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Text Box: Come Join us for our Annual Holiday Open House Come join us for some Holiday Cheer on Thursday, December 10th. That is the date if our annual Holiday Open House. From 12:00pm to 8:00pm, we will have snacks, refreshments and drawings for door prizes. We are located at 201 Bethel Ave, Beech Grove, IN, 46107. If you need directions please call us at (317) 780-6619. We look forward to seeing you on the 10th.

Progressive Lawnscaping’s New Online Garden Store

Visit Progressive

Lawnscaping

No...We haven't changed our name to Go-GreenGardening. We are still Progressive Lawnscaping, and we still offer the same top notch landscape service we have since 1990. Go-GreenGardening is our new online garden store featuring a variety of eco-friendly garden and landscape products. Many are items that our customers have requested over the 19 years we have been in business.

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Questions or comments? E-mail us at kelly@progressivelawnscaping.com or call 317-780-6619

December 2009 Newsletter

* Clean and oil your garden tools for winter storage. Place some sand and some oil in a large bucket, then slide your garden tools in and out of the sand.

* When you have finished your last mowing of the year, make sure that it is properly stored. Run it until it is out of fuel.... old gas can turn to varnish, and severely damage the engine.

* This is a good time to start pruning dead and dangerous limbs from trees. These should be burned in case they harbor insects and disease. The wounds made in sawing off the limbs should be protected by painting them.

* Mound five to six inches of soil around the bases of your hardy fuchsias and roses.

* Most plants and shrubs winter-kill because of alternate freezing and thawing, so it is a good idea to bank them up with snow.

* Make sure your outdoor faucets are covered to protect them from freezing

* Take care of our feathered friends!! Keep your bird feeder filled, especially when there is snow on the ground.

* This year, consider purchasing a living Christmas tree for your home. This is a great way to improve your landscape, and at the same time, save a tree. Living Christmas trees should not be kept in the house for any longer than 10 days.

* When opting for a live tree, prepare the planting hole in fall or early winter before the ground freezes.

* Do not cut back ornamental grasses now...this will leave winter protection for birds and they will feed on the seeds.

* Check out the Holiday Sale at: Go-GreenGardening.com

Winter Maintenance for Paver Patio or Sidewalk:

Not all ice melt products are created equal!

If you have a concrete paver sidewalk or patio, we recommend using the product ‘Safe Thaw’.

* It will not harm concrete, brick or stone.

* Safe around Children and Pets

* Safe on Ornamental Shrubs

* Safe on Wood Decking

* Safe on Floors and Carpets

* Non-Corrosive on Metal

It is guaranteed to work down to -2 degrees!

A one gallon container of ‘Safe Thaw’ covers approximately 1500 square feet (the size of a standard driveway)

In the Indianapolis area, ‘Safe Thaw’ can be purchased at Stone Center of Indianapolis.

Keeping Your Pond Fish Alive During the Winter:

True or False

In a severe winter your 2 foot deep pond will freeze solid.

False, ponds built into the ground, with soil all around them, will only freeze to a depth of 8 inches. It is however, important to keep an opening in the ice to allow for gas exchange. Ammonia can build up in the water without this hole. High levels of ammonia can prove to be toxic to fish. Many types of deicers are available to help keep the fish breathing freely. Simple floating deicers can be purchased at local pond supply stores and farm supply stores such as TSC. If your pond should freeze over before you get your deicer in, please refrain from breaking the ice to create an opening. Striking the ice causes harmful shockwaves that can injure or kill fish.

Quick Tree Facts from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA):

* There are approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.

* There are close to 350 million Real Christmas Trees currently growing on Christmas Tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers.

* North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty percent (80%) of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

* Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.

* There are more than 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the United States.

* For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.

* There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.

* There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.

* It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.

* The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.

* The most common Christmas Tree species are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine.

Use these practical tips from The National Christmas Tree Association to be a more informed consumer and to ensure a great experience with your Real Tree.

10 "Quick" Tips on Selecting a Tree at a Retail Lot:

* Be sure you know what size (height and width) you need before heading to the retail lot.

* If you want the same species you know or have always used, great. If you want to try a different species, browse the NCTA website www.realchristmastrees.org to become familiar with the species popular in your area before heading to the retail lot.

* Go to a retail lot that is well-lit and stores trees in a shaded area.