The Lawhead Team would like to share the following tips to help keep your landscape looking its best while your home is on the market.

Your lawn, landscaping, and even the numbers that mark your house set the bar for what’s to come on the inside. If your yard is disheveled and neglected, buyers will walk into your home with a negative mindset, which could affect whether your home sells. Following are tips for boosting curb appeal with landscaping and a clean entry way.

Keep a Tidy Lawn Year-Round

If you are planning on selling your home in the fall or winter, don’t let cooler weather be an excuse to slack off on maintaining a tidy lawn. Set aside time each week to rake up foliage and remove dead trimmings from plants. Try to keep shrubs and trees trimmed so that everything in your landscape appears well kept and neat. This conveys to buyers that you have taken care of your home. To keep your flowerbeds tidy, Better Homes and Gardens suggests placing bark, mulch, or decorative rocks on top of soil. Mulch and rocks give a very clean and sleek look to any bed with flowers, trees, or shrubs.

Use Annuals to Add Pops of Color

Annuals are some of the most vibrant and colorful flowers available. Aside from the middle of winter, finding beautiful flowers is pretty easy any time of year. Whether its fall-colored mums or bright, summery petunias, HGTV recommends planting annuals in your most visible flower beds or in pots that sit on your porch and entry way. This is a great way to add depth and color to your home’s landscape.

Think Beyond Plants and Grass

While your lawn, shrubs, trees, and plants play a huge role in your home’s curb appeal. Your landscape is accentuated by other structures. For example, your sidewalk and porch matter, too. You can bring new life to these areas by power washing concrete and brick walkways and replacing an old welcome mat with a new one. Other ways you can quickly boost curb appeal include polishing doorknobs and locks, repainting your front door, and replacing the numbers on your house.

Source: Coldwell Banker

Take a moment this weekend to get going on these fun summer preparation activities so your summer is a breeze!

1. Add lighter and brighter accents to your home – Get rid of the winter feel in your home and add some fresh cut flowers. Brightly colored flower pots outside with bright throw pillows on your patio furniture will help create a summer feel.
2. Clean out your freezer – To make more room for popsicles and burgers for the BBQ! Throw out anything that has been in your freezer for over a year.
3. Get your summer-time party dishes out – Do you have accident-proof dishware? Make sure your blender is ready for margaritas and you’ve done your research on Pinterest for some yummy warm weather appetizers.
4. Improve your summer breeze flow – Replace your air conditioners filter. If you have ceiling fans, make sure the blades are tilted upward as they spin to push air downward, creating a stronger draft.
5. Clean your windows – Invite summer inside with sparkly clean windows, inside and out! Change out your thick, heavy drapery for sheer material that flow in the summer breeze.
6. Pay special attention to your deck – Your patio or deck will be a main hangout this summer so why not spruce it up. Clean your outdoor furniture and add candles, flowers and pillows.
7. Clean up your BBQ – Disassemble your BBQ and clean all the parts with soapy water. Make sure to disconnect the gas first!

When you plant a garden in the fall, you don’t have to only plant trees, shrubs and bulbs, but you can also plant a garden that will be full of vegetables that you can use year round.

Planting a fall and winter garden will take some time and you will also need to know what types of vegetables can survive in the climate you live in. If you live in a harsh winter climate, you may not be able to plant as many vegetables in your garden as you would if you lived in a mild weather climate. Do the research and find the vegetables and plants that will survive during the weather months and the freezing temperature.

• Most vegetables will need about 60 days to mature and grow. Plant the desired vegetables that you want 60 days before you expect the weather to freeze or create a frost. After you plant your fall vegetables and frost and freezing temperatures come early, you can purchase a greenhouse box to place over your vegetables or you can also place a tarp over them. Keep your vegetables warm enough to withstand the fall weather and the colder temperatures.

• Some of the winter vegetables that can do well are carrots and parsnips. The snow and frost that is on them will create a good source of water and will allow the vegetables to create a better taste. To receive fall vegetables plant direct seed carrots, peas, beets, spinach and lettuce in the first part of August. The cooler nights will allow the vegetables to receive a good source of water and will also help the vegetable obtain the crisp flavor that you desire.

• The soil that you plant your vegetables in is very important. Without good soil, your vegetables will not receive the nutrients and organisms that rich soil has located within it. Also plant your fall and winter vegetables where you had your spring and summer vegetables planted. The soil already has the nutrients that you have added and has a good source of earthworms that help your vegetables grow. As you rotate out the vegetables each season, the soil will become richer and will help produce stronger and better tasting vegetables. Add compost and compost tea to your soil when you plant new vegetables. The organisms that are located in the compost and compost tea will allow the vegetables to grow quicker.

Check out our helpful tips to creating the perfect backyard for you to enjoy all year long.

Perfecting Your Deck Or Porch – You want to make sure your deck has ample room.  This doesn’t mean it has to be really big by any means, just making the space user friendly is important. Arrange BBQ’s and patio furniture on your backyard patio so you can easily move around it. Instead of crowding the floor space with potted plants, try hanging these plants or placing them on the grass where they won’t be in the way but still provide color to enjoy.

Make The Outdoors Comfortable – Just because you are outside in your backyard doesn’t mean you have to suffer. It is important to have protection from the sun and other outdoor elements. You may want to enclose your porch or build a cover for your patio. A good idea is a retractable canopy or awning so your patio isn’t always covered.

Outdoor Furniture – There are so many different styles of outdoor backyard furniture to choose from you don’t have to settle for options that do the bare minimum of simply providing a place to sit. Find furniture which allows you to relax in comfort for as long as you desire.

Choose Quality – Just because a backyard idea may seem flashy and fancy at the time doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a good idea. Be careful going overboard on creating a lush and tropical backyard getaway. You want to make sure you can get a return on your investment. Choose backyard upgrades that will add lasting value to your home.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some great tips for making your backyard patio the perfect retreat this summer.

1. Add that relaxing sound of water. Enhance your relaxing moments on your backyard patio with a small fountain trickling over large stones.
2. Create a spot in the shade. Take advantage of that big shade tree in your yard. When it’s hot out during the summer or you need a break from gardening chores, you’ll have a nice quaint shady area to relax in.
3. Add a flower border to the edges of your patio. If your patio looks like it’s just been dropped in your yard, plant flowers like annuals, perennials and shrubs around the edges.
4. Add a rug or carpet to your patio. There are a lot of options when it comes to high quality and weather resistant rugs for your patio. Choose a colorful rug to spice up your backyard.
5. Add fun and charming accents to your patio. Do you have an old wagon or wheelbarrow? These can be turned into decorative holders for your container garden or you can simply plant flowers right in your accent as well. If you want to brighten up your accent piece, add a fresh coat of brightly colored paint to your wagon or wheelbarrow.
6. Build a fire pit or use a propane fire pit on your patio. You can easily make a fire pit out of flagstone slabs or small boulders. This make for a great warming outdoor space in the spring and fall.
7. Add a wandering path with fragrant flowers alongside. While you’re relaxing on your patio, you can enjoy the rich aroma of the beautiful flowers you’ve planted.
8. Use accent and mood lighting on your patio. Add ambiance to your favorite seating area with low voltage solar produced lighting. Also adding tiki torches will bring a tropical feel to your yard.
9. Add a planter box to your patio décor. Planter boxes are a great way to showcase your favorite small plants. There are always new colorful annuals coming on the market every year.

Watering your lawn and yard doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think during the hot days of summer. Check out The Lawhead Team’s tips for watering your yard during the dog day’s of summer.

During prolonged, dry conditions garden plants, trees, shrubs and lawns may suffer temporary or permanent damage. Lack of water can lead to stunted growth, increased disease/insect susceptibility and increased susceptibility to winter injury. Plants may eventually die unless supplemental water is provided.

Plants draw moisture from the soil to grow and then release water from stems and leaves via transpiration. Plants begin to wilt and suffer when the transpiration rate exceeds water uptake. Water is also lost by evaporation from the soil surface.

The general rule of thumb is that most plants in our area need 1 inch of water per week. If the weather does not cooperate, gardeners need to supplement by watering. Water plants slowly and deeply at least once each week during very hot, dry weather. This allows water to penetrate deeper which encourages deeper roots making plants more resistant to drought. Lawns and bedding plants (annuals) should be watered to at least 6 inches deep. Perennials, shrubs and trees should be watered to at least 12 inches deep. Try watering in the early morning so less water is lost to evaporation. Overhead sprinklers may lose over half the water to evaporation, so use manual watering, soaker hoses or drip irrigation when possible.

If water is restricted or in short supply you need to prioritize which plants get watered. Determine which plants are most susceptible to water stress. High on your watering list should be plants that are valuable in terms of replacement cost or prominence in the landscape. Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials; newly seeded lawns; plants on sandy soils or in windy sites and vegetables should be given high priority.

After the first month, newly planted trees need a weekly soaking of approximately 10 gallons of water. Smaller trees and shrubs may require less water, but the entire root ball should be thoroughly moistened. If dry weather continues, keep watering newly planted deciduous trees and shrubs until fall (leaf drop). Continue watering evergreens until the soil freezes.

Even established trees and shrubs will benefit from watering during periods of drought. They can go two to three weeks between watering. Established trees should not be watered at the base of the trunk but at the drip line where their absorbing roots are. Thoroughly moisten the soil to a depth of 12 inches out to and beyond the drip line if possible.

When growing vegetables, adequate water during the growing season is directly related to quality and yields. Depending on the species, vegetables have critical times when they really need water. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower need consistent moisture during their entire life span, especially during head or root development. Beans use a lot of water; up to a half inch of water per day, especially when they are blooming and setting fruit. Leaves may look grayish if water stressed. Corn needs water most during tasseling, silking and ear development. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant need water most during flowering and fruiting, however water fluctuations can cause blossom end rot (black area on fruit bottom).

Control weeds around shrubs, vegetables and flowers. Weeds will rob your garden plants of water and nutrients. However, if you hoe or cultivate your garden to control the weeds, continually disturbing the soil can make it dry out faster. Rather than rototilling you may have to cut weeds off at the soil surface or use herbicides until the dry weather subsides.

The best way to protect ornamental plants during dry periods is by using mulch. Mulching minimizes evaporation of water from the soil surface, reducing irrigation needs by about 50 percent. Use organic mulches to a depth of 1 to 3 inches. Keep mulch away from tree trunks and off the top of perennials. Vegetable gardens can also benefit from mulch.

Avoid pruning when plants are stressed and not growing as they are unable to heal wounds quickly. Pruning may stimulate growth which requires more water. Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides. Fertilizers can damage root systems under drought-like conditions and pesticides may burn plant foliage.

If water is not available, allow lawns to go dormant. Avoid light, frequent watering which encourages shallow rooting. Lawn grass will usually begin growing again once conditions improve. Do not mow grass when it is dormant and not growing. Even when growing, set the mower height at 3 inches high. High mowed grass develops deeper root systems that are better able to tolerate dry conditions. Leave grass clippings to act as mulch and recycle nutrients as well as some moisture.

If you do lose some plants this summer consider replacing them with those that are drought tolerant. Using the right plant in the right place will increase your chances for success. Whenever possible, add organic matter to your soil. This will improve the water-holding capacity during dry weather and promote good drainage during wet weather.

During a severe drought, all landscape watering may be prohibited in your town so follow any restrictions. Proper lawn management and use of drought tolerant plants may help your landscape survive dry conditions.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some helpful planting tips for those who don’t have a green thumb. Greenery and color always adds life to your home. Keep your plants alive with these tips:

• Choose plants that will do well for you. Evaluate your yard’s growing conditions and choose plant varieties that will thrive there. Daylilies are perfect for planting in hot sunny spots.
• Spread mulch over your garden to stop weeds from growing and help your soil hold moisture when the weather is hot and dry.
• Put in a soaker hose. Water slowly seeps out through the hose when you turn it on. Place it under your mulch so you don’t see it.
• Use a drip irrigation system when planting in your garden containers. It doesn’t take long to install and once it is set up it will do the watering for you for the rest of the season.
• Don’t let weeds get out of control and pull them when they’re young. Pull your crabgrass before it matures to keep it from reproducing.
• Clip off the dead heads of flowers you have been planting to encourage more room for new flowers to bloom.
• Use a raised bed to garden if you have sticky clay, loose sand or rocky soil. Fill your bed with high-quality topsoil and compost and you have perfect soil. Plus, raised beds drain better than regular garden soil.
• Remember to keep your garden simple. It is easy to go overboard planting in springtime and buy more plants than you can take care of. Start simple and add as you go.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some helpful all natural spring gardening tips to help your garden look its best this spring!

These tips are perfect for flower beds and vegetable patches alike. It doesn’t take fancy tools, expensive products or even special skills to get your plants to thrive – just a few helpful tips you might not have thought of on your own:

Keep your shorter plants on the south side of your vegetable garden and tall plants toward the north. This will prevent taller plants from casting unwanted shadows over smaller crops, shading them from the sun.

The water you use to cook pasta or boil vegetables is full of left over vitamins and nutrients. Instead of throwing it away, let it cool to room temperature and then use it to water you plants. You’ll be left with a happier, greener garden.

Plant cucumbers near your sunflowers. It may seem like an odd pairing, but sunflowers make great growing companions when it comes to planting sweeter cucumbers. Not only do both plants require similar soil conditions, the tall stalks of the sunflowers give cucumber plants something supportive to climb.

Add egg shells to your soil. Rich in calcium carbonate, dried egg shells work as a great natural fertilizer. Try crushing them up in a blender before throwing them in your garden to enrich the soil.

Chamomile tea is great for keeping your plants healthy. Use it when watering to ward off bacterial and fungal infections and to prevent young seedlings from damping off. Just make sure the tea is completely cooled off first before you use it.

To make your garden look more balanced and pleasing to the eye, be sure to plant in odd numbers. This composition looks more natural than even numbered groupings and gives off the illusion that plants are bigger and healthier.

Plant by the moonlight on a full moon. Experts say that planting by the light of the moon can actually cause your garden to grow faster and stronger than they do if you plant by day. Moonlight gardening also minimizes water waste.

Spring and summer are upon us and it is time to get your home ready for warmer weather and lounging around outside.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some helpful tips to getting your home summer ready:

Rejuvenate your outdoor space. Make sure all barbeque related equipment is in working order. In order to do that, make sure your propane tank is full or you have enough charcoal and lighter fluid, and clean your barbeque. Clean up your outdoor entertaining area – make sure to scrub your deck thoroughly, wash outdoor furniture and pillows along with umbrellas. Though these usually get ignored, the outdoor light fixtures are a good idea to clean before summer is here.

Change your air filter for your air conditioner. On days you cannot manage without the AC, it is important to make sure you are getting the proper clean air flow from your filter. If you can handle life without the AC, open the windows and let air flow through the house. Did you know you can add plants to your home to help purify the air? Snake plants, spider plant, English ivy and small leafed rubber plants work great indoors to help improve air quality.

Replace winter items for cooler, lighter summery items. Your flannel sheets can be taken off and replaced with warm weather summer linens. Take some time to go through your winter wardrobe and donate anything you didn’t wear this winter.

Keep energy costs down. Save energy by blocking out sunlight with curtains or blinds. This will reduce the amount of heat entering your home. Make sure your hoses are not leaking…water is expensive! Since it is warm out, you can dry your clothes outside during the summer. This makes them smell lovely and saves on costs for using your dryer.

Do you have any summer time suggestions?  Please share with us on our blog!

The Lawhead Team knows we all take pride in how our home looks and with warmer weather ahead of us, that means more time spent outside. We would like to share some helpful early spring gardening tips with our readers.

Fruit Trees – Most fruit trees, including apples, pears, cherries, and peaches, benefit from being thinned every year. This encourages a more open habit that keeps the trees healthy and makes it easier to harvest the produce. The best time to prune is before new growth develops in early spring.

Rose Bushes – Prune your roses just as or before new growth emerges from the canes. Cutting your roses back encourages strong, healthy shoots that will produce lots of blooms. A trim also gives the plants a more open habit, which helps them resist diseases such as black spot.

Planting Trees and Shrubs – Spring’s cool, moist conditions make it the perfect time to add trees and shrubs to your yard for some spring gardening. There are many reasons to grow trees and shrubs: They add value and beauty to your property; they can shade your home, reducing your summer energy bills; and if you select fruit-bearing varieties such as apples or blueberries, they supply food for your family. The most common mistake when planting trees and shrubs during spring gardening is planting them too deeply. The root flare, where the roots meet the trunk, should be at or just above the soil level.

Annuals – Annual flowers fall into two categories: varieties that like it warm and varieties that like it cool. Most cool-season annuals you plant during spring gardening fade when summer heat arrives; replace them with heat-loving varieties, such as petunia, pentas, nasturtium, and lantana, for color all summer long.

Ornamental Grasses – Cut back ornamental grasses to about 4 inches tall before or just as they put out new growth when spring gardening. This is also the time to divide ornamental grasses, if you wish to do so.

Planting Seeds – Growing plants from seed is a great way to save money. You can gain a few extra weeks if you start them early indoors, or keep it simple by sprinkling seeds in moist, loosened soil outdoors. If you don’t use all the seeds you purchase for spring gardening, you can store most varieties in your freezer for planting next spring. A cool, dry place keeps them viable longer.

Vegetables – While tomatoes, peppers, and squash love hot summer weather, you can plant carrots, radishes, spinach, and other cool-season varieties while there’s still a bit of frost in the air. They’ll withstand light freezes easily making them perfect for spring gardening.

Weeding – Weeding is usually voted gardening’s most arduous task, and as such, it’s often put off. But pull, hoe, or otherwise remove weeds while they’re little, and you’ll make the job considerably easier. Small root systems are less work to pull, and if you get them before they go to seed, you’ll have fewer weeds in the future.

Mulch – When the soil has warmed up and dried out in spring, spread a 2-inch-deep layer of mulch (such as shredded wood, pine needles, or compost) over the soil surface to discourage weeds in your planting beds and hold moisture once hot summer days arrive.

Do you have some early spring gardening tips? Share them with us on our blog!