Beautiful Yards With Minimal Effort

| Wednesday, June 11, 2014
By Sal Morone


Most people enjoy having a beautiful lawn to enjoy during the warmer months. But not everyone likes putting forth the effort to keep their yard perfect. Yard work can be enjoyable to some, but for many others, having a low-maintenance yard would be ideal. Many people choose to hire a landscaping service to maintain a complex, beautiful lawn. But if you plan to handle the upkeep yourself, there are ways you can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to keep it looking beautiful.

Perhaps the biggest complaint from those who are unenthusiastic about yard work is the chore of mowing. It can be hot, dirty work that takes a lot of time, especially if you have a large area to cover. Traditionally, yards are almost completely covered in grass, perhaps with a few areas designated for flowers, bushes or trees. But to reduce the amount of labor needed, there are alternatives to grass that you might find just as appealing.

Clovers are a type of plant that fits the bill perfectly. In American neighborhoods, a clover lawn would be a rare sight. But there are numerous benefits that come from trading out that grass for clovers. The most immediate benefit is the reduction in time spent mowing. Clovers need to be mowed far less than grass. In addition to this, they don't need as much water to thrive, they stay green in every time of year, and the elements they put into the ground are beneficial to nearby plants. If you have the chance to check out a clover lawn, see for yourself.

Watering is probably the next biggest disadvantage of owning a lawn. It can cost quite a bit to keep a lawn green, particularly in hot, dry climates. Few people still have to do by hand, instead relying on automated sprinkler systems. But even these can be excessive in their water usage, tacking on extra charges to your water bill. Underground irrigation systems are a great alternative, using a lot less water by getting the moisture directly to where it's needed. Some newer homes have the system built-in, and it can installed relatively simply into older homes.

Another good tip is to design your yard with plants that are suited to your area and its yearly climate changes. Well-placed trees can make a good yard look great, but they often come with lots of extra maintenance to keep them looking nice. That is why, if you want a beautiful feature like a tree without too much extra hassle, it is important to choose the types of trees that will thrive well on their own with low-maintenance. Trees often chosen for this purpose include the pagoda dogwood, paperbark maple and Japanese hemlock.

Every yard requires work from someone, in some form. If you don't hire a professional service, there's no completely hassle-free way to have a great-looking yard. But with smart planning and choices, you can greatly reduce the amount of effort you'll need to put into making it vibrant, lush and beautiful.




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