A fresh layer of mulch applied now by Southwest Landscape Management can help to refresh your plant beds and give you a head start for next year

By Ken McEntee

There is still a lot of summer left.

That’s why Steve Rak thinks you should continue to enjoy your beautiful yard as much as you did in May and June.

“It’s never too late to spruce things up a little,” insists Steve, owner of Southwest Landscape Management.

“Trimming down overgrown plants and shrubs, pulling out some weeds or even adding a few new colorful plants will freshen up your landscape and give you a fantastic look for the home stretch.”

A fresh layer of mulch, Steve says, also can help to refresh your plant beds—and give you a head start for next year.

“By mulching now or in the fall, you may be able to save yourself some time and money in the spring,” he suggests. “Plus, the brilliance of fresh mulch will help to make your landscape stand out among the other yards in your neighborhood.”

Whether you get started in May or August, Steve’s weekly lawn maintenance is an easy way to enjoy a gorgeous, manicured yard without having to sweat through the grueling work, he says.

And, speaking of work, it’s not too soon to schedule your fall cleanup. With the promise of an exciting Browns team for the first time in 12 years, who wants to spend their Sundays raking leaves? The fall cleanup includes leaf removal, pulling out dead plants, cleaning out perennials and preparing beds for winter.

“It’s one more thing you won’t have to worry about next spring,” Steve says.

Although Southwest Landscape trucks are commonly spotted all around Strongsville’s best-looking commercial properties, the company has been giving Strongsville homeowners the time to enjoy their own yards for more than 25 years.

“Because we have such a high profile in commercial landscaping, some people don’t realize that we do residential services as well,” says Steve, a past president of the Ohio Landscape Association and former columnist for Turf Magazine, a national trade publication.

“It’s true that the majority of our work is with commercial properties, condos and homeowners’ associations, but we do a lot of residential properties, too.”

Small landscape renovations, Steve emphasizes, are one of the company’s specialties.

“Homeowners are amazed by how much we can improve their yards with just a few changes,” Steve says. “You don’t need to do a huge, expensive project. Sometimes trimming things down and maybe adding a new plant or two for a change of pace makes all the difference in the world. Making subtle changes can be a very cost-effective way to beautify your landscape.”

That’s why Southwest Landscape doesn’t do major hardscapes and patio installations.

“We’re landscaping experts and I think it’s best to stick with what you know,” he shares.

“There are other companies that do fantastic work with patios. Because those can be such high cost money-makers, it’s natural that a company will assign its A-team to them. When we come out to do your lawn and landscape maintenance, you’re getting our A-team.”

The services Steve’s A-Team offers include:

• Spring and fall color plantings
• Annuals
• Perennials
• Mums
• Landscape renovation
• Tree trimming
• Entrance way and sign plantings
• General grounds clean up
• Small design projects
• Turf renovation
• Aeration

You can extend your summer with a spruced-up yard by calling Southwest Landscape Management, at 440-662-6096, or by sending an email to steve@sw-landscape.com. Southwest Landscape Management is located at 33593 Royalton Road, in Columbia Station. You can learn more at SW-Landscape.com.