Most everyone has heard the phrase “curb appeal” in referring to one’s first impression of a home. People take only an instant to decide if a house is worthy of their time and attention by checking out how things look on the outside when they first arrive. One of the best ways to make sure that your home has a strong and inviting curb appeal is by making sure that the lawn gets good lawn care.
While that can sound easy enough, sometimes getting the back and front lawn to look beautiful, immaculate and attractive can be a daunting task, especially if there have been some problems with the health of your lawn recently. Below is a collection of lawn care tips and suggestions that can help you cultivate a lawn that draws people to your home, welcomes them, and gives your curb appeal a real boost.
Tip One: Learn about the condition of the lawn soil. It is easy to get the soil tested. Just contact the agriculture extension agency in your town. This simple test will be able to quickly identify the components of your soil and will report anything that is lacking so you can remedy the problem.
Tip Two: Have a regular lawn maintenance routine that includes fertilizing three to five times every year. Make sure this is done on a regular schedule and is the right kind of food for the grass in your garden lawn. The extension agency can also help you with information in this regard as it relates to your local area.
Tip Three: When undertaking lawn mowing during the heat of the summer, cut it at the maximum height your lawn mower allows. This helps keep the grass from drying out as fast and even provides shade to the ground which helps prevent the loss of moisture. This will help conserve water and it will also help the lawns to crowd the weeds out. During the cooler and wetter times of the year you can set the lawn mower to cut lower according to your preferences.
Tip Four: Water about one to one-and-a-half inches once a week. When you water briefly every day, you are encouraging your lawn to develop a shallow root system. Watering only once a week helps develop nice deep roots which can better withstand hot, dry summer weather.
Tip Five: Aerate at least once or twice every year. This also helps promote lawns with deep root systems and helps the water and lawn food to get past the surface and down to the roots where it does the most good. Aerating also helps undo the effects of soil compacting, which is a particular problem if you use a riding lawn mower to help with your lawn maintenance.
Tip Six: Keep the blades of the mower good and sharp. Dull blades actually rip the ends of the grass blades and cause a ragged look and contribute to browning at the ends. Also, you should do your lawn mowing in different directions each time you mow. This helps avoid ruts and soil compaction problems.
Tip Seven: Watch for signs of dead areas. Such dead patches can be an indication of an insect problem or disease that is attacking your home and garden lawns. When you see this, you should not treat the problem until you know the cause. Your local extension agency will be a great help in this case also.
Tip Eight: Control weeds with the use of quality herbicides. You can do this separately or look for a fertilizer that also contains weed control components.
These simple tips should give you a good starting place from which to improve the health, vitality and appearance of the lawn that is the introduction to your home. With careful lawn maintenance you will enjoy great curb appeal and you will also be able to use and enjoy your yard more fully.
No realestate is finished without some type of grass, as well as some forms of shruberry to help enhance the overall 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. 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? Possibly you will consider it as a line of work that you may be curious in following. Below there are some basic frequently asked questions of landscaping so that you can get some idea of how landscaping is completed and how it might be simpler than you may think.
Is it possible to do my own landscaping?
Yes, you can do your own landscaping if you have a little information on how to do it and if have the time to do so. You will be getting your hands dirty. Plus you will need to have knowledge of what plants are the best for your terrain. If you are creating man-made structures for instance ponds or decks, you will needs to have some carpentry and plumbing skills. You will also need to know how to upkeep the pond because the last thing you need after putting in all that work is to develop a body of water loaded with mosquito larvae and algae.
If I decide to landscape my home myself, what are some designs as well as ideas to assist me?
There are many software programs out on the market currently that can help you design your very own landscape. You will have to input the shape of your yard and then choose from the kind of terrain and environmental condition you live in. The software can give you suggested plants and shrubbery that is best fitted for your yard. If you wish to have man made terrains or structures, you will want to consult a carpenter for suggestions or a do-it-yourself website on the internet for instructions.
Whats the best way to decide on the kind of plant to use?
The kind of plant you choose will be contingent upon on your climate and how much you want to water. It will also depend on how much sun your yard gets during the day. Some plants thrive in the shade when others will wilt. For those individuals who live in drought prone areas, they should consider planting plants that are hardy that require little water and actually help preserve the soil from eroding. Numerous individuals elect 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 depends on what kind of plant you wish to grow. The best time to plant bulbs is in the fall so that they have the necessary time to root. Other types of plants are more suitable 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 need to go through several years prior to them becoming large enough to furnish enough shade or to create fruit.
What is the best way to protect my newly planted shrubs and flowers from the weather as well as the elements?
During the early weeks and months many plants are at risk of dying because of the elements however you can take steps to help prevent this from happening. Wind and rain are two of the biggest threats. To guard your plants from both you will have to provide them with shelter. You can lay down a a barrier to protect between the plant and the ground. This will assist in securing the plant’s roots and prevent too much water from soaking into the earth. The additional benefit will be prevention of weeds from springing up through the barrier. To prevent the soil from getting wind erosion, disperse hay or straw in and around the plants to help protect the soil. If you place a bag that protects around the plant that will keep the plant warm enough to defend against frost.
