Uncovering the 6 Biggest Landscaping Mistakes You Can Make in Virginia - and How to Avoid Them

Posted by Gracie Loebs on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 3:48:39 PM By Gracie Loebs / March 17, 2023 Comment

As the temperatures increase and flowers begin to blossom, many people in Virginia are getting a head start on spring landscaping projects. While it’s important to give your outdoor spaces a makeover during this beautiful season, you need to be aware of some common mistakes that can easily set you back weeks (or months!) in terms of time and money. Avoid costly errors by familiarizing yourself with these 6 common spring landscaping mistakes most often made in Virginia and how you can avoid them!

Over-watering your lawn - check soil moisture before watering and invest in a smart sprinkler system to regulate how much water your lawn needs

Can you help protect precious resources and prevent your lawn from turning into a mushy mess? It is up to you! Over-watering your lawn can waste an incredible amount of water and kill your grass, but with a little extra effort, the outcome could be totally different. To prevent over-watering, the first step is to check the soil moisture before watering so you know if your lawn really needs it or not. Alternatively, invest in a smart sprinkler system that has sensors that measure how much water the soil needs in order to adjust how frequently the sprinklers run - this way, you won't have to worry about constantly monitoring and changing your irrigation settings every few days!

Ignoring soil pH levels - check the soil pH level of your grass and amend it if necessary

Ignoring soil pH levels can cause a multitude of problems for grass, making it harder to stay healthy and vibrant. Fertilizers and other treatments put on the grass can be wasted if your soil is not at an optimal pH level. The best thing you can do to ensure livelier lawn grass is to check your soil pH level and get it amended if necessary. While this may involve a bit of work, monitoring and possibly adjusting your soil pH levels will end up saving you time, money, and a lot of frustration due to trouble grass down the line. It's well worth keeping an eye on that ever-important pH level!

Planting too many plants too close to each other - space out different plants to allow them enough room to grow

Cramming plants too closely together can hinder their health and growth. When plants don’t have enough free space around them for soil and air, they will struggle with water absorption, nutrient availability, and air circulation. Crowded plants also become susceptible to pests and diseases because of the cramped conditions which likely means that they’ll need more maintenance than those given adequate room to grow. It is important to remember when planting new gardens or adding to existing ones that allowing a generous amount of space between each plant is essential for it to thrive. By giving them a good distance between each other, not only will your plants get the care it needs, but your garden will be beautiful as well!

Failing to prepare for spring weeds - apply a pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn early in the season

Spring is a dreaded time of year for gardeners who often find their lawns overtaken by weeds. If you want to prevent this from happening, it's important to take steps early on in the season. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide can help to stop weeds from sprouting and ruining your perfect lawn. It forms an invisible barrier in your soil that stops weed seeds from germinating, meaning they can't grow and create a mess. Failing to prepare with these herbicides when spring rolls around could be an expensive mistake; not only do you have to deal with an unkempt lawn, but you'll also have to spend time and money on trying to restore it. Start the season off right and make sure to apply pre-emergent herbicide as soon as possible!

Not mulching - mulch around trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetable gardens to conserve moisture

Taking the time to properly mulch around trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables is a great way to conserve moisture and promote better growth in plants. Mulch acts as a thermal insulator, conserving heat during cold winter months and shading the soil’s surface which inhibits water loss due to evaporation while helping to prevent weeds from taking root. Aside from important benefits like these, mulch also helps with erosion control by adding organic matter and binding soil particles so it won’t be easily wind or water-borne away. The best kind of mulch for all your gardening needs is mulch that decomposes slowly such as wood chips or straw. With these slow-decomposing materials moisture will be retained longer providing vital nutrients needed throughout the life cycle of each plant added to your garden.

Not pruning correctly - prune trees at the appropriate time of year and make sure not to cut too much or too little from branches

Pruning a tree correctly is crucial to the health and safety of the tree in question. It is best to prune trees at the appropriate time of year, usually in late winter or early spring just before new growth begins. Pruning of large branches should only be done after considering their size and structure carefully to ensure that too little or too much isn't cut away. Also, if too much is removed, this can leave open wounds that are triggered by disease and other damage from critters such as insects or animals. Keep in mind that incorrect pruning technique all too often leads to long-term shock or decline in the health and quality of a tree's appearance. So it is important to take your time when pruning and make sure you get it right the first time.

In conclusion, taking proper care of your lawn is an important part of having a beautiful and healthy looking yard. Whether it's over-watering, ignoring soil pH levels, planting too close together, failing to prepare for weeds, not mulching, or not pruning correctly - these mistakes can lead to an ugly and unhealthy looking lawn. Making sure you take the time to check for soil moisture before watering, balance the soil pH levels in your grass, space out different plants appropriately, apply pre-emergent herbicides early in the season, mulch around trees, shrubs and other vegetation properly, and prune trees at the correct time of year will go a long way in keeping your lawn looking its best. A little effort put into preventative maintenance each season will pay off when you're able to admire a lush and stunning landscape throughout the year!