Tag Archives: outdoor living

Gardening Advice, Landscaping

Five Easy Lawn Care Tips

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We all want the perfect lawn. It is not as difficult as you think. The right planning and these five tips can help you get the lawn you want. All grasses need the same things; fertilizer, water, sunlight and a weed-free environment. Start in the fall or early spring with proper testing. Also make sure to check your specific type of grass for special growing requirements and use these tips and get ready for a great lawn.

Test Your Soil: All grasses need food to live. They also need the right conditions. Performing the proper testing and fertilization are keys to a lush lawn. The right pH levels and levels of nitrogen and other trace elements are the most crucial. All garden stores carry an inexpensive testing kit that gives you a basic measure of these nutrients. However, these are generally inaccurate and provide little in the way of help fixing any deficiencies. Instead try a local university. Most provide a detailed analysis of soil, highlight deficiencies with exactly how to fix them.

Proper Mowing: A sharp blade and the right lawn length are also key to a healthy lawn. Each type of grass has slightly different requirements but, in general, you want to keep your grass about 3″-4″ in length. Any shorter and you may damage the grass by cutting too much and allow weeds to take root. Keeping the blade sharp minimizes damage to the plants and can reduce the incidence of disease and pests.

Lawn Fertilizer: In addition to preseason testing and fertilization the end of the growing season is key. As grasses begin to overwinter the roots require increased levels of potassium. This allows them to remain strong during the winter months and emerge sooner and stronger as a result. “Ensure you do not over-fertilize your lawn as it can be severely damaging and cause burns and even plant death,” advises Nate Merchant who performs Landscape Design in Morris County NJ. Always reference and follow strict instructions and guidelines.

Watering Your Lawn: All grasses need water but different types have different requirements. Warmer season grasses go dormant earlier than the cooler varieties and require less water. Generally most grasses need water about once a week. Long, infrequent watering is preferable since it requires roots to travel deeper in the soil between watering which strengthen the plant. The time of day is important as well. Try watering in the early part of the day. This prevents burning your lawn in the hot sun and allows the grass to dry before the evening when fungus can set in.

Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.

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Landscaping

Knowing The Choices In The Los Angeles Landscape

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For many decades the innovation and beauty of the Los Angeles landscape has captivated the world. It is at the forefront of design just as New York is with fashion and San Francisco is in the culinary world. It is California’s largest city and the second largest in the United States.

Outdoor living is very popular in the Los Angeles area as well as throughout California in general. The weather lends itself well to being appreciated out of doors many days per year. This trend has opened up the need for outdoor kitchens as well as outdoor living rooms.

Water is the most important element of the landscape plan here. Whether you are working with an abundance of it or wanting to conserve it, water will always play a role in the design. Swimming pools are beloved backyard staples here, however, what’s new is they are increasingly filled with salt water for their sustainability and health benefits.

Ponds with or without koi are very common in this area. Enough can’t be said about the amount and importance of fountains. They are in the yards, at the malls and on street corners and intersections. Waterfalls are also well loved for their calming sounds and oneness with nature they allow.

The gardens of Los Angeles are bright, colorful and tropical. Beauty flowering plants and trees can be seen where ever you look. Very popular plants are dahlia, fuchsia, and tropical palms and plants. Terraces are a common feature in the garden with sitting areas suitable for reading.

Water conservation and drought conditions are major considering factors here due to the climate. In return, drought resistant gardens and landscapes have become a staple that will not be going away anytime soon. There are well used plants for these conditions that add beauty such as deer grass and lilac verbena.

Rock gardens are also very common due to the climate. They can be as small as pebbles or as large as boulders that need special equipment to bring into the yard. They are easy to maintain and they obviously would be a very water conscious choice.

A final feature you will not want to miss is the openness of the spaces with the ability to retract entire ceilings and walls when the weather is nice. That is truly bringing the indoors out in a functional and literal sense. Nothing says the great outdoors then opening the wall with a touch of a button and being a part of it.

The Los Angeles Landscape is home to quite a variety of fashionable trends. There can be some inspiration here that anyone can imitate where ever they live and get a sense of the L. A. Spirit. See what works for you and give it a try.

When you have a climate that encourages outdoor living spaces, landscape design is particularly important to homeowners. Los Angeles landscape professionals have the experience and expertise to make your lawn and patio attractive and functional.