You would likely agree that a well-maintained yard is a highly pleasing feature of a home. It can be a great place to relax on a nice day and enjoy the great outdoors. But nothing in life is free. To have that picture-perfect lawn, there's a measure of effort and time that goes into it, and it's often a large measure. Some people love working on their yards, but others find the task a lot less enjoyable. If you are one of the latter types of people, and you don't want to hire a professional service to care for your lawn, there are some things you can do to your yard to reduce the level of maintenance needed while still making it look fantastic.
From the people who dislike yard work, the most common complaint you will likely hear from them is how much time and energy they have to spend mowing the lawn. It can be sweaty, hard work that takes quite awhile if the yard is big. The classic yard consists of a type of grass, such as Bermuda, Bahia or Kentucky Blue, covering most of the surface area, with plots set aside for flowers, trees or decorations. But there are actually some plants that serve as great substitutes for grass, often requiring less upkeep.
One such grass substitute is the clover. Though not especially common in the United States, many people have seen the benefits of planting clovers instead of grass. They require very little mowing and very little water and are able to thrive in most environments. Additionally, they are nice-looking, they stay green through most of the year, they are soft and enjoyable to walk through, they put useful fertilizer into the ground that other plants can use, and many annoying insects steer clear of them.
After mowing, the next biggest complaint with yard maintenance would likely be watering. Even if you don't have to go out and do it by hand with a hose, you still probably notice that the water bill can rack up pretty quickly. This is especially true if you run sprinkler systems in the hot Summer months. As an alternative, you might consider an in-ground irrigation system that dispense water throughout the ground without exposing it to the hot sun. Some new homes are built with them, and they can be retrofitted into most others.
During the planning phases of your landscaping projects, be sure to research the types of plants you want to use to ensure that they can thrive in the environment where you live. Some tree are especially vulnerable to temperature changes or drought. If you plant the wrong kind of tree or bush and it ends up dying because it was poorly adapted to the climate, you've just made a whole lot of unnecessary work and expense for yourself. But there are many types of trees that thrive in a wide range of conditions and require very little upkeep on your part.
Unless you're able to pay someone to take care of your landscaping chores for you, every yard will need some work from its owner to stay pretty. But by making the right choices when planning and designing, you can cut back on the time and energy you need to put into it and still have a vibrant, enjoyable yard.
From the people who dislike yard work, the most common complaint you will likely hear from them is how much time and energy they have to spend mowing the lawn. It can be sweaty, hard work that takes quite awhile if the yard is big. The classic yard consists of a type of grass, such as Bermuda, Bahia or Kentucky Blue, covering most of the surface area, with plots set aside for flowers, trees or decorations. But there are actually some plants that serve as great substitutes for grass, often requiring less upkeep.
One such grass substitute is the clover. Though not especially common in the United States, many people have seen the benefits of planting clovers instead of grass. They require very little mowing and very little water and are able to thrive in most environments. Additionally, they are nice-looking, they stay green through most of the year, they are soft and enjoyable to walk through, they put useful fertilizer into the ground that other plants can use, and many annoying insects steer clear of them.
After mowing, the next biggest complaint with yard maintenance would likely be watering. Even if you don't have to go out and do it by hand with a hose, you still probably notice that the water bill can rack up pretty quickly. This is especially true if you run sprinkler systems in the hot Summer months. As an alternative, you might consider an in-ground irrigation system that dispense water throughout the ground without exposing it to the hot sun. Some new homes are built with them, and they can be retrofitted into most others.
During the planning phases of your landscaping projects, be sure to research the types of plants you want to use to ensure that they can thrive in the environment where you live. Some tree are especially vulnerable to temperature changes or drought. If you plant the wrong kind of tree or bush and it ends up dying because it was poorly adapted to the climate, you've just made a whole lot of unnecessary work and expense for yourself. But there are many types of trees that thrive in a wide range of conditions and require very little upkeep on your part.
Unless you're able to pay someone to take care of your landscaping chores for you, every yard will need some work from its owner to stay pretty. But by making the right choices when planning and designing, you can cut back on the time and energy you need to put into it and still have a vibrant, enjoyable yard.
About the Author:
A beautiful yard can be a fantastic compliment to an already great-looking home. If you want to be in your dream home before you start working on that dream lawn, you may find what you're looking for at Colliers Hill, one of Erie Colorado's most beautiful new home communities.
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