A backyard can be a wonderful addition to your home. It’s where you can relax if you want to, or it’s a place to keep up with your hobbies and do something productive with your space. Unfortunately, a garden can be more of a burden than a boon at some times.
Often, if you leave your backyard alone for a while, it can start to look untidy. Plants you want to grow might die while weeds thrive and prosper. Even worse, you might end up with rats and other pests making a home in your garden.
So, here are a few tips to help your garden maintenance seem more doable.
Why it Matters
First of all, why do you need to maintain your garden? If you don’t spend any time out there, it doesn’t matter, right?
Well, not necessarily. As mentioned earlier, an untidy garden can very quickly become a haven to pests. Some of these pests are damaging or even dangerous. Rats are unhygienic and can chew wooden structures or even bite people and pets. While there are always going to be rats nearby, you don’t want them on your property. Other pests can also be a problem. Wasps and hornets can sting passers-by and children, for example. Depending on where you live, you might even have potentially lethally dangerous pests near your property.
As well as welcoming pests, a lot of clutter can be dangerous if your children (or other kids) want to play outside. They might try to play in an untidy garden and get injured as they fall or scratch themselves on debris.
Finally, an unkempt backyard is one of the major things that can decrease the value of your home. Something that should add value will look more like hard work to any potential buyers. If nothing else, you should provide a clean slate if you’re planning to sell your property anytime soon.
Clearing Out Your Garden
If your backyard is full of weeds, trash, and debris, the best thing you can do is start afresh. This might be a big job, but you only really have to do it once if you can keep on top of it. Even if this is the only thing you do, you will be in a much better position for the future.
First, set aside a day or a weekend to clear out your garden. Think about what you need to do and how you will do it. If you have large bushes that you want to get rid of, you might need a chainsaw or a similar tool to chop them down safely. You will likely need other tools as well, like a shovel, a hatchet, and garden gloves to keep your hands safe.
Stock up on some bin bags for any non-organic trash that you clear out. Depending on the size of the garden and the amount of debris there is, it might even be worth hiring a skip. You could also hire a professional to do this for you and save a fair amount of time.
If you want to cut down some trees, you should do your research first. Some trees are protected or it might be unsafe to cut them down yourself. Trees that could pose a threat to your property should be removed, whether it’s because of their root growth or the potential of falling in a storm. It also pays to look into how much the wood is worth and whether it can be burned.
Organic waste can be composted, but hard waste like sticks and twigs will take a long time to break down. Still, this can be a quick and easy way to fill your compost bin.
Once the garden is cleared out, you can take a breath. This is the best start to your backyard journey, and gives you a great blank slate to work from.
Low Maintenance Gardening
One of the best ways to keep your garden tidy is to cut down on the amount of maintenance you need to do. Some garden designs are very pretty, but require constant work to stay pretty. So, consider options that are easier to deal with.
If you want a lawn but don’t want to dedicate your life to cutting the grass, consider artificial grass. Artificial grass can look very neat and provide a great place for kids to play, but the best thing is that it’s very easy to look after. Look into synthetic grass installation services to explore some of the different options.
But what if you want more color in your garden? Well, artificial flowers can also be a great option, because they look fairly real but don’t require any looking after. Artificial flowers and grass will also stick around throughout the year.
Another option is to grow plants that look after themselves. Wildflower gardens can be beautiful, and all they really need is someone to plant the seeds. Local flowers are designed to grow in your area, so they’re really easy to look after.
Structures and Hardscaping
On a related note, structures and hardscaping (non-organic parts of your backyard) do require some maintenance, but not as much. If you have wooden decking or sheds, then they will need to be treated to keep them looking nice. Choose a dry day and clear the surface before treating with wood oil.
If you keep a broom nearby, you can sweep any hard surfaces and prevent debris from building up.
Make a Watering Plan
Finally, whether you grow grass, flowers, or fruit and vegetables, you do need to think about when to water your plants. The early morning is best, and a good rule of thumb is to make sure the soil is damp but not wet.
Grow plants with similar water needs near each other, so you don’t end up over or under watering them. You should also think about the weather when watering your plants, because sometimes nature waters them for you.
