Keeping Soil In Place on a Sloping Lawn

Sloping lawns can present a challenge for landscaping, mowing, and keeping soil healthy and in place. Soil and water runoff from bordering slopes in a lawn can be starting points for mudslides and messy flooding. There definitely exists a need for growth on a slope, if only to prevent erosion, but what are the best choices, and how should the decision be made of what to plant?

A question to ask is how much sunshine the area will be receiving on a daily basis. Often times, homeowners plant according to their taste without keeping in mind what is practical growth provided given conditions. Depending on its daily allowance of sun, your embankment could benefit greatly from plantings of native wild grasses. Because these grasses are indigenous to your area, they will undoubtedly grow and thrive once they have gotten an adequate chance to take root. To give your sloped plantings the best chance possible to flourish, avoid planting them into the bare soil alone. If grass already exists on your slope, it can helpful to kill it, and plant your wild grasses and native plants into it. This gives the root systems an excellent chance to develop while making sure to avoid erosion during the formative stages of your new plantings’ development. Low growing groundcover such as juniper and thyme do extremely well in sun-drenched areas while providing excellent stability for sloping soil. A plant such as periwinkle flourishes in both full sun and full shade, so it is an excellent choice for planting; be careful, however, because flourishing periwinkle spreads in no time and can crowd your other plantings! Sufficient water is necessary to get this new growth off and running, so be sure you have adequate length of garden hose to extend from your hose reel in order to reach this slope; your daily diligent watering sessions will help ensure those burgeoning root systems take hold and prosper.

If finances allow, a terraced effect helps broaden your choices as far as what groundcover you choose to use. Some of the more attractive (relatively speaking, of course) plants and grasses need more gently sloping or flatter areas to really prosper. Terracing your sloped lawn can be quite expensive, so it is not always an option for all homeowners, but its advantages are great including the ability to better use your sloped lawn for entertaining and general enjoyment.

By weighing your options and making informed choices, you can ensure your lawn remains its most beautiful while maintaining excellent soil that eludes erosion, retains rich nutrients, and provides a perfect spot for growing your favorite grasses and plants.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com

How Much Water Does Your Garden Need?

There is nothing better than eating fresh produce grown in your very own backyard garden. Whether you have an acre or 20 square feet to work with, growing and tending to your own special patch of land can be immeasurably therapeutic and relaxing while filling you with as much enjoyment as your delicious crop fills your stomach. Inexperienced gardeners are “green” when it comes to the ins and outs of gardening, and for many, even watering their crop raises many questions that need be answered. This article will explain simple steps to follow in order to make sure your garden gets all the valuable H2O it needs, without flooding or saturating it with excessive amounts.

It can be easy to overwater and flood your garden, but by following a few simple steps and making necessary observations, you will easily find out exactly how quickly your soil absorbs the water applied to it and never over water wastefully again. To begin the process, go to your garage or tool shed, and grab a shovel, hoe, or post-hole digger. Now, dig a hole near your garden that ends up being about six inches wide and one foot deep. Go to your hose reel and unroll the appropriate length of hose to get you to that hole (naturally). Turn on the water to a gentle flow, allowing the hole to retain its shape while you fill it with water. Let the water drain out and absorb into the soil underneath and surrounding it. Fill the hole again with water, after it has drained completely. The water will not drain as quickly as before. It is now necessary to record how long it takes for the hole to completely drain of its contents that second time. If the water drains and is absorbed completely into the soil in under three hours, your soil lacks the necessary fortitude to hold water, consisting mostly of sandy soil, and will require you most likely to increase the amount of water you’ve been applying in order to ensure your plants and vegetables receive the hydration they need to grow. On the other end of the spectrum, it may take over eight hours for your hole to completely drain. In that case, your soil consists of too much hard clay in the soil and you will need to decrease the frequency of watering in order to allow it to be absorbed and avoid flooding. If your lucky enough, and the hole drains in four to six hours, your watering schedule is probably adequate and should remain the same.

Now that you know how often to water your garden according to the soil’s absorption time, start watering and soon you will reap the rewards of your hard work!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com

The Right Amount of Water Keeps Your Lawn Looking Its Best

You know the guy. He might be your next-door neighbor. He might live just down the street. Everyone knows him by the piece of grass he tends that puts even the greens at Pebble Beach to shame. What is his secret? How is his grass so green and lush, so full of life and vitality? Your lawn is veritable desert wasteland, yellow and brown in areas and greenest where the neighborhood dogs do their business. What does he know that you don’t?

The first thing you need to address is exactly how often should your lawn be watered. There is nothing worse than an oversaturated lawn; a muddy mess is not hospitable for lounging, tossing the Frisbee, or playing with your kids. It essential to let your lawn absorb the water it is given. Watering treatments need to be spaced out accordingly in order to optimize the resiliency of your lawn to drought as air is allowed to enter and help stimulate deep root formation. How much water is necessary to fully hydrate your lawn depends on the type of soil that is present. With sandy, more porous soil, runoff can be prevalent, so monitor the water intake closely. Watering sessions needed to be closer spaced as much is lost to runoff before it can be absorbed. Dense soil with a heavy clay content takes much longer to absorb the water applied, so make sure and take note of how long it takes to absorb the given amount of water as to avoid flooding. Clay-heavy soil can be watered less frequently and can withstand heavier watering sessions due to its thick makeup. A good way to measure how much water to put on your lawn at each given treatment is to place a small container (a used margarine tub will do nicely) with a depth line drawn showing a third to a half inch in depth in the middle of the area you are going to water. Gather your hose from your hose reel and spray, using a nozzle, covering the area until that depth is filled in the container. This is the amount you should water each given area of your lawn on a given basis, and observe how long it takes for this amount to be absorbed. Watering your lawn at optimum, cooler times of the day, can ensure that water is not lost to the sun’s rays and evaporated. Water at the same time daily, as routine is helpful for your lawn’s prosperity as well.

The truth is, a buoyant, lush, green lawn takes a lot of work and tending. The end result, however, can be worth it if you enjoy the positive effects a well-tended lawn provides. It doesn’t hurt be the envy of your neighbors for a change, either.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com