Many of my clients discuss with me about the high cost of maintaining their landscapes. This includes designing, installing, and maintenance. I always ask what their objective was and did the work meet with their expectation. If they used a reputable landscape company then typically the answer is 'yes' however they still converse about the cost to maintain their home and property and that is one area that may not have been planned for or planned well. If you are designing a project and you want to keep your maintenance cost to a minimum then consider the following:
1. Use only native plants. They have been growing here forever and they can and have adapted to the soil and the climate. They need little help with fertilizer and water. Use perennials instead of annuals or use just a few annuals. Check with Cornell University about plants that live well and thrive on Long Island. Find them online at www.cce.cornell.edu/nassau.
2. Do not cut your lawn less than 3" in height. Taller grass has deeper and better developed roots. Taller grass shades the soil better and keeps it cooler. Taller grass is healthier grass then shorter grass.
3. Mulch all your planting beds with shredded bark, wood chips, or salt hay. Mulch helps the soil maintain moisture and consistent temperature. Mulch also prevents many weed seeds from germinating and taking over.
4. Use only organic and natural fertilizers. They are better for the soil and all the microbes, fungi, worms, insects that live and thrive in it. You feed the soil and the soil feeds the plants. You can't have one without the other.
5. Spray only dormant oil on your trees in the spring. The oil prevents the insect eggs from hatching. It does not hurt the trees or birds.
6. Cores aerate your turf in early spring and after Labor Day. Core aerating pulls plugs from the soil and opens it up to air, water, and nutrients. It relieves soil compaction. It is the number one best thing you can do for turf. Ask any golf or park superintendent.
7. Use corn gluten meal as a weed and crabgrass preventer. Use on your turf and in your garden. Corn gluten meal was discovered accidently to prevent the germination of certain types of weeds. It acts as a desiccant and can destroy weeds as they germinate. CGM also adds nitrogen and carbon to the soil. Organisms in the soil love it. It is safe to children, pets, and wildlife.
8. Do not use herbicides. Herbicides kill beneficial organisms in the soil. If you must use then use sparingly and on specific plants you are trying to eliminate. Do not spread indiscriminately all over you property. If you use, sorry I can't mention the name here, a product that prevents weeds from growing in the garden, then you should have your head examined. That stuff is toxic! It smells toxic as well.
9. Do not use pesticides. Pesticides kill beneficial organisms in the soil and are toxic to birds, fish, bees, butterflies, kids, dogs, cats, and you! If you must use than use only on targeted pests. If you must use than Read the directions and use as directed! Hire a pro- they know what they doing. Why take the risk? This stuff is extremely toxic!
10. Use your sprinklers only when you need to! Most of my clients overwater and this creates a host of new problems that can be easily missed diagnosed. If the temperature is between 60 degrees at night and 80 degrees during day then 2x - 3x a week should be maximum frequency. When it gets really hot above 85 degrees then increase watering minutes and frequency. The entire idea behind a sprinkler system is that you want to replace water that is lost due to evaporation and evapotranspiration (this is what the plants lose to atmosphere) with irrigation. If you watered your lawn this past May and June then you wasted water, you damaged plants and turf, you leeched out nutrients in the soil, and money was spent unnecessarily.
11. If it gets really hot out and your plants are wilting and the grass is turning brown then please turn your sprinklers on even if it is 2pm on a sunny afternoon. It is a myth that if you water in the middle of hot day you will burn the leaves and the grass.
12. Install a programmable controller. They are easy to program and use. You can run automatically, semi - auto, and manually. You can have multiple programs. You can have multiple cycles. The bottom line is it gives you control and flexibility. Purchase a good quality name brand controller e.g. Hunter, Rainbird, Irritrol and Toro. They are the best in the industry, user friendly and taken good care of will last several years.
13. Install a rain sensor. It will automatically shut your system down in the event of rain fall. It will save thousands of gallons of water each season. It will pay for itself in one season.
14. Install a Hunter Solar Sync. It is a rain sensor. It also measures temperature and sun light and will adjust the minutes of watering automatically.
15. Install a fertigation system. Fertigation is the combination of irrigation water mixed with fertilizer and delivered by the sprinkler system. A fertigation system is calibrated to deliver small amounts of fertilizer each time your system operates. The fertilizer is organic or natural, it is safe, and there is little or no waste. Cost effective and easy to maintain it is hands down the best method to feed and care for your landscape.
16. Hire professionals! Each industry has an organization that certifies its members to be knowledgeable and experts at delivering quality products and services. Landscapers, arborists, irrigation contractors, lawn care companies all go to extraordinary effort to be the best that they can be! Check for their certifications and membership. They deliver value first and this includes their time, services, products and guarantee. It may look like more money in the beginning and overall they actually deliver much more for less. If someone offers you a fantastic deal for very little money than be careful. Be an educated consumer.
