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While it may seem like an impossible goal, keeping your lawn and garden areas weed-free without using harmful chemicals can be done. Some people think that it is just too much work and can only mean hours of back-breaking, knee-numbing work. Fortunately, you don’t have to get down on your knees and pull those weeds out by hand. In fact, the whole idea is to work smarter, instead of harder, and still enjoy chemical-free weed control.

The first big change needed to begin controlling the weeds in your lawns and gardens without chemicals is to properly prepare the soil for the areas in question. This would be considered laying the proper foundation where you will be growing your plants. It is best to implement the following ideas before doing your plantings so that you get your chemical-free weed control project off to a great start.

One of the best ways to avoid having weeds sprout up in your gardens or patio lawn is to kill the weeds though a process called soil solarization. This is a preventative approach and a completely organic way of eliminating weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. However, soil solarization does require a good bit of work, and is only effective if you can start planting the area with a clean slate.

Another very effective way to keep weeds out of your lawn and garden without dumping a lot of toxic chemicals all over your landscape design is to install landscape fabrics. These specially made fabrics are very effective and can be considered a great hi-tech partner in battling weeds without chemical treatments.

Utilizing garden mulch is another very beneficial approach to protecting your lawns and gardens from an invasion of weeds. While landscape fabrics work from below the prepared planting area, mulch is applied to the top of the soil, around your plants and can effectively smother a weed trying to break through to the surface. Mulch can also be used in conjunction with the anti-weed landscape fabrics for a one-two punch strategy of organic weed control.

Another added benefit of using mulch is that it also has the ability to provide insulation to your plantings. This insulation value is particularly helpful in the summertime and can help to keep the underlying soil both cool and moist. This will reduce the watering requirements and will also protect the root systems from damage caused by sever heat.

While some people have chalked it up to an old wives tale, vinegar can also help you control weeds without chemicals. It is the acetic acid in the vinegar that delivers an herbicidal dose to weeds. But, you will need a stronger variety than what you probably have in the cupboard and you can look for super-strength vinegar in weed and feed stores.

If you do decide you want to utilize vinegar in an organic approach to weed killing in your lawn and garden spaces, then you have to be careful to only apply it to the weeds and not to any of your plants. Vinegar would be classified as a “non-selective” herbicide, which means it will damage anything it touches and because of this it cannot be used for lawns. But, vinegar can be a very effective organic approach to controlling weeds around your flowers and plants if you take careful aim when spraying.

No real estate is finished without some type of grass, as well as some forms of shruberry to help enhance the overall 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 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. A few trees, some nice green grass and you will have 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.

Can I do my own landscaping?

Yes, you can do your own landscaping if you have a small amount of information on how to get it done 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 structures that are man-made for instance ponds or decks, you will needs to have some carpentry and plumbing skills. You will also need to know the way to upkeep the pond because one of the last things you need after putting in all that work is to develop a body of water filled with algae as well as mosquito larvae.

Perennials and annuals – What makes them different?

Both are, certainly, plants although the difference is in how long they last and how often you are required to replant them. Annuals must be replanted each year. Examples of annuals are any type of vegetable, sunflowers as well as flowers for instance violets. Perennials are plants that will regenerate themselves. Some examples would be trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and also include roses and other hardy plants that become inactive during the winter months. The majority of ornamental grasses are thought to be perennials.

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

The type of plant you select will be dependent on your environmental condition and the amount of water you want to use. It will also depend on how much sun your yard receives during the day. Some plants flourish in the shade when others will wilt. For those people who reside in drought prone areas, they should consider planting hardy plants which require small amounts of water and really help conserve the soil from process of erosion. Numerous people elect to have rock gardens as well as cactus if they live in desert climates.

At what time is the ideal season for planting?

The ideal planting season depends on what type of plant you want to grow. Bulbs are best planted in the fall so that they have time to root. Other types of plants are more suitable to planting in the months of the spring. There are some plants will not produce flowers or fruits for one or two seasons later so you need to get ready for this. Trees will need to go through several years before they become big enough to provide the right amount of shade or to produce fruit.

What will be the cost be to have my home landscaped?

It would be virtually impossible to get an accurate estimate without knowing how big your yard is, what the overall condition of the soil is and finally what kind of plants that you are looking to plant in your yard. You can generally guess that it will be at least five hundred dollars and can quickly go upwards of several thousand dollars for plants that are exotic and features which are complex. You can get an estimate for the overall price from the landscaper.