Top five landscaping mistakes to avoid

August 7, 2023



U.S.-based TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages outdoor renovations and landscaping, has released the following top back yarding renovation mistakes to avoid:

1. Not considering your yard’s full potential. A large yard can safely and comfortably accommodate a range of functions for your family from dining areas to a play area for the kids.
2. Installing fake grass. Plastic grass offers none of the life-giving benefits of real grass such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, urban heat dissipation, or air pollution reduction. Real grass offers all these benefits, and it is easier on feet and paws. Also, real grass is a natural air conditioner! 
3. Forgetting the “right plant, right place” rule. This is the “Golden Rule” of back yarding, but it’s more than just knowing which plants will thrive in sunny spots versus shaded areas. Selecting the right plants for your micro-climate and lifestyle will result in a living landscape that requires minimal upkeep on your part while offering maximum environmental benefits.
4. Not treating your yard like part of the connected ecosystem. Your yard links with other community green spaces to provide food and shelter for pollinators such as birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other creatures. Support pollinators and wildlife by planting a healthy balance of grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that thrive in your yard’s conditions and bloom at different times throughout the year. 
5. Failing to keep safety in mind. Outdoor power equipment makes big back yarding projects easier, but it is critical to keep safety in mind. Read your owner’s manual and follow all manufacturer’s guidelines. Always keep pets and children away from machinery under operation, and do not let children on or near lawn mowers at any time.