When you must deal with the day-to-day care of the grounds of your homeowner association, it can be tough to stay on top of all of the important tasks. If you are dealing with how to keep grass green, plants thriving and water clean, consider the following tips.
Grass is certainly pretty and makes everything look lush but it is absolutely one of the most difficult plants to maintain in terms of work and cost. Minimizing your grass is a great way to reduce your maintenance costs, so consider just having a few areas with grass instead of all over the complex or neighborhood. When selecting a grass, be sure you select a variety that will work well in your area and is suited to the climate and most importantly, the soil conditions.
Also consider using natural, organic fertilizer instead of chemicals. Organic products tend to make the soil more nutrient-rich, so this will improve your grass. Good soil is a much better deterrent to weeds than using chemicals, as weeds are often a sign that something is out of balance with your soil. Be sure the grounds crew does not cut the grass too low, as shorter grass is actually less healthy. When watering, consider giving the grasses a good morning soak just a few times each week instead of watering a little bit each day.
Plants, trees and shrubs are beautiful enhancements for the grounds, but choosing the wrong types can be a costly mistake. Choose native plants and trees, as these typically require much less maintenance. This is especially important in areas prone to drought, as water is scarce and very expensive. Your homeowners will thank you for conserving water and conserving their monthly fees.
If you also have some type of water feature on the grounds, perhaps a pond or even a lake, then you have another item on your maintenance list. To keep the water safe and clean, you will need to treat it, but that doesn't mean you will have to spend a great deal of time or money. In fact, there are chemical-free products available that are not only easy to use but are safe for birds, fish, pets and other wildlife and also keep the water looking pristine.
The AquaSpherePro, for example, is a biodegradable product that uses a propriety blend of bacteria to reduce excess nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen as well as eliminating the build-up of organic matter. All you have to do is toss in enough spheres to accommodate the amount of gallons in the pond. They will begin to break down over time and last for up to 30 days. After that, you simply add a new set of spheres to keep problems at bay.
Grass is certainly pretty and makes everything look lush but it is absolutely one of the most difficult plants to maintain in terms of work and cost. Minimizing your grass is a great way to reduce your maintenance costs, so consider just having a few areas with grass instead of all over the complex or neighborhood. When selecting a grass, be sure you select a variety that will work well in your area and is suited to the climate and most importantly, the soil conditions.
Also consider using natural, organic fertilizer instead of chemicals. Organic products tend to make the soil more nutrient-rich, so this will improve your grass. Good soil is a much better deterrent to weeds than using chemicals, as weeds are often a sign that something is out of balance with your soil. Be sure the grounds crew does not cut the grass too low, as shorter grass is actually less healthy. When watering, consider giving the grasses a good morning soak just a few times each week instead of watering a little bit each day.
Plants, trees and shrubs are beautiful enhancements for the grounds, but choosing the wrong types can be a costly mistake. Choose native plants and trees, as these typically require much less maintenance. This is especially important in areas prone to drought, as water is scarce and very expensive. Your homeowners will thank you for conserving water and conserving their monthly fees.
If you also have some type of water feature on the grounds, perhaps a pond or even a lake, then you have another item on your maintenance list. To keep the water safe and clean, you will need to treat it, but that doesn't mean you will have to spend a great deal of time or money. In fact, there are chemical-free products available that are not only easy to use but are safe for birds, fish, pets and other wildlife and also keep the water looking pristine.
The AquaSpherePro, for example, is a biodegradable product that uses a propriety blend of bacteria to reduce excess nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen as well as eliminating the build-up of organic matter. All you have to do is toss in enough spheres to accommodate the amount of gallons in the pond. They will begin to break down over time and last for up to 30 days. After that, you simply add a new set of spheres to keep problems at bay.
About the Author:
Roland Stockwell enjoys blogging about natural products. To find some good products to clean pond, or to know more about other products like pond algae treatment, please go to the Bioverse.com site now.
