Maintenance tips to keep your yard in shape

Numerous maintenance practices help in keeping the yard in shape such practices include mowing, weeding, getting new plants for curve appeal,watering your lawn.

Mowing

It is important to keep the lawn at the right height all year. In an attempt to attain a perfect lawn, most people tend to over-mow their lawns. This practice is not always recommended because it may destroy the crown of the grass which could result in damaging the roots due to exposure to direct sunlight its best to not mow to more the existing lawn over a third of the prevailing lawn.. This practice shocks the grass when done during hot weather. It is also important to always cut the grass to a medium height because when the grass height is too short, it reduces the water retention capacity of grass. Low water retention maximizes the watering frequency of the lawn. It is also important to note that, during instances when a plant is in stress, it becomes more vulnerable to diseases and pest attacks. For instance, the recommended mowing heights of some grass are one-and-a-half to one-and-three quarter inches for Bermudagrass, three to three-and-a-half inches for St. Augustin, and one inch for Tiff. By mowing the grass at the recommended height, it retains more water, absorbs enouph sunlight, and provides sufficient shade against potential weeds.

Planting

Proper planting of shrubs and trees is critical for the plant’s long-term health. Whenever plants are deeply rooted, there are high chances that the crown remains well covered which could smother the plant. It is best for plants to grow with their crown even with the soil line or slightly above it. The most recommended procedure of planting trees is planting them directly into the native soil in a hole that covers the root ball and twice as wide as the root ball. It is not necessary to amend the soil present in the planting hole. The same depth is also recommended when planting perennials and annuals. The procedure is only not applicable to plants that require amending the bedding soil with organic compost.

Weeding

Weeds will always appear no matter the maintenance and effort involved. In case you are using the all-organic maintenance program, the presence of the weeds is obvious. The presence of weeds on the lawn gives you the opportunity of learning more about your soil. Although one can control most weeds by improving the health of the lawn and that of your soil, hand removal of weeds is compulsory. Weeds are important in making a compost pile. It is possible to maintain a chemical-free landscape through the utilization of 20% vinegar as a spot treatment. It is always important to understand the fact that there will never be a lawn that is 100% weed-free. Watering

One of the most critical elements of a healthy landscape is the regular and proper watering of the lawn. Please be aware that the excess watering of the lawn has the potential to attract pest infestation and various fungal diseases. On the other hand, too little water declines the growth of the lawn and could also attract pests. The recommended amount of water on your lawn is equivalent to one inch of weekly rainfall when using an irrigation system. It is a precaution that plants be watered less frequestnly because it weakens the roots. In conclusion, it is important to always keep a close eye on your lawn. In doing so, you will be able to observe any deviation from the norm, as far as, normal growth of your lawn is concerned.