By Andy, on February 29th, 2012
I just had lunch with one of my favorite wholesale reps in the metro and we talked about what to look for this year. Here is a list for you to keep your eye out for:
1) Firelight Spirea
2) Great Star Hydrangea
3) Dakota Pinnacle Birch
4) Sugartina Summersweet
5) Ruby Tears Crabapple
My favorite’s for last year include:
1) Iroquois Beauty Chokeberry
2) Quickfire Hydrangea
3) Crimson Pointe Plum
4) Korean Sun Pear
5) Totally Tangerine Rock Rose
6) Summer Beauty Ornamental Onion
7) Evergold Sedge
 Potentilla Mango Tango
9) Peony ItohYumi
10) Slim Jim Dwarf Scotch Pine
11) Orange Rocket Barberry
I’d really like to try this year:
1) Douglas Emerald Twister
2) Weeping Serpentine Larch
3) Fuzzball Russian Cypress – to see if it withstands winterburn
4) Standing Ovation Serviceberry
5) Purple Robe Robina
6) Color Flash Astilbe
7) Bunny Blue Sedge
Back to the Basics – coming back around:
1) Bridalswreath Spirea
2) Sunburst Honeylocust
3) Juniper Specimens
4) Alpine Currant
5) Burning Bush
6) Lilac
7) Hosta – hundred of gems over the last couple years!
Andy Freeland
By Andy, on February 27th, 2012
 As I left church yesterday I couldn’t help noticing this group of crispy globe arborvitae. Sure, I could see this happening to a group of newly planted specimens, or perhaps one elder individual perishing out the group . To have an entire group of healthy and established globe arborvitae die like this is very worrisome. It is no secret that we are in a severe drought — so this is expected. I am just a bit shocked about the reality and have to accept the fact that Beds & Borders will be replacing a lot of this type of thing in the spring. Luckily I saw this in the church parking lot……it was a good place to pray!!
Andy
By Andy, on February 25th, 2012
Overwintering Robins, golfing in February, An ice-less Mille Lacs: These mid-winter anomalies are resonating with weird trends I am seeing in the landscape industry this winter. This is my 10th year as president and owner of Beds & Borders Landscape Design and I can’t recall every booking so far into the next season. Typically I am doing a couple of mid-winter designs that are carry-overs from the fall, but with all the warm days and snow-less yards my phone has been ringing off the hook since Jan 1. I’d like to chalk it up as reputation, but the reality of this comes from within the souls of the vitamin d3 deprived Minnesota population wanting to get back to a green yard as soon as possible. My business partner Mike and I have decided that we are going to go back to a pre-economic slow-down work force to keep up with the springtime rush. These extra hands along with new additions to our fleet should keep thing moving along nicely. These additions are exciting and I look forward to pulling together some very nice landscape designs this year as we hope to start earlier than normal. Coming soon to a blog near you: New product and plants this year.
By Andy, on February 14th, 2012
I was on Paul Douglas’ weather blog last night and saw that he pointed out the new zone maps for the US. It indicates that a part of the  metro area is officially zone 5. This means that this area will not see a temp below -20. Do you believe it? I don’t. Even though this winter has been unique we are in Minnesota and it is bound to get brutally cold again. Plant those Japanese Maples with caution. A warm nook is still the way I would plan!
Andy
By Andy, on December 12th, 2011
Not only are we going to get some much needed rain mid-week, but we will have a rare opportunity to get out and pour a couple of pails of water on the roots of our favorite evergreen trees. Even with the forecast calling for 1/2 inch of rain the ground is very dry and any additional moisture will be ultra-beneficial as we face a dryer than usual winter this year.
Enjoy the warm weather.
Andy Freeland
By Andy, on December 7th, 2011
Last year, once the snow had melted, was one of the worst years I have seen for animal damage to plant stalks,trunks and bark. I was thinking that as the snow piled up that the depth was perfect for the plants as it was going to act as a blanket from the cold as well as a shield from rabbits and other teeth-wielding critters. I was wrong. As the warm air moved this way in late April and the sun’s warm rays melted the snow my jaw dropped. My 85′ long hedge, which I thought was safe, had been totally massacred. After investiaging a little I realized that under the 3′ snow all the critters around my yard were so hungry for food that they created tunnels from plant to plant and totally devoured the soft bark of many of my favorite plants and trees.
This fall my approach was different (and this can still be done). I used chicken wire, rodent spray, and burlap to make sure that, high or low snow, the hungry will not be able to get their nappy little teeth into my plants. I wrapped burlap around shrubs, chicken wire around some of my favorite trees, and sprayed down everything with a deer/rabbit repellent in hope that if we do get heavy snow again they will not be able to penetrate my mini-fortresses I have built.
My wife Sara tends to think I went to the full extent (perhaps more) of what needed to be done. I will let you know come spring.
Andy Freeland
By Andy, on November 6th, 2011
 Boxwood need protection! As a landscaper that works late into the season it is easy to see that many homeowners stop watering their plants once the leaves have fallen. Most years is it okay to hang the hose up early especially if your plants are mature. On the other hand, take this mini-drought we are having, cross that with dry soil and an impending brutal winter and presto a recipe for many crispy looking plants in the spring - especially newly planted landscapes. My advise to anybody right now: 1) use Wilfpruf on Rhododendrons, evergreens and Boxwood 2) wrap smaller evergreens and the trunks of new trees with burlap 3) give your trees and garden plants a long drink now and again right before the first big snow 4) protect plants from road salt and dog urine as they both will dry out plants 5) shovel snow on new plants in a not-so-heavy-snow winter – it acts as a blanket 5) add leaves around plants if you are lazy and don’t want to bag leaves 6) pour a pail of warm water on the root area near your favorite newly planted evergreen once the winter is fading – this will help alleviate any windburn that might occur in March or April.
These tips will help you and your plants get through this stretch of dry weather as well as a long winter ahead!
Andy Freeland
By Andy, on October 29th, 2011
I was walking around my yard yesterday after raking and realized that after this chore was done the yard really looked good and I will be able to enjoy this all fall and winter as long as we don’t have another 96 inches of snow. Why? Because a well designed landscape will allow you to keep all of your perennials and shrubs in place (not cutting back) to enjoy now and beyond. The silhouette of a ornamental grass, the glossy black berries of Aronia or the simple red twigs of our favorite winter shrub the dogwood make a normal drab yard into one that carries us through the monotony of winter. These unique plants lend us a sense of relaxation as one moves from the super-charged growth during the summer season ramping down into a time when grass can still be green, oaks are shedding the last of the fall color, and most importantly a time when the weeds have stopped germinating. Summer color can be a great thing, but keep in mind that we practically live in the tundra and why not enjoy the vista’s from our home year round rather than shutting the blinds and watching reality TV during negative degree weather. Invest in some new plants and your winter landscape will emerge with the wind, white, and whistles of the Chickadee.
By Andy, on September 29th, 2011
Since we are almost booked the rest of the year I would like to invite anybody seeking an estimate to call and receive a bid that will carry over into 2012 while keeping the 2011 price. In the landscape industry prices always seem to creep higher during the offseason. With this in mind know that you are likely to save hundred of dollars by getting an estimate, locking in a small depsoti in Jan, and then getting going frist thing after the snow starts to fly. Call me for details now or over the winter. I always like to talk about patio and plants — even during blizzards!
Andy
By Andy, on July 16th, 2011
What a year so far. We all know about the weather. Conversations start with “it’s too wet” or “what about this heat.” Enough said of the subject. Let me turn to landscaping as an industry. Last year was horrible. This year is phenomenal. What gives? Is it a rise in the economy…perhaps. Is it more people staying home and using some of their savings on their yards….perhaps? OR is it an excellent landscape company giving out very good prices on projects that exceed the quality and pricing of the old. YES. I am the designer, estimator and owner of Beds & Borders and this is the model I chose to create and execute this year. Is has worked and it explains why we are booking out weeks not days! Please keep this in mind when I give you an estimate. You are getting a solid price and the best crew around. I can back it with dozens of references and hundreds of addresses to drive by!
Andy Freeland
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