Abandoned land, more precisely neglected yards, degrade the look of your beautiful house and calls for a garden makeover. This usually happens because you have too much on your plate to give some time to your lawn.
Or sometimes, you feel too lazy just by thinking about the series of steps in the lawn care process. And, inevitably, in the end, your lawn gets neglected. But you know, as George Eliot said, "It's never too late to mend"!
So, if you want to start your garden renovation, we are here to help you. In this article, we have mentioned every ingredient and approach to bring back your lawn to health.
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What You Need for Your Garden Makeover
Since you are starting from scratch, you need more tools and time to make this task more manageable and less tiring.
Have the Right Gardening Tools
You can't start on your garden renovation without the right tools. When your lawn overgrows, you need something more than a lawn mower to tackle them.
Some heavy-duty gardening tools like brush mower, power rack, hedge trimmer, etc., make the job simpler and convenient. If you don't have these heavy-duty tools, you can rent them from the local hardware store.
But make sure the store owner keeps his tools clean and healthy. It is because a dirty tool can carry various grass diseases and infect your lawn.
Dedicate Sufficient Time
Since you are starting to build your lawn from scratch, you need to complete the entire process in stages. Divide the complete process of lawn restoration into simple steps and dedicate at least two weeks to it.
This will not only prevent you from feeling over-burdened but also you can complete each action more efficiently. For example, spend the first two days cleaning and removing the junks and debris. Keep the mowing and trimming job for the next day and so on.
Garden makeover of an overgrown and neglected lawn is undeniably challenging work, but the results will be pleasing if you do the job patiently. Moreover, on that pretext, you will get some physical exercise.
So, a beautiful and pleasing lawn along with some workout, why don't you give it a try!
Removing Trash and Debris
Start your yard restoration by cleaning your overgrown and long-neglected yard and make it free from all the debris and trash that has accumulated over time. Whether it is litter or a fallen pine cone, clear it off.
Remove all the broken lawn features, old planters, damaged furniture, rusty lawn ornaments, etc. Make a compost pile for all the biodegradable and organic wastes like tree arms, bush trimmings, grass clippings, etc.
And collect the other inorganic debris in a wheelbarrow or a large garbage can, or a dumpster. This is to ensure that when you run the mower, it can make passes without any obstruction.
Mowing and Trimming the Lawn
Since the land is filled with overgrown grass, weeds, crabgrass, and all other plants, you need to do the mowing job patiently and several passes. If you don’t have a lawn mower, take help of this article lawn mower for 1/2 acre lot and buy one which is best for you.
In the usual lawn care process, we trim before mow so that the mower can chop the grass clippings, and you don't have to rack them. But in the case of overgrown land, mow the yard using a lawn mower or bush mower before you trim the edges.
For the first two passes, keep the blade to the highest settings and make the passes in the opposite direction to each other.
If you have any tree in your yard, don't mow a minimum of 2 feet radius around the trunk. As this space is packed with tree roots, any of them may get damaged during the mowing process.
You can hand trim this area with lawn shears to remove the grasses. Since the grasses now have standard cutting height, it's time to trim the lawn into shape. Start with the edges along the fence, stone wall, or patio and cut along the driveways and walkways.
Dethatching
Dethatching is required when the yard has a thick layer of thatch even after mowing and trimming. You can use a power rack which is aggressive enough to a very thick layer of thatch. But if the lawn has a small amount of thatch, use a dethatcher.
It is necessary because dethatching the soil gets exposed to the water, air, and sunlight, making it healthier. However, if you feel that mowing and trimming have removed the grasses well, you can skip this step.
Add Herbicide Weed Killer
Weeds, the long-known enemy of the lawn, needs to be eradicated. Plugging them from the roots is not enough, for sometimes a few stubborn weeds keep on coming back and occupy the space.
So the best way to remove them is by using a fertilizer with a pre-emergent herbicide. In the following step, instead of applying weedicide in the entire lawn, spot spray a separate and selective weedicide.
It will bring more efficient results at less price. Wait for the chemical to dry and kill the weeds completely to follow the next step.
Rack the Clippings
After trimming, mowing, and dethatching, all the overgrown grasses are shortened to the lowest height, and the yard is filled with chopped grass clippings. In the following step, you need to rack away these clippings to clear the ground for the soil's subsequent treatment.
Make sure that no dead weeds are left in the lawn soil. If there is, rack the area cleanly.
Test the Soil
It is one of the most critical steps that let you know what your soil lacks. You can either buy a soil test kit or take the help of the local well-known soil lab. Check the level of pH and other essential nutrients.
For healthy growth, the pH should be around 6.5 with the right amount of NKP nutrients.
Water the Lawn Generously
Since the lawn's surface is free from overgrown grasses and weeds, now it's time to treat the ground. Water the lawn generously. That means if the soil is dried, it requires at least 1 inch to 1.5 inches of water. But if the ground is soft, 1 inch of water should be enough.
If you are not sure regarding the amount, press an 8 inches screwdriver in the ground. If it gets in without any difficulty, you have watered enough. Watering the ground makes the soil soft and prepares it for our next step.
Aeration
Aeration is done to improve the soil compaction. It also addresses the problem of lack of air and water exchange between the soil particles. For this purpose, you can either use a plug aerator or spike aerator.
Most professionals recommend going with the former one, as it is more effective in its job. Refer to our review of the best lawn aerators for 2023 to help you decide which would best suit your needs.
Add Fertilizers
Experts advise adding fertilizers within 48 hours of aeration, as it can smoothly go down the holes. You can go for some nitrogen fertilizer, which is an essential nutrient.
Another Round of Watering
The purpose of watering this time is to wash the fertilizers from the grass blade into the soil. So, a small amount of water will be required. Watering too much can cause the fertilizer to drain away even before absorbing.
Lay Weed Fabrics
These specially designed fabrics suppress weeds' growth by cutting the direct air, water, and sunlight supply. Spread the sheets around big trees and in or around the flower beds, where you think it's required.
Sowing time
Since the soil is completely prepared for sowing new seeds, spread the grass seeds all over the lawn uniformly. Maintaining consistency is essential, or else in some places, grass will grow in abundance while other areas will lack them. A seed spreader will be helpful for this purpose.
Germination
For germination, the seeds need a sufficient amount of water. So, keep the soil damp, but don't wet it too much. The seed will start to sprout within one week. Since they don't have an established root system, they will entirely depend on the water you supply to them.
So, until they grow their deep root system, water them generously. Decrease the amount of water every week, as it will train them to become drought resistant. For the first two weeks, water three to four times a week.
After that, reduce the number to two to three times for the subsequent three weeks. At this period, the roots will grow to the full length. From the 6th week onwards, water the grass once a week.
Follow-Ups
Even after the grass sprouts, you can't leave them completely alone. They still need some care and love but in a small amount. So, here are the things you must do:
- Water once a week
- Fertilize the yard once in three months.
- Eliminate the weeds
- Clean the fallen leaves once in a while.
5 Quick Garden Makeover Tips
Despite following the lawn care process strictly all around the seasons, you feel your lawn is missing the exceptional and fresh look? Or, you have a small get-together but don't know how to earn praises from your friends?
Try these five lawn renovation tricks to give some easy and quick makeover to your lawn. These tips are neither too time-consuming nor too expensive but can provide a satisfactory and pleasurable outcome.
1. Add some color to the lawn patio
The lawn patios are the house's extension and need some well-planned and cozy decoration to make it look exceptional. Just by a few simple and easy decorations, you can add colors to it.
Start by cleaning the patio floor and place a classy, designed outdoor rug on it. It will bring a cozy and sophisticated feeling to your lawn. After that, you only need a bistro set and a few outdoor cushions to complement the elegance of your lawn.
But if you want some more relaxing and cheerful decor, you can add some hanging baskets of any ornamental plants like petunias, fuchsias or verbena, etc.
You can also place them along the patio edge if your lawn patio doesn't have any hanging spots. Additionally, you can also hang some outdoor fairy lights, which will make your lawn look marvelous under the night sky.
2. Pressure wash the hard surfaces
Washed surfaces make your lawn look neater and cleaner, giving it a fresh and healthy look. And the best way to clean these surfaces is using a pressure washer.
When you power wash the hard surfaces, the high pressure water spray removes the mold, dirt, and even the long deposited mud and stubborn sun-baked grime quickly.
You can clean the walkways and driveways, timber, stones, etc. But make sure not to use very high pressure, or else you can blow out the grout.
When you wash timbers, paint it with a few coats of oil after it has dried. It will make it look fresh and will make long-lasting.
3. Update old furniture
No matter how well decorated your lawn is, old furniture always makes it look dull and clumsy. Moreover, they remain outside the house all around the year and face the harsh impacts of changing seasons. So, they end up looking faded just after a few years.
Therefore, an update in your garden furniture can make your lawn look bright and exciting. But if you don't want to invest so much, you can do a little renovation to your old furniture to make it look new.
Clean the furniture and paint it with any wood paint. Replace the cushion covers and add small potted plants beside the chairs. You can also do some research to get some more innovative and fresh ideas.
4. Paint the fence palings
Just like the la furniture, the fenced patio stands out in the harsh weather all year round, which is why they develop drab greyish looks on them.
So, painting them is the quickest and best makeover you can give to your lawn. This trick changes the look of your boring-looking yard.
In this case, the thumb rule is "the darker, the better". Paint the boundary fences with two coats of good outdoor grade paint of black or off-black shade.
This dark shade will give a uniform finish to those vertical surfaces and create the perfect backdrop to match your yard's green foliage.
5. Show love for birds
Welcoming the birds will add life and cheerfulness to your lawn. Moreover, their melodious singing will help you rescue your stress and anxiety, as said by the researchers.
Furthermore, they help you control various bugs, aphids, and other insects by eating them. Attracting certain species of birds can also help you to reduce the use of pesticides.
Therefore, install some bird feeder and birdbath on your lawn. You can also hang a beautiful birdhouse in the trees. In this way, you are not only making your yard a beautiful and lively place but also helping these feathery little creatures.
Step by Step Guide to Making the Perfect Garden
In order to have the perfect garden, there are a few easy steps you can take to get you started. Below is a list of 16 easy steps that will help you create the garden of your dreams.
1. Choose the Right Location for Your Garden
Choosing the right location is an important decision in planning your garden. Ideally, it should be sunny and warm most of the year, with a good amount of rain in the winter months.
If you live in a city or suburb you will have to do some research about what type of plants grow well in those areas. You may also want to consider whether you want to grow fruits and vegetables, or just flowers.
2. Decide What Type of Garden You Want
The type of garden you choose will depend on your personal preferences. Do you want a low-maintenance garden that is mostly for looks? Or are you willing to put in the work to grow a productive vegetable garden?
Once you know what type of garden you want, you can start planning what plants you will need. (Here are some of the best types of gardens you can plant at home.)
3. Choose the Right Plants for Your Garden
Not all plants are created equal. Some require more care than others, and some will do better in certain climates than others. Do some research to find out which plants will work best in your garden.
You may also want to consider whether you want annuals or perennials and whether you want native plants or exotic plants.
4. Prepare the Soil for Planting
The type of soil you have will determine how well your plants will grow. If you have sandy soil, you may need to add organic matter to help retain moisture.
If you have clay soil, you may need to add sand to improve drainage. Once you have determined what type of soil you have, you can start preparing it for planting.
5. Plant Your Garden
Now it's time to actually plant your garden. First, dig a hole for each plant. Then, place the plant in the hole and fill in the soil around it. Make sure to water your plants well after planting.
6. Fertilize Your Plants
Fertilizing your plants is important for their health and growth. There are many types of fertilizers available such as organic fertilizers and 10 10 10 fertilizers, so choose one that is best for the type of plants you are growing.
7. Mulch Your Garden
Mulching your garden helps to retain moisture and keeps weeds from growing. There are many types of mulch such as gorilla hair mulch and pine needle mulch available, so choose one that is best for your plants and your climate.
8. Installing a Watering System
A watering system is a great way to make sure your plants get the water they need. There are many types of watering systems available, so choose one that is best for your garden.
10. Protect Your Plants from Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases can damage or kill your plants. To protect them, you may need to use pesticides or fungicides. Be sure to read the labels of these products carefully and follow the instructions.
11. Weed Your Garden Regularly
Weeding your garden on a regular basis is important to keep the weeds from taking over. You can either pull them by hand or use a string trimmer. If you choose to use a string trimmer, be sure to read the safety instructions carefully to avoid injury.
12. Deadhead Your Flowers
Deadheading is the process of removing dead or dying flowers from your plants. This helps to encourage new growth and keep your plants looking their best. To show you this process, check out this video:
13. Use Proper Pruning Techniques
Pruning helps to shape your plants and keep them healthy. It is important to prune at the right time of year and to use the correct pruning techniques.
14. Harvest Your Plants
Once your plants are ready, it's time to harvest them. Depending on what you're growing, you may need to pick the fruits or vegetables or cut the flowers. Be sure to handle your plants gently to avoid damage.
15. Store or Preserve Your Harvest
If you're not going to eat your harvest right away, you'll need to store or preserve it. Fruits and vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, while flowers can be dried or pressed.
16. Enjoy Your Garden!
Now that you've put all of this work into your garden, it's time to sit back and enjoy it. Have a picnic in your backyard, invite some friends over for a barbecue, or just relax and take in the beauty of nature.
5 Ways To Reduce the Amount of Maintenance Your Garden Requires
If you want to put up a low-maintenance garden, there are a few things you can do to help make it happen. Here are five tips to get you started:
1. Plant Native Plants
Native plants such as lobelias are adapted to the climate and conditions in your area, so they require less maintenance.
2. Choose Drought-tolerant Plants
Drought-tolerant plants require less water, so you won't have to worry about them getting thirsty during a drought.
3. Consider Container Gardening
If you don't have a lot of space for a garden, you can grow plants in containers instead. This eliminates the need for weeding and tilling, and makes it easy to move your plants around if needed.
4. Use Organic Methods of Pest Control
Organic methods of pest control are safe for both you and your plants, and they are effective at controlling pests.
5. Plan Ahead and Make a Checklist
Taking the time to plan your garden before you plant it will save you a lot of work in the long run. Decide what plants you want to grow, where you want to grow them, and how you will take care of them before you start planting.
Making a checklist of the tasks you need to do each week will help you keep on track and ensure that your garden is getting the care it needs. You can use an online checklist makers to make things easy, or just make a list on a piece of paper.
Whatever methods you use, remember that a low-maintenance garden requires some work upfront but will save you time and hassle in the long run.
A well-maintained garden can be a beautiful addition to your home, but it takes a lot of work. These tips will help you reduce the amount of maintenance your garden requires and make it easier to keep your plants healthy and looking their best.
Now that you know how to make a perfect garden, get out there and start planting!
Wrapping Up Our Garden Makeover Guide
Lawn renovation will definitely demand a lot but would reward you even more. Once you're done, show us how your garden looks by sharing it to our Facebook page and let everyone see the fruit of your garden makeover.
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