Water Fountains

There are a lot of water fountains to choose from. There are some that are going to be more elegant, and some that are going to be simplistic. You will want to choose the right one for your space. You will want it to compliment your space. Picking out the right water fountain may be difficult, because you don’t want it to overpower your space. But it will be so worth it when it is done.

Bird Baths

Bird baths are a great thing to add to a garden. You will most likely get a nice view of the birds from having a birdbath as well. Wouldn’t that be nice? There are many types of bird baths. You can just get a regular bird bath made from stone. Or you could get a misting bird bath or even a heated bird bath that you can use during the winter months too. How cool is that?!

Ponds

One of the first things you’re going to want to decide is where you want to have your pond located. This will determine the size that you are going to want to choose. You will want to keep in mind that ponds should have the perfect amount of sun to shade ratio. The rule of thumb is that ponds should have about 4 to 6 hours of sun light to keep the water clean. Do some homework to find out what plants will do their best in ponds, plant them and voila! You’ve got a beautiful space that you can enjoy this time of year.

Rock Gardens

Rock gardens use lots of different sizes, colors and shape of rocks to accent a space. A lot of people like rock gardens because the sound of the water running over the rocks is soothing and nice to listen to. You can also plant plants in your rock garden. Just make sure the plants are able to grow on rough terrain.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes, so there are a lot of options when it comes to choosing one that will fit your space perfectly. There are two main types of ponds to choose from. One is waterfalls with a pond beneath it and the second is without a pond. Usually people only put waterfalls in if they have a pond. But it is possible to have a waterfall without one as well. With a pondless waterfall, water falls down a stone wall or rocks.

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Ditch the Sprinklers
Most people use sprinklers and other types of irrigation systems in their landscaping routines. While these are effective for hydrating the soil and plants, they also pose major headaches for conserving water. Sprinkler systems are notorious for leaks that waste water and your money. They also tend to be ineffective when sprinkler heads become clogged or require repair. With artificial grass, watering is no longer a worry. This allows you to get rid of your ineffective watering system and save water and money in the process.

Eliminate Toxins in the Land and Air
Water conservation is only one aspect of caring for the environment. While your natural lawn does provide some benefits for the air quality such as promoting more oxygen, the processes involved in its maintenance tend to cancel that out. Your lawn equipment wastes fuel and spews toxic exhaust into the air. Natural grass also contains pollen and other allergens that contribute to respiratory illnesses in those who are sensitive. Fertilizers, weed killers and pesticides also contain toxic chemicals that ruin other plant life while contributing to run off that goes into the community’s water supply.

Revitalize Your Budget
When you make the decision to focus on saving water, you also gain the opportunity to capitalize on your efforts by saving money. It does not matter whether you mow your yard yourself or contract with a lawn service because both of these methods cost major money over the long run just to keep your landscape green. Lawn care chemicals and equipment are expensive, and you waste valuable dollars every year trying to keep your lawn seeded and trimmed. While artificial turf will require a slightly larger initial investment, it lasts over ten years. This allows you to save more money over time on your utility bills as well as your lawn care.

Redirect Your Time to What Matters
In a world where productivity is everything, it is important to assess how you spend your time. You could spend hours every weekend making sure your lawn is maintained, or you could dedicate that time to other efforts such as volunteering in your community to preserve the environment. Artificial grass can be installed in as little as one day. After that, your time is yours again to spend doing things that truly matter to you.

According to eNature, just a 1,000 square foot lawn will require more than 10,000 gallons of water for just one summer to keep that perfectly green appearance. This adds up to a huge burden on the environment as well as your pocketbook. Make the switch to artificial turf today, and reduce your watering needs to almost nothing since the synthetic blades will stay green year round without excessive watering.

The post Save Water, Time and Money by Switching to Artificial Turf appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.

1. MULCH

With the cold snow and ice, plants have a harder time avoiding the harsh elements. When this happens, they have a harder time recovering in the spring. To prevent this from happening, you should protect your plants and keep everything warm by adding mulch under and around the plants. This will help keep the root temperature stable. Mulch should be put down at the beginning on December as it will allow it to settle in and start protecting the plants before significant cold snaps happen.

2. COMPOST

Some people neglect their garden in the winter as they feel as the plants do not require any protection or care. This is the farthest from the truth. If you’re a serious gardener and want your plants to thrive, you should add compost. When adding this at the right time, it will supply nutrients to the soil and plants will grow faster! Ideally when adding compost, you should only put about three inches worth around the plants so it allows them to breathe and grow.

3. WATER

Before the freezing temperatures, you should water your plants… especially the annuals and potted plants. You should make sure to water their roots and above ground shoots. By doing this before a cold storm, you are able to protect your plants and ensure that they look good throughout the winter.

4. EXTRA PROTECTION

Container plants should be covered with a frost cloth or a protective blanket. To keep the potted plants warm, you can also set them near the foundation of the house as it is warmer than the rest of the yard. However, during severe storms, you should bring your plants inside the house or garage.

5. CONTINUE

Is the ground soft enough to dig a big hole? Then you should continue to plant. This will allow a person to continue to improve the yard and complete the job before spring! This is especially beneficial for climates where it does not get extremely cold. This might not work for gardeners in the northern states; however people living in the south or the west coast can continue to put new items into the garden most of the year.

6. ANIMALS

In some areas, animals will try to eat your plants as they have no other choice. This might not be problematic for a gardener living in an urban environment, but it will be for people who live in the country. To prevent this from happening and to protect the plants, you can place a barrier around the edge of the garden. Remember that in the colder months, animals will snap and eat plants.

7. LOCATION

When you plant your plants, you should try to place them facing north. When they’re exposed to the north, they will receive more sunlight and a greater temperature variation. For a new plant, this is crucial as it will prevent damage and allow it to thrive when it gets enough sunlight. This is one of the most important yet easiest winter gardening tip to follow.

8. CAREFUL

When you’re using salt or other substances on your driveway or street, a gardener should be very careful. Plants will suffer from a bad PH balance when salts from the road seep into the garden. To prevent this from happening, a homeowner should lay down salt slowly and methodically when around the garden or plants.

9. CHOOSE CAREFULLY

When you are planting in and right before the winter, you should be aware of which plants will thrive and which won’t. You should do research that includes looking into your specific region. If you follow this tip, you can have a successful winter landscaping setup.

10. FERTILIZE OFTEN

Plants will suffer from the cold during the winter, which is hard to prevent, but by fertilizing the plants regularly, it can give them a fighting chance. With the right fertilizer, a person can strengthen the plants. This is incredibly important as some shrubs won’t survive without adequate nutrients and care.

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