Fulfill These Lawn And Landscape Resolutions In 2017
It is a new year and like all new years, a chance to improve. Why not set some resolutions for your lawn and landscape too? Try these resolutions out. Maybe they will even make you healthier and happier too!
Plant A Tree, Cool Your Home
A deciduous tree (one that loses its leaves in the winter) planted in the right place will provide shade on our house in the summer but will also let the sun through in the winter. Natural cooling and heating! Some of our favorites include Maple, Oak and Birch. Here is our blog post on Using Trees To Cool Your Home.
Get More Organic
Organics have come a long way in the last few years. Consider organic solutions for fertilizing, insect and disease control, deer management and mosquito control. Remember, we live in Maryland and any excess chemicals or nutrients flow into our fragile Chesapeake Bay. Check out changes we have made to our lawn care programs here: Our Lawn Care Program Is Changing.
Set Your Lawn Mower To The Correct Height
Mowing your lawn high improves its ability to fend of weeds, insects and diseases. We (and the Maryland Extension Service) recommend 4” for most lawns. More information can be found at What Is The Correct Lawn Mowing Height.
Re-Use Water
Rain barrels are in! Attach them to your downspouts to collect the water off your roof and then use soaker hoses to water your gardens. You will even save a few bucks!
Go Native
Native plants have a lot to offer the landscape. They are indigenous to this area so they are more resistant to our weather conditions and our pests. The are also quite attractive. Here is another of our blog posts where you can learn more: Beautiful, Beneficial Native Plants.
Feed Our Feathered Friends
You could install bird feeders and fill them every week as needed, or, you could install plants that have seeds for the birds. Both options help out. Check our blog on Winter Plants For The Birds to learn more.
Plant Veggies
There is simply a feeling of satisfaction in raising your own food, even if it is only a tomato or two. A vegetable garden is a great way to get in the habit of eating healthier. It is also a fantastic way to get children outside and interacting with nature.
Plant For Winter Interest
There is no escaping it, winter happens every year. So let’s just deal with it and plants some species that are attractive in the winter. Plants that are evergreen, have berries, or have interesting bark can all help your landscape look better during winter.
Stop And Smell The Roses…And Anything Else Blooming In The Garden
What is the point of having a beautiful garden if you do not stop and enjoy it? Gardens are living, breathing, always evolving organisms. Spend as much time as you can in your garden and feel your stress wash away. Your body and brain will thank you (we promise).
Water Your Lawn At The Correct Time
This one is kind of boring but it is a mistake we see a lot of people make. The correct time to water your lawn is in the morning. Watering in the afternoon or evening encourages fungal growth which is damaging to grass. Watering in the morning allows the grass to dry off completely and reduces the amount of evaporation that occurs.
Send More Time With Family And Friends Outside
Share your landscape. It is spectacular. It is special. Spend time cooking and dining on your patio, cooking s’more around your fire pit, or playing in your yard. Get outside with family and friends. That is what it is all about.
Above all else, have a happy and healthy 2017!
Remember, Allentuck Landscaping Co. is always here to help you design, install, construct and maintain you lawn and landscape. Give us a call!
Allentuck Landscaping Co. is Your Residential Landscape Company
Phone: 301-515-1900
Email: info@allentucklandscaping.com
Proudly serving Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Darnestown, North Potomac, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Boyds, Germantown, Clarksburg, Ijamsville, Urbana and Frederick.