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.
Clovers are a type of plant that fits the bill perfectly. In American neighborhoods, a clover lawn would be a rare sight. But there are numerous benefits that come from trading out that grass for clovers. The most immediate benefit is the reduction in time spent mowing. Clovers need to be mowed far less than grass. In addition to this, they don't need as much water to thrive, they stay green in every time of year, and the elements they put into the ground are beneficial to nearby plants. If you have the chance to check out a clover lawn, see for yourself.
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.
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.
No matter what, though, every yard is going to require effort on someone's part. There's no way to have a fully self-sufficient yard that looks exactly how you want it. But with proper planning, the amount of work you have to put into will be greatly reduced, leaving you more time to enjoy your beautiful 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.
Clovers are a type of plant that fits the bill perfectly. In American neighborhoods, a clover lawn would be a rare sight. But there are numerous benefits that come from trading out that grass for clovers. The most immediate benefit is the reduction in time spent mowing. Clovers need to be mowed far less than grass. In addition to this, they don't need as much water to thrive, they stay green in every time of year, and the elements they put into the ground are beneficial to nearby plants. If you have the chance to check out a clover lawn, see for yourself.
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.
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.
No matter what, though, every yard is going to require effort on someone's part. There's no way to have a fully self-sufficient yard that looks exactly how you want it. But with proper planning, the amount of work you have to put into will be greatly reduced, leaving you more time to enjoy your beautiful yard.
About the Author:
A beautiful yard can make a great-looking home look even better. For waiting for that dream home before they put effort into their yard, they might what they're looking for at Colliers Hill, a wonderful, scenic new home community in Erie, Colorado.
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