Water-Saving Tips For The Lawn And Garden

As a gardener, I know the challenges of keeping both your garden plants and lawn looking their best. This can be especially difficult if you live in a region where water is scarce or heat is a factor, as I do. So how do you maintain a healthy landscape in such extremes? Simple. You need to practice a few water-saving tips along with the right tool for the job.

When you begin a garden or landscape design, it’s important to plan carefully. Don’t jump the gun and start planting whatever you like simply because it’s pretty. After all, looks will fade in time, especially when not suited for the area you put them in. So do your research and choose native plants for your region as well as drought tolerant ones that don’t require as much watering. Don’t forget the mulch – this will greatly reduce your watering needs, as it helps retain moisture.

Likewise, choose your planting area wisely. If your garden is located in full sun, you’ll need plants that are adapted for intense heat. Wind-prone areas rely on plants that handle both the harsh swaying and drier conditions. And whenever possible, use those shady areas. There are many plants that tolerate shade and look good too. Even better, they generally require less watering. When it comes to your lawn, look at its size. If you have a large expanse of unused grass, which requires a lot of water, consider dialing it down some by substituting with other alternatives like drought tolerant ground covers or even hardscape.
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To make the most of irrigation in the landscape whenever you do water, opt for early morning to prevent moisture loss through evaporation. Of course, sometimes that’s not possible so late afternoon works in a pinch. But avoid sprinklers, as these rarely penetrate the ground. Instead, use soaker hoses if you can. In lieu of this, a good, water efficient hose will do, watering deeply. Get rid of that leaky, water squirting hose you’ve had for years. You might want to consider using a retractable hose reel too.

I’m not a big person, so lugging around a long, heavy water hose is too much of a chore. Using a retractable hose reel, like that from Hoselink, solves this problem. They’re easy to manage, they look better (no messy hose laying around) and no kinks to worry with. These durable hose reels mount easily where you need them and stay there. And the retractable hoses lock in place when you’ve reached your spot, but continue on with a slight tug as you move further on. And when you’re finished, there’s an automatic rewind – no more dragging or winding the hose up.

Best of all, there’s more than one retractable hose reel to choose from depending on your specific watering needs. So with a few simple watering tips and the right tool, maintaining a healthy lawn and garden is more than possible!

Source: http://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/trends/water-saving-tips-for-the-lawn-and-garden/

Top 5 Must Do's Before Winter

With a little preventative maintenance in the fall your lawn and property will be in great shape in the spring. Here is a list of things you can do to make your life easier when things begin to get green again.

 
1. The biggest chore in late autumn is getting the lawn ready for the winter season. You should mow your lawn right up to the time it quits growing in the late fall. The grass should be cut to a level of two inches at last cutting. A good sign it has quit growing is the absence of lawn clippings when you run the mower. If it is higher than two inches, winter winds and wet weather will flatten the grass, bending it over and causing it to retain moisture, which can lead to bacterial growth and mold, damaging the roots. If the grass is too short, the lawn will suffer from drying winter winds, and can be damaged by the sun. Always remove any leaves and debris from the lawn. Leaves left lying on your lawn all winter long can prevent water from reaching the grass, or will trap too much moisture. This causes the grass to rot and die before spring. 
2. Now is the time to fertilize the lawn. Look for fertilizers high in nitrogen. You may also consider a fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen, but higher in phosphorus and potassium. By fertilizing in late fall, you will encourage lush growth in the spring. 
3. Clean up the lawn mower. Wash and dry it, removing caked on dirt, lawn clippings, and grease. Remove any caked on grass from the mower deck, and inspect the blade for damage. Determine if it should be sharpened or replaced before spring. Putting you mower up on blocks during winter months is a good idea, also. It prevents flat spots from wearing in the rubber. 
   
4. Be careful in pruning trees late in the year. Many ornamental trees such as azalea, dogwood, forsythia, redbud and rhododendron set their buds for blooms in the late fall, and pruning them can destroy next season's blooms. Do remove any obviously dead branches.
5. Thoroughly drain all water hoses, coil them, and store in a dry area. if using a hose reel, insure that all water is drained from the hose to prevent freezing and cracking during cold weather.  
   Drain all faucets and valves, and turn off the water supply to them from the basement if you can. Turn over empty outside containers to prevent water collection and freezing, and store all birdbaths for the winter. 

Source: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/toptenthingstodo#b