A large yard is a dream come true for most homeowners. But, property running into an acre or more can soon become a maintenance nightmare if not properly cared for.
Weeding, mowing, pruning and planting are all necessary activities. If you build an effective whole-yard plan and make a schedule for seasonal and regular maintenance activities, then you will have a more organized job at hand.
Holidays, poor weather and other issues may hamper your yard maintenance. But, if you have worked daily and weekly maintenance schedules into your plan, then the chances of your yard running wild are minimal.
If you are house-hunting, do not let a huge yard deter you from investing in a good property. Here are a few ways in which you can manage your huge yard sensibly and enjoy it to the fullest.
1. Make a Full-Yard Plan
A plan that takes into account the full yard will be more effective than one which concentrates on specific earmarked areas. It will also provide a bird’s-eye view of the plot in entirety and help you envisage how you want the land to grow and evolve.
The possibilities big yard offers are endless. You can carve a range of activity zones and interest areas, and reserve portions closer to your kitchen to grow a vegetable garden. You can also earmark areas for luscious lawns, plan a nice driveway where your kids can ride bikes, grow lovely flowerbeds and landscape a beautiful entryway.
Do remember that in California, landscaping is the second largest component that uses up water. In Victorville, a lawn is truly a luxury because we have experienced drought-like situations lately. Therefore, ensure you choose grasses that require minimum watering.
A yard also offers you the luxury of designing outdoor cooking and entertaining spaces, active play areas and cozy nooks for private relaxation.
Of course, with a new home and a yard, you will always be required to revise and tweak your plan as you go forward. You will realize that the play area tends to flood during heavy rain or the flower beds are not exactly in the sunny spots. In such cases, a full-yard plan will help you rearrange the activity areas and arrive at what works best in your yard.
A good idea of the requirements and the available working space in your yard will help you take advantage of seasonal sales and discounts. You know what you need to build in your yard and can access required tools and materials well beforehand.
2. Schedule Your Activities
As emphasized earlier a well-maintained yard calls for timely, regular and structured work. If you skip on regular maintenance activities, grass, weed and shrubs will quickly run wild. All the hard work done in building a beautiful outdoor space will go to waste.
Trimming grass and watering plants are regular activities. In addition to that, you need to create an annual calendar and make a list of all activities you need to do the year round.
Most activities like sowing seeds, planting new plants and pruning of hedges need to be completed taking into consideration your plant hardiness zone. If you grow edible gardens, then seasonal changes will influence the type of plants you grow and the food you eat. Planning your activity calendar keeping in mind your requirements and the weather conditions will help you get the best out of your land. In Victorville, we taste all seasons; so it’s necessary you make a schedule that takes into consideration the varying conditions.
A smart calendar will ensure that your lawn maintenance jobs start and finish when needed.
3. Be Kind to the Environment
According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), an average American household uses 320 gallons of water each day. About 30% of this water is used outdoors, including for watering gardens and lawns.
The EPA suggests that you limit lawns to about 40% of your yard with the rest of the 60% area devoted to shrubs, trees and groundcover. This will help save our valuable and limited water resources.
Hardscaping your yard is another environment-friendly move as it helps reduce water use.
Hardscape consists of inanimate or man-made elements incorporated into a landscape like a masonry work or woodwork. Spaced pavers, gravel or loose stone footpaths, patios, pavilions, gates and fences, and outdoor fireplaces are all part of your yard’s hardscape. Ensure to keep everything in good condition and in case you require gate repairs in Victorville, get in touch with the local specialists.
Rock gardens, xeric plants and succulents can be added to make hardscaped areas livelier.
Another option is to plant native plants that grow well under local conditions without lots of water or manure. Drought-resistant bunchgrass is suitable for lawns and is a native plant of California. Lemonade Berry, Toyon, Hoary California Fuschia and Chalk Liveforever are other plants that grow well in California climate.
Conclusion
A lovely yard will help you enjoy your home immensely and allow your kids to build nostalgic memories. If you keep the important things in mind, it will be possible to manage a big yard in the best way possible.
