My Real Estate Blog

Tips for watering

Like all other living things, plants need water to survive. How much water they receive is mostly controlled by you. The best way to tell if you're watering the lawn enough is to check the soil. If you can penetrate to the roots easily, which is about 8 inches, then the soil has had enough water.

In terms of plants and shrubs, watering needs depend entirely on the species. Most flowering plants need watering daily during the hot days of summer. Even large rooted shrubs, when under trees, need larger amounts of water than you'd expect. Tree roots are really water hogs.

Newly planted shrubs and flowers require more care and water, even for a couple of years.

There is also a way to multi-task while you water. Certain brands of fertilizer now come in liquid forms that are applied with your garden hose.

For efficiency, and for water conservation, you should water in the early morning hours. Sprinkler systems should be adjusted so that they don't run during the heat of the day. Consider installing a rain sensor, so that you don't water your lawns while it rains!

Tips for bigger blooms

Plants receive their nutrition from the soil. If they can't get everything they need from where they're planted, they may stop flowering. This is where fertilizer comes into play. A plant requires several key ingredients to perform at its best: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is what makes big, beautiful foliage. Phosphorus helps plants establish strong roots. Potassium helps improve the overall health of the plant.  You can choose from granular fertilizer, which lasts around 6 months, or water soluble, which needs applied every other week.

Of course, there are natural alternatives, if you want to avoid using chemical products. Some time honored favorites include manure, mulch, grass clippings, or compost.

Tips for a lush lawn

Now that you've watered your lawn, what else can be done to improve its health and appearance? One tip is to aerate. Yes, plants and their roots need oxygen!

Controlling weeds is another important step. Although herbalists could brew up some tea out of those dandelions, most people don't appreciate a dandelion crop.  Broadleaf plants like dandelions and clover, are best controlled by selective postemergence herbicides.

Grass weeds (crabgrass, bluegrass, foxtail) are best controlled with preemergence herbicides applied before germination. Whether you should treat in Spring or Fall depends entirely on whether the type of weed is an annual or perennial.

Next, to what height should you cut your lawn? It all depends on what type of grass you have growing. Bermuda grasses do best when kept to .75 to 1.5 inches. Cutting your lawn to shorter heights can result in shallow roots. Grass with shallow roots will dry out quicker and grass that's too short gives weeds a great opportunity to take over.