HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-05-07, Page 19You certainly want your lawn and
garden to look beautiful, but far too
often homeowners succumb to
making landscaping mistakes. Here
are some of the more common gaffes
and how to remedy them.
1. Lawn ornament overkill:
Putting too many lawn ornaments
into your yard can take away from
the natural beauty of the landscape.
If you want to add a whimsical
touch, stick with one or two instead
of many.
2. Improper plant locations:The
reason garden centres and nurseries
put those care tags on plants is so
that you will know how to care for
the particular plant. You should take
into consideration the proper
sunlight and exposure your plants
will need.
3. Scalping the lawn:It is not true
that cutting your lawn short will
mean less mowing. The lawn has
different requirements throughout
the year. In the cooler weather you
can get away with cutting it shorter
so that sunlight can penetrate thesoil.
In the summer, keep the blades
longer to maximize water retention
and promote soil shade.
4. Picking the wrong plants:
Many people pick plants because
they simply look good and not
because they’ll be appropriate for
their yard.
5. Thinking animals won’t
bother your landscape:Once you
plant attractive and delicious
flowering plants you could find your
yard is the new dining spot for a host
of wildlife.
Intersperse bitter-tasting flowers
with the sweet ones to deter deer.
Birds, rabbits, squirrels and other
animals may need barriers to keep
them out.
6. Pruning willy-nilly:Many
plants prosper when pruned.
However, over-pruning or doing so
the wrong way or at the wrong time
can harm a plant. Learn the correct
way from books or a gardening
centre.
Otherwise, it could be better not to
prune at all.7. Too much colour:A smattering
of colour here and there can be too
much and distracting when your
landscape is viewed. Instead, choose
a colour palette and stick with a few
similar hues.
8. Forgetting the family:An
ornate garden certainly looks pretty,
but how practical is it for your way
of life? If you have kids, you may
have to think about how your
property is used and plan your
landscape around that.
9. Failing to be safe:Follow the
recommendations and warnings on
any tools you use for gardening.
Always read the instructions and
user’s manual.
10. Grab and go:It’s easy to want
to buy everything you see at the
garden centre, but it’s better to go in
with a plan and a shopping list.
Mixing and matching too many
elements in your yard could look
sloppy and not well thought out.
11. Poor maintenance:Garden
beds generally require weeding and
tending once or twice a month.
Make sure you have the time to takecare of your landscape after you
create it.
Otherwise, find someone reliable
whom you can hire to care for it.
12. Failing to budget:Gardening,
just like any hobby, can cost money.
Make a list of what you’re willing to
spend and stick to it. Otherwise the
bills can quickly escalate.
13. One-season landscape:Your
landscape should grow and change
with the weather. Plan for plantings
that bloom or offer colour all year
round.
14. Forgetting the day-to-night
transition:Of course you want your
yard to look great during the day, but
what about enjoying it at night?
Make sure it is safe and plan for
exterior illumination so that you can
have many wonderful evenings
under the stars.
15. No roadmap:You must have a
plan for your landscape. Plot it out
on paper, make a list of your
materials and costs, run the idea by
all those in the household and only
then begin.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009. PAGE 19. 15 landscaping mistakes and how to fix them
No mistake
Common mistakes can take
away from the beauty of your
landscape. Remedy them and
be the envy of your
neighbours. (MS photo)
(NC)—One of the major elements
in the successful performance of
work around the home, both inside
and outside, is the proper choice and
use of tools.
In this respect, the seal of the
Canadian Standards Association is a
reference, because it indicates that
the tools bearing the seal respect the
Canadian Standards of
manufacturing and safety, and are
equipped with a ground wire or
double insulation. This is very
practical.
Here are a few tips to help you use
your tools safely:
• The Power cord: Do not handle
the tool by its cord. This tends to
damage the cord (and the damage is
not always visible).
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Continued on page 20