As the season of backyard barbecues and lounging by the pool, it’s important to keep your yard in prime condition during the summer. At the same time, you’ll probably want to spend less time maintaining your yard and more time actually enjoying it. |
To help you achieve that balance, here are some quick and easy tips for keeping your yard looking its best this summer: - Gather the necessary supplies, including those needed for your comfort. One of the most dreaded aspects of doing yard work during the summer is contending with the heat and insects. Therefore, before you get started, gather all the supplies you think you’ll need, including bug spray, sunscreen, durable gloves, and large trash bags. Additionally, remember to stay hydrated, and take frequent breaks to head indoors or take a dip in the pool in order to avoid becoming overheated. - Set a schedule for lawn care. Even with its constant demands, maintaining a healthy lawn is far easier than having to start from scratch if your lawn dies. To ease the burden of lawn maintenance, it may help to create (and stick to) a schedule for when you’re going to mow, water, and apply fertilizers and weed control products. As an alternative, you might consider getting rid of all or some of your lawn and replacing it with something that requires less maintenance. The options are endless, ranging from artificial turf to patio space to gardens that may include herbs, fruits and vegetables, or succulents. - Stay ahead of pest control. Once you’ve achieved the perfectly manicured lawn or garden, the last thing you’d want is for moles, groundhogs, and other pests to destroy it. Preventative measures will depend on the specific critters that pose a threat to your yard, but may include applying repellants or installing fencing around certain plants. And don’t forget to take steps to ward off insects that could be a risk for humans, such as ticks or mosquitoes (which may carry West Nile virus). For mosquitoes, be sure to remove any sources of standing water; for ticks, consider planting deer-resistant plants, which will help keep away deer and the dangerous ticks they sometimes carry. - Prioritize pruning and weeding. In most areas, the warm temperatures and rains of the summer months can cause yards to quickly become overgrown. While regular pruning and weeding may seem like a hassle, it will help plants stay healthy and keep your yard looking beautiful. Another important task, particularly during the summer, is to trim dead tree limbs, as they could pose a threat to your home during storms and strong winds. Sources: thespruce.com |
