Loving where you live starts with functional and beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy with family and friends (paying respect to social distancing regulations).
The Covid-19 quarantine has many of us marooned at home probably looking for something to do other than watch the grim news on television or scroll through the endless Facebook group rants. With an abundance of free time and with the majority of recreational outlets and businesses being closed within New Jersey many individuals have turned towards completing to-do lists in and around the home that they may not have had time for before in order to create spaces that they will be proud of and want to spend time in both now and for the days to come.
These three outdoor home improvement tips will have you falling in love with your outdoor living spaces in no time;
1 . WEED … WEED … WEED – Now is the perfect time to start digging into household chores – particularly those pertaining to the backyard. Mild winters in and around the New Jersey area gave weeds a head start on pesky and unwanted growth. Now is a great time to head into your lawn / garden and start grappling weed issues before the spring onslaught when weeds are in their prime growing stages. Be sure to grab weed from the base and swiftly pull upwards in order to detach the weed / root from the soil to avoid regrowth in the coming months. You can save weeds / sticks and dead plants for your compost pile to use later on.
2 . Landscaping / Hardscaping Maintenance – With proper installation and maintenance, landscaping and hardscaping roots can last for many years to come. Living in New Jersey, means that homeowners understand the value and quality of Bergen County hardscaping. Hiring the right man or woman for the job will make a huge difference in outcome, cost and overall experience. Onorato Landscaping is a full-service landscaping, hardscaping, and lawn service company that deliver superior value to both their residential and commercial customers and come highly recommended within the area. Onorato Landscaping, LLC prides themselves on being Bergen County’s Value Leader in Landscaping and Hardscaping . With over 10+ years of experience Onorato Landscaping’s mission is to over-deliver in every phase of the work the provide, from the first meeting to the moment they finish a project. They offer landscaping services such as landscape design, lawn care & maintenance, landscaping lighting and yard drainage. In addition to this, they also offer several hardscaping services such as paver driveways, patios, retaining and rock walls, walkways and masonry, stairways and stoops and firepits and/or outdoor fireplaces. The possibilities with landscaping and hardscaping are endless – from water gardens and waterfalls to pergolas and giant boulders. Enlisting the right help with have you on your way to an outdoor space that you will find true happiness in and enjoy.
3 . Starting your own Garden – Now is an excellent time to start a garden in New Jersey ! Gardening has always been touted as a relaxing recreational activity that can provide great personal rewards. During New Jersey’s stay-at-home order, many families have been leaning towards gardening as a positive family-inclusive activity to adopt. It is a fantastic way for adults and children alike to cope with boredom, get some much-needed fresh air, practice motor skills and learn/ re-learn work ethic and important life skills. Be sure to choose a location with adequate sun exposure and sunlight, good garden soil quality for the vegetables you are planting, adequate water supply, optimal proximity from home, and an area that will be free of wildlife and pet roaming. For early spring plantings with late-spring harvests, choose cool-season vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, radishes and peas. Mid-spring planting for summer harvests include tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash and cucumbers. Perennial plants such as strawberries and asparagus are also fantastic options that thrive in New Jersey weather and soil quality. If you are unsure of what to plant and what supplies you may need – several local colleges such as Stockton University and Rutgers University as well as local agricultural centers have open resources on the web to easily access and answer questions.
Whether you choose to move plants, divide big perennials, prune blooming shrubs or spruce up your favorite window box / planter be sure to enjoy this time to yourself and/or family, have fun, continue to practice safe social distancing measures, enlist help when needed and do your research in what will thrive the best within your growing yard and garden.
Wishing you and your family a safe, happy and healthy Spring !
Happily Ky 