Escape the backyard blues

Flower & Garden Magazine, August-Sept, 1996 by Joe Freeman

Having The Most Beautiful landscape on the block is something to be proud of -- but not if you become a weekend slave to its maintenance and care. Gardening is America's number one pastime, but overdoing it can cause physical strain and exhaustion. How can you maintain your yard and still have time to enjoy it? Try these tips for reducing the time and labor you spend watering, mowing, pruning and fertilizing. RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE

Healthy plants are the foundation of a beautiful landscape, but even the strongest plant struggles or fails when improperly placed. To avoid many landscape pitfalls, start with a plan. Even a simple sketch helps one to better visualize a garden's layout and interactions of plant traits like color and texture. Then, before selecting a plant palette, research and evaluate the garden's soil types, drainage and other physical characteristics. Once a site's advantages and limitations are known, it's easier to choose the best plants for it.

Many homeowners buy plants based on "curb appeal," but if low maintenance is the goal, determine a plant's merits and faults before placing it in the garden. You'll need such information as the plant's height and spread at maturity, its growth rate, soil needs, drought tolerance, light requirements, pest problems, cold hardiness and other environmental factors. Choose plant varieties or hybrids that show good growth habits and disease and pest resistance. For example, roses provide excellent landscape color but may require much more maintenance than perennials or other flowering shrubs. Landscape or antique roses, however, often thrive in less-than-ideal conditions. Keying site characteristics with the best plants for your climate pays big dividends in reducing landscape maintenance as the plants grow.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Free-flowing, curved or rounded beds are often easier to edge and mow around than square or rectangular ones. Also, large beds are more attractive and easier to fertilize and water than small plant beds scattered here and there. Turfgrass is one of our best groundcovers, but lawn size should be practical and manageable. Once bed sizes and shapes are determined, invest in an edging material to keep turf and plants in their respective areas.

SPREAD OUT

To reduce time spent pruning, don't crowd plants together; give them room to breathe and grow. Allow space between plant groups and foundations, walls and fences. Also, choose plants with dense growth patterns, which look great without pruning. Indian hawthorn is an excellent plant choice in the South; in Northern regions try junipers or dwarf mugho pine.

REDUCE WATER

Whether by sprinkler system or garden hose, watering is a must for keeping landscapes in tiptop shape. To reduce time and money spent watering, select native plants -- or plants that have proven themselves durable in your climate -- for your landscape. Group plants according to their water requirements, and plant thirsty ones close to a faucet or hose. BY doing so you can water these groups without saturating the entire landscape.

Soaker hoses, drip and other low-volume irrigation systems water efficiently with less loss through drift or evaporation. Water goes to the plant roots where it belongs, rather than over large areas. If a new irrigation system is being designed, separate the turf areas from the plant beds. Turfgrasses often need watering more frequently than woody plants and perennials. Regardless, water deeply and infrequently. Frequent, shallow irrigation promotes weak, shallow root growth.

Water needs are further reduced through proper mulching, which lowers soil temperatures, retains moisture and often inhibits weed growth in plant beds. In most areas a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch is recommended, but actual amounts vary with soil type and material used. Additional weed control is achieved by placing a landscape fabric or weed blanket over the soil before covering with mulch.

AVOID THE "LAWN TRAP"

A perfect lawn is an imaginary thing, so accept reality and maintain your lawn wisely. Though freshly mowed grasses look crisp and stylish, take care to mow correctly. Start with a sharp mower blade; dull blades cause shredding and leaf damage that results in browning. Mow often so that the turf's height is reduced by no more than one-third. And be sure to maintain the turf at the correct height -- mowing too low can result in poor root growth and weakened turf. Without strong roots, grasses are more susceptible to drought, insects and diseases.

You might also consider planting a different type of lawn grass. There are several good choices that need less water and fertilizer and resist wear and disease well. In cooler regions, try blends including red fescue (good for shaded areas), tall fescue and improved perennial ryegrass. In fact, many new ryegrass varieties show excellent tolerance to drought and wear. Improved Bermuda, zoysia and bahia grass are good for Southern lawns. Ask your county extension agent which varieties are best in your area.