With the many things competing for our attention, your landscape can suffer.
This can also lead to mishaps in your lawn or backyard. Avoiding these only takes effort and vigilance.
Nothing beats a good landscaping around a house, with shrubs and flowers. But if you encounter problems constantly, you might be doing something wrong.
You might be making one of the most common landscaping mistakes without knowing it. What’s more you’re doing more harm than good to it.
Even a green thumb like you might be making these mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them.
#1: Planting In The Wrong Place
Even when you maintain them, plants do not bloom if you place them in the wrong place.
Some plants and trees need more sun than others, while there are some that love the shade more.
Shrubs can also become a hazard to your house’s foundation if planted too close to your house.
Trees can grow faster than you expect them to.
They can even damage a part of your house because they are too close. If you have planted in a bad spot, your choices can be:
- Regular trimming of your plants and trees
- Relocating
- Altering your entire landscape
What to Do: Do Your Plant Research
When you are shopping for new plants, remember to read up on its needs.
You can read the little tags attached to the plants that you buy.
It can help you know where to place them, how much sun or shade they need, and how much water to give them. Grouping plants with similar needs can help make maintenance easier too.
Check out this list of plants that are perfect for any garden.
As for the trees, make sure to plant them away from your home. Plant trees and shrubs for about four feet away from your house. This is enough to keep it at good length so it does not obstruct but can still provide shade.
Choose plants that can withstand any weather to save you time and money replacing them.
#2: Cutting Your Lawn Short
One thing that all landscapers must know is that you should not cut your lawn too short. You might think that it will be better so you would have to mow less. The truth is, it would only bring more problems.
When you cut the lawn too short, you cut the blades which are the leaves that produce food and energy for the turf.
This also makes your lawn susceptible to more diseases and infestations. Instead of focusing on fighting external harm like pests, it will try to grow and recover. A longer lawn can grow stronger roots.
Here are ways for great lawn care.
What to Do: Cut According To Season
HGTV suggests that cutting your lawn according to the season can help your lawn. The lowest you can cut your lawn should be 2.5-3 inches (ca. 8 cm) but you shouldn’t let your grass grow longer than 4-4.5 inches (11.43 cm).
During the summer, you can let the grass grow longer. They would hold more water better and have enough shade to protect their roots.
This would help your lawn fight off drought, heat, and diseases.
You can cut your grass shorter during winter and early spring. This can help them to cope better with cooler temperatures.
#3: Uncoordinated Bursts Of Color
Infusing color to your landscaping is a good decision. But putting too much color together can make everything look unkempt and messy.
This makes the color distracting and can even overpower your home as well.
What to Do: Choose A Landscape Palette
The best thing you can do is to develop a landscape palette and stick to it.
Choose colors that complement each other.
You can begin with base colors that look good together with your house and add an accent color. You can also base your landscape design with your palette of choice. Nothing beats a themed garden that complements your home well.
Color coordinate your flower according to your shades. You can go with opposing colors, but don’t go overboard.
#4: Focusing On Design Only
It’s natural to want your landscaping to look good.
You want your lawn or backyard design to be appealing to the eyes. Getting carried away with how you want your landscaping to look can help you forget about how you will use it.
One problem you can encounter is that design does not always meet function.
What to Do: Plan For Function As Well
Planning can help you to meet both function and design.
- Are you planning to use it as an area for gatherings and parties?
- Do you have kids that love to play around your lawn?
- Are there pets that need their space too?
- Would you want to use this area for lounging and relaxing?
If you are planning to sell your house, investing in design and function will increase your value.
You can also choose to add features that will appeal to the public rather than basing on your own tastes.
Try an eco-friendly landscape design that will make you and Mother Nature happy.
#5: Overcrowded Landscape
This can be a struggle for those who have limited space to work with.
It makes your landscape design look all over the place.
Plant overcrowding can also cause delayed growth. Plants need enough spacing to help them get enough nutrients from the water, air, and the soil.
What to Do: Plant For The Future
Building your landscape garden would need dedication and patience.
Consider starting with plant essentials, then add more elements along the way.
Researching can help you know what works with your space and landscaping.
Plant with care with these tips.
#6: Forgetting Maintenance
Regular maintenance is as vital as designing your landscaping. It can be as simple as watering or mulching.
A little maintenance can go a long way.
Take weeding for example, as soon as you spot weed growing, you can better avoid it going out of hand.
What to Do: Set A Schedule
Make enough time to inspect your landscaping. If you have not much time for watering, you can invest in smart irrigation.
This helps to make sure your plants get enough water at the right time. If time is a problem, you can rely on landscape and garden professionals.
Visit Your Local Professional for Advice
Being aware of what should and should not happen in your landscaping is key to save more money and effort.
It can be too much to keep track of everything for your garden or landscaping. But having a concrete plan and direction can help guide your decisions.
Your gardener or landscaper can also help you pinpoint the mistakes and the best plan of action to ensure that your yard is always in good condition.
The experts at Big Easy Landscaping are more than happy to help you with any concerns and questions regarding yard care.
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