If you want to be sure that the landscape around your home is beautiful and in the best possible condition, then you will want to be sure that you properly take care of the lawn garden portions of your landscape design. It is very important that correct maintenance of the lawn is carried out so that they not only stay attractive but also healthy. In most cases, the lawns are the most expansive and first noticed areas of the overall landscape.

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 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 little bit helps and you do not always need a professional to do 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 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.

 

At what point should I hire a landscaper?

You should hire a landscaper if you do not have a “green thumb” and you are not going to have the necessary time to commit to getting rid of the prior landscape and planting the new. There are certain steps that must be put into place to stop the erosion of soil so it will need at a minimum a weekend of hard work. Landscaper’s are not cheap but you can find one at a fair price depending on how big the area is and how much labor you intend to do yourself. If you are going to maintain the area, you will save money as well.

 

If I decide to do the landscaping of my home myself, what are the various designs as well as conceptions to assist me?

There are numerous software programs out on the market currently that can assist you design your own landscape. You will have to insert the shape of your yard and then choose from the type of terrain and environmental condition you live in. The software can give you suggested plants as well as shrubbery that is best matched for your yard. If you wish to have terrains that are man made or structures, you will want to consult a carpenter for suggestions or a do-it-yourself website for directions.

 

How do I decide which type to plant?

The type of plant you select will be dependent on your climate and how much you want to water. It will also depend on how much sun that your gets throughout the day. Some plants flourush in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who reside in drought prone areas, they should consider planting hardy plants which require small amounts of water and really help to conserve the soil from eroding. Numerous people elect to have rock gardens and cactus if they live in desert climates.

 

When is the ideal planting season?

The ideal planting season is dependent upon what variation 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 types of 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 need to work through several years before they become large enough to furnish adequate shade or to produce fruit.

 

What is the best way to protect my newly planted shrubs and flowers from the weather as well as the elements?

At the time of the beginning weeks and months numerous plants are at risk of dying because of the elements but you can take steps to assist in preventing this. Wind and rain are two of the biggest threats. To protect your plants from both you will need to furnish with shelter. You can lay down a a barrier to protect between the plant and the ground. This will assist in securing the roots of the plant and preclude too much water from absorbing into the earth. The added benefit will be prevention of weeds from growing up through the barrier. To prevent the soil from getting wind erosion, spread hay or straw in the area of the plants to help protect the soil. If you put a protective bag around the plant that will keep the plant warm enough to prevent frost.

To find out additional information head on over to Landscape Drawings and more information at City Landscape also head on over to River Rock Landscaping

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