Here are a few tips on how to keep your lawn and garden looking nice for a long time.
- Work with a vision
Most people buy plants and ornaments that are hot in the season and do not consider what would it be like after a few seasons. Before embarking on your landscaping project, have a vision of what you want it to be.
In your vision, consider many changes that the lawn or garden will go through as time passes; and account for those in your plan. This way, you can make informed decisions and install features that will last for years.
- Prepare for anything
Most people assume that when you plant drought-resistant plants, you are safe because they are low maintenance and they require less water. Consider that sometimes storms come and flood your landscape for months killing those plants too. Layer your plants in such a way that you have a mixture of plans that survive in different seasons. Have annual plants and perennial plants as well, such that at any given season, something is blooming.
- Consider landscape maturity
A new landscape looks perfect but when it starts to mature, you realize that some features may require replacing. Plants such as bushes, hedges, and shrubs tend to overgrow and dry out. Trees grow tall and leave spaces in between where they covered when they were younger. Before planting anything, consider the future implications of the plants and have a contingency plan for when that happens.
- Understand plant symbiosis
Some plants do well with one another in the long run while others do not. If you have ornamental flowers or a vegetable garden, planting an oak tree next to them is a bad idea.
It will grow tall and shade the beds, hence suppressing the plants. You are better off having a bench there or a swing set so that people can relax under the shade.
- Have a self-sustainable landscape plan
If your landscape can sustain itself, then you will have an easier time. Have plants that shed leaves to provide mulch and humus for the others. Use grass cuttings to make mulch and compost.
Install solar powered lighting in your yard to cut down on energy bills. Work with a good water recycling system to water your plants as well as service your water features.
- Invest in quality rather than quantity
Sometimes a lawn with lush green grass will last longer than a lawn with dozens of ornamental plants. When planning your landscape work with materials that will last longer. Choose weatherproof components for your deck and patio.
Go for tough water features as well as plants so that they can serve you for a long time. Work with tough plants that can survive for long periods without requiring replacements.
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