Landscaping is not easy. It takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to design and maintain a beautiful lawn. Landscaping is more than just picking some beautiful plants, grabbing bags of fertilizers and mulch, and implementing a few practices like watering and mowing. You need to include many other lawn care practices in your regimen to keep your landscape attractive, safe, and healthy. Most importantly, you need to be well-equipped with all the tricks and tips to keep your landscape appealing. Discovering the common mistakes that most property owners make while landscaping can also help in the upkeep of your landscape. 

In this blog, we have listed a few landscaping mistakes to watch out for.

• Not Having a Plan

To make your landscape attractive and functional, there should be a good balance of size, color, and texture. Each of the elements of your landscape must flow seamlessly to make your landscape appear unified. However, in most cases, property owners are shortsighted while designing their landscape. They pick plants and other designing elements randomly without thinking of how and where to place them. They also lack knowledge about the maintenance of these elements. Thus, to keep elements in proportion, consider consulting an experienced landscaper who can guide you to design a landscape that improves your property’s curb appeal and makes it highly functional.

• Planting in the Wrong Place

Improper placement of plants is a very common mistake that most property owners make. To grow your garden plants healthy and beautiful, you need to place them in the right spots. Some plants love direct sunlight and few need proper shade to grow. So, while buying a plant for your landscape, acquire knowledge about the maintenance of that particular plant. Apart from the amount of sun exposure they need, you must be aware of the nutrition and space they need to grow. Considering your plants’ needs helps you to create a perfect landscape. 

• Cutting Grass Too Short

There’s a common myth amongst property owners that cutting your grass too low means one needs to mow the lawn less. This is not true and can do more harm to your lawn than good. When you cut the grass too short, you remove too much of the leaf surface and hurt the grass’s ability to carry out photosynthesis. This kind of mowing also affects the root system and makes it difficult for grass to absorb the right amount of nutrients. Too much mowing also makes your lawn susceptible to disease. When you cut the grass too low during summer, the moisture from the soil evaporates quickly and adversely affects the fertility of your lawn soil. 

• Bad Pruning Habits

Failing to prune a shrub and neglecting hedge trimming are the two common mistakes that can hamper the overall look of your landscape. Apart from making your yard look messy, poor pruning habits can hamper the growth of new leaves and branches, and affect the overall growth of the plant. So, to promote healthy plant growth, ensure that you follow the right pruning process. In most cases, do not prune more than 10-15% of the size of the plant. Improper pruning can do more harm than good.  Every plant has a different trimming process. It’s usually best to prune plants during fall. Also, it is best to consult a professional for the right pruning techniques. 

• Irrational Watering 

Every plant is different and so is their watering needs. However, people have a myth that overwatering provides better nutrients to plants. Irrational irrigation might rot the root systems and kill plants. Thus, it is important for property owners to follow the right watering techniques for plants and lawns. The best time to water your plants and grass is early morning. This technique lets the water dry all day long. You can also make use of an automatic sprinkler with a timer to even out the irrigation system. Also, take a look at the soil type before watering your plants. For clay soil, water retention is easy and effective. However, if your landscape has sandy soil, consider watering your plants more often for proper nutrition and growth.

• Ignoring the Seasons

Plan out your landscape maintenance with regard to the seasons and climates. Why? It’s because the nutrition and growth of a plant depend upon the temperature, rain, humidity, sunlight, and wind. However, most homeowners buy plants randomly without considering their local climates. To make your plants grow well, acquire knowledge about them and the climate that is suitable before buying them. Remember, if you live in a temperate climate, tropical plants won’t survive in your landscape for long. Similarly, if you invest mostly in plants that flourish in the spring, your landscape might look colorless for the rest of the year. Select plants smartly to make your garden look bright and healthy all year round.

Your lawn and the surrounding are the extensions of your home. Thus, keep it pretty and functional, and avoid the above-mentioned mistakes. Understanding your landscape and its needs can help you avoid common landscaping disasters. You can also talk to an experienced local landscaper for ideas and tips to manage your property more efficiently.