5 Big Mistakes to Avoid in Landscaping

5 Big Mistakes to Avoid in Landscaping

As a homeowner, there are a lot of do’s and don’ts when it comes to your landscaping. Some things you may have a professional landscaper handle, however, it’s important to note that some of your regular yard chores have rules as well.

Here are 5 mistakes you should definitely try to avoid while landscaping, as well as some solutions for handling these tasks.

5. Cutting Your Grass too Low

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One thing to be mindful of while mowing your lawn is not to cut your grass too low. While it may be tempting to trim everything as low as possible for convenience and even aesthetic’s sake, you may end up hurting or even killing your grass.

When your lawn is too short, too much of its leaf surface is taken away, which takes away the ability to perform photosynthesis. It can also cause the grass to produce unhealthy, weak roots that cannot properly absorb nutrients.

Ideally, you want to keep your lawn between two and a half and three inches long.

4. Not Pruning Your Plants, Shrubs, and Trees Properly

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It’s also very important to develop good pruning habits for any plants, shrubs, and trees in your landscaping. Pruning your yard correctly both controls and encourages new growth, and doing it incorrectly can both damage your plants and ruin the look of your landscaping.

Most of the time, it’s typically best to prune no more than about 10 to 15% of a plant at a time, and ideally doing the brunt of it while the landscaping is dormant. Spring and summer pruning can be healthy for the plants as well, as long as it is done more sparingly.

When you excessively prune your plants and shrubs, cut off the tops of trees, use dull shears, make messy cuts through branches and steps, etc. you are harming the plants and trees by weakening their protection against pests and disease and causing irregular growth.

3. Over (or Under) Watering

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While you most likely have a variety of plants with different watering needs, it’s important to make sure that you don’t overwater or underwater your landscaping. Luckily for you, regular rainfall should handle most of the task on its own.

Typically people tend to overwater their landscape – it’s best to let the rain do the job on its own unless you start to notice symptoms of dehydration like slow growth, yellowing or browning, and/or wilted leaves.

Also, consider the type of soil that you are dealing with. Sandy soil will need more water than mostly clay.

2. Planting in the Wrong Place

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A variety of plants, shrubs, and trees definitely add a lot of color, shapes, and texture to your landscaping – however, it’s vital to ensure that they are all in the ideal part of your yard to thrive.

Not every plant will do well in your hardiness zone, and not every plant can handle being in full sun, full shade, etc. It’s a good idea to do your research before choosing plants and trees for specific spots in your landscaping or to hire professional landscapers to assist you.

1. Ignoring Weeds

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While it can be tempting to avoid removing weeds from your landscaping, it can really affect the health and look of your yard.

Here are some of the dangers of leaving weeds in your lawn:

  • Weeds take up precious space
  • Certain weeds can cause skin allergies
  • Weeds take your plant’s food supply
  • Some weeds are parasites

Ideally, removing the weeds by hand or using a natural herbicide is the best way to handle the problem. A local, trusted landscaping company can also help you out as well!

Hiring a Professional to Avoid Big Mistakes in Landscaping

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If you are concerned about any of these potential mistakes in your landscaping, or would just like some additional help handling them, you may want to reach out to professionals for assistance.

For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Homescape Now for help with weeding, mowing, yard clean up, plant selection, and advice on landscape care. Give us a call today!