You probably don’t immediately draw the links between landscaping and your home’s foundation when you consider other features of your property. The connection between the two, on the other hand, is crucial — both in terms of aesthetic appeal and structural soundness. Learning about the importance of landscaping can help you make better decisions in the future.
I. TIPS & TECHNIQUES FOR FOUNDATION PLANTING
Foundation planting differs from conventional landscaping in that it is tasked with not only beautifying your property but also safeguarding the home’s foundation. So, how do you pick the proper plants and use the right procedures to get the most visual appeal and structural integrity? Let’s have a look at some of the most important topics.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR FOUNDATION IS LANDSCAPED ON ALL SIDES.
The objective of foundation planting and landscaping is to provide as much uniformity as possible throughout the site. You want the foundation to remain consistent throughout. As a result, ensure that you landscape every aspect of your property.
Your property’s back is equally as significant as its front. You’ll only water one side of your land if you only plant on one side of your property. This implies that only a section of your soil expands, while the rest remains the same size and consistency. These variations might cause fractures in the foundation over time. It may seem like a simple idea, but recommendations like these may make the difference between a solid foundation and one that will require thousands of dollars of maintenance in the future.
2. CONSIDER CURB APPEAL
You must consider curb appeal while planting around your home’s foundation. Because these plants are so close to your house, they contribute significantly to the overall beauty of your property. If you ever decide to sell your property, this will have a direct influence on its resale value.
Hydrangeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, and rose bushes are some of the most popular curb appeal plants. Consider the depth of the root systems and how much water they demand while planting. Again, there should be uniformity in the house.
3. IT’S ALL ABOUT SIZE
You must have the forethought to consider the proper size and scale before planting. The most common error made by homeowners is failing to consider the eventual size at maturity.
Before you start planting, do some study. Enquire with the helpful staff at your local nursery. Drive around your neighborhood and look at the mature landscaping. Online advice articles are a good place to start. The last thing you want to do is spend money on landscaping that will not look nice or perform well in the future.
4. EXAMINE THE TREES THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE PROPERTY
This is also a good opportunity to analyze your existing risk while planting near your home’s foundation. Examine existing trees and, if they are too close to your home, consider removing them (less than 10-20 feet). If you can’t get rid of them, root pruning could be your best option. After all, the last thing you want is for your foundation’s health to be jeopardized by roots.
5. THE VALUE OF PAVEMENT AND SLOPE IN THE LANDSCAPE
Aside from planting, you must consider the slope of the pavement and the landscaping elements on your property. You should pay particular attention to any changes that may occur.
Cracked sidewalks, sinking patios, and erosion may appear to be minor cosmetic faults, but they can have significant and harmful consequences if not addressed. When these surfaces degrade, water may leak into your crawl space or basement, causing mold, mildew, and, in the worst-case scenario, structural damage.
The ground immediately surrounding your house should be sloping away from it. Every ten feet, the slope should be reduced by about six inches. Grabbing two stakes and a 12-foot length of twine is one of the simplest methods to test this. Tie both ends of the string to the two stakes and place one close to the house and the other 10 feet away in the ground.
The string should touch the ground at the stake closest to the house, but not at the stake furthest away. The slope must be adjusted if the string touches on both sides. While there are a variety of options – and much depends on the scenario — putting fill dirt around your property can assist you in achieving the correct slope.
The concrete around your house should likewise be sloped in the same way. It’s likely that water is seeping through and collecting in the soil surrounding your foundation if you detect cracked or drooping concrete. Epoxy crack injections can be used to fix minor cosmetic cracks, but significant concerns will need to be addressed by the professionals.
Aside from a beautiful house, the grass is an essential and common feature in homes in the Redmond, Washington region. It may be claimed that most of us find it difficult to maintain a gorgeous lawn that is constantly green and vibrant. So, here are a few pointers to help you take better care of your grass while being quite handy.
II. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MOW YOUR LAWN?
1.WHY SHOULD YOU MOW YOUR LAWN?
Cutting the grass isn’t just for show; it’s a necessary maintenance activity that encourages growth and vibrancy. Regular grass cutting encourages thicker growth, so knowing how to mow your lawn properly helps to maintain dense, healthy growth and eliminate unattractive weeds.
2. HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD I MOW THE GRASS?
You should mow your grass at least once a week, and maybe more in the spring. You should mow your grass twice a week if it grows more than 2.5 cm each week.
The sort of lawn you have affects how often you need to mow: a durable recreational lawn might get away with a weekly cut throughout the growing season, but an ornamental lawn that grows fast may require mowing every four to seven days. Because shaded lawns develop more slowly, once a week should enough.
3. WHEN IT COMES TO MOWING THE GRASS, HOW SHORT SHOULD I CUT IT?
Grass should be kept at 3 to 5 cm in height. If your lawn is too long, it will be unsightly and prone to weeds; if it is too short, it will not be able to protect the soil from diseases and will be highly sensitive to water stress and grass scorch in hot weather. In the summer, when temperatures are increasing, mow your grass to a height of up to 5 cm to keep the soil beneath it cool. Because a variety of variables might cause your grass to regrow unevenly, you should re-adjust the cutting height every time you mow the lawn.
4. ON AN ORNAMENTAL LAWN, GO SHORTER.
If you have an attractive lawn, maintain it to a length of 2 to 3 cm – or even less if it is not walked on or subjected to any other stress. This gives the lawn a silky, even appearance. However, the longer you maintain the grass, the greater the temperature. During the hot, dry summer months, we recommend a cutting height of 5 cm.
5. IN THE SHADOW FOR LONGER
If your Redmond lawn is in the shade, you should let it a little longer and mow it to a height of 5 to 6 cm all year. This is due to the increased surface area of the grass, which allows it to absorb more sunlight. Because the surrounding hedges, bushes, and trees will be vying for important resources, make sure a shaded lawn gets adequate water as well.
6. MOWING USING THE 1/3 RULE
If you have an overgrown lawn, don’t mow it all the way down to 4 cm in one sitting. Perhaps you’ve just returned from vacation or have been neglecting your garden for a while, but a dramatic pruning might cause more harm than good. Instead, trim off no more than a third of the height of the tallest grass at a time, and repeat this process over several days to attain your goal length. This method of lawn mowing preserves the grass’s natural growth cycle and avoids damaging the growing point, which is around halfway up the blade.
7. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MOW A NEW LAWN?
If you’ve recently planted lawn seeds, you’re probably looking forward to seeing a lush green stretch of beautiful grass. You’ll have to be patient, though: the grass requires hydration and rest more than anything else while it’s sprouting. Before trying the first cut, wait until the young grass has grown to a height of 8 to 10 cm. This gives the grass time to bulk up and assures thick growth. Cut the grass to 5 to 6 cm for the first mowing of a new lawn, which is a little longer than a mature lawn. Cutting more than a third of the grass’s length is typically not recommended.
8. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MOW A LAWN WHILE IT’S WET?
You should not mow wet grass since the moist grass will adhere to the blade and dull it. If you must mow your lawn while it is wet, keep the following in mind:
- Avoid stepping on the grass before mowing the lawn, since damp grass will not spring up upright quickly enough for the mower to catch it.
- On wet grass, avoid using a mulching mower. Mulching damp grass stresses the soil and suffocates the lawn. Instead, use your grass collecting box.
- Don’t wait until the collection box is half filled to empty it. When your grass is wet, the weight of the lawnmower will place pressure on it, therefore empty the collecting box often to assist reduce further stress.
- Make sure the blade on your mower is razor-sharp. If they can’t handle your lawn while it’s dry, don’t expect them to be able to handle it when it’s wet. Wet grass also causes your mower blade to dull more rapidly, resulting in damaged and torn-away grass rather than a clean cut.
- Keep the machine at a higher cutting height while mowing damp grass (approximately 6 cm). Once the grass has dried out, it is preferable to mow it again to a shorter length.
9. KNOWING THE HEIGHT OF YOUR GRASS IS A GOOD IDEA.
It might be difficult to tell if your grass is 6 cm or 8 cm long, making it difficult to know how to adjust your mower. Place a piece of thin cardboard on the grass and use a ruler to measure the distance between the cardboard and the soil. The lawn mower’s cutting height may then be adjusted accordingly.
10. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MOW MY GRASS AFTER FERTILIZING IT?
After applying lawn feed, give the grass some time to absorb the nutrients. Check your lawn feed’s directions, but in most situations, if the fertilizer pellets are still visible on the ground, you should wait a little longer before cutting the grass. For the soil to absorb nutrients rapidly, you should mow your grass two or three days before fertilizing.
11. WHEN IS THE IDEAL TIME FOR YOU TO MOW THE BEST LAWN?
You can mow the grass whenever it’s dry throughout the garden season (March to November). There are no precise restrictions concerning when you can mow, but you should think about noise levels before starting the mower at certain times of the day.
12. MAINTENANCE AND USE OF A LAWNMOWER
Your lawnmower is your best buddy – and a frequent companion – when it comes to beautiful grass. We recommend that you study your lawn mower’s user manual so you know what you need to do to get the most out of your equipment for years to come. Here you may find your user handbook.
III. SOME LAWN CARE SERVICES IN REDMOND, WA
SUNDANCE LANDSCAPING INC
Sundance Landscaping Inc is a family-owned and operated landscaping company in Redmond, Washington. Landscaping work, flowerbed installation, stump grinding, and irrigation are just a few of the landscaping projects they can assist with. Sundance Landscaping Inc has a reputation for high-quality work and reasonable prices, according to previous clientele.
SICILIA, CARL EDWARD
Carl Edward Sicilia has been providing residents of Redmond with affordable landscaping, grass installation, gutter cleaning, gutter cleaning, and even hardscape design since 2010. Carl Sicilia, the owner, and his two employees have a reputation for politeness, prompt communication, and accurate estimates.
JARDINIERE INC
For over 19 years, Jardiniere Inc has provided lawn care and landscaping to residents and businesses in and around Redmond. Landscape, flowerbed construction, shrub trimming, and wood chipping are just a few of the lawn care and landscaping services offered by the firm. Clients have characterized Jardiniere Inc’s 5 employees as professional and courteous. Call Jardiniere Inc. if you need a professional gardening service.
