2020 Spring Home & Garden
7
Did you know?
When planning spring landscapes, homeowners should always group plants with
similar water needs together. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, grouping
plants with similar water needs together helps to conserve water, which can be an
especially useful strategy if or when drought restrictions go into effect in summer.
Homeowners also can embrace additional strategies to landscape with water con-
servation in mind. For example, aerating soil helps to improve water fl ow to plants’
roots and reduces water runoff, helping to ensure that plants get all of the water
they need while reducing the likelihood that homeowners will have to use excessive
amounts of water to keep plants healthy. In addition, using low-water-using types of
grass can help homeowners who live in areas prone to drought conserve water while
still maintaining lush, green lawns.
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C ottage G rove
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The dangers of
mowing too low
Spring marks the return of many things.
Trees and fl owers begin to bloom again
in spring, while warmer temperatures are
welcomed back with open arms. Grass
also begins to grow again in the spring.
That means it’s not too long before
homeowners have to dust off their lawn
mowers and get to work. Those who
don’t necessarily enjoy mowing the lawn
may be tempted to cut their grass very
low, as doing so can mean longer inter-
vals between mowing sessions. However,
mowing grass too low can have a very
adverse effect on a lawn.
• Cutting too low can injure the grass.
Cutting grass too low can injure the
grass, creating what’s essentially a dom-
ino effect of problems to come. Injured
grass will focus on its recovery efforts,
thereby making it vulnerable to other
issues.
• Cutting too low promotes weed growth.
Injured grass is vulnerable to invaders,
YARD SALE
including weeds and insects. Weeds and
insects can attack grass as it recovers
from injury, and before homeowners
know it, their lawns are overcome with a
host of problems.
• Cutting too low allows crabgrass to
thrive. Crabgrass needs ample sunlight to
grow. By cutting grass too low, home-
owners may unknowingly be promoting
crabgrass growth. Crabgrass is unsightly
and can rob surrounding grass of the
moisture it needs to grow. So lawns cut
too low may not only lose their lush
appeal thanks to the unattractive appear-
ance of crabgrass, but also because areas
surrounding the crabgrass patches might
turn brown due to lack of water.
• Cutting too low can stress the grass.
Cutting too low also makes lawns vulner-
able to summer heat. Without blades tall
enough to block some of the summer sun,
grass can quickly succumb to summer
heat, leading to dried out, discolored
lawns.
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SPRING Home & Garden
May7, 2020
2020 Spring Home & Garden
8
5 outdoor projects that add value
Exterior renovations can enhance the appearance of a
property and make it more enjoyable for homeowners.
Certain renovations have the potential to add value to a
home, while others may do the opposite. Learning which
one have the largest return on investment can help home-
owners select features that will have the most positive
impact.
Curb appeal goes a long way toward attracting potential
buyers. According to the National Association of Real-
tors, fi rst impressions of a property have a strong infl u-
ence on buyers. Landscaping and external features can do
much to infl uence such impressions. .
• Lawn care program: Investing in a lawn care program
that consists of fertilizer and weed control application
and can be transferred over to a subsequent home owner
is an attractive feature. NAR says such a care program
can recover $1,000 in value of the $330 average cost, or a
303 percent ROI.
• Low-maintenance lifestyle: When choosing materials
for projects, those that offer low-maintenance benefi ts
can be preferential. These include low-maintenance patio
materials, composite decking, vinyl fencing, and inorgan-
ic mulched beds.
• Fire pit: A fi re pit can be used for much of the year. In
the spring and summer, the fi repit is a great place to con-
gregate to roast marshmallows or sip wine and gaze into
the fi re. In the fall, the fi re pit can make for a cozy retreat.
A fi re pit that has a gas burner is low-maintenance, and
the National Association of Landscape Professionals says
that most can recoup about $4,000 of their $6,000 aver-
age price tag.
• Softscaping: Hardscaping
refers to structures like outdoor
kitchens or decks. Softscaping
involves the living elements of
the landscape. Hiring a land-
scape designer to install trees,
shrubs, natural edging, and rock
elements can do wonders toward
improving the look and value of
a home.
• Pool or water feature: In
certain markets, particularly hot
climates, a pool or another water
feature is a must-have. However,
in other areas where outdoor
time is limited, a pool or water
feature can actually lower the
value of a home. Speaking
with a real estate professional
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can give homeowners an idea of how a pool will fare in a
given neighborhood.
Outdoor improvements can improve the marketability of
a home, as well as enhance its appearance and function.
Planting season in Oregon
According to Oregon State University, Cottage Grove falls into
Zone Two for planting in the Willamette Valley.
It offers 150- to 250-day season and is described as warm days,
cool nights; length of season may vary from year to year. Garden-
ers in the Rogue and Willamette valleys enjoy an excellent climate
for gardening and a wide variety of fertile valley soils. Warm,
sunny weather in late spring, summer and early fall provides good
growing conditions with a minimum of garden plant diseases. Year-
round gardening is possible, with mild winters where temperatures
seldom drop below 20 degrees.
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