Planting the Seeds of a Great Landscape Relationship
Landscaping can mean so many things, but most of all, it means expanding your living space to your outdoor areas. This can include decorative plants and rocks, specialized gardens, bedding areas, trees, shrubs, bushes, and hedges.
Are you interested in birds, butterflies, or bees? Gardens to attract those and more are well within the scope of your outdoor enjoyment. You might be interested in a cutting garden to bring the scents and colors of your flowers inside. Or perhaps raised beds for herbs, spices, vegetables, and fruits might be of more interest to you. Whatever your choices, EKG Lawn Services is your partner in making outdoor time your prime time.
The Basics
The lawn, the grass, the green stuff are the basis of your landscaped areas. That lovely blanket of emerald green provides a beautiful backdrop for everything else you’ll do to create the outdoor part of your home. And, let’s face it, your toes love walking around on the lawn with bare feet. All that healthy green allows the eyes to rest as you look out on your landscape.
Lawn maintenance is a fundamental part of your healthy and beautiful landscape. Your well-maintained lawn will increase the visual impact of your home and increase the value and curb appeal. In addition, if you’re planning to sell, almost nothing can make a better first impression than a healthy and beautiful landscape.
Lawn maintenance can be as simple as mowing regularly, water on a schedule, and using additives when necessary. From natural and chemical fertilizers to earthworms, so many things can make a lawn healthier it can be incredibly confusing. Soil types are a big part of deciding what extras your lawn needs. Your EKG landscapers are enthusiastic about aerating and overseeding when needed.
Sunny and shady areas have different needs and maybe different grass or treatments. Having a partner in your landscape care gives you options you may not have considered.
Flowers
What’s the first image in your mind’s eye when you hear “flowers”? Some of us think of big bouquets or vases of flowers while we’re planning summer weddings. Others think of color, scent, and how beautiful the flowers look in their protected bedding. From the exotic beauty of tropical plants to the prettiness of nosegay flowers, each flower garden means something different from person to person.
A bird garden can attract a variety of birds. For example, plants or flowers that produce a lot of seeds or nectars can attract hummingbirds and songbirds. Bright feathers and noisy behavior are fascinating, and such a garden can be very entertaining.
Cutting gardens will have flowers that are colorful and beautifully scented. Bringing the blooms into the house for vases and arrangements can give even the most traditional room a bright pop of color and interest.
While not every flower can grow in every soil or environment, an enormous variety can be fitted to appeal to every desire.
Trees, Shrubs, Bushes, Hedges
Trees are an essential part of a property to many of us. Well-grown trees provide shade and cooling in the summer and a degree of protection from heavy snows and wind in the winter. Who isn’t enchanted at the thought of a hammock or tire swing hanging from the branches of a mature tree with widespread branches? And let us not even think of the number of times we’ve seen squirrels or chipmunks spiraling up and down a tree trunk in their game of chase.
Trees need as much maintenance as any other part of a landscape, and sometimes more. For example, a heavy winter storm can leave a broken branch hanging over a roof or window and must be removed before it causes more damage. In addition, most trees need trimming at various times, and all trees could benefit from mulching at the roots.
Fruit trees must be trimmed and harvested regularly to keep fruit from dropping to the ground and attracting pests. Nut trees, olive trees, or other bearing trees will also need maintenance, among the branches and on the ground underneath, to keep both trees and the ground healthy.
Shrubs, bushes, and hedges can be decorative or protective. A little extra privacy can be essential, especially if your home is close to a busy street or road. These woody plants need maintenance regularly. Many are trimmed and carved to a particular shape or design. Topiaries need more maintenance than a typical bush and may have climbing plants growing among the stems and leaves to fill out the design.
The flowering varieties of these plantings may need more or different nutrients to flourish. Mulch around these plants’ lower stems and roots will help them remain healthy and whole. In addition, it will provide passage for air, fertilizers, and water while discouraging pests and weeds.
Landscape accents
Each landscape is different. Adding large rocks or small boulders can provide a point of interest in an otherwise uninspired area of a landscape. The color difference from the surrounding mulch and plants can increase interest. Mulches can be changed regularly as your garden changes.
Giving children a place to experience gardening might also require the installation of fairy houses, garden gnomes, or other miniature ceramic life forms. The giant ceramic frog is nearly a legend in your local garden shop. Kids’ garden boots will become a fashion statement as they head out to their patch of the landscape.
Raised beds for edible plants are very popular with those who crave fresh flavors at the dining table. Homegrown spices and herbs are especially welcome in the kitchen. Vegetables taste different when freshly harvested within minutes of being prepared and cooked.
Each addition of a plant or accessory will make your landscape more uniquely yours. Your EKG Lawn Services partners will be happy to advise you, install, and maintain your landscape desires with the professional enthusiasm you’ve come to trust. So, it’s time to give them a call.