As part of home beautification, 40% of Americans who have yards hire expert services to keep these spaces appealing. However, not many homeowners go the extra lengths to ensure that their yards are in tiptop condition. A well-kept yard often adds to the property’s overall aesthetics and vice versa. There are various things that can mar the appearance of an otherwise spotless yard. Below are just a few to take note of.
- Poorly-maintained landscape
Ideally, a well-maintained landscape is properly manicured, is devoid of weeds, and contains ample soil nutrients to keep the lawn lusciously green. The absence of these and more can result in an unsightly landscape. Fortunately, you can explore many options depending on your landscaping needs. You can go the DIY route if you know what you’re doing and for minor issues. However, getting professionals to help will yield better results.
- Leaving renovation debris on the yard
While many US households love to carry out renovation projects in and around the home, there is a disturbing detail. According to wheelingil.gov, several American households usually ignore cleaning up. This results in piles of debris and rubble, usually in the backyard. Perhaps, this happens because the backyard is out of view and, as the saying goes, ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ However, this isn’t a good way to go if you want a pristine yard.
- Leaving oily rags on the grassy yard
A spruce.com article said that when households carry out projects like wall painting in the yard, stained oily rags are often left unattended. Sometimes, these rags were used to wipe the oil from cars or another similar activity. Although you may think the right thing would be to discard these used rags immediately, research has proven that wrong. According to the National Fire Protection Association, rags used for cleaning flammable substances can be put on a higher surface, away from direct heat. After the project, soak them in a mixture of water and detergent before drying and discarding. Leaving oil-soaked rags in your yard does more than take away from the pristine look of the compound. The chemicals in the oil-stained rag can seep into the soil and deprive portions of your lawn of vital soil minerals.
- Anything that holds standing water
Rainwater, puddles, unfilled plant pots, etc., can hold water for long periods and likely become an eyesore in your yard. Even worse, they may become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other types of bugs that love unclean water. In fact, according to the Mosquito Authority website, an inch of water in the outdoors can become a place for 1000 mosquito larvae. Additionally, standing water can drown plants and the lawn itself. Even worse, it can make the yard inhospitable for kids and pets. This may bring up the issue of swimming pools and how they can contribute to ruining the appearance of your yard. It will be a problem if the pool is poorly-maintained. If it’s uncovered, not regularly filtered, and contains debris, that can affect the look of your yard.
Keeping a pristine yard takes a lot of work. Therefore, either you commit time to it or hire experts to maintain it.