Gardening
Why Fall Is the Best Time to Plant Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
Warm soil, cool air and steady rain make early fall the ideal planting season in central New Jersey. How to plant trees, shrubs and perennials so they root in before winter.
Lawn & garden blog
Gardening, Lawn & Seasonal Advice
Tips for every season from the Ortiz Landscaping team in Princeton, NJ.
Gardening, lawn care, tree and seasonal advice for central New Jersey homes and businesses, written by the Ortiz Landscaping & Tree Services team in Princeton.
GardeningWhen to Prune Shrubs in New Jersey (and When to Leave Them Alone)
The timing rule that protects next year's flowers, which common New Jersey shrubs to prune after bloom or in late winter, and the pruning mistakes to avoid.
GardeningNative Plants That Thrive in New Jersey Gardens
Native perennials, grasses and shrubs that handle central New Jersey's climate, support pollinators and need less water and fuss once established.
SeasonalGetting Your Yard Ready for a Central New Jersey Winter
A late-fall checklist for central New Jersey yards: the last mow, leaves, watering evergreens, protecting shrubs, tree checks and storing equipment.
GardeningHow to Prepare Garden Beds in Spring
Step-by-step spring garden bed preparation for New Jersey yards: cleanup, edging, weeding, soil, planting and mulch, in the order that works best.
SeasonalFall Leaf Cleanup: Protecting Your Lawn Through Autumn
Why a thick layer of fallen leaves damages a lawn, when mulching leaves with the mower works, how often to clear them and what to do with them in beds.
Lawn careHow High Should You Mow a New Jersey Lawn?
Why cool-season lawns in central New Jersey do better cut tall, how the one-third rule works, and when to change your mowing height through the year.
Lawn careThe Best Time to Seed a Lawn in New Jersey
Late summer into early fall is the strongest seeding window for cool-season lawns in New Jersey. Here is why, and what spring seeding can and cannot do.
GardeningHow Deep Should Mulch Be? A Practical Guide for Beds and Trees
The right mulch depth for garden beds and around trees, why mulch volcanoes harm trees, and how often to refresh mulch in a New Jersey landscape.
Lawn careShould You Leave Grass Clippings on the Lawn?
Leaving clippings on the lawn returns nutrients and moisture to the soil. Learn when grasscycling helps, when to bag instead, and the myth about thatch.
TreesSigns a Tree Needs Trimming or Removal
Dead branches, cracks, leaning and branches over the roof: the warning signs that a tree on your New Jersey property needs trimming or removal.
Home & propertyWhat Can Be Power Washed Around Your Home?
A guide to power washing siding, patios, driveways, walkways, fences and decks: what responds well, what needs a gentle touch, and when to seal a deck.
Lawn careTop Dressing a Lawn: What It Does and When It Helps
Top dressing adds a thin layer of compost and sand over turf to feed the soil, level low spots and give new seed a better start. Here is when it is worth it.
Lawn careCommon Lawn Weeds in New Jersey and What They Tell You
Crabgrass, dandelions, clover, plantain and nutsedge: how to recognise common New Jersey lawn weeds and what each one says about your lawn.
SeasonalA Spring Lawn and Yard Checklist for Central New Jersey
What to do in your yard as winter ends in central New Jersey: clean-up, first mow, beds, mulch, trees and hard surfaces, in a sensible order.
SeasonalFall Lawn Care: The Season That Sets Up Next Year
For cool-season lawns, fall is the most important season. Seeding, leaves, the last mows and preparing beds and trees for a New Jersey winter.
Lawn careGrowing Grass Under Trees and in Shade
Why lawns thin out under mature trees, which grasses tolerate shade best, and when trimming the canopy or switching to mulch beds is the better answer.
Lawn careOverseeding or Starting Over? How to Decide
When a thin lawn can be rescued by overseeding and when it makes sense to start fresh, with the questions to ask before you decide.
SeasonalHow to Water a Lawn Through a New Jersey Summer
Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning builds stronger roots. How much water a lawn needs, how to measure it, and what summer dormancy means.
GardeningMulch or Stone for Landscape Beds?
Comparing shredded mulch and decorative stone for garden beds: soil health, heat, weeds, upkeep and where each one makes sense.
TreesGetting Trees and Yards Ready for Storm Season
How to reduce storm damage from trees and loose yard items in New Jersey, from dead limbs and overhanging branches to what to do after a storm.
Home & propertyLawn Care in Princeton, NJ: What Local Yards Need
What shapes lawn and landscape care around Princeton, New Jersey: cool-season grasses, mature shade trees, four distinct seasons and older neighborhoods.
Home & propertyWhat to Expect from Commercial Landscape Maintenance
What property managers and business owners in New Jersey should look for in commercial lawn and landscape maintenance, from scheduling to safety.
Home & propertyQuestions to Ask Before Hiring a Landscaper
What to ask a landscaping company before you hire them, from licensing and crews to what is included, and why the cheapest quote is not always the best.
Home & propertyWhat Happens After You Request a Free Quote
A step-by-step look at how a free consultation with Ortiz Landscaping & Tree Services works, from your first message to the start of work.
Home & propertyBoosting Curb Appeal Before You Sell Your Home
Practical outdoor projects that help a New Jersey home look cared for in listing photos and showings: lawn, edges, beds, trees and clean surfaces.
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