photo credit: The Collins Group
A flourishing and luscious garden is the perfect backdrop for relaxing afternoon barbeques and outdoor entertaining. It also provides a great area for children and pets to play and explore throughout the warmer weather months.
Garden maintenance not only makes for a relaxing family retreat, but also ensures the exterior of the home is eye-catching to future homebuyers when it comes time to sell. Summer is a busy real estate period and a well-kept garden is a sure way to create memorable curb appeal.
If the garden is rundown after the rough Boston winter, homeowners need not fret. Here are five easy ways to give the garden a helping hand before summer.
1. Clean Up
Start by removing broken branches and fallen leaves from the lawn and garden beds. Rejuvenate perennial plants by cutting the dead foliage back to the live stem. Thin out crowded and overgrown areas by removing plants and shrubs that died off throughout winter. Finish off by splitting larger perennials and transplanting in bare spots to thrive in summer and help make the garden look fuller.
2. Rejuvenate the Lawn
Cold winter weather alters soil pH, compacts the earth and causes weed growth. Bring the lawn back to health by aerating the entire area, allowing the soil to breathe. Pluck up weeds and commence reseeding in areas that look bare or brown. Maintain soil moisture by using a slow-release fertilizer over the entire lawn. Late May to early June is the best time to fertilize as the soil is warm and allows the grass to grow strong roots.
3. Style Garden Beds
Start tidying by adding a fresh layer of mulch and dark soil to the garden bed. When working in the garden beds, be sure not to disturb roots that are close to the surface. Add some color and vibrancy by planting a variety of summer blooms such as Echinacea or Pansies; the bright contrast to the dark soil is striking. Milkweeds are also a great choice as their blooms attract butterflies.
4. Add New Elements
Get creative by starting a do-it-yourself herb or vegetable garden. Chives and parsley plants are easy to care for as are tomato vines and potatoes, and all are seasonal in the month of May. Keep the garden safe from curious pets and wildlife by sectioning off the garden with a small wire fence. Add some character to the landscape by placing a rustic bench in a shady spot and create a hard-scaped pathway using outdoor stone tiles.
5. Create Atmosphere
Update weather-beaten outdoor furniture by sanding and repainting or by adding new vibrant cushions. Add fun accessories to the patio such as hanging plants or mason jars with candles. For a relaxed summer vibe, add some Tiki Torches throughout the yard. This is an inexpensive and festive way to add light in the evening without electricity.
Rejuvenating the garden for summer is easy by following these tips. For more summer garden inspiration, check out Zillow Digs.
By: Emily Creswick of Zillow
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