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Making
your
backyard
landscaping
environmentally
sensitive
needn’t
cost
you
more
money.
In
fact,
if
done
appropriately,
having
a
“greener
landscape”
around
your
home
can
actually
save
you
money
in
the
long
run
and
add
value
to
your
home
that
will
be
factored
in
when
selling
your
property.
Here
are
four
central
ways
to
save
money
on
your
yard
while
adding
value
to
your
home
and
becoming
more
environmentally
conscious.
Save
water,
save
cash
In
some
areas,
the
cost
associated
with
irrigating
gardens
and
lawns
has
become
prohibitive.
According
to
the
Bay
Sounding
newsletter,
in
some
Florida
neighborhoods,
the
cost
of
watering
a
typical
5,000
square
foot
area
can
cost
upwards
of
$4
every
time
the
underground
sprinklers
are
turned
on.
Over-watering
also
has
an
additional
cost
beyond
the
hit
to
your
pocketbook.
It
washes
away
the
costly
fertilizers
you’ve
used
to
feed
your
gardens
and
lawn.
There
are
some
ways,
however,
to
cut
back
on
water
consumption.
First
of
all,
you
can
develop
your
landscaping
to
use
water
efficiently.
This
practice
is
referred
to
as
“Xeriscape,”
and
is
pronounced
“Zera-scape.”
Xeriscaping
refers
to
creating
a
landscape
that
limits
the
need
for
irrigation.
Additionally,
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(EPA)
recommends
you
build
your
soil
with
compost
and
mulch
to
make
sure
it
holds
water
and
to
reduce
evaporation.
Also
according
to
the
EPA,
using
soaker
hoses
can
save
up
to
50
percent
of
water
usage
compared
to a
conventional
sprinkler.
Fertilizers
Bedding
plants
(either
perennial
or
annual)
and
ultra-green
lawns
often
need
additional
nutrients.
For
fertilizer,
consider
“natural
organic”
or
“slow-release”
fertilizers
that
feed
plants
evenly
over
time.
The
result
is
healthier
plants
that
have
strong
root
systems
and
will
cost
less
to
maintain.
Another
benefit
is
less
fertilizer
runoff
into
water
systems.
Consider
holistic
pest
management
While
they
may
not
be
pretty,
the
truth
is
only
about
15
percent
of
insects
in
your
yard
are
pests
that
could
harm
your
plants.
Many
people
will
immediately
treat
any
insect
problem
with
pesticides,
but
those
can
be
costly
and
ineffective.
Instead,
consider
the
underlying
problem
that
could
be
causing
issues
in
your
backyard
landscaping.
Are
you
using
healthy
soil
and
mulch?
Are
you
using
a
wide
variety
of
plants
so
that
if
insects
do
attack,
it
won’t
wipe
out
your
garden
completely?
A
cut
above
It
may
sound
odd,
but
mowing
your
lawn
higher
can
save
you
money
and
lead
to a
better
quality
lawn.
Most
grasses
should
be
mowed
at
more
than
two
inches
high,
and
this
taller
grass
will
have
consistently
deeper
roots
that
strangle
out
weeds.
Moreover,
practice
natural
lawn
care
and
leave
the
clippings
in
the
land
where
they
will
add
nutrients
to
your
lawn.
Contact
Me
I can help you with every
aspect of buying or selling your home because I’m
experienced, because I am a Better Homes and Gardens
Rand Realty Real Estate Professional . . .and because I
care.
As
your
Better
Homes
and
Gardens
Rand
Realty
Sales
Professional,
I
will
provide
you
with
the
information
you
need
to
make
an
educated
decision.
The relationship between a home buyer or seller and their agent is based on trust, shared goals and understanding. I strive to continually improve and to do this I listen and take the needs and wants into consideration.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you. |
