It’s summertime! The weather is warm and the sun’s shining. It’s time to break out the grills and invite all your friends and family over for summer parties.

Unfortunately, along with friends and family, come those pesky uninvited guests that you wish would just go away – forever! No I’m not talking about your crazy Aunt Georgina or that neighbor who shows up with empty hands and stays way too long. I’m talking about mosquitoes. Although it’s almost impossible to get rid of all mosquitoes from your property, here are a few steps you can take to help limit the amount of mosquitoes that will show up to party with you and your guests.

Limit Still Water On Your Property

The first thing you should do to cut back on mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding grounds. Mosquitoes need water to breed. Stagnant water or moist soil is where adult mosquitoes lay eggs. By limiting water on your property, you’ll be less likely to be bothered by these pests. After a heavy rain walk around your property and make sure there isn’t any obvious standing water. If you have an area with standing water (more than a day or so after it rains) consider leveling off that area so the water drains. If you find your lawn being used as a delivery room for your next round of mosquito bites, Livingston Farm can help with all of your drainage struggles. Livingston Farm Excavation services can help with all of your earth moving needs. It’s important to make sure your lawn has proper drainage after rain storms, melting snow, and unknown runoff zones. Proper drainage supports the health of your lawn and your sanity of limiting your mosquito interactions.

Keep Your Things Under Cover to Eliminate Water Build

Up Keep all containers, such as recycling bins, garbage cans and other storage containers dry. Make sure to put holes on the bottom of the containers for drainage and not on the sides. Check your gutters to make sure they are free from debris so water does not build up in them. Also make sure the gutter drain is free from debris and standing water cannot build up around the drain. Check flower pot bases; water sitting in the bases is an often overlooked mosquito paradise. Change water in animal dishes outside and birdbaths at least once a day. If you find yourself with extra pots, gardening tools, and other odds and ends that collect water, Livingston Farm has outdoor structures that can hide all of your belongings away from your neighbors and pesky mosquitoes looking for a nest.

Earth Friendly Ways to Limit Mosquitoes

You might think of sprays and poison when it comes to keeping mosquitoes away, but Mother Nature has some remedies that can help the good fight against these pests. Plants like tansy, basil or marigolds are a great way to limit mosquitoes. The smell of these plants helps to keep mosquitoes from hanging around yards. Spraying Listerine around bushes and on the grass also helps to keep mosquitoes from joining the party. Garlic (in liquid form) is another item you can spray on your property to help deter mosquitoes. In addition, there are organic and natural mosquito sprays that connect to your garden hose. Be sure to read labels to make sure they are pet and kid friendly. If you prefer to leave the planting and sprays for another day, Livingston Farm can build you a beautiful screened in gazebo to create the safest line of defense for you and your family to stay out of reach for your unwanted BBQ guests.

Candles & Dimmed lights Can Deter Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes love light. So, changing out bright white lights to dimmer yellow lights is a quick fix to help cut down on mosquitoes. Citronella candles and torches are also easy ways to keep mosquitoes away.

Other Ways to Eliminate Unwanted Flying Friends

If you spend a lot of time outside and want to make an investment, mosquito traps or mosquito magnets are your top choice. These traps use propane and octenol to mimic human breath, which mosquitoes like, and it traps and kills them. However, these units can run up to $800, so bring your wallet if you choose to go this route.

Easing the Pain of Your Bites

Even if you follow these tips, unfortunately you’ll probably still end up with a few bites over the summer. Unless you decide to stay inside your gazebo or outdoor shed forever…Don’t worry; there are a few things you can do to help ease the pain. The best way to stop the itch is to use products with antihistamines. A good home remedy is using the peel of a banana on fresh bites. This helps to take away the swelling and itch. And finally, the quickest way to stop a mosquito bite from itching is cool water.

Last thing, remember that mosquitoes are usually more active during dawn and dusk. Hopefully these tips will help to keep away most uninvited guests from your party or backyard BBQ. Sorry Livingston Farm can’t help you with that crazy Aunt or unwanted neighbor from down the street.

Now that summer is here and your itchy gardener fingers are able to get their exercise, it’s time to make sure you have a garden that is Vermont friendly to you and your furry house guests.

We’re all beginning to enjoy the oodles of blooming beauties accenting our prized emerald landscapes.

While there are almost limitless options for your planting beds and borders, some plants you should flat-out avoid:

• Invasive plants in Vermont State that take over like sinister scoundrels, choking out beneficial plants the ecosystem needs.
• Plants that attract ravenous, garden-clearing deer and cute, but dastardly munching bunnies.
• And plants that look pretty, but are toxic to your furry pets.

Yes, you might spy a couple of your favorites here. But trust us — there are plenty of alternatives to these garden bad guys. We’ll even give you some ideas.

First, A Better Understanding Of Invasive Plants

Invasive plants spread aggressively outside their normal range, multiplying like crazy because their new environment lacks the insects, diseases, hungry animals and competition from other plants that keep them in check in their native habitat.

They may look lovely and innocent in your backyard, but invasive plants can pose a serious environmental threat. As they spread, these garden bad guys crowd out native plant communities, which harms the rest of the ecosystem.

When we say garden bad guys, we mean actual outlaws. New regulations went into effect in March 2015 in across the nation that ban the sale, purchase and transportation of a long list of invasive plants that have been causing a ruckus throughout the nation’s landscapes for decades.

Brace yourself. The list of 143 invasive plants — you can see the complete list — might include some of your favorites, including Norway maple, burning bush, Dame’s Rocket, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, and several types of honeysuckle.

A popular vine on the list is: Asiatic or Oriental bittersweet. It probably came here innocently enough, when backyard gardeners decided they’d look pretty on their trellises. Now you can see this invader smothering trees along the highway.

Invasive Plants in Vermont — The Big No-Nos

One captivating plant you should definitely avoid is purple loosestrife. It’s lovely, with tall purple spires. Look away.

Brought to New England as an ornamental plant in the 1800s, purple loosestrife has tiny seeds that spread like crazy in wind or water.

Massive drifts of the purple flower grow to thousands of acres in size, crowding out crucial open-water habitat for butterflies and amphibians.

What to plant instead? Blazing star has spiked, pink-purple flowers and offers nectar for many native species of butterflies and other insects. These plants make wonderful highlights lining any walkway or patio.

Instead of invasive Oriental bittersweet, plant American bittersweet. It’s a native species that looks very similar, with pretty orange berries, but doesn’t grow out of control.

Love Japanese barberry? Good substitutes for this pretty, but invasive shrub are Weigela ‘Midnight Wine,’ with its dark burgundy foliage —and the low-growing cotoneaster.

Plants That Attract Munching Wild Critters

Why is it that your favorite garden lovelies are also the plants that summon hungry deer to an all-you-can-eat buffet?  Like you, deer apparently have good taste. Actually, they’ll eat just about anything.  Here are a few of their favorites to avoid, and the deer-resistant plants you can grow instead:

Hostas

We know, we know. Everybody loves hostas, those hardy, beautiful lovers of shade. But deer devour them, right down to the nub.

What to plant instead?

Brunnera. This is a shade plant you might not have heard of, but some varieties, like ‘Jack Frost,’ boast stunning variegated foliage that fill in great for hosta. It offers clusters of pretty blue flowers in the spring.

Another good hosta alternative is lungwort. It sounds gross, but trust us — it’s a garden stunner, with silver speckled leaves that brighten up shady spots. It’s covered in coarse hairs, so deer tend to leave it alone.

Lilies

Deer love lilies like toddlers love lollipops. What to plant instead?

Bee Balm is a showy perennial with bright flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but deer and rabbits say, “meh.”

Also try Golden Marguerite, with cheerful gold daisy-like flowers. It has fuzzy leaves that deer leave alone

Yews

Munch, munch, munch — so long, pretty yews. Try these deer-resistant shrubs instead: spirea, potentilla, American holly.

Holly offers the same verdant green you get from yews. Spirea boasts delicate foliage and cascading branches of white or pink spring flowers, while potentilla brightens up your landscape with pretty buttercup-like flowers as early as June and as late October.

When Deer Say, “Yuck.”

In general, deer pass up plants with fuzzy or hairy foliage. Think lamb’s ear and lady’s mantle.

They also instinctively avoid plants that will upset their stomachs, including bleeding heart, poppies, daffodils and ferns.

Deer also crinkle their noses at heavily fragranced foliage. So herbs are your garden pals. Most herbs are both beautiful and deer-resistant, including sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, lavender and others.

Ornamental grasses? Bingo. Deer find grasses tough to digest and don’t like their sharp edges.

These Plants May Be Harmful To Pets

Lots of common garden plants can be toxic to dogs and cats. Here are a few to talk with your landscaper about — and possibly avoid:

• azalea
• begonia
• chrysanthemum
• cyclamen                                                                            
• daffodil
• gladiola
• hosta
• lilies
• morning glory
• tulips

Plant these colorful and safe annuals instead:

• petunias
• cosmos
• snapdragons
• zinnias

Pet-safe perennials include:

• bee balm
• phlox
• roses
• coneflowers

Download a list of all potentially toxic plants for pets.

Livingston Farm Knows The Right Plants

Our experts at Livingston Farm Landscape love finding the perfect annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees for your landscape, while avoiding invasive outlaws, critter salad bars and plants that could harm Bella or Max.

We’ve been accenting landscapes for more than 15 years, so we have a vast knowledge of plants, stones — and a number of tricks up our sleeve when it comes to finding great substitutes for plants that can harm the environment or your family pets.

At Livingston Farm, we’re about creating a better way of life. That means caring about the ecosystem, as well as beautifying it. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone, email, or feel free to stop by our Bristol, Vermont location!

 90 Percent Recycled Outdoor Furniture

These days everyone is thinking about how to save the planet, save time, save money. And when that is all done we want to be able to relax in comfort. A great way to combine all of these saving efforts and with relaxation in mind, Livingston Farm has a fine selection of 90 percent recycled outdoor furniture. With traditional styles in both standard colors as well as a great selection of colors.  From earth tones to vibrant reds and yellows. Dark blues and greens, check out our website livingstonfarm.com or feel free to stop by and try any of our selection out. Have a seat and put your feet up and enjoy.

Unwind at home and feel good about it as you help keep Vermont and the planet green with these 90 percent outdoor furniture.  As for maintaining these chairs its as simple as wiping them down with a cloth and soap and water.  Not only are they simple to maintain and clean . They are also incredibly durable resisting all that Mother Nature can throw at us here In Vermont or New York and New Hampshire

Curious as to what was recycled to make,  for example our Adirondack chairs or rockers. Well it is plastic, like the plastic in milk jugs, actually its just that recycled milk jugs turned into ‘lumber’ and then that lumber is made into for example again an Adirondack Chair or say a Fan back chair. A great use of plastic that keeps it out of landfills and uses it for something relaxing. So when it is time to relax think about our 90 Percent Recycled Outdoor Furniture. Save money and Save the Planet at the same time. How can you lose? See you soon and here is to a  happy spring!

As we all know or are at least hoping winter is winding down. Time to put away the winter gear and make ready for spring and summer. For farmers it’s time to get equipment in working order for others, time to do things like put away the winter toys. But every year it seems we need a little more room.

If not just for storage than to have some elbow room to work on the spring equipment or store those new skis or that shiny snow machine.  Dont want to get a storage space, as you need access to these things. Or  maybe its to far away. Perhaps that property needs some functional yet attractive storage options. What ever the reason why not get an addition to your barn or home?

Looks great. Increases your property value and most importantly gets you some much needed room to think and work. Livingston Farm has a wide variety of outdoor structures, that are just perfect for these various needs.

From Chicken Coops to Garages and yes even buildings that would make a great barn  addition . Contact us today and lets explore the possibilities .

The outdoor building in these pictures  is what Livingston Farm decided to do when we need more room here at our showroom in Bristol, Vermont. It went in very easily and looks great. Got us the extra room we needed. Not for toys or tractors or other farm gear but as an extra office space. Come visit us and see how it looks and mated with the existing structure. So if you need more space think about an barn addition .

Good morning

It is a little grey today, we had some rain and some snow last night but things like weather.  With the snow last night came our first load of 2015 Playsets. And the crew is out in the yard right now setting up for the building process.  Keep checking back either here or at our facebook and watch the progress throughout the day.
We build them, then we test them all for safety and of course fun..so with a little luck we will get some shots of not only the building but the testing.

Not only did we get a bunch of new playsets as mentioned the 2015 sheds and buildings are showing up here at Livingston Farm and getting set up for display and sales. So come rain or sleet or snow or even the elusive sun..things are on the move here.

These Children’s Play-set are treated against the elements in Vermont,  so they will stand up to whatever mother nature or your kids can dish out.  Now the yard is a bit empty.but soon will be filling up with slides and swings and rock climb walls, playhouses and well entire playsets. Stop on by or keep your eye out here and facebook during the day.

Praying for our spring and summer season here at Livingston Farm. From moving snow to delivering our first chicken coop of the year or moving some of our new elegant memorial stones into their new display, things are speeding up. Get a hold of us now to start working on your landscaping projects this spring.

Being that we are in Vermont and it is only March…..we still could get some snow, we still have some salt in stock for those icy  walk ways. If you are looking to fill in some road damage from this winter and our frost heaves we have a fine selection of rock fines and gravel for your repair needs. Be it a back road or walk way. 

Despite the cold winter like mornings. Things here are picking up. We have new sheds and play-sets coming in. Chicken Coops are being delivered and the snow is starting to melt.

It is never to early to start planning  your springtime landscaping in Vermont  . So give us a call today and let us help you start the 2015 season off right. Whatever you needs are from buildings and sheds, to stone or grass seed and everything in between contact Livingston Farm today.

If you want to keep your natural stone walkway in good condition, one of the things you should avoid using is rock salt to keep it from getting icy.  There are a few other things you can use besides rock salt that will keep you safe and not harm your walkway.

• Rock salt damages slate and other types of flagstone by causing it to chip away gradually. The salt causes ice to melt, and the melting and freezing process shrinks and expands the slate, causing cracks in the surface. These cracks become deeper, and will jeopardize strength of the stone  and cause parts of it to chip away. Salt also causes discoloration of the stone in the walk way, which will then lead to having to clean the spots.
• Instead of using rock salt, consider using a light sprinkle of sand over your walkway that will give the surface some traction when it becomes slippery. Sand is often mixed with things such as CMA to give the icy surfaces more texture so people are less likely to slip.  Cat litter is also cheap and sticks to the ground even in icy conditions, so you won’t have to worry about falling or slipping on your walkway.

During the summer months, your outdoor furniture may get a lot of use. If you live in a place that has a cold or wet climate in the winter, you will need to make sure that your furniture is cleaned and taken care of.

Most people have at least a few pieces of furniture that need to be stored. Even furniture that is treated to be weather-resistant needs to be cared for and maintained.

For wood furniture you can use Murphy Oil Soap and water, then rinse and let dry. If there are stains that are difficult to remove, make a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 gallon water. Use a soft brush to work on the stains, then rinse and let dry completely.

The most important step in preparing furniture for storage is to get it clean. Moisture and dirt left on the items can cause mold or mildew to grow in the winter months. Mold can grow and spread quickly, leaving your furniture in bad shape by the time you are ready to use it again. Pieces made from wicker, wrought iron, mesh or plastic can be cleaned with a simple dish soap and water solution.