How to Avoid Ruining Your New Yard
Many times homes will be in their best condition when they are put on the market for sale as they need to be presentable. This usually includes everything from the inside out down to the landscaping. However, it is not uncommon that the new owners can make some blunders when it comes to proper yard maintenance when they move in and take over. Here is a list of the common mistakes that you will want to avoid.
Not reading instructions. Proper lawn care includes many things from fertilizer and weed control to bug control. Each treatment is very particular for when it is done and how much you use. Make sure to read all instructions thoroughly as to not damage your lawn or potentially harm kids or pets.
Irrigation. Keeping your lawn well watered is important for its longevity. However, watering it just enough to get it wet won’t cut it as ideally the soil should be moist 6 inches deep. A good strategy is to time how long you are watering and then take a shovel and check the soil to see how long it takes to get it moist 6 inches deep. Watering too much can also be a problem. Especially with the lawn types in South Florida, it is possible to get a fungus from too much water.
Improper Fertilization. Much like bug control or weed killer, there is such a thing as applying too much fertilizer. Using too much can cause serious damage resulting in burning or killing grass and plants while runoff water can cause algae to grow.
Grass cutting. Don’t cut your lawn too short. This can help push the time in between mowings, but it can be a recipe for a brown lawn.
Weed killer. Weed killer is supposed to be used in smaller areas and not doused on your entire lawn in mass amounts. This can kill everything and lead to planting a whole new lawn.
Trimming and pruning. Branches can grow to areas that need to be trimmed back, but cutting at random is not the way to do it. Make sure you do your trimming where the trunk and branch come together and leave a bump. This bump will often allow the plant to recover from the cuts.
Planting strategy. If you want a landscaped yard with many plantings then that can be possible, however, don’t plant bushes and flowers too close to one another. Plants need room to grow and being too close can rob them of necessary nutrients and potentially lead to death.
Pet damage. It is tempting to allow pets to relieve themselves wherever they want in the yard. However, eventually you may notice patches of dead grass and damaged plants. If you can’t train your pet to go in one area, limit them to a run so they are confined to using just one particular section of your yard.