Tuesday, June 10, 2014

By Quentin Richards


Most people enjoy having a beautiful lawn to enjoy during the warmer months. But not everyone likes putting forth the effort to keep their yard perfect. Yard work can be enjoyable to some, but for many others, having a low-maintenance yard would be ideal. Many people choose to hire a landscaping service to maintain a complex, beautiful lawn. But if you plan to handle the upkeep yourself, there are ways you can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to keep it looking beautiful.

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.

Watering is probably the next biggest disadvantage of owning a lawn. It can cost quite a bit to keep a lawn green, particularly in hot, dry climates. Few people still have to do by hand, instead relying on automated sprinkler systems. But even these can be excessive in their water usage, tacking on extra charges to your water bill. Underground irrigation systems are a great alternative, using a lot less water by getting the moisture directly to where it's needed. Some newer homes have the system built-in, and it can installed relatively simply into older homes.

Another good tip is to design your yard with plants that are suited to your area and its yearly climate changes. Well-placed trees can make a good yard look great, but they often come with lots of extra maintenance to keep them looking nice. That is why, if you want a beautiful feature like a tree without too much extra hassle, it is important to choose the types of trees that will thrive well on their own with low-maintenance. Trees often chosen for this purpose include the pagoda dogwood, paperbark maple and Japanese hemlock.

Every yard requires work from someone, in some form. If you don't hire a professional service, there's no completely hassle-free way to have a great-looking yard. But with smart planning and choices, you can greatly reduce the amount of effort you'll need to put into making it vibrant, lush and beautiful.




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