Spring Into Action: Landscaping Tips to Refresh Your Home Outdoors

Sandy: Tom, this month we invited Chris Welborn, owner of Vicente Landscaping, to join us once again to talk spring – and I might say splendiferous weather is back, and spring is springing up all over the place.

Tom: I agree with Sandy and I thought it would be very spring-like to bring in Chris Welborne, owner of Vicente Landscaping, again this month to help our readers with some tips and reminders on getting the best out of the growing season. It’s the perfect time of year and Chris knows his stuff, as they say, so welcome, Chris.

Chris: Thanks for the invite. You know spring is here when we get the afternoon winds back, the temps get warmer and our phone rings regularly.

Sandy: Chris, what are some or your more common calls this time of year?

Chris: There are about four types of calls we get more of in the springtime. The most common call is about maintenance.

Tom: What type of maintenance are you talking about?

Chris: Good question. As Sandy said, “Spring is springing up all over the place” – well, so are the weeds. We do a lot of weed mitigation, among other maintenance items getting ready for summer.

Sandy: LOL Nice segue off of my introduction, Chris. Do people want you to spray or just get the weeds out?

Chris: We take all manner of calls. Some folks want ongoing maintenance, some seasonal, some just a one-time shot. We accommodate all of these calls and process accordingly to what the homeowner wants.   

Tom: What other “very spring-like” maintenance tasks should our readers look to do?

Chris: Irrigation systems have been reduced or even dormant over the winter months, so these systems need to be turned on and each emitter should be checked to be certain the flow is adequate, and that the emitter location is appropriate for the specific plant it is watering.

Sandy: Emitter location is important to have the water get to the best place for root absorption and growth, correct?

Chris: Exactly. Trees, shrubs, flowers and food garden plants all have different watering needs. Some need more water and frequency than others. This is why many of our clients have irrigation controllers with multiple zones.

Tom: Making sure the controllers are set properly is another key task, I assume.

Chris: Yes, and we also make sure the actual time settings along with start and run times are correct for each zone. Oh, and, of course, we do check the batteries.

Sandy: What about pruning? Is this the time when you start trimming?

Chris: Yes and no and it depends. Most shrubs can be trimmed, as well as some trees. Generally speaking, trees are best pruned during their dormant period. That being said, we trim broken branches or damaged branches that may have seen a heavier than normal snowfall.

Tom: Well, that is not the case this year. What are some of the other more popular requests?

Chris: We are receiving several phone calls from homeowners who have project requirements for creating defensible space around the home.

Sandy: With our community’s proximity to the forests and grasslands, the wildland urban interface has become a wise focus of our attention for sure and that focus is year round.

Chris: The education process undertaken by our firefighters in the area has been very effective. People understand the real value in keeping their properties landscape “fuel” at a minimum.

Sandy: You are right about the education process for the need and also establishing realistic guidelines for landscape placement and maintenance.

Sandy: With our partnership with the Prescott Fire Department and Central Arizona Fire and Medical and support from some of the defensible space partners, we have created our second issue of our FireWise brochure. The QR Code is here:

Chris: We use those guidelines to help further educate our clients and establish a scope of work when we evaluate a property.

Tom: I am glad to see people wanting to step up efforts to keep our communities as safe as they can be.

Chris: Yes, exactly. While nothing is absolutely fireproof, mitigation is wise. Should a major fire event break out, those properties that have created defensible space are easier for firefighters to defend and more likely to survive.

Sandy: That is so important given the fact that our “fire season” has grown to a year-round season because of the lack of moisture.         

Sandy: You said there were four types of calls. What are the other two?

Chris: Outdoor living spaces are gaining in popularity, more so than in previous years. Folks are creating outdoor living rooms and kitchens.

Tom: Tell us about that. Are they covered, enclosed or wide open?

Chris: LOL, the short answer is “Yes.” All of the above. Some clients are extending their patios to accommodate couches and firepits as an extension of their indoor living spaces.

Sandy: Tell our readers more about what outdoor kitchens are including. I presume it is more than the traditional BBQ grill.

Chris: Oh my, yes. Outdoor kitchens generally incorporate the grill into a countertop that can be used for prep work and also a serving and even dining place, not unlike indoor kitchens.

Tom: Sinks, food storage cabinets, small refrigerators and utensil storage cabinets have become quite popular. Talk a little bit about the materials you use.

Chris: Any material needs to be able to withstand our weather systems. Counters can be granite or solid material that will not be affected. Cabinets are typically stainless steel inside and out.

Sandy: I have seen the framework around cabinets be painted stucco, which can be pretty cool looking.

Chris: Correct, we have also used masonry. Just about any siding product you use on a house can be used for the framework finish.

Tom: Awesome information. So, what are some of the requests you get that our readers may not think about?

Chris: Good question. Actually, more people are requesting snowmelt systems for their driveways and walkways.

Sandy: Now that is something I would not think about in May. Why the interest this time of year?

Chris: This is actually the time of year you need to install those systems. We have received more calls in the last few years than we have in the 15 or so years before that.

Tom: How is the heat delivered?

Chris: In our area, electrical resistance heating mats are the norm. Heated water can also be used, though we haven’t seen those systems around here.

Sandy: That surprised me, but after your explanation it makes sense. Chris, thank you so much for joining us this month. I hope our readers have enjoyed this column as well.

Tom: Chris, you and your team are a benefit to the community and we appreciate your knowledge and dedication to landscaping and of course, pulling weeds!

Sandy: To our readers, thanks for stopping in to read At Home With Tom and Sandy. You are in good company, and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month. QCBN

Tom Reilly, Architect, 928-925-5692

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040