Curb Appeal
May 27, 2008
In the blink of an eye summer will be upon us. Here are a few tips for keeping your landscaping looking its best:
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For homeowners that currently have their homes on the market, remember the first thing a buyer sees is your front yard. You always want it to look its best. There is nothing like curb appeal to say “come see me”.
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Due to emphasis on water conservation, it is recommended that watering the lawn is done in the evening and early morning hours. Three times a week is usually sufficient. If you see brown spots on your lawn, hand water these areas.
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Longer blades of grass help to “shade” your lawn; so do not cut it too short. You should never cut the grass more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. During the summer months, it is best to allow an extra inch of growth. Longer grass shades the soil keeping the ground cooler and reduces evaporation.
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A sharp mower is very important as this will cut the grass evenly. An evenly cut lawn will stay greener and lose less moisture. Do not mow the lawn when it is wet as this can cause brown spots. Also, you should not cut the grass during the heat of the day or when the grass needs watering and is overly dry. Save yourself some time and work. Only mow when it is needed. There are some grasses such as Bermuda that requires a closer cut to stay healthy. Check to see the recommendations for the type of lawn in your yard.
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When planting flowers and greenery, use heat resistant and native plants. There are many beautiful plants that can brighten your yard and will grow nicely with minimum watering. Do not over prune during the summer months; just trim you hedges and shrubs so that they stay neat looking. There are products on the market that inhibit plant growth and yet produce a greater flowing effect.
