Newspaper Page Text
Page 2B - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, April 7, 2021
SPECIAL PHOTO
Creating a backyard paradise can sometimes involve
building structures like arbors, gazebos, pergolas, and
even trellises. Before starting the project, homeowners
should know about the variety of features they offer and
which ones to incorporate into their backyard plans.
Plan to build your
perfect backyard
Proper lawn watering and fertilizing techniques
SPECIAL PHOTO
Homeowners who follow these fertilizing and watering tips
will have more healthy lawns that thrive.
Designing an ideal
backyard space re
quires forethought and
an eye for style. Know
ing which features to
include in a yard often
boils down to what
homeowners want to
achieve in the space.
Will it be a relaxing
oasis or a central enter
taining focal point?
People often look to
various structures to
add height and visual
interest to outdoor
spaces. Homeowners
will likely come
across
struc
tures like
arbors,
gazebos,
pergolas,
and even
trellises as
they wade
through
the variety
of features they
can incorporate into
backyard plans. Each
of these structures can
add appeal, but they
also can offer shel
ter from the sun and
privacy when enjoying
the yard. There are sig
nificant differences be
tween each structure,
so here’s an in-depth
look at what sets them
apart.
• Arbor: An arbor is
one of the more simple
garden structures. It
is usually a frame that
is arched or square-
cornered. Most home-
owners use it as an
entryway to a garden
or even the front of the
home. Those with green
thumbs may cover the
arbor with climbing
and trailing plants. The
Spruce says arbors date
back to early Egyptian
and Roman gardens and
were used throughout
Europe by the late 16th
century.
• Pergola: The words
arbor and pergola are
often used interchange
ably, but to suggest
the two structures are
the same would not
be accurate. Pergola
comes from the Italian
word “pergula,” which
means “projection.”
Pergolas were once
projected from exterior
walls and supported on
one side by pillars or
columns. Today, arbors
are usually freestanding
units with two or four
posts. Pergolas may be
connected on
one side to
a home or
another
structure.
Some are
freestand
ing units
sup
ported
by four
posts.
Pergolas
tend to
be larger
and of
fer more
privacy and
shade than arbors.
• Gazebo: Gaze
bos are more defined
garden buildings, states
the contractor referral
site Network. Gazebos
are freestanding units
that can be built in vari
ous shapes. Some are
octagonal, others are
square. Like a pergola, a
gazebo is supported by
columns and may have
low railings or built-
in benches. Gazebos
also may have a more
solid roof than arbors
or pergolas, providing
sun and other weather
protection. The roof
may have added archi
tectural appeal, like a
cupola.
• Trellis: A trellis is
a simple, geometrically-
shaped structure that
provides a surface for
climbing plants. A trel
lis also may support
fruit-bearing trees. Trel
lis work may be used
in conjunction with an
arbor or pergola, or be
installed on fencing.
Incorporating struc
tures into backyard
designs can provide
functionality and appeal.
A lush, green lawn is
a sight to behold. Many
variables are involved in
growing and maintain
ing grass, and water and
fertilizer are among the
most important compo
nents.
Knowing how much
water and fertilizer to
apply and when to apply
it can make a big differ
ence in the appearance
and health of a lawn.
That’s because a well-fed
and watered lawn will
develop a better root
system, which makes the
lawn less vulnerable to
stressors like drought,
mowing, foot traffic, and
heat, according to the
Scotts® company.
FERTILIZE
There is no magic
formula governing when
to fertilize a lawn. The
type of grass and how
well-established a lawn
is must be considered.
Experts suggest having
the soil tested to deter
mine its pH levels and if
any nutrients are lacking.
A fertilizing schedule can
then be developed after
testing.
Keep in mind that
overfeeding a lawn will
not make it grow any
better and actually can
damage the turf. Sev
eral small applications
of fertilizer during the
lawn’s most active
growing period may be
helpful, advises the home
improvement resource
Many things can cause
a yard to be uneven.
Drainage problems, leaky
pipes beneath the grass
and pests can wreak
havoc on a yard, result
ing in uneven turf that
can be both unsightly
and unsafe.
Addressing an uneven
yard might be homeown
ers’ ultimate goal, but
home experts note that
homeowners should first
figure out what’s causing
the problem and make
fixing that their first task.
Fixing uneven ground
above leaky pipes will
only be a temporary fix if
the leaks themselves are
not addressed. Profes
sional contractors might
be necessary depending
on what’s causing the
problem. However, once
the underlying issue has
been addressed, many
homeowners can handle
the task of leveling an un
even yard on their own.
• Get the right tools
Tools Around the House.
An annual application
(late spring for warm-
season grass or fall for
cool-season grass) may
be all that’s needed.
Certain fertilizers need
to be applied and wa-
and materials. Level
ing an uneven yard may
require various tools.
Thatch will likely need
to be removed from the
lawn before it can be
leveled out, so homeown
ers will need a thatch
rake or dethatching
machine to get this task
started. Dethatching
machines are generally
necessary for especially
large lawns, and these
can typically be rented
from home improvement
retailers. A shovel, bow
rake and push broom are
other tools homeowners
will likely need. Materials
such as topsoil, compost
and sand will be neces
sary as well, and these
are typically sold at local
garden centers.
• Fill in areas beneath
the grass. Areas beneath
the grass can be filled in
with a mixture of sand,
topsoil and compost,
using two parts sand,
two parts topsoil and one
tered in.
Others may be com
bined with weed-control
products and must be
set on top of damp grass.
Read packaging to deter
mine the right applica
tion.
part compost. Each of
these components plays
its own role in restoring
the yard to full health.
Sand helps the ground
stay level, while the top
soil and compost provide
the grass with valuable
nutrients. If the low spots
are not especially deep,
this mixture can be ap
plied without removing
the grass. However, be
fore filling in holes when
addressing spots that are
deeper than two or three
inches, remove the grass
then place it back in
place once the hole has
been filled. To dig up the
grass, put the blade of
the shovel at the outside
of the low spot before
sliding it under about
two or three inches so
you do not upset the
grass roots.
• Spread the top
dressing. Once the holes
have been filled and the
grass has been placed
back on the ground (if it
WATER
The right watering
schedule and techniques
can help a lawn thrive.
Scotts® says adjusting
for climate and nature
can help grass to grow
strongly. A lawn that has
a grayish cast or ap
pears dull green is telling
an owner that it needs
water.
Another test is to
step on the lawn. If
footprints disappear
quickly, the grass blades
have enough moisture to
spring back.
Water the lawn in the
morning before 10 a.m.
when it’s cooler and the
winds tend to be calm so
that the water can soak
in. For those who must
water at night, do so in
early evening so that
the water can dry before
nightfall and will not con
tribute to disease.
Scotts® says to water
an established lawn
until the top six to eight
inches of soil is wet.
Most lawns need one
to 1.5 inches of water
per week from rain or a
hose to soak the soil that
deeply.
Newly established
lawns may require more
water to keep the soil
moist but not soggy.
Visit a lawn care
center for more informa
tion on watering the type
of lawn for your area or
visit www.scotts.com for
additional tips.
was removed), spread
the top dressing mix with
a shovel. The mix should
be spread evenly with
the back of the bow rake
at a depth of no more
than half an inch. Make
sure the mix is worked
into the low spots and
that it’s not completely
covering the grass, as
that will suffocate the
lawn. If necessary, use
the push broom to work
the mix into the soil.
• Water the lawn.
Finally, water the lawn
to help the top dressing
settle into the grass. If
necessary, repeat the
process of applying top
dressing and watering
until the lawn is even
and has returned to full
strength.
An uneven lawn is an
eyesore and potentially
harmful. But fixing an
uneven lawn is simple
once homeowners dis
cover and address what’s
behind the issue.
Tips to follow prevent an uneven lawn
MIDDLE GEORGIA
WATER SYSTEMS
www.middlegawater.com
770-567-3400
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Pike County Journal Reporter
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