Yard Improvement

If you're dissatisfied with the look of the plants in your yard, take a good look at it to identify the one thing that bothers you most. Maybe it's a spot where nothing is blooming, or an overgrown shrub or a scraggly tree. Once you've identified the problem area, how to improve it will become obvious.

With woody perennials like shrubs, bushes and trees, judicious pruning can do wonders. First remove any dead or diseased branches. Get rid of any suckers or stubs. Where tree branches are rubbing against one another, take the weaker one off. This kind of light pruning can be done anytime. For heavy pruning of flowering shrubs and bushes, timing is important. Prune summer-flowering plants in late winter, before the buds begin to swell. Spring-blooming plants should be pruned after flowering. Pruning flowering woody perennials at the proper time can give them a more attractive shape, and encourages strong flowering the following season.

For dull spaces, remove any weeds or weak plants to improve air flow in the bed, and to give the stronger plants more elbow room. This would be the time to consider adding a new type of plant that blooms at a different time from the ones that are already there. Top dress the bed with compost to give it a nutritional boost.

One simple step you can take to improve the overall appearance of your yard is to add an organic mulch. Many bark mulches come in uniform dark brown shades that contrast well with the green of foliage. Aside from being attractive, organic mulches shade the soil and keep it cool, reducing the need for watering. Mulches also prevent many weed seeds from germinating, reducing the need for weeding or the use of herbicides.