When you move into your first home, the landscaping becomes your responsibility, and yes, you may be nervous as you have never had a garden. However, you need not feel anxious about this chore. If you want the best curb appeal, it helps to keep your yard maintained. We have some helpful landscaping tips for beginners here.
1 Know the Lawn and Soil
Okay, with new relationships, you introduce yourself, but we’re not saying you must introduce yourself to your lawn. Still, if you know the type of grass and soil in the yard, things become smoother caring for them. So, research the type of lawn you have and the soil to help with the problem-solving you can face. Also, knowing the basics of the climate you live in helps determine if the grass in the landscaping is the best for the region you live in.
2 Know the Different between Seeding and Overseeding
Does the lawn in the yard look as if the previous owner drove it into the ground? Or you may need to plant new suds. Then the best options to grow from seeds as it is affordable to give you the healthiest looking landscaping.
Still, research the type of seedling for your region and also determine the best time of the year to plant grass in the area. Alternatively, your new yard might not need a complete redo and only a touch-up. If you notice spots where the lawns are damaged, then consider overseeding.
You can add new grass seed over the lawn present to make it an affordable option for a healthier lawn. The method is excellent for treating thinning areas to brown patches to make the lawn thrive.
3 Watering The Garden
All plants, trees, to grass need water, varying from season to season according to your location. You can contact a local landscaping professional to find out what works best for your yard.
Or you can even hire them to care for your landscaping throughout the year. Still, if you go the DIY route, remember that overwatering flora is not always healthy, and you must get a happy medium.
The rule of thumb is constantly to check the soil to see if the top two inches are dry before watering. While for grass to build a healthy root system, it needs deep watering with about 1.5 inches of water a week to seep about six inches into the soil.
So, take a screwdriver and push it six inches into the ground, and if it happens without difficulty, you know your lawns are getting enough water. Furthermore, the best time to water is in the early morning, allowing the ground to dry out before nightfall.
You will water more often in summer than winter, so do your watering as per the above screwdriver test.
4 Mowing the Lawn
Mowing sounds straightforward, pushing the lawnmower over the grass. But, you’re mistaken as cutting your grass too short to save you more mowing time does not work. All it will do is leave your yard looking unhealthy. Instead, it helps to adjust the blades to remove ⅓ of the grass length. So, if your grass is three inches high, trim one inch for grass health. Another helpful tip is to clean your lawn mower after use and keep the blades sharp.
5 Aerating and Fertilizing
All plants to grass need aeration by using a fork to redistribute the soil. In the olden days’ people used a gardening fork to poke holes in the lawn, but these days landscapers use an aeration machine.
The machine looks like a mower and helps you do the aeration process across your lawn. The best time to do this is in spring, as it prepares the grass for the harsh summer with winter stress ahead.
Another important thing is to fertilize your garden, which can be done by a professional or yourself. You can choose a granular product for your lawn as it will simplify the process. Choose one rich in nutrients and follow the directions on the label.
6 Weeding and Pest Control
Yes, playing whack-a-mole with the weeds is frustrating. Still, preventing them is impossible. So for the best results, we recommend a professional landscaper to help. If you want to control them yourself, we recommend pulling them out to avoid disturbing the soil.
When you toss the soil, the weeds will grow on top of it. The best is to remove the root or add some mulch to fit in with your yard design. You may find that weed-eating insects move in to keep it under control.
For controlling pests, it helps to hire an expert landscaper rather than buying products from the hardware store. Not all insects are harmful to the yard, and you do not want to remove your pollinators using insecticides.
These are some helpful tips to get you started but if ever you get stuck, call in a professional landscaper to help. Never be afraid to ask!
