If home is where the heart is, the garden is where the soul is. There’s something uniquely serene, even spiritual about spending quality time in the garden free of distractions simply enjoying the subtle perfumes and songs of nature. That’s not to say that the garden is a solitary place, of course, far from it! The garden is a place where, especially in the coming months, many of us will be doing a lot of entertaining. Whether you’re firing up the barbie or simply inviting some friends around to sip cocktails in the spring sun, your garden will likely be an important part of your social life. Thus, if you look out of your window and feel like your garden isn’t all that it should be despite your best efforts, now’s the time to address the causes. Here are a few reasons why your garden may not be living up to its true potential…
Your lawn is lacklustre
The lawn is what ties your garden’s aesthetic together and if this fundamental part of your garden isn’t on point, the whole aesthetic is cheapened. While you may think that all it takes for a perfectly pristine lawn is regular mowing, it’s actually a little more complicated than that. This is why it’s always best to enlist the aid of a service like Garden-R if you’re at all in doubt. Cutting your lawn too early, for example, can damage your lawn as it results in smaller, weaker roots which are unable to get the nutrients they need. Shorter blades are also under greater threat of sun damage. Likewise, mowing when the grass is too wet can transport diseases between blades of grass.
Your plants aren’t friends
Have you fallen in love with two plant species that look just perfect together? Make sure that you do your homework before planting them in the same patch of soil. While they may look great together initially, there may be conflict between the two going on beneath the soil. Different plants have different nutritional needs and may compete with surrounding plants for nutrients if those needs are not met. For this reason, it behoves you to read up on companion planting and research plant pairings before committing them to the soil.
Your soil is compacted
Have you noticed patches of bare earth or discoloured grass on your lawn? Does it seem as though in some areas you have more moss than grass? This is likely because your soil has been compacted. When this happens, earthworms are unable to work their magic in your soil. As such, your plants may be unable to get the oxygen, nutrients and water that they need to thrive. Don’t worry, however, this is fairly easy to remedy, it’s just a case of aerating the soil. This is essentially puncturing the soil with small holes to facilitate the flow of water and oxygen through it to better nourish your plants.
Before you consider installing luxury items like a fire pit or planting spectacular, eye catching blooms, address these fundamentals to ensure that your garden lives up to its full potential.
