Benefits of Maintaining Your Yard
Designed and photographed by Margaret Joplin
Weather, weeds, and wear and tear all take their toll on both plants and landscape structures. Even the most self-sufficient plants need occasional cleanup.
By properly maintaining your yard you will reap the benefits of:
| • | Keeping your plants their most water efficient and saving money on your water bills. |
| • | Adding thousands of dollars to the value of your home. As the landscape matures, so does your investment. |
| • | Enjoying a beautiful landscape. |
It is relatively easy to properly maintain a low-water-use landscape. Twice a year, dead or unhealthy growth should be removed through selective pruning. Dead-heading or clipping off spent flowers will encourage extended blooms. If weeds are an issue, twice a year pre-emergent herbicides should be used. However, if you are hard-pressed for time, consider hiring a licensed landscape professional to maintain your yard.
A truly effective maintenance routine is one that is year round, where the various tasks are spread out over the months. This way, the tasks are smaller and it is much more manageable than waiting to do them only once a year. Read our seasonal maintenance guides for more detailed information on what to do throughout the year.