled ‘Somewhere in Maine’ and the description below says it perfectly because it truly felt like you could have been anywhere in our beautiful state of Maine…  “Maine is known for its jagged, rocky coastline, low rolling mountains, heavily forested interior, and picturesque granite and spruce covered islands. This garden design was meant to encourage the sustainable utilization of the unique characteristics of Maine. The use of native plants and natural occurring stone is intended to create a landscape that works in harmony with Maine’s natural richness to not only provide relaxation, but also encourage long...

The old expression still rings true, but it’s only half the story. A fence is not strictly a perimeter that surrounds a property or divides one back yard from another. This may be true in tight spaces where separation or buffering is not possible with planting making a fence the only option.  The full story is that in creative landscape design, fences play a more diverse role. They can create a dramatic backdrop for plantings or provide a structure for plants to climb on. Used in this way, the fence becomes a “Vertical Garden” which can be used in areas where a traditional garden is not possible. Fences are often used to keep children and pets safe, but they are a perfect example of a functional element that can become fashionable through good design. Here in Maine, we can have Mother Nature play a role in the usefulness of a fence. It can become barely visible in some seasons or a highlighted design element in others. Fencing can be constructed to compliment any design theme or home improvement trend. Pergolas, arbors, and trellises also provide artistic and functional elements to your yard or garden. These garden structures accent entrances,...

The 16-year old landscape design, installation and masonry company was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. Terrapin Landscapes of Kennebunkport, Maine has won “Best Of Customer Service,” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz. Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are...

March is here and this month is known for very unpredictable weather here in Maine.  One day, your lawn and gardens can be covered with several inches of unexpected snow and then, a couple of days later, temperatures can warm up enough for flower and leaf buds to start to come to life.  Still, there are several early Spring tasks that we can do to get a jump start on getting your property ready for summer.  Pruning: Remove burlap from trees and shrubs as the weather warms.  Prune away winter-killed branches to make room for new growth.  Any branches damaged by snow and ice can be pruned back to live wood.  Make sure your pruners are very sharp be careful to make clean cuts that do not tear the bark.  Summer flowering shrubs can be pruned to promote better blooms, but don’t prune too aggressively on spring flowing shrubs like Forsythia and Rhododendron or you will remove this year’s flower buds.  Remove old, woody canes from roses to promote new growth.  Look for an up coming blog post about pruning Hydrangeas, a topic I am asked about very often.   Transplanting: Early Spring is the time to transplant and divide perennials...

The 15-year old landscape design, installation and masonry company was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. Terrapin Landscapes of Kennebunkport, Maine has won “Best Of Customer Service,” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015. A “Best Of Houzz 2016” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz. Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are...

Although we have not had much for snow here in Kennebunkport, thanks El Nino, freezing conditions and ice control has still been an issue this winter for homeowners and contractors alike.  I am often asked by my clients, friends and family, “What is the best ice melter to use?”  The first thing that comes to my mind is, what type of surface will the product be applied to?  When you have a new stone driveway or walkway, the mere thought of having to lay harsh chemicals on it is difficult.  The con being visual and structural damage and the pro outweighing the con is of course, safety.   Things to consider when choosing what’s best for you are the type of stone, pets, traffic flow, surrounding plants, and environmental impact.  Remember, for whatever type of ice melt you choose, application is important.  Before laying any deicing agent, remove all the snow you can.  Spreading a thin, even layer is best.  Excessive application is what damages stone most when using any type of melting agent, even the most gentle.  Avoid spreading it near plants or grass.  In the Spring, melting agents are still there and if they get in your turf or...

Terrapin Landscapes is featured in the July issue of Lawn & Landscape Magazine.  A new logo, tweak to the company name and new website help re-position a lawncare company to a broader market in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Southern Maine.  Walkways, patios, stonework and landscape design and installation projects are now the company’s primary focus.  Click the link below to read the article.   Lawn and Landscape...