Just about everyone knows what "curb appeal" is and why it is important. It is the very first impression that a person gets as they pull up to your house. It just takes a split second for someone to evaluate your home and decide a number of things about you, before they even set foot on your property. One of the most important ways that you can give your home a boost and improve its curb appeal is by nurturing the lawn and making sure it is well tended and carefully manicured.
While that can sound easy enough, sometimes getting the back and front lawn to look beautiful, immaculate and attractive can be a daunting task, especially if there have been some problems with the health of your lawn recently. Below is a collection of lawn care tips and suggestions that can help you cultivate a lawn that draws people to your home, welcomes them, and gives your curb appeal a real boost.
Tip One: Learn about the condition of the lawn soil. It is easy to get the soil tested. Just contact the agriculture extension agency in your town. This simple test will be able to quickly identify the components of your soil and will report anything that is lacking so you can remedy the problem.
Tip Two: Have a regular lawn maintenance routine that includes fertilizing three to five times every year. Make sure this is done on a regular schedule and is the right kind of food for the grass in your garden lawn. The extension agency can also help you with information in this regard as it relates to your local area.
Tip Three: When undertaking lawn mowing during the heat of the summer, cut it at the maximum height your lawn mower allows. This helps keep the grass from drying out as fast and even provides shade to the ground which helps prevent the loss of moisture. This will help conserve water and it will also help the lawns to crowd the weeds out. During the cooler and wetter times of the year you can set the lawn mower to cut lower according to your preferences.
Tip Four: Water about one to one-and-a-half inches once a week. When you water briefly every day, you are encouraging your lawn to develop a shallow root system. Watering only once a week helps develop nice deep roots which can better withstand hot, dry summer weather.
Tip Five: Aerate at least once or twice every year. This also helps promote lawns with deep root systems and helps the water and lawn food to get past the surface and down to the roots where it does the most good. Aerating also helps undo the effects of soil compacting, which is a particular problem if you use a riding lawn mower to help with your lawn maintenance.
Tip Six: Keep the blades of the mower good and sharp. Dull blades actually rip the ends of the grass blades and cause a ragged look and contribute to browning at the ends. Also, you should do your lawn mowing in different directions each time you mow. This helps avoid ruts and soil compaction problems.
Tip Seven: Watch for signs of dead areas. Such dead patches can be an indication of an insect problem or disease that is attacking your home and garden lawns. When you see this, you should not treat the problem until you know the cause. Your local extension agency will be a great help in this case also.
Tip Eight: Control weeds with the use of quality herbicides. You can do this separately or look for a fertilizer that also contains weed control components.
These simple tips should give you a good starting place from which to improve the health, vitality and appearance of the lawn that is the introduction to your home. With careful lawn maintenance you will enjoy great curb appeal and you will also be able to use and enjoy your yard more fully.
No realestate is finished without some type of grass, as well as some forms of shruberry to help enhance the overall 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? Possibly you will decide it as a career that you might be curious in pursuing. 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.
What is landscaping?
Landscaping is any alteration to the land. It can be done through a variety of methods. It might be through the utilization of plant life. It might be through the application of fauna. There are different methods of landscaping and the forms of landscaping used frequently are dependent on what type of climate the area is located. Landscaping also refers to natural structures and manmade structures such as terraces, decks, platforms and seating areas. Ponds and waterfalls can be natural or manmade depending on the terrain. So that you can save money numerous people elect to capitalize on as many of the natural features of the area as possible.
Perennials and annuals - What makes them different?
Both are, of course, plants but the variation is in how long they last and how often you need to plant them again. Annuals need to be replanted eash year. Examples of annuals are any kind of vegetable, sunflowers and flowers such as violets. Perennials are plants that will renew themselves. They include trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and include roses as well as other sturdy plants that go dormant during the winter months. The majority of grasses which are ornamental are considered to be perennials.
How do I decide which type to plant?
The kind of plant you select will depend on your environmental condition and the amount of water you want to use. It will also depend on how much sun that your gets during the day. Some plants flourush in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who live in areas that are prone to drought, they should think about planting hardy plants that require little water and really help to preserve the soil from erosion. Many people elect to have rock gardens as well as cactus if they happen to live in desert climates.
When is the ideal planting season?
The ideal planting season depends on what kind of plant you wish 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 during the spring months. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits until one or two seasons later so you need to get ready for this. Trees will need to go through several years prior to them becoming substantial enough to furnish enough shade or create fruit.
Will do this type of landscaping add to the value of my home as well as it's curb appeal?
A great lawn can add tremendous curb appeal and value to your home. It will make the features of your home stand out and if you are looking to sell your home, it is one of the first details that potential buyers will notice. There is nothing quite like a well manicured lawn and carefully trimmed hedges that add immense immediate value to a property.
For additional helpful knowledge click here Landscape Edging also Landscape Drainage and go to Natural Landscape Design
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