The Ins and Outs of Yard Landscaping

Your yard landscaping options are heavily dependent on a few factors. Where you live will determine what kinds of plants you can grow. The slope of your lawn and its soil type will determine how those plants should be watered. The size of the lot and your yard landscaping budget are also significant factors.

Front Yard Landscaping
A front yard is a window into the life of a property. If well-maintained and smartly organized, front yard landscaping can raise both your home's curb appeal as well as positively effect the house's over all value. The front yard should look as open and healthy as possible. Remember, this is how people enter the home. Having to dodge too many plants on the way in can be off putting.

Unless you have a large enough budget to hire help, it is recommended that the front yard landscaping be kept simple and elegant. A few trees or shrubs are fine. A small flowerbed or garden is nice. Just make sure that it's easily manageable. Anything more, (like a grill, swing set, or outdoor furniture) should probably be in the back yard.

Back Yard Landscaping
Back yards don't have the pressure of making a first impression. This is where projects or "experiments" have the right of way. Back yards are meant for function and, realistically, a bit of abuse. Use your own discretion.

Yard Landscaping Solutions
If there are many slopes and troughs on your property, yard landscaping is a bit more challenging. This is mainly because watering is more of an issue. The plants and grass around your home all need water, but when a slope is involved, too many watering systems fall short. To keep water from sliding down hill (thereby watering the bottom too much, and the top not enough), make sure watering is done in small increments several times a day. If you are thinking of putting in a sprinkler system, opt for swiveling sprinkler heads. They shoot water farther away and provide a more even distribution.

Problems with plants not growing well are often due to climate. Try and find local plant varieties for your yard. Local plants will require less attention and are designed to thrive in your area. If you're determined to grow more delicate species, perhaps you should consider a back yard greenhouse. Small, easy to install greenhouses are available at many home improvement centers. They are relatively inexpensive and can provide the specific conditions necessary for temperamental species. After the plant is healthy, it may be possible to transplant it to the yard.

A green lawn takes a lot of work, and is especially difficult to achieve in areas where the soil is sandy and the rainfall is sparse. If all else fails, sodding could be the answer. It is certainly more expensive than seeding, but if the soil is properly prepared before the sod is laid down, it is a sure fire way to have the lawn you've been craving. Soil that is mostly to totally sand is out of luck, but if your dirt is dirt at all, there's hope. Leveling, raking, and fertilizing are necessary steps in sodding. In some cases, topsoil will need to be trucked in and tilled into the existing soil to ensure the sod's longevity. Sod is also good if you're in a hurry. Seeding takes a lot of time and patience. Sodding will look good immediately, and after a month or so, will be able to handle a riding mower.

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