Landscape maintenance is a physically demanding job. While the suggested daily number of steps for the general population is 10,000, landscapers routinely double that.
Just take last Friday when I filled in for our regular foreman who was away. After mowing, blade edging, pruning and blowing my step total for the day was 29,000 steps or 19km. I didn’t exactly ease into the weekend. I could feel my body recovering in the evening.
One easy day
But once in a while there is a much less physically demanding day and it really stands out. I enjoy it, make a note of it and later blog about it so new landscapers don’t get too spooked.
Task 1
We had one annual bed that didn’t exactly pop into view when you pulled up. The boss didn’t like it so we changed it.
Step one involved pulling all dark-leaved annuals and putting them back into flats so they could be re-used. They weren’t garbage.
Step two involved planting green-leaved annuals with nicer, more developed flowers. The arrangement is flexible but the idea is to plant the flowers in three color zones.
The new bed stands out way more.
Step 2
I had to fertilize all cedar (Thuja occidentalis and some T. plicata) hedges and one weak Rhododendron. Weak is how it looked before its buds burst open. When I pulled up on site the Rhododendron looked fine. It was in flower and buzzing with insects.
I fertilized inside the plant’s drip line like a professional. Never throw a pile of fertilizer at the base of the plant and hope for the best. Remember, roots stretch out past the drip line so that’s where the fertilizer should go.
I then pruned off all dead branches and watered the Rhododendron. We’ll see how it does as the season advances and beyond.
Conclusion
Landscaping is physically demanding and you should expect to double the 10,000 daily recommended number of steps. And when you get an easier day, enjoy it. It’s a gift.
