4 Common Landscaping Mistakes You May Be Making
Landscaping can be overwhelming, and while there are tasks better suited for professionals, we wanted to share a couple of pointers that can help set you up for success as you learn to nurture your outdoor living space. Let’s get started —
uninformed planting
This is one of the most common mistakes when gardening—many believe the fastest way to see your garden grow is by adding an abundance of soil and water and planting really deep into the ground. In reality, that will either suffocate your plants, prevent them from having space to spread their roots, cause root or, or drown them.
TRY THIS INSTEAD: To avoid planting too deep, take a look at the container it came in and plant it in your new pot as deep as the height of its original container. We also highly recommend researching care instructions for your plants as they vary and need adjustments throughout the year. Other key factors to consider are sun exposure and the plants that are growing around them; some plants need more space to stretch and your new plant may be a nuisance.
non-inclusive pet landscaping
Depending on your circumstances, your pet may or may not be keen to the boundaries you have set for them and your landscape. It’s difficult to stop your pet from digging, stomping, pooping and perusing in areas they’re not welcome. Creating a pet inclusive space is key in striking harmony between your fur babies and outdoor living space.
TRY THIS: Creating edging/retainer walls that signals a partition to your pet may be helpful (along with some extra training) to protect your precious landscape. Additionally, creating a designated potty area for your pet to do their business helps to avoid them from going on directly on your lawn.
Improper Pruning
This one may be the trickiest ones to get down and also the same reason it’s a common mistake. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes better to stay away from pruning if it’s done incorrectly. Pruning is a normal cycle that’s needed for most plant’s/trees lives to remain healthy, but pruning too much can be fatal to the entirety of the unit.
TRY THIS: Do some research about your plant/tree and its pruning process. Before you make any purchases at your local nursery, take the extra time to ask an employee about care tips & tricks. As always, the GPL Team is also here to provide insight if you have any questions!
Lack of Maintenance
With busy lives, it’s common to miss on landscaping chores and as a result, weeds begin to spiral out of control, trees suffer, plants wilt and grass fades (to name a few). We understand how disheartening and overwhelming this can be! With a shift in habits, your landscape can be turned around in no time.
TRY THIS: There are a few options to explore:
Reevaluate your space and decide if your landscape ultimately fits your lifestyle. If you’re biting off more than you can chew, you may want to opt for a low-maintenance yard instead. Plant drought-tolerant plants so you can achieve an attractive yard, minus the work.
Create a better maintenance plan. We suggest writing out a log to keep track of when you were last active outside. Adding reminders on your phone is a way to create the habits of checking on your landscape.
Hire a professional. If you are fully uninterested/unavailable to do it yourself or you’re ready for more complex projects, it may be time to hire a landscaping team. The GPL Team is here to help you get started!