Blog Archives

Skyler Westergard

9/21/2016

Skyler Westergard grew up in Northern Utah in an agricultural town but ironically his family wasn’t into farming, they were firefighters. The first memory that started his love for plants was when his mom wanted to grow dahlias. He remembers planting the bulbs and thinking they were rocks, then in the spring he watched the blade grow from the bulb and turn into a beautiful flower. It was then that he realized how amazing plants are. Today Brother Westergard teaches the landscape design classes, construction classes and continues to love plants.
Brother Westergard married his wife in his sophomore year here at BYUI and now has three kids and a dog. He loves popcorn and has a movie night with his wife every Friday and Saturday night. Brother Westergard loves old cars, in high school he fixed up and restore vintage cars. He graduated from BYU Idaho with his bachelors in Horticulture with an emphasis in Design Build and then went on to Utah State to get his masters.
Teaching has always been something Brother Westergard wanted to do, this job is his dream job. When he was in grade school he had a teacher who taught him to love reading, he now loves to read so much he even enjoys reading textbooks. Brother Westergard loves to talk about plants and help others understand how they work, he is happy that he can teach the science, as well as the real world experiences he has had. He loves being here at BYU Idaho, in any other school he would have to skip over the most important part about how plants work, God. Brother Westergard loves the Lord and knows that His creations are glorious and special. We welcome him to the program and hope that he enjoys his time at BYU Idaho.

Fall Landscaping Tips and Info - NALP

9/19/2016

The National Association of Landscape Professionals urges homeowners to complete critical care and maintenance of their yards and gardens during the fall season to enjoy their landscapes to the fullest
Arlington, Va., September 19th, 2016 - With the arrival of autumn, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is advising homeowners to take crucial care of their landscapes. Fall is often mistakenly overlooked when it comes to landscaping, despite the fact that the moderate temperatures, adequate rainfall and shorter days reduce plant stress and make it an ideal time for lawn, garden and tree tasks. It is extremely important to proactively care for your lawns, gardens and trees now, in order to preserve the health of your landscape, protect the environment through the winter, and ensure active growth and vitality come next spring.

“While many homeowners consider spring and summer to be the time for tackling landscaping projects, fall is actually a prime season for lawn care and landscaping,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs, NALP. “Being diligent in fall landscaping will allow your lawn and garden to withstand their long winter’s nap, and will certainly pay dividends next spring. In addition, thoughtful planning can allow your outdoor living spaces to be enjoyed throughout the cold-weather months.”

NALP encourages homeowners to consult a landscape or lawn care professional to determine the specific maintenance necessary within their region and for their particular property. Partnering with a professional will increase your chances of best results. Here are helpful tips for fall landscaping from NALP:

Remove dead leaves. Raking is a quintessential fall chore, but the benefits of removing leaves go well beyond the aesthetic. If dead leaves remain on the ground through winter, they prevent the lawn from getting necessary sunlight for spring growth, and they can form a dense, wet (or frozen) mat conducive to harmful plant diseases. The best solution is to mulch leaves into the turf with your lawn mower, or to remove and recycle leaves from your property at a facility where they can be composed.
Inspect your trees. Many trees shed their leaves in fall, but keep an eye out for dead leaves left at the top of trees, a possible indicator of environmental or root stress, or twisted and curled leaves that may be a sign that your tree has an infection. Damaged trees may need to be pruned or removed by a professional. Tree inspection is critical before the winter, when ice and heavy snow can cause weak tree limbs to break, creating a major safety and property hazard.
Take charge of lawn care. With summer’s extreme heat behind us, fall is the ideal time to seed grass. Grass can also grow more freely with less competition from intrusive weed growth in the fall. Even if your lawn is fully established, plan to overseed to help fill in bare areas and thinning grass. In most parts of the country, fertilizing and aerating your lawn in the fall is also critical to ensure continued healthy growth.
Get creative with fall gardening. There are several options for bringing texture and to your fall gardens, including asters, sedum, Chinese lanterns, goldenrod, black-eyed Susans, pansies and snapdragons. Fall is also an excellent time for planting shrubs, which can add further dimension and style to your landscape.
Layer your garden beds with mulch. Mulch insulates the roots of your plants, keeping them protected from the harsh winter weather. If the mulch placed earlier in the season has worn away, or if you install new plants in the fall, be sure to add a fresh layer of two to three inches of mulch in your garden beds and around trees.
Turn up the heat with fire features. Firepits, chimineas, stone and brick fireplaces, and fire-powered outdoor appliances allow your outdoor living spaces to be enjoyed on chilly days and brisk nights. Choosing the right option depends on how you plan to use the space and the ways these features will best maximize the views from your deck or patio.
Plan ahead for next season’s landscape. Meeting with a landscape professional now will allow you ample time to create and build your dream landscape. Keep in mind the various steps involved in overhauling your landscape — finalizing your vision, determining your budget, obtaining permits and more — and next spring doesn’t seem so far away.

Credit: NALP Stephanie Kensy

Learn the Dirt Behind APS

Skyler Westergard

Fall Landscaping Tips and Info - NALP

Mission Statement

Archives

Categories