Tips to Keep your yard green

See also: Tips to Keep your yard green, Mulching Tips,Pressure Wash Cleaning Tips, Pruning Roses,Painting your Deck

Note: When you add a new tip, please make sure that they go to correct section by looking at existing sections.

Weeding and Insect Control

Pull weeds when you see first see them growing so that they don’t overtake your garden.
Also, beware of insects such as aphids or white flies that become rampant as our plants grow larger and have less circulation between them.
Remember to spray both upper and lower leaves with neem or pyola oil on a seven to 10 day cycle to keep these critters from destroying your plants.
Also, order some beneficial insects such as ladybugs to help keep these insects under control. Inspect plants for insects and diseases and treat accordingly.

Remove any deadheads from flowers in order to encourage new growth.
Prune back your rose bushes after the first bloom.
You can either dead head the spent blooms or do a major cutting back to keep them tame and under control. I tend to do the latter.
Cut back all weak and dead wood as well. Lastly, clean up all spent leaves -- especially if they suffered from black spot. *Plus, if black spot is a problem, use this homemade formula: Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and a 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent in one gallon of water.

Set your lawn mower blade to 3 inches and leave the grass clippings on the lawn.
If you trim your lawn too short, it will turn brown. As well, the grass clippings will provide your lawn with natural fertilizer.

Be sure to change watering frequency with the seasons. Far less is needed during rains, but in dry areas, much more water will need to be used.
Run the sprinklers in the early morning to allow maximum plant growth without encouraging fungus.
You can use perforated septic system piping to route your rain gutter runoff underground in order to help keep your grass green without using city water.

Weed sprays can kill many unwanted plants. Most must be used in a specific range of temperatures, and there may be limits regarding rain or sprinklers.
Pulling weeds out by the roots is the most effective way to weed. You can use a spade to get them out if they are too large.

Flooding tunnels rarely works.
Smoke bombs are most effective in clay soils.
If using traps or poisons, use gloves, and clean all tools before use to conceal your odor.
Traps are easiest to set in sandy soils.
Alternating different poisons, with different active ingredients seems to make these more effective. Be sure to dig down to the main runs, and do not cover the poison with dirt when filling the hole back in.
Sonic deterrents may work against some pets, but have limited ranges, and need a power source.
If possible, killing the pests personally is the most certain method of eradication.