If you don’t have a lot of experience with tending a garden, this process can be a bit intimidating. That’s why many homeowners will hire professional landscapers to make a property look its best. But even with expert help, you may not be sure about the optimal timing for certain tasks. Is there an ideal time for landscape planting? And what about watering? We’re sharing some of our advice on these time-sensitive tasks in today’s post to ensure your outdoor living spaces continue to thrive.
When Should You…
- Mow your lawn?
This may sound like a silly question, but it’s actually not. Mowing at the optimal time of day and ensuring you mow at the proper intervals can help you avoid problems like brown grass or the need for lawn patch repair; it can strengthen the root system of your lawn and even increase drought tolerance. Really, the best time to mow your lawn is mid-morning because it allows you to avoid the hottest part of the day and allows the early morning dew time to dry. You can also mow in the late afternoon, as this will still give your grass time to recover before nightfall. Early morning and midday are considered the worst times to mow because of problems associated with dew and moisture loss. During the active growing season, mowing once a week is typically best.
- Water plants and flowers?
Keeping plants alive does require dedication and a good memory; some of us will simply water them when we have time and when we actually remember. But there are times of day that are better for watering than others. While you should aim to water during the coolest parts of the day, the early morning is ideal. If you water midday, you’ll lose much more of that water to evaporation. And if you water later in the evening, your plants might end up with fungal diseases or insect activity. However, watering in late afternoon is a fine choice if you cannot water in the morning. The same principles can be applied to watering your lawn. Watering your lawn should be done every seven to 10 days, while the frequency of watering for plants will differ. Typically, if the first inch of soil appears dry, it’s time to water.
- Take on a landscaping project?
Some people assume that summer is the best time to have your professional landscapers come out to start a new project. But in most areas of the U.S., the springtime is a much better season to begin new landscaping ideas. April and May are often ideal months for planting. However, early autumn can also be a good time to hire professional landscapers. If you wait too long, the value of landscaping won’t be nearly what you hoped, as plants won’t get a chance to acclimate before the frost.
- Plant a tree?
There are a couple schools of thought here. You can certainly plant a tree in the springtime, as this will give the tree plenty of time to adjust. It’ll also give you a better selection of options at your local nursery to choose from. However, planting a tree in the spring does require careful maintenance, as the summer heat can be tough on young saplings. Planting a tree in fall is also possible and is sometimes preferable, since less watering is required. If you opt for fall planting, make sure not to wait too long so that your young tree has time to settle in before winter hits.
We hope this post has cleared up some common questions you may have about yard maintenance. As always, your professional landscapers will be an excellent resource for this type of information and all your other gardening queries.
