Maintaining Your Yard and Flower Beds

If your home were a painting, your yard would be the frame. Maintaining an attractive yard is time well spent. Not only does it provide instant curb appeal, but it can boost your property value. Don’t you want to be the home on the block that makes everyone envious?

Nothing is worse than putting time and effort into your garden only to have it look lackluster. Are you having problems with your lawn, flowers, and shrubs? Often, poor soil quality is to blame. Grass and plants need nutrient-rich soil that drains well and can breathe. A soil test will determine its condition and what fertilizers or amendments it needs.

Have your soil tested by your local extension agency or purchase a soil testing kit. To break up the compacted ground and make your land more breathable, consider aerating your lawn. It could be possible that you have clay soil, which is often the worst type of soil for growing anything.

Once you identify the type of soil you have, you should plant shrubs and foliage that will thrive in thrive in that environment. You always have the option of having nutrient rich topsoil brought in to ensure your garden is spectacular.

Have you ever noticed how a well-groomed lawn enhances even the humblest abodes? You can do so much by changing the path of the lawnmower, creating diagonal cuts rather than straight ones. Proper lawn care involves more than just cutting the grass as it’s a year-round job.

The grass in your yard is the largest outdoor plant you have. During the warm growing season, lawns need water to stay green and healthy.

If your area isn’t getting enough rainfall, consider a sprinkling system for your grass and plants. It will provide the right amount of water they need to thrive. Use grass fertilizer to feed the yard and keep it lush and verdant. Do you have unsightly brown or bare spots?

Spring is the perfect time to sow grass seed to improve your lawn’s appearance. To loosen compacted soil and help the grass breathe, consider using a core aerator.

Perhaps nothing makes a place more attractive than a collection of thoughtfully placed flowers and shrubs. If they are not cared for, these may turn your yard into a sprawling jungle instead of a lovely garden. For raising successful outside plants, choose ones that are native or are hardy in your USDA growing zone.

Planting perennials in your flower beds will keep beautiful blooms coming back each year. If you plant ones that bloom at different times, the garden will always be full. Consider tucking a variety of annuals among the perennials to lend a pop of color and texture. During the growing season, keep your flowers and shrubs watered, fertilized, and weeded.

Do you love homegrown produce? Why not plant a few low-maintenance vegetables among the flowers. In late fall, put your garden to bed by cleaning away dead growth and adding a fresh layer of mulch. Having evergreen shrubs and ornamental bushes will keep lasting beauty in your yard during the gray winter months. Fertilize and prune them as needed.

Careful planning for each season will keep your yard and outdoor plants in peak display. Talk to your local horticulturalists or nursery specialist about the best ways to care for plants specific to your area. A beautiful lawn will be the pride and joy of your home for years to come.