A Thorough Garden and Lawn Clean Up Now Pays Off in Summer

Chicgao, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/14/2012 -- Dig out the shovel and sharpen up the shears because everything is green and growing again, which means for homeowners it's time to get out the lawn furniture, the barbecue grill and the lawn mower. Topiarius, a Chicago-based leader of urban garden and floral decor services, has come to help.

"Consumers can take the frustration out of spring cleaning their lawns and gardens if they start with a plan and a checklist," said Craig Jenkins-Sutton, president and co-founder of Topiarius. "The dramatic seasonal change does not have to translate to an expansive chore list from pulling weeds and transplanting flowers to scattering seeds and raking leaves."

First, make a plan. Are there areas that need some improvement? Do you want to add any additional containers or plants? Did you want to prepare a space for a vegetable garden? A plan ensures there are no mistakes and makes shopping for annuals and perennials easier, allowing persons to avoid the wrong colors, sizes and quantities.

Second, put aside a couple hours to pick and choose the tasks you need to complete. A list of chores may include:

- Get a garden or lawn soil test. They're inexpensive and provide good information on what nutrients are missing and the type of fertilizer that are needed
- Turn on outside spigots and attach hoses. Be sure hoses and sprinklers are in working order
- Clean, sharpen or replace outdoor and garden tools
- Fuel and oil mowers and other power equipment; make sure electrical cords are in good condition
- Rake the lawn to get rid of dead growth, stray leaves, twigs and winter debris, and remove leaves and weeds from borders and beds.
- Pull out weed patches by hand; seed any bare spots
- Prune broken or dead canes - start high and prune down until you find life in the stems
- Pot up cool-tolerant annuals such as pansies, alyssum, snapdragons and ranunculus Divide hostas, grasses and daylilies once they show signs of growth. Now is a great time to move plants to a more desirable location
- Plant cool-weather veggies like lettuce, peas, beets and radishes
- Mulch flower beds to a depth of two inches
- Prune forsythias and other spring-flowering shrubs after they have bloomed, not before
- Plant shrubs and trees in in rich, loose soil, no deeper than they were in their pots
- Begin hardening off seedlings
- Clean outdoor furniture

Don't let the weeds get the best of you. It's important to organize tasks to fit your own time, schedule, energy and interests. Indoors and out, it's time to get growing. For more information about spring maintenance or to learn more about Topiarius and their seasonal color program, visit www.Topiarius.com.

About Topiarius Urban Garden and Floral Design
Founded in 2003, Chicago-based Topiarius offers the best in urban garden and floral decor services. Co-owned by Craig and Sara Jenkins-Sutton, Topiarius offers outdoor landscape design and care from the construction and installation of furniture to regular maintenance, urban gardening, special occasion and event floral design, exterior and interior seasonal decorating and snow and ice care. Their distinctive designs and professional installations are known for breathing new life into indoor and outdoor spaces. For more from Topiairus, follow them on Twitter and like their page on Facebook.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Simplicity, Tradition and Sparkle Lights Up Homes for the Holidays

Chicgao, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/07/2011 -- Topiarius, a Chicago-based leader of urban garden and floral decor services, understands the importance of creating a warm and inviting holiday atmosphere for family and friends.

"Holiday and seasonal decorating is a passion for 85 percent of U.S. households with Christmas taking the lead as the single most important decorating holiday," said Sara Jenkins-Sutton, vice president and co-founder of Topiarius and the company's expert in design and decor projects. "Today consumers want simplicity and personalization. Today's holiday decorations have become so colorful and so varied that anyone could create a look as unique as their decor."

Jenkins-Sutton offers the following easy and economical ideas to create the right mood to celebrate the 2011 holidays.

- Simplify The Scheme: Numerous knick-knacks create a cluttered look, ditching the ones without emotional value can define a room's look. A decorated mantle makes more of a statement than an assortment of scattered accessories throughout a room.

- Create Decorating Tradition: It is commonplace to decorate a family room tree together for the holiday season but instilling other activities, such as, wreath making can become a family tradition like dying Easter eggs or carving pumpkins. Use easy-to-find items around the house such as buttons, napkin rings, stickers and common art supplies.

- Sparkle The Season: Take advantage of winter's early evening darkness with bright accents and lights. Add lights to other decor besides the tree and outside trees. Use candle ware and other decor with natural luminosity, like glitter, gems or mirrors.

- Color Explosion: Put together unexpected color combinations rather than the tried and true. Add color, silver or copper accents.

- 'Tis the Season for Green: Recycle old holiday ornaments by adding ribbons, dipping in glitter or using holiday wrapping paper and a bow for a fresh look.

- Outdoor Decor: Extend outdoor container life after the first frost by filling them with accents like fresh cut evergreens and branches, holiday berries, or ornamental bulbs when the weather gets to cold for plant growth. If filling outdoor containers is not feasible, just a decorated wreath can make an entryway look polished.

- Festive Floral: Add color to a room with red and white vases. Fill with colorful roses, carnations, mums, daisies, etc. Or, float the flowers in large crystal or glass bowls.

- Themed Trees: Branch out from the ordinary with a themed tree that channels the home decorating scheme or personality from classic to urban chic or a color theme.

About Topiarius Urban Garden and Floral Design
Founded in 2003, Chicago-based Topiarius offers the best in urban garden and floral decor services. Co-owned by Craig and Sara Jenkins-Sutton, Topiarius offers outdoor landscape design and care from the construction and installation of furniture to regular maintenance, urban gardening, special occasion and event floral design, exterior and interior seasonal decorating and snow and ice care. Their distinctive designs and professional installations are known for breathing new life into indoor and outdoor spaces.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Holiday Installations Makes Season Merrier

Chicgao, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/07/2011 -- Topiarius, a Chicago-based leader of urban garden and floral decor services, loves the magic of Christmas lights like everyone, but understands the chore of untangling strands of colorful lights, climbing up and down ladders, and the time required to doing the job just right, often in blistering cold and snowy weather.

Craig Jenkins-Sutton, president and co-founder of Topiarius, said there is an easier way, "Topiarius is a pioneer in the landscaping world when it comes to supplying, installing, removing and storing outdoor holiday decorations for consumers. We take the frustration out of decorating so people could enjoy their time and stay in the holiday spirit."

The average holiday display costs $800 but could cost upwards of $10,000. The process is manual, and can take anywhere from about 5 to 30 hours. Consumers often lose interest or become aggravated in the process. If the end result isn't a good-looking display, it can make the holiday spirit fade away. Topiarius customizes holiday decorations to highlight features of a customer's home. Services range from stringing lights across properties, prancing figures to hanging garland, wreaths and silhouettes. Topiarius also offers a take down service after the New Year and stores displays until the next season.

"Our service is idea for people who are pressed for time, don't enjoy physical labor or dislike the cold temperatures," said Jenkins-Sutton.

"Decorating might have traditionally been up to the homeowner but creating a winter wonderland without even climbing the ladder is now just a phone call away."

About Topiarius Urban Garden and Floral Design
Founded in 2003, Chicago-based Topiarius offers the best in urban garden and floral decor services. Co-owned by Craig and Sara Jenkins-Sutton, Topiarius offers outdoor landscape design and care from the construction and installation of furniture to regular maintenance, urban gardening, special occasion and event floral design, exterior and interior seasonal decorating and snow and ice care. Their distinctive designs and professional installations are known for breathing new life into indoor and outdoor spaces.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm