Summer and gardening—the act of bringing our indoor lives outside—go hand in hand. This time of year, the garden invites entertaining, working, exercising, relaxing and reconnecting. But those looking to make improvements to their family’s yard for even more fun this summer should avoid some common mistakes when making garden renovations.
“Mulligan the TurfMutt and I recently moved into a new home and were reminded of some of the mistakes that can easily be made when renovating a backyard,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages people to care for and utilize their outdoor spaces. “By keeping a few basic principles in mind during backyard improvements, families can create a dream yard with a purpose for year-round outdoor living.”
Here are the top backyard renovation mistakes to avoid, according to the TurfMutt Foundation:
The full potential of your garden is not taken into account. Your garden has the ability to safely and comfortably host a variety of functions for your family. From an outdoor office to al fresco dining and a place for children to learn and grow, as well as exercise their muscles, your backyard garden has unlimited potential to expand the living space of your home.
Plant artificial grass. Artificial grass offers none of the vital benefits of real grass, such as oxygen production, carbon capture, urban heat dissipation or reduced air pollution. Real grass offers all of these benefits and is more comfortable for feet and paws. Plus, real grass is a natural air conditioner.
Forget the “right plant, right place” rule. This is the “golden rule” of gardening, but it involves more than just knowing which plants will thrive in sunny locations and which in shady areas. Selecting the right plants for your microclimate and lifestyle will result in a living landscape that requires minimal maintenance on your part and offers maximum environmental benefits.
Don’t treat your garden as part of a connected ecosystem. Your garden connects with other green spaces in the community to provide food and shelter for pollinators, such as birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other creatures. Support pollinators and wildlife by planting a healthy balance of grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that thrive in your garden’s conditions and bloom at different times throughout the year.
Not utilizing community green spaces. Think of community parks, dog parks, greenbelts, and schoolyards as an extension of your own backyard acreage. Not only do these community areas offer a change of scenery from your own backyard, but they are also particularly beneficial for those with little to no backyard space.
Disregarding safety. Outdoor power equipment makes big landscaping projects easier, but it’s critical to keep safety in mind. Read your owner’s manual and follow all manufacturer guidelines. Do not disable or tamper with any of the safety features. Always keep pets and children away from the equipment during operation and do not allow children on or near lawn mowers at any time.
– Courtesy of NAPSI
