The Biggest Landscaping Mistakes and How to Fix Them part 1
Learn how to avoid common landscaping blunders and how to remedy the ones that may already be creeping into your yard.
1. Mistake: Neglecting Curb Appeal
Never underestimate the power of curb appeal. A lot of homeowners put all of their energy into the backyard, but the front of the house is where first impressions are made.
2. Solution: Do These Three Things
There are three simple improvements you can make that make a big difference. Paint your door a contrasting color than the base of your home, keep the grass trim and green, and plant colorful flowers
3. Mistake: Excessive Lawn Tchotchkes
People often make the mistake of putting too many decorative items in their yard, which can distract from the beauty of the natural landscape.
4. Solution: Be Selective
Before setting out that lawn ornament, ask yourself why are you putting it there and how it fits the context of your overall design and plant materials. Stick with one crisp choice, even if it is a little silly. One little whimsical statement goes a lot further than 10.
5. Mistake: Not Recycling Yard Waste
Yard projects tend to produce a good amount of waste; what ashame to let good waste go to waste.
6. Solution: Compost It
Instead of tossing out the branches, clippings and other debris, dispose of them in an eco-friendly way. Rent a shredder and turn them into mulch, and put lawn clippings back on the lawn — they are both great fertilizers. Better yet, create a compost pile or build a compost bin. Layer yard waste with food scraps and in no time you'll have rich fertilzer that didn't cost you a dime
7. Mistake: Planting in the Wrong Place
Improper plant placement is another common mistake. People often do not take into consideration the needed sunlight and exposure for their plants.
8. Solution: Read the Plant Tag
Be sure to pay attention to the little tag that you get when you buy the plant. When it comes to planting trees, you need to remember how big they could get and how much space they are going to need. Also think about focal points — choose something that's going to look good year-round.
9. Mistake: Planting Too Deeply
One of the quickest ways to kill a tree is to plant it too far into the ground. Some folks figure the more soil they can put around it, the better. But doing so can actually choke the tree to death because there is no air allowed to go to the root system. Going too deep can also encourage root rot.
10. Solution: Match the Depth
Avoid these scenarios by looking at the main stem, where the largest branch is and then where all of the tentacles come out. That's the root ball, and that's what you want to meet, right along the surface. A good rule of thumb with plants is to dig to the actual height of the container in which it came.
11. Mistake: Cutting Grass Too Short
It's a common myth that cutting the grass shorter means you have to mow it less. That's actually not the case, and you can do more harm than good. If you scalp the lawn, it could result in a bare patch, which could make it inviting for insects and susceptible to disease.
12. Solution: Switch It Up
The key is to cut the lawn different lengths throughout the year. During the summer, the lawn needs a little more shade, so let the blades grow just a little bit more. Also, it will help the water not evaporate so quickly. During the winter, cut it a little bit shorter so that the sunlight can actually get into the soil.
13. Mistake: Forgetting the View From Your Window
It may seem like common sense to think about the view from inside the house, but a lot of people forget it. Keep in mind what it looks like from all angles.
14. Solution: Enhance Your View
Place your containers where you want them, and then go inside and look through every major window to see what they'll look like before you plant. It should be like a painting. When you look out, you should see the glass framed with beautiful trees and foliage.
15. Mistake: Using the Wrong-Size Pots
If you put a plant in a pot that is too large, it can shift, sink down into the soil, get too much water or dry out too fast. On the other hand, a pot that is too small will quickly make the plant become rootbound.
16. Solution: Start Small
Remember that you are going to have to re-pot it, eventually. It's easy to tell when that's necessary because little roots begin to stick out at the bottom. A word of caution related to re-potting: Be sure to give a plant plenty of time get acclimated to its new pot before re-potting again.
17. Mistake: Failing to Fertilize Properly
There are two ways that fertilizing can be a mistake. The first one is not doing it at all. The other is fertilizing too much or fertilizing improperly.
18. Solution: Fertilize With Caution
Ask someone at your garden center to recommend a proper fertilizer for your yard. It's a good idea to do it at least twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. You should never do it in the bright sun, and watering always needs to follow. It's also a good idea to mix in fertilizer when planting new plants. Make sure that, when you dig the hole, you mix in new soil and fertilizer so the plant, over the period of a year, is going to have a nice time release of fertilizer.
19. Mistake: Picking the Wrong Plants
Just because a plant looks pretty doesn't mean it actually belongs in your yard. You have to take into consideration your particular yard, with filtered light or shade, and what's going to work best for you
20. Solution: Know Your Yard
Get plants that will work well in your space. Consider native plants, they'll likely be successful. Big box stores may not always have the answers, you may find a nursery or garden center will know what grows best in your area and under what conditions.
21. Mistake: Not Accounting for Wildlife
You could be planting a buffet rather than a garden if you don't consider what animals or garden pests might be around.
22. Solution: Plant Things Critters Hate
Before you decide what to plant in your garden, think about what critters you have in relation to what you'd like to plant. For example, pretty flowering plants can attract deer, so you might want to throw in some bitter-tasting ones among them. Once they taste the wrong one, they are likely to stop coming around. If there are wild rabbits around, you may need to shelter your garden bed by building a small fence. Chicken wire is another option.( pic : chives)
23. Mistake: Being Shortsighted
Being shortsighted is a common problem because many people don't know what the eventual growth of their plants will be. You need to find out how they spread, how they reproduce and what type of maintenance they require.
24. Solution: Do Your Research
Read the plant tags and ask an expert at the garden center how big and how fast a certain plant will grow.
Where_I_am_From - Topher Mohr and Alex Elena; (youtube audio library)
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