*This is a collaborative guest post
Best lawn on the block is up for grabs again this year. Every homeowner and passerby is studying the neighbourhood to see who has the lushest front yard, and this year it could be you. Not only does a great yard and garden make your property look better, but it also speaks to your dedication to your home.
The only problem is that growing green blades is a fickle process. Too much water and your yard is covered with weeds; too little and it’s brown. Mowing must be right and you have to keep the grubs away. So how do the experts do it? With a few simple tricks.
Join the Party
The landscaping industry is no small business. With annual revenue of almost $80 billion, you can rest assured that you’re not the only one struggling to keep your yard looking great – there are nearly a half million business in the United States focused on the same thing. Single-family residences comprise 65 percent of all landscaping costs, and the demand isn’t going anywhere. A growth rate of over 3 percent means that more and more homeowners are focusing on their grounds.
Of course, the idea of paying someone to keep your yard green isn’t always appealing – primarily because of the expense. That’s why plenty of Americans choose to do most of the work themselves, and hire professionals for smaller, more specialised jobs, like fertilising or aerating. It’s the better option if you have it down to a science. Most don’t. But, we’re here to help you get to that point. All you have to do is follow a few steadfast rules.
Going Green
The first task to making your lawn green is to understand the diseases, infections and bugs that keep it from being that way naturally. Many yards are infested with clover, buttercups or bare spots, but there’s nothing quite as devastating as a brown patch… you know, the dead spot that attracts everyone’s attention. The rest of your yard can be lush as a golf course, but if you have one brown area the entire neighbourhood is going to focus on it. Priority number-one is to fight disease, and priority number-two is to nurse the section back to health. The way you do that is by finding out everything you can about the ailment – or calling in an expert.
Brown spotting is primarily caused by a fungus that becomes problematic in mid- to late summer. As you can guess, temperature and humidity have a lot to do with it. The best way to avoid this issue is to keep your grass watered and properly aired. Keep in mind that you do not want to add extra moisture overnight.
Surprisingly, these same methods will work for many of the diseases that creep into your yard. Obviously fertilisation and aeration are going to be invaluable in helping your yard grow green as well -something that’s true for most greenery.
Garden Growing Tips
Food gardening has never been more popular. Not only is it a great source of food for your family, but it’s also an impressive visual to make your house stand out from the others on the block. A lush garden looks great and tastes even better, but if it were easy to make your plants and veggies grow, everyone would have one.
Temperatures, varying climates and even different strains of plants can make your garden look great or ghastly. The solution is to feed your plants the same way you would feed anything else. Gardeners don’t often have the correct environment to grow the vegetables and plants they want. Fertilisation and food are important aspects of tricking your plants into growth. Think of it the same way you’d help your grass grow green. Every part of vegetation needs a little help, and your garden is no different.
If you shutter at the thought of doing yard work and maintaining the exterior of your home, it’s time to look at things in a new light. Resources for making your to-do list easier are endless, and there’s no better place to start than with this one.