With summer coming to a close, there’s a good chance your yard could be crying out for some kind of sprucing up. With this post we hope to ignite a few sparks related to landscaping ideas. Most of these things can be done by homeowners themselves, but if you’d rather someone else did the dirty work, we’ll also help steer you in the right direction if you are seeking a Minnesota landscape contractor. Let’s begin with a few basic landscape project.
- Fresh mulching
- Edging
- Proper grass mowing
Keeping mulch fresh tends to liven up your flowerbeds as well as surrounding areas in the vicinity of trees. It is also crucial to keeping the weeds down. After all the rain we’ve had this summer, plus the long harsh winter, your mulched areas probably need some refreshing. Mulch can be purchased in bulk or by the bag from landscapers and garden centers, and it comes in a variety of materials – from chipped bark to cocoa shells to crushed rock. Two cubic feet is the most standard size in bags, but buying in bulk, according to the majority of landscapers, tends to be cheaper — even taking into account delivery fees of roughly $50. If you’re seeking more information on mulch, here’s a previous post to guide you.
The process of edging a flowerbed, tree or other element of landscaping can provide an extraordinary boost in visual appeal. The basic idea is to outline the shape of the bed by cutting 6″ in with a sharp tool or garden spade. The edge you create can stand alone or you can fill it in with stone, brick or some other material. Putting in edging material can make it easier to cut the grass close to your beds, plus it adds a finished look. The costs generally range from $4-$15 per square foot.
An important thing to keep in mind with grass is that for every inch of grass above the ground, there grows an inch below. Cutting too close on top may result in the roots dying, so don’t overdo it while you’re endeavoring to keep your grass looking good. Lawn pros recommend that you trim your lawn to a minimum of 3″. This will create thicker turf that protects your lawn from crabgrass.
These are just a few tips to get you started – watch for the upcoming second part of this post where we’ll dive into more detailed information about which contractors would be of the best service to you in your attempts to keep your landscape beautiful.
If you know your yard needs some help this fall but you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with Architectural Landscape and Design for more ways for us to help you! For a free initial consultation, call us at 952-292-7717. We are a licensed MN landscaping design and installation contractor serving the entire Twin Cities area.