8 MOST COMMON LANDSCAPING QUESTIONS
Keeping your yard and landscape beautiful can sometimes be a challenging task. You probably have a lot of questions on how to keep your lawn and garden looking colorful and healthy all year round. If so, Landscape Pros in Manassas, VA has all the answers to your questions. This short guide addresses some of the most common questions asked about landscaping.
8 Most Common Questions about your Yard
- How can we permanently get rid of weeds? Simple! Just grab an old newspaper and some mulch. Rip the newspaper into long paper or cardboard strips and place them in the soil around the weeded areas. Cover the newspaper or cardboard with mulch. These actions taken will block moisture from reaching the weeds while providing more nutrients to the surrounding plants. Any time weeds pop up again, repeat the process. This method will help prevent new weeds from growing.
- How often should I cut the lawn? As often as it needs to be cut. Keep in mind that longer grass requires less water, since it provides shade for itself. Some professionals even suggest not to rake or blow all the grass clippings because they can provide additional nutrients for the grass and your soil. If you let a little of the mowed grass lie, you won’t need to fertilize it. You obviously don’t want to leave all the mowed grass cuttings but leaving a little doesn’t hurt.
- Why does grass die during the winter? Your grass may not actually die in the winter months. Sometimes, grass can just become dormant, which means that it protects itself from extreme temperatures by turning brown to conserve water. Dead and dormant grass both look similar. It may be difficult to tell dormant grass from dead grass until spring arrives. A lot of homeowner associations may require their neighborhoods to plant winter grass varieties to help keep the neighborhood looking nice. You can continue to water your grass throughout the winter months if desired. If your grass turns green with the arrival of warmer spring temperatures, it has not died, it has just been dormant.
- Are dead leaves harmful to plants or soil? Short answer: it depends on the amount and types of dead leaves as well as the plants you have. Bigger, thicker leaves, like those of an oak tree, prevent water from reaching the soil. Dead leaves can be beneficial for most plants and the ecosystem, so long as they do not prevent water and nutrients from reaching the soil. If you have a lot of big type leaves, you should rake them up and shred them. Shredded leaves add nutrients to the soil and can also help kill weeds.
5. What kind of soils should I use? That depends on the type of plants. For some plants, digging up some dirt and just planting them in the ground may do the trick. Obviously, for most plants, this option may not work since natural ground and soil often contains high amounts of clay. If this is the case, you might want to go out to your local home and garden store and buy some good potting mix. It is specially formulated to help your plants grow. Try adding dead leaves, shredded leaves and grass to the bottom of your plant’s containers or pots. This can provide additional nutrients to your plants and help them grow.
- How often should I change the soil in my planters? Just like fine wine, soil often gets better with age. The secret trick is not to replace the soil but to continue to add to it. Naturally occurring soils in your yard or garden might be hundreds, or even thousands, of years old, and they still grow things just fine. The tip to remember is that natural debris, dead leaves, grasses, mulch, and flowers help to enrich the soil. When it comes to selecting the right planters, you should adopt a similar approach. Add compost or other natural materials to your soil each year, and your plants will continue to thrive.
7. How do I stop pests from eating my plants? Those tiny little holes in your plants are unsightly, but you don’t always want to use pesticides because they can harm your plants and the environment. Thankfully, there are a few natural solutions to the ever-enduring pest problem. Simply tossing old eggshells into your garden can prevent pests from eating your plants, and they also add nutrients to the soil. Sprinkling cayenne pepper in the soil as needed is a great way to keep bugs and other pests away too. Another tip is that you can also spray a mixture of water and a small amount of dish soap on your plants. This doesn’t hurt the plants or anyone who eats them, but it will help drive away unwanted pests.
8. What is the difference between drip irrigation and sprinkler systems? Ever seen those little rubber hoses that are poking up out of the soil in gardens? That is a drip irrigation system where small holes are made in these type hoses, that allow water to drip out. This ensures the water supply is kept closer to the roots and soil. Additionally, these drip lines are less likely to be stepped on or trampled on. Sprinkler systems, however, as you probably know, spray water into the air and area, which is then absorbed into the ground. Selecting the right type of irrigation system, you may need will depend on the type of plants or grass you are growing. Sprinkler systems work very well for grass and sod, while drip lines are much better suited for garden plants.
How Can Great Landscape Pros Help?
Landscape Pros is at your service, and we have you covered whether you need something small like yard maintenance or you want to get a new full landscape design. We have everything you need and specialize in all home landscaping and design projects! Try us out and give us a call today at (571) 535-8622. Check our links out