Landscaping maintenance
At Secure Irrigation and Landscaping we understand what your landscaping appearance means to you as it reflects your home or business image. We have thought of giving you, through this blog, some landscaping maintenance tips that will enable you to have the best outlook of your yard consistently.
Mowing
Cutting two strips around the edge of turf and then cutting in straight lines opposite to this, alternating the pattern very other mow if possible, is normally the best technique. Cut week by week amid the growing season to ensure you are not getting rid of more than 1/3 of the leaf cutting edge at a time.
Sharpen mower blades at least once per season. Checking oil after every cut and changing oil every season will add life to your mower. A good mower will cut wet turf and pick up clippings better. Consider a mulching mower, it permits much of the water and nutrients in the clippings to return to the soil, accordingly reducing the need for watering and fertilizing.
Edging
A good edge to the turf keeps the garden looking excellent and forms separation between bed areas and turf. A fuel powered edger functions well, however a weed-eater held vertically will likewise carry out the job. Edging every other mow shields grass from developing into the beds.
Moss Control in Turf
Moss tends to develop in shady places and in territories where the soil is not conducive for healthy lawn. Pruning can help incorporate more sunlight, and taking after the tips will make a healthier garden and reduce moss development. You might need to consider removing the lawn and replacing it with shade tolerant plants if the shade is severe to the point that the landscaping maintenance would require much extra exertion.
When you do get moss, apply fluid Iron per label directions. It will kill the moss quickly, at times just before your eyes. Be mindful so as not to get it on any hard surfaces – it stains. After the moss has died, rake it out physically, or with a power rake.
There are more tips that we can give regarding your landscape maintenance. We’ll look at more in our coming posts. For more information, kindly contact us and we will gladly assist you.
Indigenous gardens are sustainable and allow you to have a beautiful garden all year round. Indigenous plants only grow in a particular region and this means that you will have a unique garden. Below we inform you on why you should have an indigenous garden.
Saves water
Indigenous gardens are the best to have when one wants to save water. Indigenous plants are already adapted for the environment which means that you do not have to water them as much as you would water a normal garden. It is only the first three months when you would need to water it constantly but after the three months you would not have to worry. With the water shortages that South Africans are currently facing, indigenous gardens are the best gardens to have.
Attracts insects
Indigenous gardens attract insects and butterflies and this means that you will also have a garden filled with various birds. These gardens attract all kinds of species because they are indigenous to the area and this means that the animal species in the area will be well catered to. The indigenous gardens allow your yard to be an entire new ecosystem and this in turn provides you with an interesting garden for the kids and family picnics.
Low Maintenance
If you are one of those people who would love to have a beautiful garden but the maintenance was always a problem, worry no more because Indigenous gardens are very easy to maintain. The only maintenance that you would really need to do is to keep the soil moist and then it would be an advantage if you could prune the plants after they have flowered.
Starting an indigenous garden
If you are about to create your indigenous garden then it would be advisable to plant in spring or autumn. In order to plan your garden you need to take note of what areas get the most sun, where the wet and dry places are, and then you can create a layout of your garden. This will help you to know where each plant has to be planted and the spots will cater to the needs of each plant.
Prepare your soil by digging the entire garden and loosening the dry parts of the sand. If your garden is full of dry sand then add organic matter to it so that the sand can gain healthy nutrients and gain moisture which is good for your plants.
It all depends on what region you live in and what plants are indigenous to the area. Your layout plan will help you with allocating what plants can grow where.
Common Indigenous plants to have in your garden:
- Proteas
- Shrubs
- Bulbs
- Orchids
- Maintain
You will only need to trim your plants occasionally, maintain the moisture of the soil so that you can have worms and other insects that will provide your plants with all of its needs.
Small garden landscaping ideas
Having a small garden can offer you peace and tranquility after a long day at work. Knowing that you can come home to literally smell the roses brings comfort and happiness to one’s heart. However, with a small garden this might not always be the case. Not having enough space to plant or build can be stressful and cause us to neglect our tiny spaces. This need not be the case anymore. Creative solutions have been found to make your small garden into something big and amazing to look at and spend time in. Small garden landscapes are incredibly detail-oriented and leave no room for sloppy design or incompleteness. That’s because what is neglected is easy to point out as it will not fit in with the surroundings.
Here is an excellent list of landscaping ideas that will leave your garden not only looking tasteful but friendly and welcoming.
- Create a View
This is very important; have some kind of plan for what you would like your garden to look like. Where will the chairs and table go, and how far will it be from the entrance. Arbors and pergolas are classic small yard landscaping ideas and great ways to frame a view, but you can do the same with shrubs, small trees, or even pieces of garden art.
- Make It Cosy
Now that you know what you want; personalize the space. Make it cosy because this will definitely add to the homely atmosphere you are going for. Contrary to popular belief intimacy actually helps small backyards because creating escape nooks for reading and resting is a good small backyard idea for dividing up a space and creating specific zones. You can use a mid-height fence and lots of pretty plants to screen out the space from eye view.
- Use the Power of Perspective
This works wonders. Long, straight lines trick you into thinking a small yard or small garden landscape is bigger than it is. Take full advantage of this illusion by subtly slanting the far end of the lines toward one another to create a focal point. In this small backyard idea, a fence does the job and is enriched by repeating rows of flowers and a pergola.
- Create a Small Backyard Destination
Create a climax in your garden, think about what would stand out and make it not only unique but what would give it that appeal and make it your own. You could for example use a fire place with comfortable chairs around it and make that the climax of your garden.
Your small garden need not be a dull, dry place to be. You now have the tools to transform your small dull space into a well nurtured and beautiful space. Remember that your garden should be a place where you can relax and unwind after a long day so create your space with that in mind and hopefully one day you can entertain your friends and family there.
