5 Landscaping Tips: Improve Your Lawn and Garden

Everyone loves a beautiful, manicured lawn; while it takes time and patience to develop it, there are always tips available in order to get the most out of your planning. Check out these 5 tips for creating a lawn and garden that will be the envy of all your neighbors!

 - Flowers Are a Winner 

Nothing appears more welcoming and pleasing to the eye than a beautiful arrangement of flowers on the front lawn. Cascade different breeds and types along the driveway leading up to the door, and if you desire, add several other areas within the lawn that achieve an "oasis" look of color and uniqueness.

- Add Different Heights 

Planters and hanging baskets can add an element that breaks up the straight-line look of an expected garden. Different dimensions can engage the senses, and plants that hang are able to get fantastic aeration and drainage, which means they should blossom.

 - Change Layouts Each Year

To add a fresh perspective to your landscaping, try to design and implement several different areas within the yard and rotate them each year. Not only will it be great for the soil, but the new layouts will only enhance the design of the yard.

- Use Walkways to Connect 

Have you ever seen a beautiful garden or landscape, yet you have to walk through a maze to basically get near it? One way to consider connecting major design points is to create walkways directly to those points. For example, slate stone could be used as a path, you could mulch a road between each area, and so forth.

 - Add Outdoor Seating

Standing and staring at a landscape can be quite tiresome; add a bench or some natural chairs to allow one to take in the beauty, enjoy the colors and experience the peace that flowers, trees and plants can bring. Your home in South Jersey can use irrigation as a means to obtaining a beautiful, lush lawn, as well as garden. Get ready for spring, and start planning the ultimate landscape!

Winter Lawn Care Tips

Fall is upon us and with winter just around the corner, now is the time to start preparing your lawn for the harsh and cold months.  Some homeowners don't realize the importance of prepping the grass for the following year, so take a look at these tips to get the most out of each blade!

-       Clean The Lawn

It is a disservice to your lawn when you end up leaving debris on it such as leaves, branches, toys and other items that can smother the grass.  Not only can debris create various diseases, but it can also invite other pests such as insects and rodents to the area, creating even more destruction.  Clear you lawn as much as possible!

-       Lower Your Lawnmower Blade

The last several times you mow your lawn for the year, lower the blade by a half inch to an inch.  Grass that is too long can be more at risk for freezing and thawing conditions. However, do not cut it so short that the crown of each blade is exposed; this can be just as damaging.

-       Create Spike Holes

Utilize a specific aerator tool or a garden fork, and spike holes throughout the lawn to allow for the surface to be aerated.   This is an excellent way to also improve drainage during thaws!

-       Fill the Holes

Once you create the holes, fill them with horticultural grain sand to prevent them from closing, and to allow both air and water to move freely throughout. 

-       Spread Dressing

Use a dry top-dressing and spread it over the remainder of the grass to help with drainage and to fill in any low spots throughout the lawn.  A rake works well to spread it evenly over the grass.

These steps will help your lawn to survive throughout the winter, and will ultimately make it ready for irrigation.  If you are in New Jersey, contact a professional lawn care and irrigation company to get the most out of each blade of grass!

Happiest Lawn on the Block

Want to be the house that has the lawn everyone lusts after? Achieving and maintaining a gorgeous yard isn't as hard as many believe it to be. With a few simple steps, possibly including an irrigation system in New Jersey, you can have the lawn that all the neighbors are talking about.

Say So Long to Weeds

First and foremost, you must get to work ridding your lawn of any and all weeds and their roots. If you just pull the weeds and not the roots, it's almost guaranteed that the weeds will pop back up in a few weeks time. Once you're certain that all weeds are gone, use a weed preventer, otherwise known as a pre-emergent herbicide. These work wonders on preventing weed seeds from germinating. The best time to use a weed preventer is early in your area's growing season.

Feed Your Lawn

Want your lawn to grow rich and lush? Feed it. The trick to properly feeding your lawn is to know when to feed it, and the best time for fertilizing in New Jersey is in the fall and spring. Many people forego the fall feeding because they think that there's no point with winter around the corner; however, fertilizing in the fall will give you a greener grass in the spring. 

Turn on the Mower

Everyone knows that you have to mow your lawn to keep it looking great, but many people don't know how often to do it. Mowing once a week is generally acceptable, but the rate depends greatly on the time of year and the amount of water the lawn gets. The more you water or it rains, the more often the lawn will need mowing. Additionally, the grass will probably need cutting more often in spring (probably every four or five days), as it's growing faster then. If you don't want to go by days, you can always use the one-third rule that many landscapers employ. The rule is that you never wait for the grass to grow more than 1/3^rd higher than the recommended height.

H2O It

Irrigation in New Jersey is another big part of keeping your lawn looking good. Watering early in the morning is best, which is why many people turn to irrigation systems. They're a great way to make sure your yard is getting what it needs, even if you don't have time to water before work. Many people also water in the evening, but this is one of the worst things you can do to your grass. When you do this, you are welcoming disease, as your lawn will be sitting in water overnight until the sun comes out the following day.

Following these steps will leave you with the best looking yard on the block. Get started now and soon your yard will be the envy of your neighbors.