- Inspect plants regularly for disease, pests, or other issues.
- Prune trees and shrubs to maintain shape and promote growth.
- Remove weeds by hand or combat them with pre-emergent herbicide, mulch, and soil amendments.
- Use lawn irrigation systems for efficient watering of the lawn.
- Control pests with natural solutions like insect-attracting plants and beneficial predatory insects.
This is a contributed post and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
Maintaining a beautiful landscape isn’t easy. It takes time, effort and knowledge to keep your garden healthy and vibrant. Luckily, there are some simple tips that you can follow to maintain your landscape. Read on to discover five essential tips for successful landscape maintenance.
1. Inspect Your Plants Regularly
The health of your plants is the key to a beautiful and successful landscape. Inspecting your plants at least once a month can help you spot any potential issues before they become serious. Look for signs of disease, pests, and other problems that might indicate it’s time to take action. Pay special attention to perennials or plants you’ve recently added to the landscape.
2. Prune Trees and Shrubs
Regular pruning of trees and shrubs is necessary for maintaining healthy plants and keeping your landscape looking its best. Prune trees to control their shape, remove dead wood and encourage new growth. Prune shrubs to keep them from becoming overgrown, encourage flowering and promote good plant health. When pruning evergreen shrubs, use the plant’s natural shape as a guide and only remove one-third of the overall foliage.
3. Keep Weeds at Bay
Weeds can quickly take over your landscape and cause damage to desirable plants. To keep them at bay, regularly monitor your landscape for signs of weeds and pull or dig them out as soon as they appear. You can add nutrient-rich soil amendments, such as peat moss, to areas prone to weed growth. This will help suppress weed growth and promote the growth of desirable plants. Remember that weeds compete with other plants for water and nutrients, so you should always ensure your lawn is adequately watered and fertilized to give your desirable plants the best chance of success.
Here are some ways to keep weeds away from your landscape:
Consider a Pre-emergent Herbicide
A pre-emergent herbicide can help to prevent the germination and growth of weed seeds in your landscape. This product type is typically applied at least twice yearly, usually in spring and fall.
Pull Weeds by Hand
Pulling weeds by hand can be an effective way to keep them from taking over your landscape. Start by wetting the soil around the weed, then firmly grasp it and pull it up from its roots. Dispose of weeds in a trash can or compost pile away from your landscaping area.
Invest in Mulch
Adding mulch to your landscaping beds can help to keep weeds from taking root. It acts as a barrier between the soil and the weed, suppressing its growth. Choose an appropriate type of mulch for your specific landscape requirements, such as wood chips or shredded bark.
Maintain Regularly
A well-maintained landscape is less likely to be overrun by weeds. Regularly check for weeds and remove them immediately to keep your landscape looking its best. You can also inspect the soil for bare spots that could be potential weed breeding grounds. Be sure to fill any empty patches with grass or other plants.
4. Use Proper Watering Techniques
Properly watering your lawn is essential for its health and longevity. To ensure maximum efficiency, use a lawn irrigation system with regularly scheduled run times. This helps guarantee that the water reaches all lawn parts uniformly while avoiding over or under-watering any particular area. Using the right amount of water will help you save money. Professional lawn irrigation services can provide the necessary resources and expertise to design an effective system that best suits your landscape’s needs. A professional can determine the ideal run times, water pressure and sprinkler locations for maximum efficiency.
5. Control Pests with Natural Solutions
In addition to chemical options, homeowners can use natural solutions to control pests. For example, insect-attracting plants such as marigolds or lavender can draw pests away from other areas of the landscape where they are not wanted. Planting herbs like chives and mint around vulnerable plants can help ward off pests.
To ensure these plants successfully control pests, plant them regularly around the vulnerable areas of your landscape. Homeowners can also use beneficial predatory insects such as ladybugs and praying mantises to help reduce pest populations.
In Closing
Maintaining your landscape doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or expensive task. With the right tools, practices, and knowledge, anyone can have a beautiful landscape all year round. Following these five tips for maintaining your landscape will help ensure you get the most out of your yard and enjoy its beauty for years.
