Maybe you are one of the lucky homeowners whose new home came with picture perfect landscaping. In that case, this post may not be for you. But for the rest of us, getting that professional looking yard can take a bit of hard work and a lot of help.
But now that the triple degree weather is behind us, it’s a great time to get back in the yard to start a new project, or if you’re like me, fix the damage you did in the Spring. If only I had come across this helpful article by Colleen Vanderlinden at PlanetGreen.com six months ago, I could have saved some time, money, and a lot of frustration.
If you too could use some beginners advice to get your yard started on the right foot, check out Colleen’s Top 10 Rookie Gardening Mistakes.
Clueless Watering – Know your plant’s moisture requirements.
Wrong Plant, Wrong Place – Make sure you’re buying plants that fit the conditions in your garden.
Not Giving Plants Enough Space – Pay attention to the instructions on spacing your plants properly.
Not Knowing Your Zone – Finding your USDA Hardiness Zone.
Haphazard Fertilizing – Make sure to read the directions and stick to them.
Not Mulching – Mulch everything – vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs.
Little or No Soil Preparation – Soil preparation is important, whether you’re growing a vegetable or herb garden.
Sun/Shade Fairy Tales – Pay attention to the sun exposure recommendations for what you’re planting.
Not Knowing Your Site – Spend a few weeks observing your site before you decide what to plant.
Listening to “Experts” – Trust yourself.
As Colleen says, “Mistakes and dumb choices will be a part of your gardening life until the day you set aside your shovel and pruners.” But as a rookie gardener, these are some mistakes we can easily avoid. Check out Colleen’s full article here.
Still shopping for a new home? Speak to one of our area’s finest home builders today for advice on building the perfect yard as you build your perfect home.
