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14 Resolutions for Your Lawn & Landscape in 2023

jueves, 12 de enero de 2023

Why is it important to make New Year’s resolutions for your lawn and landscape in 2023? If you love working on your residential property, making resolutions only points you in the right direction.

6 Resolutions for a Healthy, Sustainable Lawn in 2023

Don’t feel like you have to have the perfect lawn because an ideal lawn is a myth. Instead, aim for a healthy and sustainable lawn for the 2023 growing season. Here are five environmentally-friendly lawn care resolutions for the New Year:

Resolution 1 – Cut your lawn at the right height with sharp mower blades:

Did you know that mowing causes turfgrass stress every time you mow? Preserve your grass’s health by only taking the top third off the grass blades (adjust according to grass type and time of year).

Only mow with sharp blades to make a clean cut. Dull mower blades cause uneven cuts and wounding, leading to disease and insects.

Read more: How to Buy a Sprinkler System

Mow your lawn at the right time of day, before noon or in the early evening when the grass is dry.

Resolution 2 – Plant the right turfgrass at the right place on your lawn:

Resolve to only plant the right grass seed in the right place on your lawn by knowing what type of grass grows best in your region. In a temperate climate, plant warm season grasses in full sun and cool season grasses, such as tall fescue, in shady areas.

Resolution 3 – Use the most sustainable fertilizer;

Do a soil test before fertilizing your lawn. The soil test will tell you what nutrients are missing in the soil, and the results will guide you when buying fertilizer. Keep in mind that fertilizer with slow release nitrogen is a more eco-friendly option than liquid fertilizer.

Resolution 4 – Aerate and overseed your lawn based on your region:

If you live in the north, you have cool-season grass, which needs aerating every other year in the fall and overseeding once a year. Conversely, if you live in the southern part of the U.S., your lawn grass is warm season and needs aeration and overseeding in the spring.

Watch more: K-Rain K-Sprays™: How to Set and Adjust

If you live in a temperate region, you aerate your cool season grass in the fall and your warm season grass in the spring.

Resolution 5 – Dethatch your lawn if you have over a half inch of thatch:

All turfgrasses have thatch, but the thickness depends on how often you fertilize the turfgrass. Some thatch is normal. However, if you cut a square inch of soil with over a half inch of thatch, it’s time to dethatch your lawn.

It would be best if you dethatched on the opposite years that you aerate your lawn.

Resolution 6 – Only water your lawn deeply once or twice a week, depending on how much it rains:

Did you know that your lawn only needs 1” to 2” of rain per week? Resolve to stop wasting water and invest in a lawn sprinkler system that you control with Bluetooth technology.

8 Resolutions for a Sustainable Landscape

If you invest in plants, including annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs, you want to ensure that they stay healthy. Plants cost money, and having a gorgeous landscape is a significant investment.

Commit now to taking care of your landscapes with sustainability in mind—not only for the environment but for the longevity of your landscape plants. Here are eight New Year’s resolutions to put into action for a beautiful landscape:

Resolution 1 – Employ eco-friendly gardening practices, including xeriscaping:

Start with planting the right plants for your local climate. Visit the USDA’s (United States Department of Agriculture) website to learn which planting zone you live in.

Then, go to your local garden center to find natives that grow well in your beds. Plant native plants and resolve to use fewer insect and weed controls.

Try xeriscaping, where you use less water because you’ll plant succulents and native plants that can handle drought conditions.

Resolution 2 – Practice firescaping if you live in a dry climate that’s prone to wildfires:

If you live in the southwest or western states where wildfires are now a regular occurrence, do your part by incorporating firescaping into your garden design.

Also, add an outdoor sprinkler system to provide defense when a fire is heading to your backyard.

Resolution 3 – Simplify your landscaping, so you have more time to enjoy it:

Consider replacing landscaped areas with water features like a pond or a patio. Use raised beds, patio containers, and vertical growing to enhance your simplified landscape.

Resolution 4 – Include edible plants in your landscaping:

Did you know that you can add vegetables, herbs, and fruits to your landscaped areas? Design your flowerbeds to include lavender, bee balm, strawberries, and borage.

Resolution 5 – Use more native plants to support healthy biodiversity in your yard:

If you visit your independent garden center, you can buy native plants that work in your region. You can also do an internet search, “native plants near me.”

Why native plants? Natives are plants that have acclimated to your climate. They can handle drought, aren’t heat sensitive, and will multiply depending on the plant. They also attract pollinators, such as bees, birds, and insects.

Resolution 6 – Put down mulch to help with soil temperature regulation, natural weed control, and moisture retention:

Don’t forget the mulch! Mulch is more than putting on a tidy exterior. Indeed, mulch breaks down and adds nutrients to the soil. It also retains moisture, prevents weeds, and protects plant roots from freeze/thaw cycles.

Resolution 7 – Prune and trim plants and shrubs:

Invest in good pruning shears, loppers, and hand pruners to keep your shrubs and trees looking their best. You can learn more about pruning through your local extension service or by looking it up online.

Make sure your tools are sharpened and free from pathogens. Learn how to cut limbs appropriately and thin a tree canopy without tree topping.

Resolution 8 - Invest in dripline irrigation and tree bubblers:

Summers are getting hotter and more states are experiencing drought. Dripline irrigation and tree bubblers deliver water at the root level where it’s needed most. You also save money on water when you install an irrigation system.

One Final New Year’s Resolution: Install a K-Rain Sprinkler System in Your Lawn & Landscape

K-Rain’s Sprinkler System Solutions provides lawn and landscape sprinkler systems to homeowners.

If you’re a DIYer, you can find manuals for K-Rain sprinkler systems on our website. If you prefer a professional to design and install your new K-Rain sprinkler system, our website helps you find a landscape contractor near you.

You can buy your K-Rain dripline, bubbler, and lawn sprinkler parts at our online store or at your local Home Depot and Lowe’s. If you have questions about your K-Rain irrigation system parts, call our customer service at 800-735-7246 or fill out our contact form.

Sources:

Forbes.com, 8 Simple and Easy Landscaping Ideas.

Ibid, 10 Landscaping Trends to Try This Year.