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Green Acres Landscaping Resource Center

How to Keep Your Yard Healthy and Happy All Summer

Whether you live in Alexandria, Ashburn, Chantilly or Reston, Virginia — or some place in-between — you'll want to consider these tips to keep your Northern Virginia yard healthy this summer. (You could also save on your water bill as well!)

• Take a day off — One way to keep your water bill down during peak temperatures is to cut one watering day per week out of your daily sprinkler schedule. Taking just one day off can reduce your water use by as much as 10 to 15 percent.
• Time of day — Water in early-morning hours before sunrise to lessen water lost to evaporation and any daytime winds.
• Plant selection — Choose plants that are native to the Northern Virginia area and require less water and time. The experts at Green Acres Landscaping can help you determine what will work best in your yard.
• Monitor your landscape — Make adjustments to watering times as needed. Shaded or protected areas may need less water than other zones. You may even be able to water less frequently than seven days a week.
• Drip Irrigation — Watering via drip irrigation three days a week during warmer months can be better for plants than daily watering. The length of watering time for plants on drip systems varies depending on the type of emitter, plant types and soil conditions.
• Mow for best results — Each time you mow the lawn, change directions. Set your mower to the proper height to promote a healthy lawn and to reduce water use.
• Brown spots on the lawn — Hand water brown spots and check your irrigation system. Lawns usually develop brown spots because of faults in the sprinkler system, such as mixed types of sprinkler heads, blocked spray patterns and improper spacing between sprinklers.
• Combat compacted soils — Compacted soils also can stress your lawn. Sometimes simply aerating a stressed area and giving it a good soaking solves the problem. Purchase a hand-operated coring aerator at a nursery, or hire a professional to do the job. Aeration should be done at least twice a year.
• Leaf scorching and burning — Leaves usually are stressed for one of two reasons: improper watering or improper fertilization. Since both over watering and under watering can damage plant leaves, the best solution is to water deeply and infrequently. This allows oxygen in the soil, washes salts away and encourages deep rooting.
• Bug damage — For a nonpesticide alternative to getting rid of aphids and other pests, spray plants with a strong blast of water from your hose. You'll knock bugs off and damage or drown many of them. Or, buy beneficial "predator" bugs like ladybugs and set them loose to attack aphids and let nature run its course.

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Green Acres Landscaping is a full service landscape design company, serving both residential and commercial clients in the Northern Virginia area since 1992. Our experienced team is ready to help you with any landscaping project, large or small.

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