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Spruce up Your Garden

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Daytime

Published: March 20, 2009

Start winter cleanup of the lawn when the grass is no longer sopping wet and planting beds stop being a sea of mud. Rake your lawn to get rid of dead growth, stray leaves, twigs and winter debris and let light and air to the soil level, encouraging the grass to grow.

Remove tree guards or burlap winter protection from any young trees or shrubs. Try not to leave tree guards in place over the summer. They keep rabbits and mice from nibbling on tender bark over the winter, but trees don't need them in summer. They don't allow enough air movement around the base of the trunk and that can promote rot of the bark.

Get your lawn mower checked and blades sharpened if you didn't get the job done in late winter. Sharp blades cut better and leave your lawn grass healthier.

Garden upkeep - If your garden is a reasonable size, has good soil, and contains low-maintenance perennials, you will probably need to spend no more than two or three hours a week maintaining it. Your chores will be divided into two kinds: ensuring the health of your garden, and maintaining its appearance. After protecting your garden's health, your personal tastes will determine how much time you devote to making your garden look good. Staking, reviewing color schemes, deadheading, and mulching are all important garden beautifiers.

Watering your garden - Good watering practices are one of the most vital ways to keep your plants healthy. If your plants do not receive adequate moisture, they will die. It is as simple as that.

Either a fixed or a portable watering system will get the job done. Fixed systems are built into your garden and are usually connected to timers so that your garden can be watered even when you are not there. Fixed watering systems can often be found in large public gardens. On the other hand, there are two clear advantages in using portable systems: they are cheaper than fixed systems and they can be moved to exactly where they are needed. Watering or sprinkling cans, hand-held hoses, and many portable sprinkler systems come under this category.

A good-quality garden hose is well worth the investment. When selecting a hose, look for four-ply construction, which provides superior burst resistance; a large diameter (5/8 inch is excellent), which allows water to be delivered faster; and brass couplings, which reduce leaks. When choosing a sprinkler, remember that those made of brass and stainless steel last much longer than those made of plastic.

Newer watering tools, such as soaker hoses and other types of drip irrigation systems are more water-efficient for home gardens. They are built into a garden and literally leak throughout the area in which they are placed. Since these systems are at soil level, the water goes directly to the roots and little is lost to evaporation. The easiest way to install soaker hoses is to lay them through the garden when plants are small, and cover them with loose mulch.

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