Landscaping is probably the greatest gift you can give to your house. It can make any house look more like a home, and it makes any living space a good place to settle down to.
As simple as the notion of improving your facade may sound, improving the look of your house through landscape design requires more work than you think. That’s why some people end up making landscaping decisions that they eventually regret!
To prevent that from happening to you, here are some mistakes that you should know and learn to avoid.
Just Leaving Plants Anywhere
Plant placement is never as simple as 1, 2, 3! You can’t just pick up a potted plant, choose a random area on your property, and just leave it there without a care in the world. There are a couple of things you need to consider.
Each plant has its own set of needs that you must take into consideration before deciding where to place it. To give you an idea, here’s a couple of questions you should ask yourself:
- How much water and sunlight does it require?
- Would it thrive better in dirt beds, rocky beds, or mulch?
- What other plants should I put it with?
These needs, when addressed correctly, will ensure your plants are healthy and thriving. There are also plants that grow better when grouped with another plant that has similar needs. Known as companion planting, this method encourages improved plant health, weed suppression, shade regulation, and healthier soil.
Cutting Your Grass Too Low
Grass, which is probably the most neglected part of your landscaping efforts, requires some TLC too. We all know that cutting the grass regularly is a must—but it’s not all that. You actually need to watch out if you’re cutting the grass too low, as this does more harm than good!
When grass is too short, you’re basically rendering it incapable of doing photosynthesis, the plant’s natural way of producing food. If you shave off too much of the food-producing part of the grass, then they’re as good as dead. Short grass also produces weaker roots that mostly struggle in absorbing nutrients from the soil.
Landscaping Without a Plan
Any home improvement project requires a detailed and comprehensive plan to ensure proper execution—and the same goes for landscaping. All the pruning, trimming, planting, and hardscaping efforts don’t just happen overnight!
Creating a landscape plan will make sure you get the right type of plants and place them on a proper layout that encourages growth. Things like climate, the amount of space available, plant needs, and exposure to wildlife and insects are all factors to consider when planning for the project. You don’t want to finish all your landscaping, then realize that there’s not enough space for the plants to live in!
Start with the basic features of your project, like the plant beds and hardscaping. Over the next few weeks, you can add more elements to your landscape. Try to account for the different climates and which plants look good in them.
Pruning Is More Than Just Cutting
It takes more than just cutting a few branches from a plant to call it pruning. The process is actually more strategic than just random snipping. If done correctly, pruning encourages strong growth in most plants.
As a guide, we recommend pruning no more than about 10-15% of a plant at one time. Anything more than that may cause irreversible damage to your greens.
Pruning is best done in the winter months, as most plants enter a dormant state during this time of the year. Spring and summer pruning is also good—but do it sparingly. Doing it in the fall, on the other hand, may affect the plant’s growth and recovery in wintertime.
Always use a sharp pair of gardening scissors for pruning to ensure clean cuts through stems and branches. You don’t want to disfigure the plant with uneven cuts. Snip off stems cleanly so they can heal quickly and prevent infection.
Conclusion
Landscaping requires considerable effort and a decent amount of planning. Plant placement, space availability, and even plant nourishment are just some of the things to consider. We always recommend you to do your research before embarking on a home improvement project like this. The best advice, however, is to seek the advice of experts in the field of landscaping.
Are you looking for a general contractor in the Sacramento area to help you out with your landscaping needs? Cobex Construction Group is here to help! We are a general contractor with 30 years of experience in remodeling, construction, landscaping, and roofing services. Contact us today for a free quote!
