Landscaping Tips for Yard Care

• Mucho mulch
  Mulch looks good, helps retain soil moisture, keeps down the weeds and improves your soil. Apply mulch 2-3 inches deep around plants and out to the drip line of trees. Coarser mulch such as pine bark can be 3-4 inches deep (remember to leave enough space around the trunk of trees and plants). The most environmentally-friendly method is to recycle tree cuttings and other non-pest organic debris from your yard as mulch.
• If you must
  If you do purchase mulch from a hardware store, avoid cypress mulch and any mulch that may contain pressure treated wood. The best kind of mulch is pine bark, which is in big enough pieces to keep the weeds down and allow water to pass through it. An added plus: It’s a by-product of Florida's forests.
• It’s all in the timing
  The best time to water is in the morning before 10 a.m. or in the evening after 4 p.m. In fact, watering during the day isn’t just wasteful, it's illegal. Miami-Dade County residents should be aware of permanent landscape irrigation restrictions that prohibits watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is limited to twice a week.
• Tree pruning is an art and science
  Some things are just best left to qualified and certified professionals. Hat racking and causing other severe tree damage is illegal in Miami-Dade County and can end up costing you a lot of money. Get all of the right information first, and prune later.
• Don’t overdo it!
  Only use the minimum amounts of pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer recommended on the label. Trees and shrubs usually need less than you think. Increase amounts of these products only if necessary.
• Don’t use "weed and feed"
  It can actually harm your trees and pollute the ground water.
• Bricks are better
  Don’t pave over your lawn. Instead, use porous pavers or bricks for your driveway. This will allow rainwater to soak back into the ground.
• Compost
  When you compost, vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and other organic materials break down into a material you can mix into your soil, helping to improve your garden condition. Besides being inexpensive, composting helps reduce watering needs by allowing the soil to retain more moisture.

Note: For more ideas about yard care and pest control, contact the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service.