Best Ways to Stay Safe During a Winter Storm

Since we’re located in Massachusetts, we’re used to the cold weather and winter storms. It looks like the next few months may be filled with snow and we’re here are a few quick tips to help you prepare for the next Nor’easter.

1. Keep watch of the news about pending winter storms. When the forecasters predict a bad one, it is best to over prepare than be underprepared. Follow your local news outlets on social media (if you have one) or have alerts sent to your phone with weather apps. It is also a good idea to have a battery operated radio or TV just in case the power goes out.

2. Stock up on food and liquids. It’s a good idea to buy canned goods and even some non-perishable food.

3. According to the Red Cross, lower the thermostat to 65° F (18° C) during the day and to 55° F (13° C) at night.  If you turn it lower than 50°F, you run the risk of frozen pipes in cold weather.

4. If you have a car or cars, winterize them beforehand. This means you should keep a full tank, replace your tires with snow tires,   You should also have your vehicle checked overall before the winter to ensure your battery, antifreeze, and other parts are ready for the winter.

5. Ensure your family has an emergency plan. This includes having emergency supplies, such as tools, warm blankets and clothes, and medications. Take a look at this checklist from the CDC for a full list of supplies.

Want some further information about keeping you and your family when a storm hits? Check out some other helpful tips from the Red Cross here. Don’t wait you’re stuck inside. Call us today to set up a snow management plan to fit your needs.

Stay safe and warm!

Shady Tree Landscaping is a leader in the snow removal business. Whether it’s a residential driveway, shopping plaza, office building or a condominium complex, we understand the importance of being able to safely access your property.

Lighting the Way Towards Summertime

Don’t Forget Your Sunglasses

It’s time to start thinking about those relaxing summer nights.   We know that outdoor lighting is important for your nighttime safety… but not safety alone.  You want that “Pop” and stunning first impression when your invited guests arrive for an evening dinner or refreshing moonlight libation.  

Don’t worry, Shady Tree’s team is here. From patio lighting to pool lighting, and all between our team of experts can sit down to understand your vision, budget, and timelines.   We’ll work with you to develop a comprehensive installation that meets your needs.

Before you even start, it’s important to know the type of light bulbs you need.  So think of important questions, such as the amount of “lumens” you need, which measure the intensity of light. Here’s a quick rundown of the lumens by lightbulb.

Source: Arch Daily

Energy Today recommends the following lumens for each outdoor lighting space:

• Path lighting:100-200 lumens

• Step lights: 12-100 lumens

• Floodlights: 700-1300 lumens

• Motion sensor lights: 300-700 lumens

• Pond/pool lights: 200-400 lumens

• Hardscape lights (on walls): 50-185

So now you know about lumens, are you ready to choose the right type of light bulbs! Here are a few basics on the types of light bulbs:

• Incandescent Bulbs – At one time the most commonly used bulb and now being slowly phased out. They last about 700 to 1,000 hours and can be used as a dimmer, but is known for not being as energy efficient.

• Halogen Bulbs – They are similar to incandescent bulbs, but give the closest approximation of natural daylight; thus, called the “white light.” They are more expensive, but also more energy efficient. At one time the most common bulb used in outdoor lighting, now has gave way to LED.

• Fluorescent Bulbs – There are many types of fluorescent bulbs. From warm to cool, they produce more light and last longer, so they would work well in larger areas, such as basements.

• LED Bulbs – These bulbs are long-lasting and some of the most energy-efficient. Widely used today for all lighting situations indoors and out. As technology advanced and costs came down, LED quickly became the primary bulbs used in outdoor lighting today.

So why Shady Tree?

• Peace of Mind and Security - We know the importance of security and safety in outdoor lighting. Your safety is our #1 priority.

• Cost - We provide low voltage lighting efficiency to accumulate significant long-term savings.

• Beauty - Emphasize the most attractive features of your property!

• Customization - We can install lighting that connects with WiFi and home automation applications that will allow you to customize your programming needs.

Don’t just enjoy your yard during the day. Be sure to utilize your pool, patio, gardens, and grill at night, and take comfort in the added security of an illuminated home and landscape.

Give us a call now to learn how we can light your needs!

Since 1991, Shady Tree Landscaping has been the leading outdoor landscaper in New England. We provide complete residential, commercial, municipal and athletic field, maintenance, construction and full irrigation services including installations.

Welcome to Our New Website!

Welcome to the NEW Shady Tree Landscaping website! Since 1991, we have been committed to serving the New England area and look forward to continuing to provide our services to you and your family. This year, our 29th year of being in business, we’re ready to start new projects, meet new customers, and make your property look brand new! The new site was designed to make it easier to access information about our offerings, showcase our work and simplify use when accessing us via mobile-device.

We encourage you to take a look around our new website, review our portfolio and explore the breadth of services we offer. Our passionate and dedicated team are only a click or tap away if you have any questions or are looking for an estimate. Also, don’t forget to check out and follow us on our social media sites for in-progress project snapshots and to stay up-to-date on all things at Shady Tree.

We’ll be posting a few times a month on this blog to keep you on the forefront of general company announcements, landscaping tips, design trends and all other sorts of valuable tidbits.

Have Lawn Maintenance and Care question this upcoming spring? Ask our Todd@shadytreelandscaping.com our in-house expert and he’ll address it in an upcoming post.

Stay tuned for more blog posts like this and welcome to the new age of Shady Tree Landscaping. Talk to you soon!

The Shady Tree Landscaping Team