According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, drought conditions of moderate severity or worse exist in 53 percent of the United States, and there is little relief in sight. Whether you are environmentally conscious or must abide by community-imposed watering restrictions, most homeowners will need to limit the amount of water used to maintain their landscaping this summer. If you are selling your home and seeking to preserve curb appeal, this can be difficult.
Here are some tips from HouseLogic contributor Lisa Kaplan Gordon to keep your trees and plants alive even despite water restrictions:
•Move containers into the shade or bring them indoors.
•Collect “greywater” from your shower, bath or kitchen sink and use it to water perennials, annuals and container plants. If you use greywater, make sure to use biodegradable bath and dish soap, which won’t hurt plants, and never use greywater that contains bleach.
•Replace high-maintenance plants with native plants better suited to your climate.
•Don’t over-mulch around shrubs and tree trunks. If you use more than two to three inches of mulch, roots will grow up and into the mulch, becoming more vulnerable to heat.
•Even bulbs can die under extreme heat. You can protect bulbs by covering them with three to four inches of airy mulch, such as cedar, which holds moisture and moderates soil temperature.
Michael Sinton, CRB, CRS, SFR, e-Pro
Broker/Salesperson
For more information, contact Michael Sinton, CRB, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, Broker/Sales Associate, Weichert Realtors, directly at 732-904-3236, via email at Mike@MSinton.com.
Comments(0)