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Top five landscaping mistakes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL DELOREY

We asked local landscapers for their opinions on the top mistakes homeowners make in landscaping their property. We received a variety of answers, but these emerged as the top five:

1. Over-mulching. “People tend to over-mulch,” says Jeff Souza of J.D. Souza in East Falmouth. “Homeowners tend to think more is better, but over-mulching leads to root rot, which kills the plant. Anything over three inches is too much.”

“I see two extremes: People don’t mulch at all or they mulch too much,” says Mary LeBlanc, a Cotuit-based landscape designer.

A certain amount of mulch is beneficial to plants because mulch conserves moisture and deters weed growth, but “too much mulch can smother plants and cause rot around the stems,” says Paul Luciano of Luciano & Son in South Chatham.

“If you keep layering every year,” says Chris Joyce, owner of Joyce landscaping in Marstons Mills, “you’re going to suffocate the plants.” He encourages removing the old mulch before applying a new layer. Most landscapers recommend a layer of mulch of about two inches.

2. Improper pruning. Paul Luciano has seen far too many plants pruned into balls. “Most plants look better when hand pruned and have a more natural shape,” he says.

Mary LeBlanc says she sees a lot of yews and Japanese hollies trimmed into inverted pyramids. “Some electric hedge trimming is OK,” she says, “but use hand clippers to soften the look.”

“People just take out the hedge shears,” observes Chris Joyce. “Very few plants want to be hedge sheared.”

Landscapers encourage homeowners to learn about a plant’s pruning requirements and to consider the plant’s natural shape when pruning. While privets and box hedges may accept geometric pruning, other plants look best when allowed their natural growth habit. Failure to consider pruning requirements may also result in lopping off blossoms. Some plants, like lilac, form flower buds in summer for the next year’s bloom. “You might lose blooms if you prune at the wrong time,” cautions Jeff Souza. “Plants have different requirements for pruning.”

3. Improper planning. “People don’t properly plan out the project, and they often end up with a mess,” says Chris Joyce. “The landscape installation isn’t properly planned for a harmonious effect.”

If you fail to plan the overall scheme, your yard may end up looking like a hodgepodge. Professionals encourage homeowners to create a complete landscape plan considering site conditions (including drainage), maintenance and budget. How much time and money are you willing to spend on landscaping?

“Sometimes homeowners take on the Big Dig, and it’s more than they can handle,” says Jeff Souza. “Then they become overwhelmed.”

Dave Rogers of Art in Green in Brewster finds that homeowners often underestimate costs. “Most homeowners’ only reference to costs is what they see on the plant tags as they leave Stop & Shop,” he says. A complete landscape redesign can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

4. Wrong plant for site. Homeowners make the common mistake of selecting plants that will eventually grow too big for the site, says Mary LeBlanc. “They’ll plant dwarf Alberta spruces, which look darling at the nursery, next to the foundation. Many years later they’re 12 feet tall. Or rhododendrons—you’ll see people take the hedge trimmer to cut an opening to the front door.”

Homeowners also tend to disregard a plant’s growing requirements. Plant sun-loving plants in full sun. Others, like rhododendrons, appreciate some shade. “When you go to the nursery, you really do need to read the tag,” LeBlanc says. “And with the Internet, it’s so easy to Google search and find out all about a plant’s requirements.”

Dave Rogers also encourages homeowners to think about a plant’s function. Do you want privacy screening? Plants to attract birds? A cutting garden? “Many homeowners go for color instead of function,” Rogers says. He advises homeowners to resist the urge to buy a plant on impulse.

5. Improper lawn care. Paul Luciano says homeowners usually mow grass too short or leave it too long. In early spring and late fall, grass length should be 2 to 2-1/4 inches. In the heat of summer, grass length should be longer: 2-3/4 to 3 inches to keep the soil cooler and to promote strong root development. He also encourages homeowners to rake fall leaves. “Leaves left on a lawn can cause the grass to die,” he notes.

Besides lawn-mowing mistakes, homeowners tend to over-fertilize, says Chris Joyce. “Hire a professional or read the instructions on how much fertilizer to use,” he advises.

When it comes to fertilizer, more is not necessarily better. Research shows that most grasses require only modest levels of nitrogen for good color and controlled growth.

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