Easy Steps to a Beautiful
Healthy Lawn
A Xeriscape Landscape is a Low-Maintenance Landscape

Don't let a word like "xeriscape" scare you - it's a simple concept for grouping plants according to water needs.  Even if you don't know what xeriscaping is, you can still use these simple tips for a healthier, more attractive lawn.

Fertilize Less -- or not at all during droughts such as the one Georgia is experiencing.

Mow Properly - raise your mower blade and cut grass higher to encourage deeper rooting.

Prioritize Watering -- during times of drought, consider the replacement costs of the plants in your landscape and save the most valuable plants.

Look For Pests -- limit pest control spray to problem areas, avoid spraying the entire landscape.

Aerate Turfgrass -- relieve soil compaction to increase air and water movement into the soil by aerating when required - especially on slopes.

Don’t Get Soaked Working Toward a Beautiful Lawn!  Beautiful lawns require a lot less water than you think - for established lawns it's about one inch of water every 7 - 10 days!  That's all!

Beware of Over-Watering!

• Over-watering encourages shallow root growth, which causes grass to lose its ability to survive drought.
• More Georgia lawns were damaged from over-watering during the 1988 Georgia drought than from lack of water.
• As much as 60 percent of all household water use during the summer months is used outdoors for landscape purposes!

Whether you’re in Georgia and suffering through the drought or in a wetter part of the country, OLM can answer your questions on how to keep your landscape looking its best!

The Finishing Touch

Mulch can be any of several materials that help keep moisture in your soil and protect the roots of plants including bark, wood chips, and pinestraw.  Some mulches are more expensive than others, and some are more decorative.  Proper mulch is the key to:

• Preventing water loss from your soil;Reducing the need for supplemental irrigation, and
• Finishing off the overall attractiveness of your landscape.

Using mulch in your landscaping plan is easier than you think, and it's an important component to your xeriscaped yard.  To make the most of your mulch:

• Apply approximately two inches of mulch under ornamental plants in the landscape (avoid applying too much mulch because it encourages shallow roots).Extend mulched areas two to three times the canopy spread of ornamental trees and shrubs.
• Once mulch is in place, use your hand to pull it back 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk of trees and shrubs (this will help prevent wood rotting diseases).

Maintenance Tip:
During periods of limited rainfall, make certain sufficient mulch is maintained underneath plants.  Mulch conserves moisture by preventing evaporative water loss from the soil surface and reducing the need for supplemental irrigation during periods of limited rainfall.