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What could be more exciting than a new year? How about a new yard? And just like your year, though your yard is not all in your control, much depends on the time and energy you put into it. Of course, much like your year, your property would do well with a plan or resolution. And there are a lot of choices because your landscaping is a little bit of everything - the living and manufactured elements of your yard that need to look beautiful themselves but also meld as part of a big picture. Here is Southern Love's list of the top 7 general elements that go into an incredible landscape.
Trees
We love our trees! They provide us with shade, oxygen, and maybe a place for a swing or fort. And for all that, all trees' needs are relatively minor care.
Naturally, trees need water and sunlight. But they also require fertilizer, trimming, and pruning. Trimming and pruning help keep your tree healthy and looking good. But the difference between trimming and pruning is that pruning is specifically about removing sick or other detrimental branches, whereas trimming is shortening all over.
Flowers
Flowers are more delicate than trees but no less critical to your landscape. For many people, flowerbeds are landscaping. But because of their nature, flowers take more regular maintenance. Perennials come back every year on their own, but that doesn't mean that you don't need to put in any work. Perennials need pruning and cutting back to stay healthy and require weeds around them to be removed. Annuals are often more vivid than perennials but require new plants every year. For some people, that's that point because it adds variety. Many flower beds have a mix of the two, but all flowerbeds need cleanup and maintenance regularly.Shrubs
If your landscape were the Brady Bunch, shrubs would be Jan, sandwiched in height between sweet flowers (Cindy) and popular trees (Marsha); shrubs don't always get the same attention as their landscape siblings. But that's not fair because shrubs are exceptional in their own right. Shrubs are hearty and often bloom or stay green all year. Like trees, they need trimming and pruning to keep them neat and healthy.Grass
Your lawn takes up the most real estate on your property and covers two percent of the total land area in the United States! The ubiquity of lawns is partly due to the ease of growing grass, partly due to its ability to prevent erosion, and partly to tradition - we grow grass because we grow grass! Many homeowners think all you need to do with a lawn is mow it. But lawn care also requires fertilization, aeration, and overseeding. If you're unsure what that is, stick with us, and you'll learn!Irrigation
While all these species in the kingdom of flora have many differences, they also all have some similar needs like sunlight, soil, and water. Where homeowners tend to fail in plant care is watering. Irrigation is a great way to prevent that. When installing landscaping, adding irrigation is a great add-on! Irrigation prevents you from over or under-watering and ensures your plants are always watered at the right time, eliminating human error.Hardscaping
Up to this point, every element we have focused on has been alive. But everyone knows some of the best places in your yard to spend your time are manufactured. Hardscaping is a great way to put your stamp on your yard and bring elements of your lifestyle to it. We can personalize your yard with a patio or outdoor living space that includes water features, fire pits, grills, or even a complete outdoor kitchen!Mulch
Like the Lebowskian rug, mulch ties your landscape together. But beyond the contrast that mulch provides to your trees and your gardens, it also serves essential functions.
Mulch helps you with water retention and insulation. During the winter, it keeps your plants from freezing, and in the summer, it keeps them from burning. Mulch also acts as a weed barrier and eventually breaks down to feed your gardens!