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What are the Basics of Yard Work?
First time homeowners may find difficulty choosing a place to start when it comes to yard work. Prioritizing the projects to be done around the home can be simple: start with a clean up, finish with planting, and work on everything else in between. Most yard work involves making the landscape look presentable, while other types of yard work are aimed at repairing damage or fixing other issues that may cause damage. The latter should take place first, though a clean up may still be necessary before any other projects can be completed.
Start yard work by picking up trash, dead leaves, fallen branches, and other obvious eyesores. Move on to remove weeds, invasive plants that do not have a place in the yard, old yard furniture or rotten fences, and so on. If the projects start to get too big — removing a tree stump, for example, can take hours or even days — save it for later. Special equipment may be necessary for some projects, and it is best to dedicate an entire day to them. Clean-ups are usually quite simple, and they make the biggest impact on the aesthetic of a yard.
Once the yard is clean, it is time to do some landscaping yard work. This may involve mowing the lawn, digging an area for a garden, preparing flower beds for planting, installing edging, trimming hedges and trees, and so on. Most of these projects can be done in a day, but some larger projects may require more time. Flower and garden beds in particular may take more than one day, as the ground will need to be tilled and rocks and roots will have to be removed. It is perhaps best to dedicate an entire day to these tasks alone. Reseeding a lawn can also take some time, so be sure to allot enough time for the project.
Yard work will inevitably involve more time-consuming chores at some point. Repairing stone walls or fences are common yard chores, and if the fences are wood, they may need to be repainted or re-stained yearly or every other year. Cleaning out sheds and garages can be a time-consuming, yet very satisfying, job that will make yard maintenance quicker and easier, since all tools will be more readily available and accessible. When it comes time to remove that tree stump, a trip to the hardware store may be necessary in order to rent a stump grinder. Be sure to read the directions carefully if unfamiliar with the machine, or hire a professional tree service company to do this tedious and difficult project.
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![Trash should be cleaned from the yard.]()
By: Tammy MobleyTrash should be cleaned from the yard. -
![Mowing the grass is a basic type of yard work.]()
By: HorticultureMowing the grass is a basic type of yard work. -
![When a tree is removed from a yard, a stump grinder is required to dispose of the remaining stump.]()
By: oscar williamsWhen a tree is removed from a yard, a stump grinder is required to dispose of the remaining stump. -
![Watering and trimming potted plants is part of yard work.]()
By: tsachWatering and trimming potted plants is part of yard work. -
![Properly collecting and disposing of trash is part of maintaining a good looking yard.]()
By: Petr NadProperly collecting and disposing of trash is part of maintaining a good looking yard. -
![Professional lawn mowing typically puts stress and wear on the mower's blade, engine and other parts.]()
By: Photographee.euProfessional lawn mowing typically puts stress and wear on the mower's blade, engine and other parts. -
![Many municipalities require grass clippings from yard work to be bagged.]()
By: Glenda PowersMany municipalities require grass clippings from yard work to be bagged. -
![Part of yard work may include cleaning out a gardening shed.]()
By: fallesenPart of yard work may include cleaning out a gardening shed.
Discussion Comments
When we moved into our house, our landlady told us that she would arrange for someone to mow the yard. That hasn't worked out too well, sometimes. They've cut down my flowers on too many occasions. I've had to mark everything with paint so they won't mow down everything I grew.
I would like yard work better if the mosquitoes would leave me alone. Just today, I went out to water my flowers. I was outside maybe 15 minutes, and came in with about five mosquito bites on my arms. It would certainly make my life more comfortable if I could keep the mosquitoes from biting me. Otherwise, I enjoy planting flowers and seeing them bloom.
My cousin's hobby is yard work. She loves it. All she does in her spare time is work in her yard. She cleans, mows, pulls weeds, plants flowers and does everything else. She even does her own landscaping!
She has a very stressful job and it's a really good stress reliever for her. Pulling weeds and doing the physical work helps her wind down. She can even find a lot of things to do in her yard in the winter time. She should probably go into landscape design when she retires. We've said in the family that she needs to open a garden supply store or something like that.
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