| Tuning Up the Landscape |
| Solutions for this desperate landscape: Remove an ugly awning, hide an unattractive garage door and fill up the garden with plenty of low-maintenance flowers. |
From "Desperate Landscapes"
episode DDSL-207 |
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Project 3: Water tree with a cool toolNewly planted trees need regular watering, and for a busy person like Hyesun, Jason wants to leave nothing to chance. To help her take care of this maintenance chore, he brought along a special device made for watering trees and shrubs. A drip-irrigation bag (figure G), placed around the base of a tree, will deliver a slow trickle of water directly to the tree's roots (figure H). How to use this tree-irrigation system: Wrap a 14-gallon drip-irrigation bag around the base of the tree.
Fill bag (takes about five minutes).
New trees generally need 10 gallons of water per week per one inch of trunk diameter. The tree in this project is about 2-1/2 inches in diameter so this watering device should be filled two times per week.
Project 4: Install new sodHyesun's lawn is a mix of grasses. Zoysia grass is not the best choice for USDA Zone 6, as it stays brown for a long time — often from September through April. A better choice is tall fine fescue. It stays green a lot longer.
To install sod: Install along the longest straight line (such as a driveway or sidewalk).
Push edges and ends together tightly. Avoid stretching the turf.
Avoid gaps and overlaps.
Stagger joints in brick-like fashion.
Use sharp knife to trim.
Avoid installing small strips on outer edges of the lawn. They won't retain moisture.
Cost: $230 for 40 yards of sod
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | Tuning Up the Landscape |
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