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If you are looking for tips and motivation to better care for your garden, with the help of a ride on mower and other equipment, then you are in the right place. This article considers all of the various to consider when working with your lawn in a domestic setting. It also offers an important reminder of the added benefits, both environmental and personal.
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Using a ride on mower to keep your lawn neatly trimmed and healthy can do wonders for your property and for your mental health. Among every culture in the world, one commonality between all people is a deep love for gardens and the natural world, which has long-since provided a sanctuary for us, as well as for the many smaller species we share space with. However, it can often be very difficult to know exactly how to care for these spaces. So, if you’d like advice on keeping your lawn and garden in good stead, then read the following tips and tricks.
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Tips And Tricks
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If this is your first time caring for a lawn, do not be intimidated. It is a learning process that will involve a lifetime of surprise and delight, and the more you consult with friends and family, other gardeners, community members and experts, the easier it will become. And if you are still unsure of the many reasons to keep at this important work, then read on to remind yourself of the immense value associated with gardening and lawn care.
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Keep The Local Ecosystem In Mind
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Before planting any plants, do some research and determine which plants would function best in local South African conditions. In South Africa, grass varieties such as Bermuda Grass, Buffalo Grass and Kikuyu Grass do very well, as they require less water and are more low-maintenance. In an area where heat can be extreme and water is sometimes limited by droughts or fluctuations in rainfall, planting consciously can prevent you from dealing with a dying lawn at a huge personal expense.
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Consider Various Mowing Practices
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Depending on the type of grass you plant, growth cycles may vary, especially when considering your watering cycles. Infrequent watering may encourage stronger root growth but short grass, while relying on seasonal rain may mean that your lawn will be healthier at certain times over others depending on where you live. Whatever the case, you need to use a mower or ride on mower that is adjusted to treat the grass according to its unique needs.
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Invest In Good Fertiliser And Combat Weeds
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The health of your garden is highly dependent on the health of your soil, which is why it is so important to offer your soil added nutrients through seasonal fertilisation with nitrogen-rich goodness to encourage growth in the hotter seasons and potassium-rich minerals to strengthen plant roots in the cooler months. What’s more, by aerating your soil you can avoid compaction and encourage better drainage. Most people will also recommend that you invest in organic pesticide measures, do regular manual weeding, and apply topdressing or compost in the spring.
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Embrace The Seasonal Changes
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By working with the seasonal change, instead of against it, you’ll find that you won’t be disappointed by unexpected reactions or developments in your outdoor space. If you do your research and follow the change in temperature and rainfall carefully, you can adequately plan for the worst and prevent any disappointment.
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Prevent Soil Erosion
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To ensure the structural integrity of your lawn it is recommended that you introduce heavier-duty plants and trees to provide a layer of protection. Especially if you are in an area that has heavy rainfall, and your garden is at a slight incline, then runoff may quickly lead to erosion and the reduction of fertile soil. However, by planting trees, you can introduce root systems that will not only anchor the soil, but also stabilise slopes on hillsides, evenly distribute water with their leaves and branches, and absorb water more easily.
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By slowing waterflow, you ultimately reduce the chances of flooding, while also adding another beautiful element, windbreak and source of shade to your garden.
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Benefits Of Caring For Your Lawn
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Many of us know how difficult it can be to maintain the health of our gardens throughout the year. With so much going on, from work to family life and then our everyday to-dos, there is often not much time to put effort towards the added extras. For many people, caring for a lawn or a garden is considered a luxury spend, one that is not an absolute necessity but rather a fun addition to your daily domestic life. However, caring for your own lawn at home can have many surprising benefits that make the process, time and effort worthwhile.
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When caring for your lawn, you create a space in which you can give back to nature, provide extra nutrients and natural space to your home, and potentially even introduce self-sustaining elements into your life. Here are even more benefits to consider:
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Sanctuary And Meditation
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For those of us who participate in extensive activities throughout the day, and often find it difficult to relax, a garden and beautiful lawn offer a great solution. When you have access to green outdoor spaces, you are guaranteed to improve your mental health and sense of wellness, as these areas encourage meditation, relaxation and an opportunity to create some mental space.
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Ample research suggests that tending to a garden is a form of therapy that can improve a person’s lifespan through increased physical labour — which allows people of any age to enjoy weeding, mowing on a ride on mower, planting flowers or watering seeds — and the introduction of calm in anybody’s busy schedule. Having a lawn will provide a beautiful environment for you to take a break day in and day out, assessing the natural world around you and enjoying what nature has to offer.
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Outdoor Activities And Play
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As we all know, when staying indoors there are many ways to entertain yourself, but unfortunately, many of these activities tend to involve technology. As many of us spend so much time in front of screens every day, it is vital to introduce moments of detox. As humans, we respond well to physical exercise and play, which is why it’s so important to get out of your house and exercise regularly, or otherwise engage in play.
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When you have a lawn and a ride on mower, you’ll find that there are endless ways to play throughout the day. Invite your friends, kids and family members outside to participate in the day’s gardening activities or sit atop the mower and embrace the fun of being outside again.
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Better Air Quality
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If you live in a city center, or anywhere near heavy industrial plants, then you’ll certainly notice the impact that these areas have on the local air quality. Unfortunately, in industrial areas, heavy machinery, manufacturing and coal power introduce smog and pollution to the local environment, making it difficult for both people and animals to stay healthy. This can eventually affect your lung health, eye health, skin and much more
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Although it may seem that not much can be done to stop these large-scale drops in air quality, individuals and communities can play their part by tending to their lawns using their ride-on mowers, removing alien weeds and planting natural Indigenous trees which can assist with reducing carbon dioxide and increasing the availability of quality oxygen. Grass actually acts as a natural air filter that can trap pollutants, therefore making the area around your home that much fresher.
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Enhanced Property Value
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A clean, well-trimmed lawn and healthy garden actually have immense economic benefits. Properties that feature healthy gardens have a major market advantage compared to those that do not. This is because a healthy garden is often hard to find, especially in more urban areas where space is often sparse and people tend to live more cosmopolitan lifestyles that deprioritise the importance of natural living.
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Thus, gardens are in high demand among buyers, as these spaces offer more room for entertainment, and are certainly more friendly for children and pets. A healthy garden also signals a caring owner, and potential buyers will see this space as an indication of good, trust-worthy maintenance throughout the rest of the home.
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Natural Education And Eco-Consciousness
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The best way to learn more about your environment is to spend more time cultivating and conserving the natural world around you. While it is certainly possible to become a budding botanist with the help of any natural science book, it would be far easier to embed this way of thinking into your life by actually integrating it into your routine.
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When you are working with seeds, and irrigation systems, using your ride-on mower to care for the lawn, observing flowers’ needs and pruning trees, you are indirectly ingraining a better understanding of the local environment within yourself. What’s more, by doing so, you are actively contributing to the conservation and robust care of your local ecosystem, which is an important thing to do in the context of urbanisation, deforestation and species extinction.
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Birdlife And Bugs
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Whenever you do good in your garden, you also do good for the local species. If you’ve lived in flat blocks and apartments before in city centres, then you would have noticed that there are probably limited animals, birds or wildlife nearby.
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However, if you are the owner of a beautiful garden full of diverse plants, well-trimmed grass and a bird foundation or feeder, then you will be frequently visited by a gorgeous array of natural life. In fact, you will probably be lucky enough to see hoopoes, hummingbirds, and other lovely sightings besides simple pigeons. What’s more, you will encounter a number of wonderful bugs which — despite the fears that some may have — do a great deal to keep your natural ecosystem moving along effectively.
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Temperature Regulation
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Lawns assist with cooling down their surroundings, as the grass acts as a natural filter, and tends to use up heat to photosynthesise plants and more. Consequently, homeowners who are using ride-on mowers to keep their lawns spacious, clear and clean, will notice that their gardens provide some cooler air during hotter months.
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In the heat of summer, this is a wonderful bonus, and it will only make you want to enjoy the greenery more. This is a natural type of air conditioning that requires no advanced technology or electricity expenditure. Instead, it just requires you to spend some extra time cultivating your outdoor spaces and tending to the health of your local environment.
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Buy a Ride On Mower Today
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If you’re serious about landscaping, then it’s vital that you invest in a mower or a ride on mower and the other needed tools to care for your lawn. Call BS Power today to determine the best product for you, and then place your order swiftly. This will give you time to prepare your garden for the upcoming summer season.