If you have been noticing that your landscape is not looking as great as it once did, then it may be time to consider repairing it. There are many reasons why you should repair your landscape, and some of those reasons include:
Improving the Curb Appeal of Your Home
One of the main reasons why you should consider repairing your landscape is because it can help to improve the curb appeal of your home. If you have a well-maintained and attractive landscape, then it will make your home look more appealing from the outside, which could potentially increase its value. Homes with lush backyards, that feature many amenities and architecture will have a much higher curb appeal.
Making Your Landscape More Functional
Repairing your landscape can make it more functional. If you have a lot of dead space in your landscape or if there are areas that are difficult to use, then repairing your landscape can help to make those areas more functional and usable. For instance, you might be able to add a garden or transform a dead space into a fire pit or a patio.
Preventing Future Problems
Another reason why you should consider repairing your landscape is that it can help to prevent future problems. The biggest benefit of landscape repair and enhancement is that it helps with drainage and waterproofing. This helps your home’s structural foundation.
Saving Money
Repairing your landscape can save you money in the long run. If you have a landscape that needs repair, then it will likely cost you more money to maintain it over time. However, if you repair your landscape now, then you can avoid having to spend that extra money down the road.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should consider repairing your landscape. If you have been noticing that your landscape is looking dull and uninspiring, it may be time for a facelift. Consider professional landscape design, repair and enhancement services. By doing so, you can avoid having to deal with future problems, save money, and improve the curb appeal of your home.
As winter calms down, many homeowners are anticipating an exhaustive list of lawn chores for the early spring months. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to ensure your lawn is ready for the upcoming spring season. And the best part is, it’s very straightforward! Here’s what you should tackle as soon as the snow begins to melt.
Remove Debris
Begin by removing any debris on the lawn. This might include fallen leaves, branches, and other yard waste. Rake up any remaining leaves, twigs, or other yard waste that was leftover from late fall or early winter to prevent them from smothering the grass and promoting weed growth.
Control Potential Weed Growth
Next, apply a pre-emergent weed control product to your lawn. This will help to prevent any pesky weeds from popping up later in the season. Follow the instructions on the product carefully to avoid harming your grass.
Look for Dead Patches
If you notice any dead patches of grass, now is the time to repair them. Use a grass seed mixture that matches your current lawn type to fill in the patches. Be sure to water the repaired areas regularly to help them take root.
Rake One More Time
Give your lawn a good Spring cleaning by raking it one more time. This will help to remove any leftover debris and ensure that your grass is getting plenty of air and sunlight.
Start-Up the Lawnmower
Raise the mower blades to their highest setting and cut the grass nice and short. Doing this will help the grass to stay healthy and strong all season long.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your lawn is in great shape for the spring and summer months ahead.
While winter may not be the most beautiful time of year, there are still some things you can do to make your landscape look even better in the colder months. Begin planning your landscaping in summer and fall, and don’t forget to add accents in the fall. The cold season can be challenging for plants, so they’ll need to be pruned and covered with snow. For winter interest, choose plants that provide texture and color. Luckily, there are many options for hardy and low-maintenance trees that can tolerate cold temperatures.
Decide which type of tree will thrive in your landscape in the winter. Evergreen trees, such as birch, are the best choice for the colder months, and a red osier dogwood is a great choice for a damp area. You can also choose ornamental grasses like plume grass to give your landscape some pizazz in the winter. Besides evergreens, many other plants will complement the cold season, such as pines and ash trees.
If you have a lawn and want to add color to your yard, choose brightly colored containers. Plants in containers will add a splash of color to your landscape, and brick walls make a good backdrop for colorful plants. If you’re thinking of adding flowers to your winter landscaping, consider using brightly colored flowers. Holly flowers have bright berries that look great in containers. And while a wood fence makes a great backdrop for flowers, plants will need protection in the colder months.
Every summer in Minnesota can have unpredictable weather. It could be rainy all week, but then suddenly, the rain hasn’t come in almost a month. Many states are subjected to periods of dry weather, especially in the summertime. During a drought, your yard will surely show that it is suffering, so many homeowners are wondering, what can they do to help their landscape survive during this tough time?
While it may seem hopeless, there are some steps you can take to save your lawn during a drought. Here are some tips.
Monitor the Weather
While the lawn grass is experiencing stress from the harsh drought, it is still growing. You will notice areas that are browning and thinning. The excess heat and lack of water are what prevent the grass from storing carbohydrates. Watering regularly can help keep the grass a bit healthy, and once the rain comes, it will bounce right back.
Over Fertilizing is a No-no
Spreading fertilizer on your grass during a drought may cause more harm than good. Over-fertilizing could end up burning the grass. The focus is to have your grass absorb water during the drought, not trying to fertilize it.
Forget Watering Cool-Season Grass
This sounds counterintuitive, but for cool-season grass, it is natural for them to go dry during the dry and warm seasons. Watering will be virtually useless. Breaking their dormant cycle can drain the reserves, which means the plant may not bounce back once their season comes.
Water Frequently
Unless your city has a water ordinance in effect, you should make sure that you are watering it enough to keep it alive. Warm-season grass has peak growth in the hot weather, so making sure it is hydrated is essential.
Summertime means mowing time. But are you treating your lawn the most effective way? Here are some tips you can follow to ensure your lawn is being cared for properly.
Mow at the Correct Height
You should adjust the height of your mower to leave the grass a bit taller. Taller grass will reduce water evaporation, and it can help the roots grow deeper. This can prevent weed seeds from germinating and spreading. Each grass type has different height variances in which you should follow.
Water Efficiently
To keep your grass healthy, you should ensure your grass is watered frequently. During rainy weeks, you won’t need to start up the irrigation. Make sure to check in with the local water authority to plan your irrigation schedule.
Clean Up After Pets
You may notice dead spots on your lawn if you have a dog. This could be from your dog’s waste. Make sure to clean up your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly, as it can flush the area and harm the soil.
Don’t Park On the Grass
Driving on the grass is not a good idea, even if it isn’t your car. If you own any other vehicle, you should limit driving and parking on the grass. This can damage turf crowns.
Make Sure To Clean Litter
Picking up litter will help avoid damaging the grass. Make sure to clean up after any activities that take place on your lawn, as toys and lawn chairs can also create dangerous obstacles when mowing.
In denser, urban neighborhoods, yards are usually on the smaller size. Because of this, some people don’t bother with upkeep, as there is this notion that traditional landscaping techniques don’t apply. Lawn equipment tends to be on the bulkier side, so it is harder to store and maneuver. Also, shade from neighboring trees and houses can make growing and gardening seem like an impossible feat.
While there are obstacles you have to overcome, developing a landscape routine can work for small yards. Here are a few tips you can follow to help transform your cramped space into an oasis you can enjoy.
Get The Right Lawn Materials
To effectively care for your lawn, you need to understand what you are working with. Some smaller residential homes will benefit from artificial turf, especially if you are wanting a low-maintenance lawn. If you do want to use real grass, you need to know which grass will thrive. For cool humid zones (the Northern Midwest), bluegrass, ryegrass, bentgrass, and fescues will be most optimal.
Get The Right Tools
If you plan on using real grass, you will need a compact lawnmower. A gas-powered lawn mower will likely be too big for storing, so your options could be a push mower, electric mower, or even a robotic mower. Other tools you should consider are typical gardening tools, such as shears, rakes, seed spreads, and possible leaf blowers.
Start a Small Scale Garden
Personalizing a small garden that fits your tiny yard will yield bountiful results. You can hang plants, tiered plants, or align pots to your back wall. Since your space will be small, you might not be able to plant in the ground.
You don’t always need to have an abundance of space to begin a landscaping project. Consider hiring a professional landscaping company if you’re considering
Halloween is officially over, and for many, that means one thing: Christmas! Whether you begin decorating right on November 1, or wait until December, there are always great holiday landscaping tips. Here are the best Christmas decorating ideas that utilize natural elements.
Using Natural Elements in Your Christmas Landscaping
The most common way to decorate your yard for Christmas is by hanging lights on your home and trees. If you are a Christmas lover, then you more than likely have other yard decorations. And while classic decoration styles are always a great start, you should incorporate nature into your holiday designs.
Shrubs and trees can play a critical role in creating a festive scene that will set your house apart from others in the neighborhood. Add some decor to all of your hearty-winter plants. Most people think of evergreen plants as the only “real” symbolic Christmassy plants, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your deciduous trees and other shrubs that are leafless. Their branches and trunks can all make for a great base for fantastic light displays.
What to Plant in Window Boxes
The most common plants that are found in window boxes are annuals. While you won’t be planting annuals anytime soon in the coming frigid months, that doesn’t make your window boxes worthless. For Christmas decorating, and even through winter, you should plant some evergreen boughs, and to make it even more festive, add some ornaments and ribbons!
Go Crazy With Garland
One of the most iconic Christmas decorations is the evergreen garland. It is an incredibly versatile and simple way to add some color and festivity to a snowy yard. They can be wrapped around columns, doors, and pretty much any part of your home’s exterior. Even if you decide to go light with garland, you can still add an incredible amount of visual interest to your home and yard.
Getting creative with how you do your Christmas landscaping can go a long way. Following these tips are a great way to begin your Christmas decorating and have a show-stopping landscape!
It doesn’t take a whole lot of work to improve your curb appeal, especially during the fall. Many fall landscaping ideas are easy to implement. You can create a beautiful yet simple outdoor landscape with the colors of fall. Fall landscaping works with any budget. Whether you want to do a simple project or go all out, the sky’s the limit when it comes to this festive season. Here’s how you can boost your curb appeal through some simple design and landscaping choices.
Fall landscaping
Fall landscaping is surprisingly easy to execute. You don’t have to mow your lawn as often, and you can cut back a bit on the maintenance. Instead, these tasks are replaced by raking. It is still important to cut your grass, as a well-manicured lawn can boost your home’s value by almost 15%.
Entryway design
One of the most festive times of year calls for a perfectly decorated entryway! Fall-themed decorations are easy and cheap to come by, so fill your porch with hay, corn stalks, and of course, pumpkins! You can match the colorful array with an appropriately themed doormat. Updating lighting fixtures are also a great way to improve your curb appeal and can go a long way.
Exterior upkeep
Despite the cooling temperatures, there is still work that can be done to your exterior. The brisk mornings and evenings make it less strenuous to do, especially after enduring the blistering heat from the recent summer days. Check your gutters, repair and chipped siding or paint, and evaluate any damage done to your roof. You should also make sure the lightbulbs in your lighting are all in working condition.
Get creative with lighting
One of the best ways to accentuate and highlight the landscaping of your home and yard is to find unique ways to use lighting. Garden fixtures, pathway lighting, and the lighting on your home all serve a purpose in making your home stand out. The biggest piece is to not overdo your lighting. The main goal when it comes to lighting for landscaping is to use softer and subtler hues. Angle the lights towards trees and shrubs to incorporate more natural light during the darker hours. This helps boost your curb appeal.
A change in seasons is always welcomed, especially after a long and hot summer. There are many landscaping ideas you can use to welcome this fall. Of course, if you’re looking for a large landscaping project, you should always consult a professional landscaping service to ensure you have the most beautiful and practical yard.
Azaleas are flowers that are easy to maintain and bloom beautifully. While more common in the south, they can be grown in Minnesota and can be a great addition to any garden. Azaleas can become a staple of your garden, you just have to make all the necessary steps to make it a reality. Here are some tips for growing Azaleas this spring.
Choosing Azaleas
The type of Azaleas you grow depends on the type of area you have. If you have a smaller garden, pick a dwarf variety or smaller. If you have a larger garden, you can pick from some of the older varieties or a kind that has multiple blooms. It’s crucial to do some research before you decide as Azaleas can get quite big.
Where to Plant Azaleas
Azaleas need good exposure to sunlight in the mornings, and shade in the afternoon. Too much exposure to sunlight will make them more susceptible to pests. Another crucial detail is that they need acidic soil that’s well-drained in order to grow best. If the PH level is under 6.0, apply aluminium sulfate to the soil.
Watering Azaleas
Water the soil two to three times a week the first two months after planting. After 3 to 4 months, you should only have to water once a week. After the first growing season, your plants shouldn’t need water unless it hasn’t rained in two or more weeks.
How to Prune Azaleas
Old or overgrown Azaleas can be renewed if they’re given a considerable pruning. Pruning is completed within the late winter or early spring before flowering. In order to prune, cut back plants to 12 inches above the ground and always keep the soil moist and to give them the nutrients they need in order to thrive.
If given the necessary care, Azaleas can be a great addition to your yard that will amaze for years to come.