Old Lawns Need Landscaping Too

People who move into new houses are able to have their front and back yards designed anyway they wish. But people with long-established yards can give their landscape a new look with some easy techniques.

It''s easy to landscape your lawn when you''re moving into a brand-new house and you''re faced with an empty canvas on to work your magic. It''s only slightly more difficult to landscape a yard that has been in existence for several years and has grown set in its ways.

Whether your yard is new or old, the key to getting everything done quickly, efficiently, and with a minimum of muss and fuss is to make a plan before hand. Know what you want to do, know what you have to do...and then do it.

Just as you would before you plan a new or major renovation of your yard, take some time to learn about its features. Do more than observe where the sun shines best and when - write it down so you can take advantage of it. Note where water collects after spring thaw or heavy rain. What is the direction of the prevailing wind? Where does your lawn slope? Where are the best views?

It''s not necessary to redo the entire yard just to fix a few localized problems. If you have places where the grass has died, figure out why. Does it not get enough sun? It''s difficult to grow grass underneath shade trees, for example, but it can be done. Simply water the tree extremely well so that the water goes down to the roots, so that the roots don''t have to come up to the surface to compete with the grass. However long you like to mow the rest of your grass, set your mower to allow the grass underneath the trees to grow slightly longer, so it is better able to absorb the sunlight.

No problems, just bored with the old?
Again, there''s no need for a major facelift. Simply add a few new features which will end up making the whole yard look new.

Re-painting or re-staining your fences are always a good idea. If you don''t like the look of a fence you can always put a line of shrubberies against the public sidewalk and let their beauty add to your privacy. Of course you''ll have to prune them frequently to keep them looking neat.

Do you like your flower beds and vegetable garden but simply feel that there''s something missing? The finishing touch can often be as simple as a piece of statuary, or other ornament. Visit your local garden store to see what types of items they offer, or search the web.

Adding statues and different fixtures is cheaper way to bring a new look to a landscape. You''ll probably be able to find local businesses offering statuary, but there''s no reason not to surf the web and see what else is out there. is a company that offers dragons, eagles, gargoyles and even humorous pigs as well as the more typical types of ornamentation. Hastings Architectural is one of many sites that also offer statues, and planters of all kinds.

Brighten up your lawn
The easiest way to brighten up your backyard - or your front yard, come to that, is by adding new flowers. It''s not even necessary to dig up a portion of your yard and plant flower beds. Simply grow the flowers in portable pots and you can move the pots around from spot to spot as the spirit moves you, as a sort of moveable feast for the eyes.

If you do want to add flower beds, make sure you choose the right location that gets plenty of sunlight, and that the soil pH balance is adequate for your needs. Then discuss what you''d like to have with the people at your local garden store who can advise you on what flowers grow best in your area, when they bloom, and other considerations.

Enjoy It
It''s hard to enjoy your yard if you can''t view it comfortably except from your kitchen windows. So consider picking up some comfortable wicker furniture, or even a couple of rocking chairs, for use in your garden.

Andrew Caxton enjoys writing about gardening for http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . A website with tips on landscaping, amongst many related topics.