In this episode, Jim talks about embracing the time fall brings for planting.
Podcast Transcription:
WRVO Producer Mark Lavonier:
This podcast is one in a series titled, From the Soil with Sollecito, hosted by lifetime senior certified landscape professional Jim Sollecito of Sollecito Landscaping Nursery, Hallock Hill Road, Syracuse. These commentaries focus on landscape management practices that use only natural products and methods, safe for the environment, and that bring beauty to the landscape. And now Jim Sollecito.
Jim Sollecito:
At the time of year when summer is over, we're wondering whether we enjoyed it or not. The weather went sideways. Sometimes abnormally dry heat waves alternated with record rainfall and flash floods. Kind of like leaving a restaurant wondering if the chicken died in vain. But really, no matter. Autumn is long and luxurious and great for getting things done.
Sights and smells are fresh again after the long, uncomfortably sticky summer days. And you can save big by doing your landscape improvements now instead of waiting until spring. I can see prices are already going to be more in the spring than fall. And besides, fall is an invigorating time. After touting a new introduction all season, I love pushing a sharp shovel into the ground to add that improved variety in my own home.
Figuring out what to plant is almost as much fun as where to plant it. I like to contemplate a bit before I actually do it. And I do subscribe to the "six P" approach: Proper planning prevents pretty poor performance. During the process, I sometimes talk to myself and we both laugh. One objective of landscape design is to draw attention to the front door.
Maybe even paint the door a brighter, bolder color. Another good solution is to determine that time when a landscape appears less interesting, and then adding a newer plant with better features, delightfully filling the color gap. It's never a good technique to add artificially colored waste wood masquerading as mulch. All this accomplishes is to draw attention to the ground instead of the house.
Yikes. You may not need a complete revamp. Small things can make a big impact. Notable achievements are often contingent on the subtle tweaks. So don't let your gray matter go to sleep. Evoke an emotional response. Find something to inspire you. Take it home and improve your own piece of the planet. Constant improvement beats delayed perfection every time. Right now just might be the time to make good things happen at your home.
WRVO Producer Mark Lavonier:
From the Soil with Sollecito is a production of WRVO Public Media. If you have a question for Jim about your home landscaping, visit sollecito.com and click on contact or call 315-468-1142.
