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Your yard can make a powerful statement:
 | They say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
That may be because your neighbors have hired someone to take care of it
for them. More Americans today are finding that a lawn service can do a
better job than they can in designing a lush yard and keeping it thriving. |
| Many people get great satisfaction out of a well-maintained yard. It
adds value and appeal to a home. But it's a lot of work, especially if you
have good-sized lot. Planning it all out takes a trained eye with a clear
vision of how to bring all the corners of your property together. |
How do you begin?
| Whether you want to redo your existing yard or you're starting from
scratch at a new house, careful planning is the key to making your yard
outstanding. Most people love the richness of a lush, dark green lawn. But
there are so many other options to consider before you put down all that
sod. Remember, the more elaborate the yard, the more work there is to keep
it alive and green. |
| First, plan out where you want flower beds, and how many. Many
homeowners surround their houses with flower beds and add shrubs, vines
and grasses to fill in. Others carve out larger chunks of the yard for
more elaborate displays. The only limit is your imagination. Flower beds
can take any shape you want and can be changed from season to season. |
| Second, decide which kinds of plants you want. Spend time at a nursery
to see what's available and talk to experts about what grows best with
your type of soil and amount of sunlight. If you want trees, take your
time deciding where they'll go. You always can transplant shrubs or
plants, but once a tree has taken root, it's much harder to move it. |
| Finally, figure out how you'll tie all the pieces together. Do you
fill in with grass, stones, a pathway or gravel? Do you need a decorative
or protective fence? What kind of borders on your flower beds? How about a
nice arbor or small water fountain and seats for a quiet place to relax
and enjoy the benefits of your labor? |
Putting it all together:
| If you're overwhelmed by the task ahead of you, consider hiring a
landscape architect. With a little guidance from you, she can put together
a plan that is beautiful and practical so you can get the most out of your
yard. |
| A landscape architect can get involved in planning the yard of a new
home even before the lot is cleared. They often work with architects and
contractors to plan the best arrangement for sidewalks, sprinkler lines,
decks or patios, or even outbuildings. |
| For an existing home, a landscape architect can plan a yard makeover.
She'll take into account what you want to accomplish, natural elements
like the type of soil and direction of sunlight, and what kind of plants
will work best. Many landscape architects aren't directly involved in the
digging and planting. They'll hire someone to do that.
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Regular care keeps it perfect:
| Now that you've got it all planned out and planted, how do you keep up
with all the work involved? More and more people today are hiring lawn and
yard maintenance crews to keep their yards fit and trim. There are many to
choose from, and they usually fall into two categories: lawn care and
landscape maintenance. |
| Lawn care companies mostly just cut and edge the grass. Some of them
apply fertilizer and pesticides, too, but often you'll have to hire a
separate company for weed and pest control. Landscape maintenance firms
will do just about anything to keep your yard lush: mowing, edging,
pruning, weeding and fertilizing. This is the most expensive option. Still
other firms will specialize strictly in maintaining plants and trees, and
expect the homeowner to keep the grass cut. For the price, this may be a
good compromise. |
My yard is a mess, where do I start?
| Visit local garden centers or nurseries and talk to experts about what
kinds of plants and grasses grow best in your climate. A landscape
architect can do anything from a complete makeover for your yard to
putting the finishing touches on something you've started.
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Lots and Grounds:
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If the general terrain around your home is inclined, is it a
gentle, sloping incline or a steeply sloped incline, and in which direction
does surface water flow? A primary point of concern is the possibility of
surface water movement towards the house and eventual penetration into the
below grade areas. If your land slopes downward from the street to the
house, your house may encounter serious drainage problems. The surface
water, if not properly diverted or controlled may accumulate around the
foundation, or it may collect or pond on the lawn.
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The actual soil conditions around the home are a major
concern. Soil erosion, ponding water and grades that slope towards the house
can lead to water in the basement or crawl space areas. The basic principal
for preventing or minimizing erosion is to have the ground covered as much
as possible with vegetation, such as grass, trees, shrubs, etc. As the homes
are landscaped, the shrubs and trees are often intentionally planted very
close to one another to produce an immediate, pleasing cosmetic effect. In
most cases, the plants are not placed with the future appearance in mind.
Consequently, as the shrubs and trees grow and fill out, they tend to crowd
one another. They also tend to be too close to the house.
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More importantly, they begin to impact the exterior surfaces
of the residence. Damp conditions are conducive to the growth of fungus and
mildew that lead to the decay of the wooden structural components. In
general, shrubs should be trimmed at least 12 to 16 inches away from the
walls to prevent damage by abrasion when high winds blow, and to allow the
siding and other building materials to dry out.
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English Ivy makes a good ground cover, but on structural
elements, its tendrils probe every opening. Often, you may find the ivy
tendrils inside the basement area where they have found openings along the
sills, windows, etc. and have grown through. Ivy that climbs a downspout or
telephone wire can tear away the supports. Ivy that gets behind siding,
shingles and clapboard can, as it gets thicker, force the material away from
the structural components of the residence. Ivy produces claw-like anchors
to support its own weight. The claws puncture the wood shingles and the
paint layers on the clapboard and wood siding, leaving openings through
which water can penetrate. The best way to remove them is to cut them off at
the roots and wait 1 to 2 weeks for them to weaken and dry before pulling
them off. Do not wait too long, because they will become too dry and fragile
and you may find yourself removing them 1 inch at a time.
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Dead trees are vulnerable to insect damage and decay, and
they are a potential safety hazard when they fall, especially if they are
located near the residence. In the fall and winter months, it is somewhat
difficult to determine whether a tree is dead or has any dead branches.
However, if you see limbs with bark peeling off, you can assume that these
branches are dead and should be removed. Depending upon the size and
location of the tree, its removal can be costly. A professional who is
skilled and insured should perform this type of work. In addition to dead
branches, all limbs that are overhanging or resting on a roof of the
residence should be pruned back. These branches, especially in periods of
high wind or when covered with snow, can damage the roofing surface.
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Trees & The Foundation:
If a tree isn’t the proper distance away from a house It's roots can get
out of control and clog sewer and water lines or cause cracks and damage to
the foundation.
If a tree causes damage to the foundation of your home, you’ll need to
call in a professional. The tree may have to be removed before the
foundation is repaired. That’s why it’s important to do your homework.
Determine how big a tree can grow, and how far the root structure can spread
to avoid problems spouting up down the road. Here are some general tips to
help prevent a potential root problem.
| Plant trees at least 10 feet away from the house, depending on how big
the tree and roots will grow. |
| Don’t plant trees above or near sewer or water lines. |
| Consult with a structural engineer if you believe tree roots have
damaged your foundation. |
| If tree roots are inching closer to your foundation, consider
installing a root barricade made of thick Plexiglas. It’s buried deep in
the ground and can stem the roots from attacking your house. |
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