Keeping your lawn looking its best throughout the summer months takes hard work and an understanding of what your plants need and when. Whether you are landscaping your lawn for the first time or you are a seasoned lawn care veteran, there are common mistakes that will affect your home’s curb appeal and the health of your plant life.
The following are some common landscaping mistakes to avoid this summer and maintain a fresh, lush lawn and garden.
1. Premature Planting
It is understandable that you want to start adding life and color to your yard as soon as possible in these strange and uncertain times. On the first nice weekend, it is tempting to go out and buy some plants to get a jump on the gardening season. While you may wind up with the nicest yard in the neighborhood on an early spring day, a late frost will have you scurrying to cover up and save them from chilly temperatures. It is best to wait until after the last frost to start buying plants restoring your garden.
2. Picky, Picky
When it is safe to begin to start your summer garden, it is important to choose the right plants for your yard. Pick the plants that will prosper in your specific circumstances, taking into account the size of your yard, the amount of sunlight and rainwater it gets. Planting the wrong plants and flowers for the conditions will wind up costing you time and effort to keep them alive before realizing they need to be replaced.
3. How Low Do You Go?
It is time to dust off the lawnmower and start the summer ritual of regular mowing of your yard. But how often should you cut your grass and how high should you leave it? Leaving your lawn too long can look untidy and create ideal conditions for insects and critters. Cutting your yard too short can produce weak roots and unhealthy grass. The typical industry recommendation is to cut around 1/3 off the top of the grass with each mowing. You will generally want to leave the grass between two inches and 2½ inches tall, meaning your lawn will need mowing when the grass is about 3½ inches.
4. Poor Pruning Habits
A balance also needs to be struck when it comes to how much and how often to prune. The 1/3 rule to use when mowing your lawn also applies to the pruning of your shrubs and smaller trees. Trimming around 1/3 of the good wood when pruning reduces the risk of causing damage to the plant or impeding its growth capabilities. The guideline applies only to fully established shrubs and small trees. Allow at least a full season after planting new shrubs before performing a major pruning job.
5. Hedge Neglect
Keeping your hedges neat and orderly takes regular care and attention. Trimming or shearing hedges keeps them looking great and gives you the chance to check for weeds and the overall health of the hedges. A non-flowering hedge needs to be trimmed every 6-8 weeks depending on the species and how fast it grows. Spring-flowering shrubs should be trimmed shortly after blooming, while summer-flowering shrubs should be sheared in the late winter or early in the spring.
6. Overwatering
How often you water your plants depends on a variety of factors, including the type of plant, the soil, and the climate. If your plants are not showing signs of becoming dehydrated, most of them will not much if any additional water than what Mother Nature supplies.
7. Too Much Stuff
Ornaments and lawn accessories can add character, depth, and style to your yard, but you can have too much of a good thing. Let your landscaping be the focal point of attention and keep the ornamentation to a minimum.
Contact All Green Today
All Green Pest Control & Lawn Care offers the best lawn care and pest control services in Utah. For complete information about your residential and commercial landscaping needs, contact the respected industry leaders at All Green Pest Control & Lawn Care today and get all your questions answered.