Choosing and Using a Hedge Trimmer

Trimming your own hedges can be an intimidating process. Getting perfectly even shapes can seem impossible, but it’s a lot easier than you think. Untamed shrubs, bushes, and hedges create a curbside eyesore. On the other hand, a well-maintained hedge is a complement to your lawn, trees, and garden.

If you’re a new homeowner, or new to trimming hedges, you’ll need to invest in a good quality hedge trimmer. The Green Pal recently published a helpful article authored by do-it-yourself expert Joe Truini, who writes articles for the Home Depot. He clearly outlines the hedge trimmer options.

The Ultimate Guide to Trimming Your Own Bushes

“There are three basic types of hedge trimmers: gas-powered, corded electric, and battery-powered cordless. Each comes in various sizes, ranging from about 16 to 24 inches, which is the length of the cutting bar. The type of trimmer to buy depends on several factors, including the size of the hedge, the location of the hedge on the property, personal preference, and cost.

• Gas-powered trimmers have powerful engines that cut the thickest branches quickly and cleanly [without being] tethered to an extension cord.
• Corded electric hedge trimmers are popular because they’re extremely easy to use, very quiet, and virtually maintenance free.
• Cordless hedge trimmers have been around for quite a few years, but have only recently been taken seriously, thanks to the advent of powerful, long-lasting lithium-ion batteries. They’re growing in popularity because they possess the best qualities of both gas and electric trimmers.”

To learn more about the differences in the types of hedge trimmers, check out the full article.

There are so many options of hedge trimmers on the market, it can be difficult to narrow the choices to just one. All homeowners want a trimmer that’s going to be reliable, easy to use, and relatively affordable. GearHungry takes product reviews seriously and delivers what they believe is the best choice for a hedge trimmer in 2019.

11 Best Hedge Trimmers in 2019

“We’ve selected the Black and Decker LHT2436 as our Best Choice hedge trimmer. There are more powerful and cheaper hedge trimmers available, but we think this is the best all-rounder on the market at the minute. It’s a battery-powered cordless trimmer that runs on Black and Deckers’ impressive 40-volt, lithium batteries. They provide 5X more charge than the standard 36-volt alternatives, found in most similar bush trimmers. It doesn’t say exactly how long one charge will last, but they do say that you’ll be able to cut around 6000 square feet of hedge, which should keep you busy for long enough…It has a 24-inch dual-action blade that can cut through branches up to ¾” thick. That makes it easily one of the most powerful hedge trimmers on the market.”

To read more about the Black and Decker LHT2436, or explore other options, check out the full article.

Once you have your tools and equipment, you’re ready to get started. But how do you know when and how to trim your hedges? Mark Wolfe at The Worx Toolshed blog gave some helpful tips on when to trim and how much to cut off in order to maintain the health of the shrub.

How To Trim Hedges

“Beginning after the first flush of new growth in spring, hedges should be trimmed often enough to maintain the desired dimensions. Frequency of trimming varies greatly by species and variety as well as with weather conditions, so begin with a monthly inspection to see how the hedges are growing…To avoid cold damage to tender new growth, stop trimming hedges for the season at about six weeks prior to the first fall frost.

For long-term health, a hedge should be broadest at the base and taper toward the top. This allows sunlight to reach the lower branches and avoids the appearance of bare branches at ground level. For regular maintenance, simply follow the existing contour and trim the overgrown branches and foliage back to a plane that is slightly lower and narrower than the “maintenance” size. By going back a bit further than the desired size, it allows the soft new shoots to grow out and cover the cut ends of branches and leaves for a fresh, clean, more natural look.”

Check out the full article to learn more in depth about how to trim your hedges.

A well-kept hedge is a sign of a well-kept home. It’s an essential part of a beautiful garden and provides a manicured framework for your property. Even a small hedge line can add a big impact when it is maintained. Once you find a trimmer that works for you, and you’ve perfected the art of trimming, this job can be an enjoyable task that is both satisfying and extremely simple.  

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Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
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Landscaping For Small Yards

Think your yard is too small? Think again. Even the smallest spaces can be used to create a beautiful outdoor space. You can find creative ways to create a space where you can lounge, entertain, relax, or play in the backyard you already have. There is a myriad of possibilities regardless of how many square feet you have to work with.

We’ve gathered tips from some of the experts in the industry to take even the smallest spaces and create interest, space, and enjoyment.

The Ohio Valley Group is celebrating 30 years as a residential and commercial expert for outdoor spaces. They emphasize creating a focal point in your yard.

Landscaping Ideas for Smaller Yards

“Giving your small yard a focal point draws the eye and adds interest. Your focal point could be a seating area or an arbor. Other ideas include a fountain or other feature. Don’t rule out focal points such as ponds or gazebos because you don’t think you have space. You can create smaller versions of these backyard favorites that not only suit your space but create a true backyard escape. Think of a half-barrel pond or cleverly designed water feature that doesn’t take up much space but is big on impact. A small arbor or a well-placed trellis can give the feel of a mini-retreat right in your yard.”

For more ideas on focal points to make your small yard pop, check out the full article.

A focal point is a great way to give a small space an identity, which also makes it a more usable space. HouseLogic gives advice to homeowners and has clever ideas on creating more space that may not be obvious at first.

5 Small Backyard Ideas to Make Your Cramped Outdoor Space Feel Like Versailles

“Even if your square footage is relatively small, dividing your outdoor space into two areas can actually make it seem bigger. ‘Creating a space within a space makes it seem larger because it gives you a separate experience,’ says Joy Diaz, chief marketing officer at Land Care Inc.

Diaz recommends a small wood pergola, which you can purchase at home improvement stores or even build yourself without too much effort. You can also use walls to divide the space. We’re not talking about bulky concrete barriers here — try using short trellises, arbors, or vine-covered wooden fences to separate your loungers from your patio table.”

For more ideas to make your outdoor space or small yard feel less cramped, visit the full article to learn more.

While creating a separate space may seem counterintuitive, it increases the functionality of the space you have. Outside Living Concepts is a team dedicated to designing and building beautiful landscapes and hardscapes. Their recommendation incorporates the strategic use of color.

Landscaping Ideas for a Small Yard

“Color has an interesting tendency to affect human perception; it can affect your mood as well as the way you view the size of your space. Your eyes are attracted to bright, vibrant colors, so take advantage of this trait by using these bold hues in front of your landscaping. People will initially notice the colors, and the yard will seem larger as a background than when viewed head on. You should also consider the visual texture that your landscaping presents and make the most of your detailed plants.”

Adding color to your small yard is an idea most people miss out on. To learn more, be sure to read the full article.

Even if you only have a patio, you can still create a space that is beneficial. StyleWe is a lifestyle blog focused on creating beauty in any space. They give great advice for apartment dwellers or those who may only have a patio to create an outdoor oasis.

How to Style a Small Patio and Yard

“No matter what style of patio or yard you want to achieve, having plants is always a great move. Not only will they add beauty to your patio or yard, but they can also add to the relaxing and comfort factor due to the oxygen they give out. If you have a small patio and less of a lawn, you can simply put potted plants in there to give you the green effect. You can even put a small potted plant on your patio table. You can add some small chairs and a table if you plan on spending most of your tea or coffee time in your patio. You can also choose a wooden bench or table if you plan on using your yard for barbecue.”

For more tips and tricks on how to style a small yard or patio, read the full article here.

Whether you have sprawling acres, a small yard in the suburbs, or a single balcony window in the city, you can enjoy your outdoor space and make it uniquely yours. For more information and ideas, contact us today!

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Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
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When and How to Tackle Tree Trimming

It’s easy to take trees for granted. They don’t require much maintenance, they provide us with beautiful colors and cool shade, but are often forgotten. Trees enhance the beauty of your property, give you quaint tire swings, and can turn into amazing treehouses for kids in the summertime. While most trees don’t grow instantly, sometimes they can quickly feel out of control.

There are many reasons tree trimming can be a vital part of yard maintenance. According to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), trees need to pruned first for safety, next for health, and finally for aesthetics. Tree Wise uses these three reasons for tree trimming as a foundation for caring for customers.

Tree Trimming: Why It Is Important

“Trimming back dead branches or useless “shooters” lessens the potential fire danger should your tree or any structures nearby catch fire. Another safety concern is debris on the ground. Not only can this be potentially dangerous for pedestrians, but if left unattended for long periods of time, dead plant matter can mold and rot which attracts insects.

By removing any dead matter you are making room for the tree to grow new, healthy branches and leaves, and instead of using its resources to combat disease and pests, it can now develop a healthier root system.

If you groom your lawn and plants well, no matter the size or species of the tree, your yard will be appealing visually. By removing rotting leaves, dead shoots, and unhealthy branches you are able to showcase a healthy, handsome, lawn.”

To learn more about the importance of tree trimming, read the full article.

Pruning any time of the year is important, but when to prune is up for debate. Some homeowners swear by pruning only in the spring. Others prune only during dormancy in the winter. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, both can be correct.

When to Prune

“Light pruning and the removal of dead wood can be done anytime…Pruning during dormancy is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be used if that is the desired effect. It is usually best to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed.

To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don’t want; or to slow “dwarf” the development of a tree or branch, pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. The reason for the slowing effect is that you reduce the total leaf surface, thereby reducing the amount of food manufactured and sent to the roots. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily, or limbs that hang down too far under the weight of the leaves.”

Check out the full article to learn more about when and how to prune your trees.

The Arbor Foundation recommends the only time to avoid pruning is the fall because of the spread of fungi that tends to increase in the fall. However, if you have a tree that is causing a potential hazard, it is important to get it trimmed regardless of the time of year.

Maintaining safety for you and your family should be the number one priority. The team at Allstate Insurance has seen what happens when trees get out of control and can cause serious damage.

How Do You Safely Trim Your Trees?

“The most important rule when cutting a tree, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is personal safety. The best way to help ensure safety is to hire an arborist to clip back your trees. Trimming may often require a ladder and sometimes puts the trimmer in close proximity to power lines, posing a potential danger. The safest course of action is to leave tree-trimming to a professional.

However, if you do decide to trim your own trees, the USDA provides the following size guide to help you determine if it’s safe or not to cut the branches:

• • Branches smaller than 2 inches (or 5 centimeters) in diameter: Proceed.
  • Branches between 2 and 4 inches (or 5 and 10 centimeters) in diameter: Think it over.

For more information on safe tree trimming, visit the full article.

It’s important to know whether or not you are capable of handling your own tree trimming. If you have any doubt in your ability to properly assess the situation and conduct the pruning, expert with the experience and equipment necessary to complete the job in a safe and fast manner. 

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Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
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Landscape Design For Pets

We all love our pets. We also love our outdoor space. Sometimes those two things don’t get along very well. Before you know it, your pets are digging up your favorite shrub or digging a hole in the middle of your yard. With a little creativity, you can give your home a beautiful landscape and a space both you and your pets can enjoy.

Borst Landscape and Design is a leader among landscape designers and offers several helpful tips for designing a landscape for your pet.

Pet-Friendly Landscaping

“Start by knowing your pet. Some love to dig; others are always on the lookout for an escape route. Understanding your pet’s habits will help you design your yard to better address them…When it comes to digging, include more hardscaping…Make it up to your pet by installing a designated digging area, like a sandbox. Bury some toys to make it more appealing.”

Borst Landscape recommends a designated pathway for dogs to like to patrol, a cool, shaded area for relaxing pets, and dense planting to keep them secure and inside the yard boundaries. For more ideas, read the full article.

Lisa Gordon is a contributing writer for House Logic and has three dogs of her own. She recommends helpful do’s and don’ts for landscape design around dogs.

Landscaping For Dogs: Do’s and Don’ts

“DO: Use gravel, shredded hardwood mulch, or wood chips, which won’t stick to longhair coats.

DON’T: Use cocoa mulch, which may contain theobromine, the same ingredient that makes chocolate poisonous to dogs.

DO: Create a water feature so your dog can cool off on hot days.

DON’T: Install a pond or pool that is hard for your dog to enter and exit.

DO: Use organic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides on lawns and plants.

DON’T: Spread toxic lawn and plant care products, which can harm dogs.

DO: Give up the idea of having a perfect yard — a place that’s perfect for you and your pet is better.

DON’T: Let your dog rule the roost. Train him to respect boundaries and do his business in a designated spot.”

For the complete list of Do’s and Don’ts, visit the full article to learn more.

It’s important to recognize that your pet needs to have freedom in the backyard, but they can also be taught boundaries and rules of the space. Pet owners Bud Stuckley and his wife, who breed champion American Cocker Spaniel,  were recently featured in Sunset Magazine for tips on maintaining happy pets with a beautiful lawn and garden.

How To Landscape a Dog-Friendly Garden

“Get a dog and there goes the garden. That’s what many homeowners conclude, but it doesn’t have to be that way… The best way to accomplish both goals is to design your garden to meet your dog’s needs, Stuckey advises. That way, Fido will be able to romp and race without injuring himself or trampling your flowers―well, most of the time, anyway. Owning a dog also means giving up perfectionism and learning forgiveness, says Stuckey.

If you were a dog, what would you want? Each breed has a different personality. The better you can accommodate its particular traits, the happier your dog. And the happier your dog, the better your chance of maintaining a garden you’ll both enjoy. This dog-friendly yard includes a running track, border control, comfy mulch, sensible plants, and a piece of driftwood to serve as a marking post.”

To read the full article on more dog-friendly garden landscapes, visit Sunset today.

Sometimes it’s more than just creating a landscape that accommodates or puts up with your pet. Having a pet can actually enhance your space by adding a few elements that allow your pet to enjoy their space and also provide added benefits for you and your family.

Marianne Lipanovich, a Houzz Contributor who writes for Home and Garden, recommended a few pretty pet additions in an article recently featured on Bark.com.

8 Great Backyard Ideas to Delight Your Dog

“Keep the water flowing. Fresh water, and plenty of it, is essential. Why not take this opportunity to add a water feature to your landscape that your dog can access? A splash fountain or stream is ideal, and you’ll enjoy it, too.

Provide readily available shade and shelter. This is another essential, as dogs can get sunburnt  and suffer from heatstroke. A large tree or trees will provide shade, but if trees aren’t possible, look into overhead tarps and shade cloths that stretch over part of the area.”

For more ideas on how to keep both your family and your dog happy, check out the full article.

Anytime you are incorporating pets into your family, it is also important to make sure your landscape is toxin free. Marie Hofer, a writer for HGTV, explains how to keep our pets safe by choosing our plants carefully.

Keeping Pets Safe: Poisonous Plants

“Lots of dogs and some cats chew on plants. Most of the time, there’s no ill effect. But some plants — such as Elephant Ear and Yew — can be extremely toxic to pets. Other plants that are much less poisonous create toxicity issues only when large quantities are eaten. With all of these plants, the effect depends on the variety of plant and the size and weight of the animal and the amount consumed. Effects can range from mild oral irritation to poisoning.”

Check out the full article to learn more about poisonous plants and ways to keep your pets safe!

You can check with your vet and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for a list of plants that can irritate or even kill your pet. Landscaping materials and chemical controls can also cause problems. Be careful to use materials, fertilizers, and baits that are safe for pets.

A bored dog tends to look for trouble. Give them a space they can run and play in. Even simple additions like obstacles, balance beams, or tunnels to roam through that is just your dog’s size can solve all your problems. Even dogs sometimes need to get away from it all.

With a little awareness and creativity, you’ll have a happy pet and a beautiful space you both can enjoy. Call us today for more information!

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Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/map
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/info

Lawn Mowing and Why It Really Matters

Whether you love it or hate it, lawn mowing is an important part of yard care. To some, mowing the lawn is a sacred ritual of getting those mow stripes perfectly even and being the envy of the neighborhood. For some homeowners, lawn mowing is a matter of pride, and brings some satisfaction from a well-manicured property.

For others, mowing the lawn is put off until the very last second, until you finally hack through it while muttering under your breath. Of course, there’s always the third option, when you leave it to the professionals (or a local teenager) who dutifully shows up once a week to mow the lawn and leave it looking pristine without you lifting a finger.

Whether you’re a lawn lover or a grass grumbler, the benefits of lawn mowing extend beyond personal preference. In a recent post by Ready To Mow, the main benefits from mowing your lawn on a regular basis are outlined.

The Importance of Regular Lawn Mowing

“In a yard, resources are absorbed by the grass and used to grow.  By slicing the growth down to a short and uniform level on a regular basis, all of the growth gets an equal distribution of resources.  Due to this fact, mowing on a regular basis will allow the lawn to remain consistent in nature, because all of the resources that are gained from the sun and water are spread out evenly throughout the yard. Consistency is important to both health and appearance, so making sure that resources are evenly distributed is very important.”

To read the full article about the importance of keeping a consistent lawn mowing schedule, visit the full article.

Distribution of resources is just the beginning of regular lawn mowing benefits. All About Lawn.com is considered one of the experts in the industry and delivers several helpful tips to homeowners taking care of their own lawns.

5 Mowing Mantras

“Mix up your mowing pattern: This allows you to reduce wear on the grass, hit the spots you missed the time before, and reduce “double mowing”,  or going over the same spot again and again unnecessarily, which can mat the turf and limit growth. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try a checkerboard one week and circles the next. Stripes add sass to your lawn.

Mulch rather than bag your clippings: This may seem a little hippie-dippy and messy, but it really is better for your lawn. Grass contains nitrogen that your soil needs—and it’s free! If you’re cutting your grass high and often, the clippings are less noticeable anyway.

Sharpen your mower blade if you haven’t already: Seriously, this is important. A dull blade gives your grass the equivalent of road rash and makes it easy for disease to creep in and kill your luscious lawn.”

To learn more, and discover the other two lawn mowing mantras, read more today.

It’s clear that mowing the lawn provides benefits to your property, but how high is too high and how short is detrimental? The great height debate continued among lawn care professionals. The Mr. Grass blog at Chippers Inc. has been in the lawn care industry for over 30 years. He clears up the misconceptions on grass height and explains how to decide how short to mow.

Mowing Is More Important Than You Think

“Think of your lawn as a little forest. The denser the tree canopy, the more shade is provided below. The same theory goes for your lawn. The higher the mowing height, the more shade below, and the cooler the soil. Cooler soil means fewer weeds will germinate and helps mitigate heat and drought stress…

A proper mowing height provides more leaf blade for the lawn to capture sunlight and manufacture its food. This fact is especially important in the shade where light levels are already diminished. Maintaining a high cut in the shade is critical in allowing your grass to capture all of the diffused sunlight possible. A high cut also promotes a deeper root system that can capture more water while withstanding drought, heat, and foot traffic to a much higher capacity.”

For a better understanding of the importance of lawn mowing, be sure to check out the full article.

There’s a lot to remember about what to do (or not do) when mowing your lawn. This can be frustrating to homeowners who are consistently finding uneven results, dry spots, or experiencing difficulty creating a well-manicured lawn. Milorganite is a company who sells a slow release nitrogen that has been popular for over 90 years. Their experts recommend a simple tip to make mowing easier.

Six Lawn Mowing Tips

“A border around a garden bed helps separate the garden and lawn, creates a clean edge, helps to prevent mulch from spilling into the lawn, and makes mowing easier and less time consuming.”

To uncover the other five lawn mowing tips, read the full article to learn more.

Still, sometimes the maintenance and work involved in mowing the lawn is just one more task on the to-do list. Task Easy is all about helping you making life (and lawn care) easier.

Why You Should Leave Lawn Mowing To The Pros

“Professionals who mow lawns and do other yard maintenance for a living are typically filled with knowledge they’ve gained from years of experience and by handling a diverse group of lawns. They know everything from the best time to cut your lawn to the best type of fertilizer for your grass. Their knowledge can provide you with peace of mind in knowing you’re being taken care of by someone who knows what’s best for the health and appearance of your lawn.”

To read more benefits of professional lawn mowing services, visit the full article today.

If you are more of the “do it yourself” type, we are here to provide you with helpful tips to make the job even easier. If you prefer to have someone take care of the job for you, we can help with that as well. Give us a call today for more information.

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Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/map
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/info

How to Prepare Your Landscaping for Fall

Summer is over, kids are back in school, and the pumpkin spice frenzy has begun.

Fall is here.

If left untreated, your once beautiful grass, flowers, and trees will fall victim to the cold temperatures of fall and winter and when spring rolls around, you will be left with piles of dead foliage.

There are many DIY steps you can take to protect your yard and landscaping. With the proper care and preparation, your yard and landscaping will live to see next spring.

In this blog post by Signature Exteriors, they discuss how getting rid of dead foliage is one step in prepping for colder temperatures:

5 Landscaping Tips to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Now that Starbucks has brought out their annual Pumpkin Spice Latte, you know that summer is commercially, if not officially, over and the fall season is on its way. That means unpacking your sweaters and scarves, thinking about your Halloween costume, and sending the kids off to school.

The end of summer and beginning of autumn also means that homeowners should start to prepare their exterior property for the harsh winter weather to ensure that come spring, you’re ready to enjoy your garden or yard. Not only will this make sure that your home’s curb appeal is at its best, but any necessary repairs that you discover in the spring will be a lot easier to take care of.

Here are five tips to prepare your home’s exterior for the fall and keep your property in tip-top shape.

Get Rid of Dead Foliage

Just as you would wash and mend your summer clothes before putting them in storage for the winter, you’ll want to get rid of any dead plants, leaves and branches before the winter. This will make your yard look cleaner and less like you’ve abandoned your property for the winter. Removing dead landscaping includes cutting back dead annuals, perennials, grass, shrub and tree branches, as well as raking leaves and fixing any dead or brown patches on your lawn.

Learn about the rest of the steps here…

Getting rid of dead plants and leaves is a great place to start, but the work doesn’t stop there. Lisa Kaplan Gordon of houselogic talks about how spreading new mulch can protect your plants from harsh temperatures:

Fall Landscaping Ideas: How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter

Fall landscaping preparation ideas ready your yard for a long winter and glorious spring.

Fall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before snow and frozen ground turn the lights out on your landscaping.

Spread Mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly, Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

You can read about the rest of her ideas here…

Both of these tips are great ways to make sure your home’s curb appeal is still strong come next spring. After your landscaping has been prepped for the cold, Beth Kaufman of House Beautiful has one last crucial step to add:

10 Things Pro Landscapers Do to Their Yards Every Autumn

When your chores are done, bring in all of your tools, sprinklers and, especially, hoses. “Water in the hose will expand when it freezes and damage the hose,” says Olivieri. “And don’t forget to have all irrigation lines blown out so lines, heads and valves don’t crack.”

Click here for more of her helpful tips…

Now that fall is here, there is no time to waste!

Get started now with these helpful tips and tricks to protect your landscaping, make your spring yard work easier, and maintain that beautiful curb appeal for your home.

The post How to Prepare Your Landscaping for Fall appeared first on Bloomin Gardens Landscaping and Lawn Care.

Bloomin Gardens Landscaping & Lawn Care
9703 Timberbrook Drive
Louisville, KY 40223
502-465-8173
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/map
https://www.bloomingardenslandscape.com/info

Basic Lawn Care Tips

You know a healthy lawn when you see it: a smooth, lush green carpet, perfect for cartwheels and croquet. So why doesn't your lawn look like that? To get that perfect lawn you may have to change your mindset, says landscape designer Gary Alan (www.garyalan.com). "You know how in golf they say 'Be the ball'? Well, you've got to be the grass. You've got to think about what it needs," Gary says. The basics, he says, are pretty simple: sun, water and fertilizer. Once you get those down, everyone's happy — you and your lawn. Here's how to get started.

Setting Soil

Planting a new lawn is like any good adventure: preparation and planning are key. No matter which planting method you plan to use, you need to prepare the area thoroughly to banish weeds and make sure soil won't immediately crust over or compact into lumpy ruts. John Griggs, a master gardener in West Virginia, says the most important step — and one that many gardeners skip — is testing the pH of your soil. Do-it-yourself test kids are available from nurseries and catalogs, or you can take advantage of the testing offered by your state's designated agricultural university. "It might seem like a hassle, but testing your soil will save you from pouring money into the ground," John says.

First published here: Basic Lawn Care Tips