Depending on your United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone, reserving February for the side yards might get hedge- and shrub-pruning done just before dormancy ends and new spring growth begins. See more about edible landscaping! A grass lawn also gets compacted soil, especially if people walk on it. Cover the area with gravel, wood chips or bark. Be patient. Walled terraces or edged beds can both prevent erosion and make plantings visually more effective than random plantings on large expanses of grass. Draw a simple map with approximate measurements for the yards in front, side and back.

Deal with weeds in early spring. It’s important to sharpen the mower blade every month or two for a clean cut. How and when you mow your yard can affect the lawn's appearance and health. After several years, losing the old apple tree creates a new sun spot. Not surprisingly, softwood is softer and much less expensive than hardwood. The tropical hardwood known as shorea is similar to teak or ipe wood. Then add your mulch (or, replace your old mulch). What If Wood Furniture Needs More Than Cleaning? Before applying, test the oil on a small, inconspicuous area, rub it in with a soft cloth or paintbrush, allow to dry and see if you like the color and finish. Wood has two classifications: softwood and hardwood. Also, consider a mulching mower—which returns grass clippings back to the soil. Scrape some compost into the area. It’s important to mow your grass regularly, as it’s much more difficult to cut the grass if it gets way too tall (as many of us have experienced firsthand!). I never took into account the fact that leaving alone leaves in the beds can act as mulch. However, if you just can’t stand those bare spots, try spot-seeding bare patches as early as possible (by April) before you apply any pre-emergent for crabgrass control. Then, loosen the soil to help oxygen reach the plants’ roots. Most shrubs and trees are pruned in late winter or early spring but not all. Learn how to identify and treat those mysterious brown spots in your lawn.

All you need is a simple compost bin. Cleaning teak pieces is the same as shorea. Apr 20, 2016 Chris and Peyton Lambton from HGTV's "Going Yard" reveal the secrets to a yard that's nearly effortless to maintain. However, this is usually best done in the fall. 12 Tips for Maintaining a Wood Fence. Spaced pavers, gravel and loose stone and permeable pavement materials offer hardscaping options. If you’re interested in alternative mowers, consider a reel mower or an electric mower as a more environmentally-friendly option. A whole-yard plan also lets you concentrate on solving problems in a single area rather than getting overwhelmed by the whole job. Rule of thumb: If footprints remain after walking, then it’s still too moist. For wood and hardwood garden furniture, it's a combination of keeping it under cover, cleaning it, and conditioning it so that the wood stays healthy and retains its beautiful warmth. By Kelsey Kloss. March 5, 2015 by Kasi Smith 2 Comments A beautiful fence is a great way to give your yard a boundary and add some privacy to any of your backyard activities. Those imperfections that are inherent features of the wood will become more pronounced over time, giving the garden furniture a rich, natural beauty. Tools. If you’re then applying pre-emergent herbicides, we would also fertilize any spots in the lawn early; in a few weeks shoots will grow and fill in the brown spots. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Jack Hollingsworth/Photodisc/Getty Images. Her work has appeared on early childhood education and consumer education websites. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board.

Like teak, shorea can withstand all types of weather conditions and is resistant to invasive insects. Discover what it takes to maintain your wood garden furniture through the years, allowing it to keep its strength and natural beauty. With a wooded lot, you have the main structural elements of your landscape -- the trees -- already in place. Unwanted lower branches on all evergreen shrubs and trees should also be removed in late winter. Rinse again, with clean water. The next day, apply teak oil with a soft cloth, rubbing in the direction of the wood grain. (Use a sun/shade premium mix, unless the area’s heavily shaded.) © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Dig a square-foot section of the lawn and examine the roots. 17 Landscaping Ideas For A Low-Maintenance Yard. Water spigots and hoses at both the front and back of the house save wasted hose-dragging time.