Angie's LIST Guide to
Landscaping & lawn care
A homeowner's guide to landscaping, lawn care, irrigation and tree service.
A homeowner's guide to landscaping, lawn care, irrigation and tree service.
Top Topics
Never cut the height of your grass by more than one third at any one time.
Read more about lawn care.
The garden in this Texas yard was designed for vibrant colors. (Photo courtesy of Francoise Lovejoy)
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Answers
Ask a question on any topic covered by Angie's List and see responses from expert service providers and other homeowners with advice to share. Most popular landscaping questions:
- Is there a company that weeds a flower bed and plant flowers at a reasonable rate?
- I also need an inground drain in my patio. What type of company shyould I use?
- what would be the best plant / flower to plant in the extreme south texas heat ?
- My grass is getting to many dollar weeds in it what can be done about it any experts in this area, Thank You In Advance
- How can I find a person to help me with gardening
Videos
Getting started on landscaping
A well-landscaped home will make a powerful first impression when it's time to sell.
Before you start digging, think about what you really want to accomplish. Do you want more privacy? A place for outdoor entertaining?
Follow these tips to find the best landscaping service in your community.
Depending on what you want done, you may need a landscape architect, a gardener or a building contractor. Here's how to figure it out.
Lawn care
Cutting grass too short weakens its root system and enables weeds to thrive.
The way you mow can affect the health of your lawn. Here are some simple tips.
In each climate region there is a choice of grasses depending on the quality of soil, amount of rainfall, foot traffic and other factors.
All the tools you need to take great care of your patch of earth.
Lawn watering and irrigation systems
A below-ground irrigation system needs to be well-planned before digging begins.
Most people water too often and/or not enough at one time. Here's how to judge how much is enough without wasting water.
No need to spend a lot of money. You can do a lot with garden hoses and inexpensive sprinklers.
If you're tired of dragging around garden hoses and want to automate this task, you can have a sprinkling system customized to your needs
Tree care and tree services
Hire a pro to trim mature trees, especially if they are near buildings.
Before you let someone fire up the chainsaw, make sure you're in agreement regarding exactly what is to be removed.
Don't hire the first guy who knocks on the door. Follow these tips to find the most highly recommended tree services in your community.
Before you start chopping down that dead tree, make sure know where it might land. Hire a pro for large trees with buildings nearby.
Fountains
A fountain can provide a peaceful sound and also keep pond water circulating.
Although a big job may be best left to a landscaper, a modest-sized fountain can be installed by the homeowner. Here's a step-by-step guide on what you need to know to do it yourself.
There are many different types of fountains to choose from. Decide what kind works best for the effect you want to achieve.
A fountain is an ideal addition to a pond because it keeps the water moving, minimizing the formation of surface pond scum and also reducing the likelihood that your pond will be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Rototilling
Using a rototiller is a bit like pushing a giant lawn mower, but instead of cutting the grass it bites into the earth, turning it over for planting. Adding topsoil or compost could be done at either time.
Springtime is good, about two weeks before planting. Many people also till in the autumn after the harvest.
For most people it's not practical to own a rototiller, so the choice would be between renting the tiller and doing it yourself, or hiring a pro. Here are some tips on how to hire.