Yard work can consume hours of your time each week, as well as take a bite out of your bank account. The fact is, unless you install artificial turf or employ neighborhood children to take over your weekly lawn obligations, it will eventually become a jungle land paradise if you don't perform constant lawn maintenance of some kind. The following five steps will help you keep your lawn under control and still provide you with an ample amount of time to spend with your family. You might also save a little money in the process.
Use Drought Tolerant Plants
Adding drought tolerant plants to your lawn will be a huge help when it comes to saving money on water. There are many varieties of drought tolerant grasses that will remain vibrant green without an abundance of water. They thrive in climates that have higher than average temperatures and grow much slower than other varieties. Try to incorporate plants that are native to your area. Not only will they thrive, but they are already adapted to the type of soils you have in your yard. They will require fewer fertilizers and less care than plants that are shipped into the area from other places.
Reduce the Size of Your Lawn
Reducing the size of your lawn will also help when it comes to maintaining the property. You can build an outdoor room, add a gazebo or patio area, install a backyard putting green or create landscaped areas. If your lawn is large enough include two or three different additions. If you place these recreational areas a slight distance from the home, you can also include small pathways to connect them with one another.
Mulch Away!
The easiest way to do away with fertilizing is to use your lawn's own grass clippings. Mulching chops up the grass clippings so they fall back into the lawn and work their way down towards the dirt. As they decompose, they add vital nutrients back to the soil and act as a natural fertilizer. Mulching your clippings each time you mow the lawn helps to prevent moisture from evaporating from the soil as well. By using mulch, you eliminate the need to remove the clippings from the lawn and also reduce the need to water, saving you both time and money.
Plant A Sustainable Ground Cover
Instead of sprinkling grass seed if you end up having bare areas, start a few ground cover plants. Most ground covers remain low to the ground growing only 3 to 4 inches in height. As they grow and begin to expand outward, they will provide a lush, vibrant blanket of green. Many ground covers also produce small colorful flowers. Ground covers are extremely hardy and many are resistant to high temperatures and drought conditions.
Plant An Edible Garden
An excellent way to spend time with your children and teach them about plants is to create an edible garden. While tending and caring for a garden takes both time and effort, it will save you money in the long run. Gardening can be extremely relaxing and many take great joy from being able to watch the plants they tend grow and produce vegetables, flowers and herbs that can be used in their home. Not only do you receive the bounty of the garden for your tables, you also get to share the time with your children. If you teach them to garden when they are young, you can make it into a fun and worthwhile way to spend time as a family. Children who are taught the importance of gardening will know how to raise their own food and can eventually pass on the tradition to their own families.
