Laying sod is a great way to maintain a green and healthy lawn:

For an instant green lawn, a great alternative to seeding your lawn is laying sod. Sod is a living grass that has been grown on farms. Sod farmers sow different types of grasses or combinations of grasses in large fields to create hardy, weed-free lawns. They then harvest the sod by slicing an inch or so into the soil underneath the blanket of grass to separate the grass roots and soil from the soil underneath it. The grass plants, roots, and soil are all in one sheet that is sliced into long strips and rolled up. The carpet of soil and dense grass can be then rolled out to create an instant, permanent lawn. The sod must be carefully cut and fitted together to ensure an even carpet, but once laid, sod needs only thorough watering to encourage growth. Once the roots grow down into the existing soil, the lawn is established.

Installing sod has many advantages over growing grass from seed. Because it contains a layer of topsoil, sod can help prevent erosion. Though usually more expensive than grass seed, sod installation is an easy and quick process that instantly adds beauty and value to a property. Sod is an excellent choice for someone just buying a home or trying to beautify a home for a quick sale, as creates an instant lush, green lawn. Sod is also superior to grass seeding because it can be laid any time of year. Sod grass can establish itself in the soil year round if the ground is not frozen, whereas grass seeds grow best in spring. Sod grass is also healthier than seed grass because it was professionally grown using the ideal soil and conditions for the grass. Sod also makes for a denser lawn, creating an even carpet of grass. Even with the best seed spreaders, a lawn grown from seed can have patches or spots. With sod, grass plants are sown close together to ensure an even carpet of green.

Healthy sod is available from garden centers, nurseries, or directly from sod farmers. Some sod farmers will even deliver to your property. Make sure to pick a sod that has a grass or combinations of grasses that are suitable for your local climate. In hot weather areas like Orlando sod should be of native grasses. Make sure to ask which grass is in your sod. As well as climate, the health of your sod is vital to a beautiful lawn. There are several signs of healthy sod. First, look for dense grass that is longer than two inches. The sod grass should be a uniform green, and the soil around the grass roots should be moist. You should be able to see a tightly knit matrix of roots in the soil, which shouldn’t be thicker than one inch.

By following these guidelines, you can instantly beautify your property using sod installation on your lawn. Sod creates a permanent lawn that is lush, green, even, and weed free, without the hassle of seeding and waiting.

Strong winds can snap branches and even push over entire trees.  Snow and ice can weigh down branches causing extensive damage.  Though it may not look like much, ice can actually add thousands of extra pounds to tree branches and can even bend a tree entirely along the trunk.
There are many ways that storms can damage, and in some instances even kill, trees.  Though some damage can be utterly fatal, many damaged trees are able to survive storm damage and go on to live out the normal durations of their lives.  There are several distinct classifications of storm damage to trees.  Each type of damage has its own inherent long-term ramifications for the tree, and a concerned owner would do well to acquaint himself with each.

Trunk Damage

The most severe type of damage that can occur to a tree is injury to the trunk.  The older and larger the tree is, the more susceptible it becomes to trunk injury, such as splitting and breaking along the central trunk.  When splits and breaks occur along the main stem, the strength of the rest of the stem is diminished.  If bark has become separated from the trunk then there is a high risk of wood rot.  This is especially true if the bark damage is in excess of 50 square inches in area.
Decay is almost inevitable in instances where secondary stems are split from the central trunk.  As the rot advances, the stem strength will be further compromised.  Ultimately the hazard of damage to persons or property from collapse will make the tree a dangerous liability.

Bending

Bending is most common in saplings and smaller, young trees.  Bend damage can vary substantially.  The degree to which a tree can recover from bending depends on how much the trunk was bent and for how long.  Bend damage can cause the central trunk to “set” at an odd angle, resulting in bends and bows.  Saplings that have been bent can often be trained back into straightness with slow coaxing using stints and guide cables.

Breakage

Branch breakage is an extremely common type of tree damage.  Fortunately, it is seldom very detrimental to the tree (though the same cannot always be said for roofs, vehicles and other property that are under the tree when the break occurs).  Branch breakage is only ever fatal if it occurs over 75% of the crown of the tree or foliated area.  Over time some decay may set in at the points of breakage, but this is generally not a threat to the strength of the main or secondary stems and poses little threat to the tree itself.  The development of decay can be offset by trimming the damaged branch below the point of the break.

Weed Problems

Dealing with weeds is an issue that will confront every landscaper at some point.  Of course, if you have a lot of time, you can set about the task of manually pulling weeds, or using a spray pack to kill localized sections infested with weeds.  Mulch is also a extremely practical way of curbing weeds.  When used in conjunctions with landscaping fabrics, weeds can be easily beaten back to allow areas to be cultivated by desirable plants instead.

Pest Problems

Not all of the unwelcome residents of a landscape are of the floral variety.  Pest problems are a very real concern for landscapers.  Once a pest population takes hold it can be hard to get rid of.  Commercially manufactured poisons are the most commonly used means of pest control.  A backpack sprayer and some pesticide can be the simplest solution to pest problems.  Of course, not everyone wants to use dangerous chemicals where they relax and where their children play.  For those hoping to avoid the use of toxic chemicals, there are also number of organic and natural methods of pest control such as using pest resistant plants or neem oil.

Privacy Problems

Good fences really do make good neighbors.  However, privacy fences need not be constructed of wood or stone.  For privacy with a more natural feel, try privacy hedges or a screening trees that grow low and have a wide spread.  Natural privacy screening may take a bit longer to cultivate than it would take to put up a 6 foot wooden privacy fence, but they afford a much more organic look and feel.

Scheduling Problems

Many people set about their landscaping projects with the best intentions.  However, a hectic schedule can soon leave an individual scrambling to find ways to keep up with their investment.  Without enough time to care for and maintain the landscape, the money invested into it is wasted.  Those who want to reap the benefits of landscaping without having to invest the time and energy into upkeep would do well to explore other options, such as hardscaping.

Hardscapes don’t need water, don’t have light restrictions and never need trimming.  Granted, most hardscape features require significantly more time and money to install, but once they are installed they require no investment of time into maintenance.   Hardscapes are simply any non-living aspects of the property.  Hardscaping encompasses everything from gazebos to decks to masonry and fountains.  These aspects all add value and beauty to the home without the need for constant care.  This makes hardscaping ideal for the busy homeowner who wants to improve the value and atmosphere of his property but is has other constraints on his time.

Erosion Problems

Soil erosion can be a significant problem on sloping land.  The most practical means of curbing erosion is through terracing and building retaining walls.  Retaining walls can be constructed from rockwork or by using railroad ties partially buried and spiked into the ground.

Drainage Problems

Drainage Problems are also a common source of distress for homeowners.  Water can easily pool in low lying or flat areas.  This is especially common in areas with very hydric soil (earth that retains water rather than allowing it to drain).  If the areas of pooling are well away from any structures or other objects that might be subject to water damage, you might consider simply using wetland plants in those areas.  If the location of the standing water is, itself, a problem, then a better option is to dig a swale (a shallow trough) to establish a channel for the water to drain into a more desirable location or even out into the street.

Drought Problems

On the other end of the scale are areas that get little rainfall, or that have soil that doesn’t hold water well.  In these areas, xeriphytic plants are usually the way to go.  Xeriphytes are plants that need very little water and do well in dry areas.  If there are only a few areas of the property that consistently dry out, rock gardening can be a viable solution, as well.  Rock gardens can be designed to look either natural or artistic and can be used in conjunction with xeriphytic plants.

Rocky Terrain Problems

Rocky terrain provides many of the same issues as dry areas, with the added obstacle of being unable to dig into the earth for easy planting.  Rock gardening works well and looks natural in such settings.  Soil can be imported into sections of the rock garden to add xeriphytic plants to add color and life to the rock garden.

Shade Problems

Highly wooded areas and areas blocked from the sun by structures can receive too little sunlight to support the majority of plants.  However, there are a number of plants that thrive in shade.  These should be used in any areas that present the problem of too much shade.  Such areas can also be utilized and augmented with hardscaping.  While you may have difficulty getting your plants to grow in the shade, a nice shady spot makes the ideal setting for benches, gazebos and other features.  A little creativity can go a long way in addressing shade problems.

Flood Plains

There are several glaring red flags with indicate drainage issues on a property, if you know what to look for.  Before you get started, if you don’t already know, take a look at your plat or survey and determine if there are nearby flood plains.  If part of your property lies in a flood plain, then you are going to have some drainage problems due to the hydric soil (soil that easily holds high volumes of water).  If your actual home lies within the flood plain, on the other hand, you might be better served abandoning your landscaping plans and turning your attention to selling the home and relocating.

Drainage Easements

Next, find the drainage easements that are marked on your map (usually labeled with a DE).  These most often lie along the property lines.  Drainage easements mark the areas that are subject to heavy water flow during rainstorms.  These easements generally experience a high degree of erosion, due to water flow.  It is important to not construct any fences or structures, such as shed and other outbuildings, along drainage easements.

Creeks, Rivers and Other Bodies of Water

Thirdly, determine the location of any nearby bodies of water such as creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes.  When you are first checking out a property, you may view a creek running through it as an attractive selling point.  However, when the rains come that creek becomes more of a landscape liability than a boon.  Creeks create higher risk of flooding, contribute to unstable soils and are subject to bank erosion.  Also, any development upstream will serve to increase the water flow of the creek.
If the creek has vegetation along its banks, leave it, as this provides a crucial buffer between the delicate creek bank and the rest of the landscape.  If there is not plentiful vegetation along the creek, consider installing some your first order of business.  Vegetation along creek banks limit bank erosion and helps maintain water quality.

Slope

Also take a look at the elevation and slope of your property.  You want to be able to get a clear idea of not only where water will be coming from, but where it will go.  If you have any doubts, wait for the next rain and step outside.  Take note of the path of water through the property so that you can address the notable drainage issues later.

They type of gardener can easily be ascertained by taking a look at the landscaping on their property.  If you are looking into purchasing a home, it would be wise to take note of which classification your new neighbors might fall into.  A quick glance through any neighborhood can quickly illuminate they various types of landscaping personalities present.

The Weekender

The weekend gardener is, by far, the most prevalent landscaping personality.  These individuals care for their landscaping and appreciate the value that it adds to their property.  This group is comprised of average work-a-day individuals who don’t have time to garden during their 9 to 5 work days and, so, tend to their landscapes on the weekend.  Their hedges may get a bit unruly, due to time constraints, but their lawns are usually well kept.  The weekender usually keeps a modest landscape that can be managed on a limited schedule.

The Busy Businessman

Like the weekender, the busy businessman keeps a modest landscape with every intention of keeping up with it on the weekends.  However, unlike the weekender, the weekend never comes for the busy businessman.  Their bushes get overgrown and their lawn get overrun with weeds.  Time and trimming wait for no man.

The Unstudious Student

The student type is easy to spot.  They have little care for their lawns (and are probably only renting, anyway).  The only parts of their landscape that aren’t overgrown are the parts that are withered and dead.

Injudicious John

On the other end of the spectrum is Injudicious John.  This is the landscaper that doesn’t know when to quit.  What started off as a pleasing design quickly got out of hand and became a monstrosity.  Their landscapes are more likely to generate a migraine than curb appeal.

The Old Man and the Seed

These retirees immerse themselves in their landscapes.  Their lawns and gardens keep the active and provide the sense of accomplishment they once derived from their jobs.  Every flowerbed is weeded and well kept, their lawns are generally manicured to perfection and there are usually a few tasteful flowering trees in the lawn,  which they planted as saplings and lovingly nurtured to maturity.

Meticulous Mary

Meticulous Mary is very similar to the retiree, but with an Obsessive Compulsive bent.  Landscaping is not a hobby for this person, it is a way of life.  Every bed is artfully arranged and meticulously weeded, and her hedges are trimmed into perfect squares or spheres.  You can generally tell this type by the watching them measure their grass to insure that it is all a uniform 1/2″ and by the “keep off the lawn” signs.

The Supervisor

The supervisor may seem, at first glance, to be a retiree or Meticulous Mary because of their well kept landscape.  However, they’ve put none of their own effort into their lawn and gardens.  More often than not they are really a Busy Businessman type who actually cares enough about their landscaping to pay someone to do it for them.  You can tell the Supervisor type by the crack landscape maintenance team waking you up with their mowers at 6 a.m.

Using ornamental hedges provide an even greater benefit.  Besides just discouraging would be intruders, flowering shrubs can provide the nature lover with an exceptional opportunity to encourage and interact with local fauna.  There are a number of shrubs that are particularly well suited to providing both protection and a source of nourishment for the wildlife of your local environment.

Flowering Quince Bushes

Flowering shrubs can be more successful at attracting butterflies and birds than even ornamental trees can.  Flowering quince bushes are a clear example of this fact.  The cameo variety of flowering quince are truly exceptional in their ability to provide beauty and functionality.  The cameo is low lying with a wide spread which makes it perfect for creating ornamental hedges, either for privacy hedges or around windows for increased security.

The flowers of the cameo quince are usually of a light peach color and are a natural attractant to a wide number of insects.  The berries produced by the flowers are a favorite amongst birds.  The berries of the cameo are also edible by humans and are often used in preserves and jellies.  This makes the cameo an ideal selection for those who wish to benefit from their landscape in more ways than just increase home value and visual appeal.

Sunrise Forsythia

For privacy hedges larger than those that can be created with flowering quince bushes, the sunrise forsythia is an outstanding selection.  This shrub can reach heights of 6′ and provides a spread almost as wide, generally in the range of 3′ to 5′.  This make the sunrise forsythia perfect for larger privacy hedges around the border of a property.  The flowers of the sunrise forsythia are bright yellow and are an attractant to butterflies and other insect life.

Variegated Weigela

The variegated weigla provides a shorter privacy hedge and is more suitable for adding protection and security around windows.  The variegated weigela reaches a maximum height of about 4 feet.  The foliage of the weigela alone makes it an attractive selection.  The weigela puts out leaves that are deep green in the center and feature a white border.  The flowers of the weigela are a soft pink.

Tor Spirea

The tor spirea are also well suited for hedges below ground floor windows.  The tor spirea will only reach a maximum height of about 3′ and provides a spread of about 3′ as well.  Like the weigela, the spirea has exceptional foliage that make it a beauty throughout the year.  Its leaves are a deep, rich green in summer that turn to a brilliant red in autumn.  The tor spirea produces small clusters of tiny white flowers that are a favorite of many insects.

Building a landscape is creating a small, localized ecosystem of more than just plants.  Along with our selected plantings come all the birds, insects and other wildlife that live and thrive off of the fruits of our labor.  To look out onto a springtime vista of blossoms and birds and butterflies gives the homeowner a sense of real accomplishment and closeness with nature.  There are many trees that are well suited to creating just such scenes.

Magnolia

Magnolias are well known for their beautiful blooms.  Their height (generally in the range of 30′) makes them exceptional as shade trees or to break up a large empty space in the landscape.  Saucer magnolias are exceptional in their beauty, producing large saucer-like blooms that can range in color from light pink to a rich, deep purple.  The saucer magnolia blooms later (by several weeks) than the equally popular star magnolia.  Both make excellent and visually stunning wildlife attractors.

Pussy Willow

The pussy willow is another popular addition to North American landscapes.  Somewhat shorter than magnolias, pussy willows are well suited for privacy purposes.  If left uncut the pussy willow can grow to heights of 20 feet or more.  If trimmed down the pussy will makes an exceptional privacy screen. Pussy willows do best in lower area where they will receive the most benefit from drainage.  Because they are wetland plants they require a greater amount of water than many other ornamentals.

Though the pussy willow requires a higher degree of maintenance than other ornamentals, the effort put into keeping them is richly rewarded in the springtime.  The blooms of the pussy willow are a favorite in the diets of a number of birds.  In the springtime it is not uncommon to see your pussy willow teaming with life.  This makes the pussy willow an excellent choice for the avid bird watcher.

Callery Pears

Callery pears are moderately sized trees that work well for breaking up large areas of empty landscape.  The redspire callery pear is one of the more well known, and for good reason.  The foliage of the redspire callery pear make it a beauty throughout the year.  It’s glossy, shimmering leaves turn to a rich, and stunning burgundy in autumn.

In the early spring the beauty of the redspire becomes even more evident.  The blooms of the redspire callery pear are truly spectacular.  The effulgence of buds blossom into a vast array of small white flowers that produce pea-sized fruits.  Because the fruits are small the redspire is ideal for homeowners who don’t want to devote a lot of time to clearing out dropped fruits.

The downside of the redspire callery pear lies in its susceptibility to wind.  Redspires must be placed behind a windbreak or on the leeward side of the home.  Of course, their beauty makes their delicacy well worth protecting.

For the nature lover, there is nothing more satisfying than to look out over your trees and shrubs in full bloom and to see the various fauna that have become a part of the ecosystem that you have created.  There is no greater feeling of accomplishment.  There are a number of trees and shrubs that are especially suited to adding beauty to the landscape and attracting animal life.

Flowering Dogwoods

Dogwood trees are an excellent selection for stand-alones to break up the landscape or for border trees.  Flowering dogwoods are attractive even when not in bloom (in the springtime) and their fall foliage is a sight to behold in and of itself.  The berries dropped by the dogwoods are a major draw for a large number of birds.  The Japanese dogwood and the Cherokee Chief dogwood are both exceptional in the beauty of their foliage and blooms.

Crabapples

Crabapples are an excellent choice for use as border trees or just for breaking up the landscape.  Their moderate size makes them easily manageable and their wide spread make them excellent for fleshing out privacy borders.  Their blooms provide a soft accent to the landscape.

The Donald Wyman variegation of crabapple is especially well suited to the tasks of creating functional borders and breaks, as well as attracting a variety of wildlife.  The Donald Wyman puts out soft pink buds that are a pleasure to behold even before they open up into the white blossoms in full bloom.  The fruit of the Donald Wyman can last throughout the winter and into the early springtime and provide a source of nourishment for birds.

Eastern Redbuds

Eastern redbuds grow higher and wider than crabapples or dogwoods.  Their height and spread make them excellent for privacy and shade.  Eastern redbuds lack the year-round beauty of the dogwood, but more than makes up for their “plainness” when the springtime comes.

The eastern redbud is well known for its springtime splendor.  The eastern redbud flowers in early spring before it puts it’s leaves back on.  The sight of the brilliant purple flowers crowding the redbud’s bare branches is well worth the wait through the long winter.  This is an opinion shared by man and animal alike it seems, as the redbuds attract a great deal of animal life.

Using Flowering Trees

Ornamental trees are an exceptional choice for any landscaping project.  Ornamentals provide all of the benefits of proper tree placement in a landscape with the added benefit of providing beauty and an attraction for birds and other wildlife.  For the nature lover, there simply isn’t a better way to see your landscape teeming with life.  Ornamental trees will add beauty, life and value to your landscape for years.

If you want the perfect green, luxurious, well-kept lawn, then you probably know that you have your work cut out for you.  Just as with anything else, it is essential to learn the basics before you dive in to the finer points of lawn maintenance.  Having a good understanding to the “tools of the trade” will prepare you for the task of creating the beautiful lawn that you have always dreamed of.

Rakes

Rakes are one of the most basic tools for lawn care.  Rakes can be made of either plastic or metal and wood.  In either case, their basic design is the same:  a long handle terminating in a fan-shaped array of tines (like a very broad fork).  Rakes are used to collect leaves and other debris into piles for convenient collection or burning (if legally permitted in your area).

Leaf Blowers

Leaf blowers are the technological big-brother of the rake.  Leaf blowers can be electric, but are most often gasoline powered.  They compress and blow air through a long tube which can be directed to blow leaves and other debris from pathways, patios, sidewalks and other such surfaces.  Many leaf blowers feature bag attachment and allow for the direction of airflow to be reversed.  In this way, they function as vacuums for the collection of leaves to be used in mulch.

Weed Eaters

Weed eaters, often referred to as string trimmers, are used for trimming grass around the sides of homes, around power and phone poles, around stationary landscaping installations and any other area where a lawn mower cannot reach.  This trimmers can be either electric or gas powered.  They feature a motorized rotor on the end of a long handle.  The rotor spins a string at a high velocity.  The string breaks away during use and can be continuously feed out further by the operator.

Backpack Sprayers

Chemical backpack sprayers are used to spray pesticides and weed killers on a lawn.  The backpack sprayer consists of a large drum that can be filled with chemicals and is strapped to the users back.  From the container chemicals can be pumped through a wand, usually by means of a hand pump on the side of the container which forces air into the chamber, increasing the pressure and forcing the liquid pesticide through the wand.  The wand allows for precise application of the pesticide, rather than blanketing an entire area.

Spreader Boxes

Spreader boxes can also be used for dispersal of pesticides over a wide area.  They are also used to distribute seed or fertilizer.  Spreader boxes are large boxes mounted on wheels.  Generally the boxes narrow toward a slotted opening in the bottom, rather like a large funnel.  The seed, pesticide or fertilizer is then dropped along the path of the spreader box as it is pushed or pulled along.