For many, the prospect of landscaping fills them with dread
as they contemplate the inconveniences associated with taking
care of plants and gardens and trees without spending a great
deal of money to have someone else do it. There are people
who enjoy endlessly working on their landscapes (and this is
commendable), and there are those who wish to take
as little trouble, and spend as little money, as possible about
their
home’s yard. This is also acceptable. Luckily, for those who
want to have a beautifully adorned home, it is possible to
do so with a low-maintenance landscape. By carefully choosing
plants that need little care, it is possible to have a nice-looking
property and save time and money in attention to its upkeep.
The keys are good plant selection and the proper establishment
of the plants in their places.
The first thing to do is choose plants that require very little
maintenance. For those who dislike raking leaves or pine needles,
trees that frequently shed are not desirable. Plants
like spruce and Alberta pine are moderate growers, and they do not drop
leaves or needles as often as other trees. Avoid fruit-bearing
plants that make a mess. Crabapple trees with resistance to
apple scab hold their fruit well (even against birds) and are
not prone to summer defoliation. Flowers such as rhododendrons,
pansies, tulips, and wildflowers do not need much care. Most
bulb flowers (irises, tulips, crocuses, etc.) are fairly self-sufficient,
as they store up nutrients in their bulbs. Choose perennial
flowers that bloom every year rather than annuals that last
one season, die, and then require the purchase of more plants. Shrubs
and low bushes (like mugo pine and juniper) are also
hardy varieties that do not require much attention and make
very little mess.
When
you choose plants, search out quality plants. Find reputable
nurseries and suppliers. This saves money in the long run,
as you will not have to buy new plants when the first do not
survive their plantings. Planting is a stressful time for any
plant, and if is already weakened by disease, environmental
issues, or pest problems, then it may not recover. Choose plants
that look vigorous and healthy, and check them closely before
purchase for things like pest problems and disease. Some home
improvement warehouses, like Home Depot and Lowe’s, actually
offer guarantees on their plants, as do many nurseries: these
warranties last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. Purchase
from a store or nursery that offers these guarantees at no
extra cost, and then if you encounter a problem down the road,
your place of purchase will replace the ailing plant for free.
One of the best things that you can do to keep your landscaping
costs down and your involvement in it minimal is to choose
plants adapted to the growing conditions in your area. A
visit (usually for free) to the local master gardener will
allow
you to find out which plants grow best in your area. Keeping
up your landscape is much easier when you are not fighting
nature to ensure the survival of your plants. Choose native
plants, or choose plants that are native to a climate similar
to the one in which you live. Ornamental grasses, trees, and
shrubs that grow well in your climate and with the conditions
of the soil in your yard make excellent choices for low-maintenance
landscaping.
Finally, it is imperative that you follow
sound planting practices when you begin your landscaping. Any initial landscaping will
take a certain amount of work, but once you complete the proper
installation of plants on your property, you will find that,
if you have chosen wisely, they need very little of your attention
to properly thrive. When planting, it is best to make the hole
shallow and wide. Do not plant your flowers, trees or shrubs
in holes deeper than the planting container. If the soil is
of a harder variety, you should dig the hole deeper than you
want (the hole should be two or three times as wide as you
need it in any case) and then fill in with a planting mix or
loosened soil to the desired depth. This will make it easier
for your new plants to take root. It is important to remember
that you will need to ensure adequate water at first, until
the root system is fully developed.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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