Avoidable Landscaping Problems

There are several different landscaping problems that you can encounter on your commercial property—and frankly, some of them are unavoidable.

Even with the best preventative efforts, your lawn or landscape could still become subject to a certain disease or pest problems. Fortunately, if you’ve been working with a proactive professional, these problems will be caught and addressed early.

That being said, there are completely avoidable landscaping problems. Dealing with landscaping problems that could have been prevented is in many ways a bigger frustration considering the fact they didn’t have to happen.

• Poor Planning

You should always plan before you plant. It’s helpful to have a schedule set so that you get seeds into the ground at the right time, can do any backyard renovations during the most convenient times, and don’t forget about important maintenance tasks like fertilizing. Make sure sun-loving plants will get the daylight time they need, and plant shade-loving short plants under tall leafy ones. If not planned properly, your garden will not be reaching its full potential.

• Planting Errors

Some problems can be avoided during the planting phase. Do not plant trees or shrubs too close together without regard to their future growth, since trouble will arise down the road, such as overgrowth that interferes with walkways. The future growth of plants should be considered while planting.

Planting errors can impact the health of your plants. If a plant is continually sickly and there is nothing you can do to improve it, the soil condition may not be suitable for the plant. Although replacing a poorly chosen plant is frustrating, it makes more sense than investing in treatments that never seem to work.

• Erosion

Water follows the path of least resistance. If you notice rainwater flowing along a specific route, erosion may not be far behind. To prevent the loss of grass or soil, consider creating terraced landscaping, or adding gravel in these areas. These methods help slow and redirect the flow of water so that erosion doesn’t occur.

• Improper Mulching

When applying mulch around trees and shrubs, avoid piling the mulch directly against the plant. Mulch retains moisture and is excellent for insulation; however, when it is touching the trunk it causes rotting. Instead, lay the mulch around your plants in a doughnut shape, leaving a few inches between the mulch and the base of the trunk. This benefits the root system while preventing rotting.

• Forgetting to Test Your Soil

Soil quality affects all the vegetative growth in your yard, from tiny annual flowers to towering trees. Each plant requires a balance of major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as minerals including calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Test your soil every couple of years to make sure its nutrient levels are adequate for lush growth.

• Pooling Water

Does one low-lying area of your lawn remain perpetually soggy? Pooling water can cause unhealthy patches of grass as well as frustration. Luckily, you have a few different options to fix this. Regrading your lawn is effective, but can cost a decent amount of money. If the pooling is being caused by compact soil, aerating your lawn will loosen the soil and allow for proper drainage.

• Unwanted Fungus

Fungus grows in moist conditions where there is lots of decaying organic matter. Fungicides work to address current growth, but the best way to deal with fungus is to prevent it from growing in the first place. Make sure your lawn is draining properly and consistently, and remove debris such as logs or old mulch that may be rotting, as these items will attract mushrooms.

• Unskilled Staff

Preventing landscaping problems comes down to partnering with a professional who will have your back. You rely on the professional to know your property needs and get the solutions into place in a timely and effective way. We may say any landscape company will know how to perform services appropriately, but the truth is that some companies employ poorly trained people who are prone to making errors. When it comes to your landscape, hire someone you can count on.

• Dead Grass

Some unavoidable diseases and pest problems can cause brown patches in your grass. When the pests and diseases remain untreated, they can destroy your landscape. Although you may do everything right, this problem may creep in. You have to keep vigilant to spot early signs of trouble and address them swiftly to prevent dead grass.

Dealing with emerging landscaping problems is, in a way, an immense frustration. Working with a proactive professional fortunately will help in detecting these problems and addressing them early. Taking a little time to invest in your lawn and garden will help avoid these common landscaping problems and create a healthy and gorgeous landscape.