Sunday, November 23, 2008

Caring For Your Lawn Garden

When people drive up to someone's home, the first thing almost everyone's eye is drawn to is the lawn garden and how well it is being maintained. There is just nothing more beautiful than perfectly manicured lawns. However, if they are not in good shape and are not well maintained, then it can reflect badly on the rest of the landscape design and on the homeowner as well.

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 first indication that a drought condition could be affecting the lawns of your lawn garden landscape design is a change in the grass color. First, grass that is not getting enough moisture will lose the intense green shades and with a bit more time they will begin to show areas of turning a straw color.

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 added value of curb appeal can make the difference when selling a house or increasing the value of a home. Any little bit helps and you do not always need a professional to do the landscaping for you. There is no downside to get some advice from professionals or some knowledge prior to you beginning tearing up your front yard. 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 career that you might be interested 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.

 


What exactly makes up landscaping?

Any type of alteration of the land is known as Landscaping. It can be done through a variety of methods. It may be through the utilization of flora. It might be through the application of fauna. There are different methods of landscaping and the forms of landscaping used frequently depend on what kind of climate the area is located. Landscaping also refers to natural structures and manmade structures such as terraces, decks, platforms and seating areas. Ponds and waterfalls can be natural or manmade depending on the terrain. In order to save money many individuals elect to take advantage of as many of the natural features of the area as possible.

 

Perennials and annuals - What makes them different?

Both are, certainly, plants but the variation is in how long they last and how often you have to replant them. Annuals need to be replanted eash 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 include roses as well as other sturdy plants that become inactive in the winter months. Most grasses which are ornamental are thought to be perennials.

 

Whats the best way to decide on the kind of plant to use?

The kind of plant you select will be dependent on your climate and how much you want to water. It will also depend on the amount of sun your yard gets during the day. Some plants thrive in the shade when others will wilt. For those individuals who live in areas that are prone to drought, they should consider planting plants that are hardy that need little water and really help to preserve the soil from erosion. Numerous individuals choose to have rock gardens as well as cactus if they happen to live in desert environments.

 

At what time is the ideal season for planting?

The ideal planting season is dependent upon what type of plant you want to grow. The best time to plany bulbs is in the fall so that they have the necessary time to root within the soil. Other plants are best suited to planting in the months of the spring. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits for at least one or two seasons later so you have to prepare for this. Trees will have to work through several years before they become large enough to provide the right amount of shade or to create fruit.

 

Will do this type of landscaping add to the value of my home as well as it's curb appeal?

A great lawn can add tremendous curb appeal and value to your home. It will make the features of your home stand out and if you are looking to sell your home, it is one of the first details that potential buyers will notice. There is nothing quite like a well manicured lawn and carefully trimmed hedges that add immense immediate value to a property.

To find out more head on over to Outdoor Landscape Lighting as well as Landscape Designs also click here Landscaping Plants

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