For many people, landscaping serves to boost up the aesthetic appeal of one’s home to others, particularly when it comes to attracting homeowners or tenants, increasing property values.

Some prefer a simple lawn, requiring little to no care beyond a sprinkler treatment here and there. However, for those who enjoy gardening, pruning, mowing and sprucing their lawn, we hope the following information can be of service!

When asked what Top 5 Tips he would suggest to a client about landscape and lawn care, Frank Myrland of The Grounds Guys Canada, offered up these suggestions:

1) Herbicide can be dangerous to the environment and your soil. Horticultural Vinegar, an organic alternative, is quite different from the regular vinegar that you’ll find in the kitchen.

Cooking vinegar contains no more than 5% acetic acid, which makes it harmless to weeds for the most part. Horticultural Vinegar contains more acetic acid, which allows it to penetrate into the root system of weeds and kill them.

Horticultural Vinegar can still damage grasses and flowers, however, so it must be used cautiously so that there isn’t any collateral damage. Take care to spray with direction, and pay close attention to a potential runoff into other plants. You can find Horticultural Vinegars available with different strengths.

Remember that since it contains acid, it can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. If you decide to use Horticultural Vinegar, make sure you read the label first.

2) Do you have grand visions of what your yard could be this summer? Do you dream of vibrant gardens with neatly edged garden beds, perfectly pruned hedges? Where do you start?

When we start gardening or landscaping, many of us forget the importance of planning ahead. Buying flowers and equipment without taking to time to figure things out first certainly could work out, but who really wants to take that chance?

Make good use of the information available. Internet resources or employees of local garden centers can help you figure out how to fill out your garden. You can talk to landscaping service companies as well if you are looking for the best possible end result.

Take note of the space you have to work with. Plan out where your new landscape features or objects will go. Set a deadline for finishing planting so you don’t keep putting it off. Set a schedule for watering, raking, edging or maintaining your gardens. Remember that spending half-an-hour to construct a good plan now can save you hours of work trying to salvage your garden later on.

3) Any time is a good time to sharpen your lawn mower blades. This is a job that some of us find easy to put off, but the effect of dull blades can quickly be seen on a lawn. A ragged, uneven cut isn’t the first thing you want visitors to be greeted with at your house.

There are many different gardening centers and hardware stores that will sharpen your lawn mower blades. Take the time to get it done and you will be glad you did later!

4) Plants grow and die, depending on the season they are most compatible with, as well as their life span. Be sure that when you plan your garden, each flower, bush or tree works best with the upcoming season.

For less maintenance, go for a perennial plant. Typically, these grow and bloom over the spring and summer, then die back each autumn and winter. They also live typically for more than two years, which makes less of a hassle to replant so often.

5) Have you ever considered a backyard pond? Building your own pond, or having a landscape crew build one for you, is something you may never have considered before. There are many reasons why you might want to take the time to think about it now.

With a vibrant looking design and well-manicured surrounding landscape, a backyard pond adds a touch of beauty. A pond will attract birds, butterflies and crickets and can be filled with fish. It obviously depends on size, but most ponds don’t take very long to make at all. You can do it yourself if you fancy yourself to be a clever landscaper. Simply use a tarp to line the pond and a hose and pump to supply the water.

You can also hire a landscaping company to do it for you, to ensure that the job is done professionally and exactly how you want it. If you haven’t spent any time thinking about what a backyard pond would add to your property, now is the time.

Aside from all of these fun tips, The Grounds Guys want you to contact them now. Let them put their knowledge and experience to work for you. They offer weekly services for those who find it hard to spare time to their lawn, including:

Mowing

Line trimming of beds, fence lines, foundations and trees

Knife edging all concrete and paver edges (monthly or as needed)

Blowing clippings and leaves from all walks, drives, patios and decks

Garden care

Landscape enhancements

On top of that, they also offer comprehensive landscape management services for multi-residential yard care.

About The Grounds Guys

The Grounds Guys are the newest service franchise opportunity in the landscaping and lawn care industry. It’s a new name, but comes with more than 20 years of landscape management experience. Patterned upon the success of its Canadian counterpart, Sunshine Grounds Care, The Grounds Guys franchisees are bringing the proven systems of success and excellence to the U.S. market, providing quality commercial and estate residential landscape management services. The Grounds Guys is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group.

If you are interested in becoming a Grounds Guys franchisee, please visit: www.GroundsGuysFranchise.com