When it comes to making sure that the landscape around your home stays in top condition, one of the key items to take care of is the lawn garden area. It is important that proper maintenance is done to keep the back and front lawn, and the garden healthy and looking good because in most cases, the lawn is the largest and most visible aspect of a property.
Watering the lawn and garden is one of the most important parts of good lawn maintenance. In some parts of the country, there is enough rainfall so that the roots are properly supplied with moisture. But even in what would be considered soggy areas, such as the Pacific Northwest, there are periods or dry weather and no rain. When this happens, it is vital to the survival of the lawns that they be properly watered.
The early sign of your lawn garden having a drought condition is when the grass starts to show some subtle changes in color. At first, you might notice the color shifting from a deep green to a lighter green. As the problem worsens, the grass can start to even take on a straw color and eventually will turn brown if the moisture problem is not corrected.
The best time of day to water a lawn or garden is during the coolest part of the day. This means that turning on the lawn sprinkler early in the morning or in the evening after the sun has set is best. Garden lawn experts also say that the rotary sprinklers provide the best coverage if you don’t have a built in sprinkler system for your lawn maintenance.
In most cases, it is best to water your lawn just once a week, unless the weather is extremely hot or dry. When doing your weekly watering, you can place an empty tuna can on the grass and let the water run until it is filled up. This will help you know when you have watered enough to give the deep roots enough moisture without over watering. Watering in this way will also help your lawns develop a deep root system which will also help them survive periods of drought.
Another aspect of lawn and garden maintenance is proper fertilization and weed control. Good basic maintenance techniques will go a long way in keeping the lawns of your home and garden healthy, thriving and with few weeds. Spring is the best time to fertilize lawns as this is when the grass is “waking up” and will need the extra nutrients from the fertilizer to assure healthy growth. The best garden lawn fertilizers will have a combination of nitrogen, phosphates and potash.
In addition to a “spring feeding” of your lawn garden, you can also boost the health and vitality of the grass in your lawns with a second round of fertilization during the summer. This will help assure that your grass is healthy enough to help push out the weeds that might try to take root and you can also use a fertilizer that combines a weed-killer to control these unwanted plants.
No building is complete without some grass, a few plants and some shrubbery to help enhance the quality of the building. The enhanced curb appeal as well as the added value can make the final difference when selling a home or adding to the over all value of the house. Any small amounts help and you don’t have to always use a professional to complete the landscaping for you. It never hurts to have some professional advice or a little bit of knowledge before you start ripping up your front yard, though. Some trees, some pleasant green grass, and you will get it down pat before you know it Who knows? Maybe you will decide it as a line of work that you might be curious in pursuing. The following are some of the frequently asked question people have for landscaping so that you can have an idea of how landscaping is done and how it can be easier than you might think.
At what point should I hire a landscaper?
You should hire a landscaper if you do not have a a special ability to make plants grow and you are not going to have the time to commit to getting rid of the old landscape and planting the new. There are specific steps that must be put into place to prevent the erosion of soil so it will require at least a weekend of challenging work. Landscaper’s are not inexpensive but you can find one at a sensible price depending upon on how extensive the area is and how much labor you intend to complete yourself. If you are going to upkeep the area, you will spend less money as well.
Perennials and annuals – What makes them different?
Both are, of course, plants but the variation is in the time span in which they last and how frequently you need to replant them. Annuals must be replanted every year. Examples of annuals are any kind of vegetable, sunflowers as well as flowers such as violets. Perennials are plants that will regenerate themselves. They include trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and also include roses and other sturdy plants that become inactive in the winter months. Most ornamental grasses are thought to be perennials.
How do I decide which type to plant?
The type of plant you choose will be contingent upon on your climate and the amount of water you want to use. It will also be dependent on how much sun that your receives during the day. Some plants thrive in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who reside in areas that are prone to drought, they should think about planting hardy plants that require little water and really help to preserve the soil from erosion. Many people choose to have rock gardens and cactus if they live in desert environments.
When is the ideal planting season?
The ideal planting season depends on what kind of plant you wish to grow. The best time to plany bulbs is in the fall so that they have the necessary time to root. Other plants are best suited to planting in the months of the spring. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits for one or two seasons later so you have to get ready for this. Trees will have to go through several years prior to them becoming substantial enough to furnish the right amount of shade or produce fruit.
Will it increase the value and curb appeal of my home?
A great lawn can add tremendous curb appeal and value to your home. The overall effect is that it will make the features of your house stand out and if you have intentions of selling your home, one of the first details that possible buyers will see if the landscaping. There is nothing quite like a well manicured lawn and carefully trimmed hedges that add immense immediate value to a property.
For further educational content go here Beautiful Landscape and more information at Front Yard Landscaping and go to Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
