Maintaining your garden is not just a spring and summer endeavour. Most gardens are full of plants, flowers, trees and grasses that all have preferred growing seasons and requirements. So if you tend to garden only in the more pleasant months, you risk some parts of outdoor space becoming overgrown and unsightly – not to mention unhealthy for certain species.
Some species of plants, trees, and grasses need also to be maintained during the winter months. In some cases, such as with climbers, regular pruning, even in the winter is essential to avoid unwanted damage to house walls and garden infrastructure. For trees, depending on the species, pruning is best done when they are dormant – meaning when the weather is colder.
The best way to keep on top of your garden is to understand the nature of the plants and trees that grow there, as well as what kind of garden you want to cultivate. Draw up an annual maintenance schedule for attending to the various species living in your garden and ensure that you stick to it throughout the year. Doing so will guarantee that your garden is healthy, well cared for, and the envy of your friends and neighbours.
Tips for Cutting Your Grass
A lawn that is the envy of your neighbours doesn’t happen by accident. It requires careful planning and maintenance to ensure that grass grows in the healthiest way possible. What you don’t want is crabgrass, uneven grass, or dead grass, that can result from inattention. Click here if you’re interested in lawn mowing services to help maintain your garden.
If you don’t pay careful attention to your lawn, the chances are high that it will deteriorate. Not only will it begin to look uncared for but the original condition of that lawn will be hard to rectify. If it gets too bad, you might have to resurface your lawn with new grass – an expensive and labour-intensive undertaking.
Maintain your lawn regularly, first by deciding on a schedule. At least once a month is appropriate. Ensure that your mower blades are sharp and set at the correct measurements. You want to cut your grass regularly, so that looks good, but also so it remains strong and healthy.
Tips for Cutting Your Plants
If you are a lover of plants and flowers – particularly indoor ones – then you probably have a cutting garden somewhere on your property. This is usually an out of the way area where you can discreetly grow flowers and plants to cut and make beautiful indoor decorations from.
Maintaining a cutting garden is very important for ensuring you have the best quality of plants and flowers for your display. The plants and flowers you produce in the cutting garden should be of higher quality than those sold in supermarkets – otherwise what would be the point?
It’s well known that trimming a plant or flower allows it to grow healthier and stronger, that’s because more of the nutrients taken in through the soil are invested in the flowering part of the plant. Make sure that you prune regularly and chop off any of the deadheads as well.
Tips for Cutting Your Hedges
Over the winter, hedges tend to get a little out of control. It is caused by a combination of factors. Firstly, the winter weather is suitable for growth, but it’s also the reason that hedges are not properly maintained for months – who wants to power up the hedge cutter when the temperature is zero.
It means that when spring comes around and the climate is more amenable your hedges might look like a wild and unruly hairstyle. If you don’t approach these overgrown hedges in the right way you may risk injury at worst, and poor end-result at best.
First, make sure you have the right cutting tool. Often people use powered hedge cutters and trimmers designed to trim neat edges. Ensure tools are sharp and well oiled. Begin by carefully cutting the sides of the hedge so you can distinguish the depth of the bush. Take extra care with hawthorn bushes and try to cut square.
Tips for Cutting Your Trees
It’s well-known that pruning plants is good for their growth and health, but pruning trees is not generally considered. Pruning trees works in much the same way as pruning plants, by reducing the number of branches and paring down the leaves, you support the health of existing branches.
Like many other plants, grasses, flowers, and hedges, in your garden left to their own devices, trees will become overgrown and unruly. The longer you leave them in this condition, the harder it will be to cut them back and get the best value from them. So when summer and autumn come around don’t neglect your trees.
Don’t cut your trees in the spring. Many trees bleed sap if cut at this time of year. Instead, wait until the autumn or winter when they are dormant for best results. Remove all dead or diseased branches from the tree using a professional cutting tool. If the job seems too extensive, the best idea is to call an expert.
Tips for Cutting Your Climbers
If left unattended for long periods of time – such as over the winter – climbers can cause all kinds of issues in your garden. They are, of course, lovely to look at and benefit your garden with strong roots and creating a habitat for many animals, but unchecked they can quickly engulf walls and damage stonework.
A wall of ivy on the side of your house might look romantic and traditional, but chances are it is finding its way into small cracks in the brickwork and windows. Regularly scheduled maintenance of climbers like this is crucial if you want to avoid expensive repairs to your house or garden.
Throughout spring, summer, autumn, and even in winter if possible, prune your climbers regularly. Remove straggly growth, flowers, and overcrowded stems. If you notice your climber making its way into walls or drains make sure to cut it back considerably and keep a close eye on the area – chances are it will need to be cut back again next season.