Landscaping Maintenance Tips

There are always maintenance chores to do in a landscaping project, no matter how low-maintenance you have made it. Plants grow and must be pruned or have dead twigs removed. Lawn must be mown sometimes and anything with water in it must be cleaned of fallen leaves to prevent slime, and stop mud build-up clogging pipes.

When thinking maintenance the first thing we need is usually tools. Keeping your tools in a handy place - and in top condition, will make using them easier and more efficient. If the blades of your pruning shears are rusted and dull, it will hurt your hands to use them. It will also cause damage to the plant you are pruning. If you also have to rip the door of the garden shed off its hinges to get your tools, you’ll give up before you start.

All gardens need fertilizer of some kind about twice a year. If you get snow in the winter, then fall and spring fertilizing are usually the norm. Some people like to fertilize in late summer as well, or instead of spring, but it makes more sense to do it in the fall so that the plant has access to the nutrients as soon as it begins to grow in the spring.

Irrigation is another necessary chore and must be done regularly during hot, dry months. An automated system may take care of this for you, but be sure to water trees deeply before the first snow. If your perennials are looking shaggy, start to prune them in the fall, don’t wait till spring. You’ll get healthier blooms more quickly.

Slugs and snails tend to build up if you don’t keep them down with snail bait. Hiding it under rocks will keep pets and toddlers from touching it. A shallow dish of beer placed in the garden with the rim at soil level will also attract and drown them.

Those fallen leaves you rake will make wonderful mulch for the garden beds, so don’t dispose of them by burning. If there are too many for the garden at the end of fall, keep them in plastic bags for the spring and summer. Mulch like this is free and will reduce your water bills considerably.

Of course there is the maintenance needed by hardscape objects such as garden benches and decks. Most decks need to be oiled every year or two to prevent them rotting due to moisture. Wooden benches and tables may need to be repainted to keep them in good condition. If damage has occurred to benches its better to fix it than risk an injury. You may need to store deck furniture in a shed throughout the winter months, depending on your climate.

Get This Great MP3 Audio & E-book!

Tips for Designing a Planting Pattern Before you can design a planting pattern for your garden, you’ll need to walk ...
read more

How to Select Trees and Shrubs for Your Yard The type of trees and shrubs you select for your yard ...
read more

How to Incorporate Colorful Plants in Your Design There are many ways of achieving color in your garden. It doesn’t ...
read more

Tips for Choosing Groundcover and Grasses The type of groundcovers and grasses that you choose will be determined by your ...
read more

Tips for Creating a Low Maintenance Landscape A low maintenance landscape or garden is the ideal solution for those people ...
read more

Common Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Perhaps the most common landscaping mistake is not to have a plan. ...
read more

How to Create an English Style Landscape English style landscapes are famed for their romantic appeal. Softly curving pathways lead ...
read more

Creating an Asian Style Landscape An Asian style landscape will fit into a very small or a very large area, ...
read more

How to Create an Italian Style Landscape An Italian or Mediterranean style landscape is one with an abundance of heat-loving ...
read more

How to Plan a Landscape for Easy Outdoors Entertaining Outdoor entertaining can be a dream or a nightmare, depending on ...
read more

What Do You Want Your Landscaping to Do for You? Before you start any landscaping work, it’s a good idea ...
read more

Great Features to Add to Your Landscape Design There are many wonderful features you can add to your landscape design ...
read more

How Climate Should Affect Your Landscape Choices The choices you make for your landscape design will be influenced to a ...
read more

Tips for Improving Your Home’s Resale Value with Landscaping It’s true that landscaping can improve a home’s resale value greatly. ...
read more

How to Create Outdoors ‘Rooms’ with Landscaping It is possible to create divisions in your outdoors area so that it ...
read more

Landscaping Maintenance Tips There are always maintenance chores to do in a landscaping project, no matter how low-maintenance you have ...
read more

Landscaping Tips for Families and Pet Owners If you have pets or small children - or even larger children, you ...
read more

How to Find a Landscape Style that Suits Your Life and Home Before you begin on any landscaping activity, think ...
read more

How to Create a Realistic Landscaping Budget All landscaping requires a budget so planning one is essential, especially if there ...
read more

What Work Can You Do Yourself? The work you do yourself will depend on your ability and skills - and ...
read more

When Should You Hire Professionals for Projects? Professionals have the right equipment to do heavy work - and they have ...
read more

Tips for Planning Walls and Fences Before you rush out and build that fence or wall, you need to know ...
read more

Tips for Planning Pathways Most landscaping designs include pathways. Having a pathway can save you getting wet or muddy shoes ...
read more

Tips for Designing Patios and Decks A deck or patio is what makes a house a home. It frees up ...
read more

How to Create a Drainage System for Your Landscaping Good drainage is important for carrying excess water away from buildings, ...
read more

Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal with Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Whether you are selling your home or you just want ...
read more

Simple and Easy Landscaping Around a Patio While a patio is a wonderful addition to any yard, for the best ...
read more

You'll Love These Backyard Landscaping Ideas Do you have a nice backyard but you just haven't decided what to do ...
read more