GARDEN BED MAINTENANCE NYC
Having a garden can make a big difference in the overall appeal of your property. But let’s be honest, maintaining it is not that easy, especially if you are always busy with work and family. There are a lot of factors that can affect your garden, such as climate, the type of plants you have, pests, the kind of soil, and the list goes on. However, taking care of your garden bed should not be stressful.
Whether you have a flower bed, a raised garden bed or a perennial garden, maintaining them is a must if you don’t want to ruin the beauty of your landscape. You wouldn’t want weeds growing in your garden beds and your plants dying, so the best thing you can do is make lawn maintenance a part of your life. While it is easier said than done, it doesn’t have to be as elaborate as what you see in HGTV maintenance.
There are only three things you need to remember when maintaining your residential garden beds. These are water, weeds, and enough nutrients. Weeding is an essential part of garden bed maintenance since weeds can take away the sunlight, water, space, and nutrients that are all meant for your plants. You can prevent weeds from growing by planting some groundcover plants or adding mulch. When weeds start to grow, you can remove them using a shovel or by hand. If you don’t want to do the dirty work, you can always hire a professional to do it for you.
Just like human beings, plants need nutrients to thrive and be healthy. Feeding your plants with fertilizer every now and then will give them the right nutrient they need. However, just be careful with the amount, timing, and nutrient ratio as too much fertilizer can also be bad for your plants. Lastly, water the plants regularly. However, you need to be careful when watering and should be aware of the root systems. Over-watering can kill them. If you are not sure how much fertilizer and water you need, you can always ask a Master Gardener.
Bonus tip: Ensure that you place your garden beds where plants can get enough sunlight for their growth and should have enough space.
How To Maintain A Raised Garden Bed
A raised garden bed needs the same level of care and maintenance as an in-ground bed. Though it may not involve raking, you still need to dig, watch out for weed, add compost, do pest control, etc.
Almost similar to the maintenance of lawns and gardens, regular watering is an essential part of maintenance if you want to keep your plants healthy. Since raised garden beds drain water easily, you may need to water them more frequently.
Mulch will also be beneficial for your raised garden bed since it can help slow down water drainage, especially during summer when the weather can be very hot. However, during winter it is best to cover your raised garden bed to protect from rainfall.
Whatever your raised garden bed layout is or whether it is indoor or outdoor, weed can still grow on it. Luckily, the soil in raised garden beds is softer, which makes pulling weeds easier. Since raised garden beds are smaller than an entire garden, you wouldn’t have a hard time taking off the weeds. You don’t need to be an expert when it comes to maintenance as long as you water regularly, watch out for weeds, and add mulch on your beds.
Flower Bed Maintenance
When it comes to flower bed maintenance, care technique is far different from taking care of the grass. There are a lot of factors to consider such as the type of flower, whether they grow throughout the year or seasonal. Temperature can also affect flowering, for instance, an elevated ambient temperature can help speed up flowering.
Lawn aeration is also advisable when it comes to taking care of your flower bed. By piercing some holes through the soil, water, nutrients, and air can move through the roots easier. Mulch can also be used, whether organic or inorganic. Adding mulch can help keep moisture in the soil and can also improve the look of your flower beds.
Where you place your flower bed also matters. Some flowers may need more sunlight than others. Make sure you have enough shade for flowers that don’t require much sunlight. You don’t have to buy a shade but finding an area where a tree can cover the flowers will do.
Maintaining A Perennial Garden
Having a perennial garden at home can be very satisfying, especially when they are all in bloom. However, to keep their beauty, regular maintenance is needed. Here’s how to do it.
Materials Needed
• Lawn and Steel Rake
• Sprinkler or any water source
• Scissors
• Trowel
• Garden Spade
• Hoe
• Organic mulch
• Fertilizer for perennial plant
The first step is to remove the deadhead. Use the scissors to remove flower stems after they have bloomed and take out damaged or dead leaves and, other debris.
The next step is to closely search for discolored leaves, damaged stems, or any unusual growing flowers. If you see any problems, try to have an expert check on the problem.
Using a trowel, dig at least 2-3 inches of soil. Water the soil if dry using a sprinkler or any water source that is available. When watering, don’t let the plant leaves get wet late in the afternoon. This is to avoid spreading plant diseases.
At least once a week, check for weeds and remove them using a hoe with a sharp blade. You can also use your bare hands to pull them. It is also important to edge the beds with a garden spade for a well-kept and more defined lawn and garden.
Using a fertilizer for perennial plants, fertilize them as spring season starts. Follow the instructions on the package, especially regarding the right amount. Place a new organic mulch such as cocoa bean. Lastly, practice seasonal cleaning and try to keep your pets such as dogs or cats from getting near your flower bed.
Garden bed maintenance is essential to not only keep your property looking beautiful but also for your plants to stay healthy. Additionally, garden beds can be susceptible to weeds which can be an eyesore with flower beds needing regular attention to get rid of the problem.
If you’re interested in having your garden bed maintained in New York City of its surroundings then contact us as soon as possible.