The terms “landscaping” and “lawn maintenance” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different activities. The fact that the best landscaping services often do both does not mean that they are the same thing.

Landscaping

Landscaping, in its most basic form, refers to the change and improvement in a property to make it either more attractive or appealing or to enhance its practical applications. This applies to all the external areas of the property that a house is built on. All of your open area is available for landscaping. To put it another way, if you sit inside your house and look out the window to your yard and you see a change that has been made that improves its look or usability that is landscaping that has been done. There is also landscaping that cannot be seen but is a part of the visible features. This applies to such things as irrigation systems, underground drainage and plumbing for fountains and water features, etc.

Many homeowners make the mistake of presuming that landscaping requires only artistic sensibility and skill. This is only partly true. While the conceptualization of a landscape design requires artistic and design talent, the implementation demands knowledge of horticulture, soil and climatic conditions, electrical work (for lighting, etc.), plumbing and more. Landscaping includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Planting flowerbeds, shrubs, trees, etc.
• Lawns
• Flowering trees
• Foundation plantings
• Walkways
• Driveways
• Fountains
• Lighting

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Also Read: Different Types of Landscaping Services

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Lawn Maintenance

Once a landscape is in place, it will need to be maintained. This involves several different, but also connected activities. Some of them are:

• Mowing: Grass must be regularly mowed to not just keep the lawn looking fresh and usable but also for the health of the grass. An unkempt lawn is an invitation to weeds and other insects to make it their home.
• Weed Control: Weeds are a perennial problem. Not only do they detract from the look of the lawn in particular and the landscape as a whole, but they also suck nutrients from the soil and deny the plants you want to grow access to the nutrition they need.
• Fertilization: In most cases, the soil will not contain all the nutrients that the grass and plants that form the landscape need to grow. To ensure that the plants grow to look their best and remain strong, fertilizer will have to be used.
• Fungicide: Regular controlled use of fungicide will keep the lawn healthy and free of disease.
• Pest Control: Grubs, ticks and other pests will damage the shrubbery and lawn. Pest control will keep them away.
• Plant Health: Plants can become diseased for many reasons and it takes an expert in horticulture to be able to spot problems and treat them before they become worse and spread through the garden.

Using lawn installation companies, or preferably, a landscaping service, will ensure that the open area around the house looks its best and gives you the maximum pleasure in terms of appearance and usability. The best landscaping companies will also offer maintenance services to ensure that the landscapes they create continue to look their best in the future.