Reasons Growing Zones Matter In Gardening

Education, Gardening, Irrigation

Do you ever wonder why some people seem to have a way with planting vegetables, shrubs, and flowers, while others seem to kill everything they touch? Sometimes, it is not a green thumb like some people seem to think, but just an understanding of what is needed to help everything grow properly. When planning to redo the shrubs, plants, and trees on your property, many people choose to use a landscaper because they are not familiar with what plants, trees, and flowers grow in our area. There are some people who choose to do the landscaping themselves because they want to keep costs lower or they just want to try doing it on their own. If you are attempting to plant your own landscaping, you should get familiar with growing zones. Growing zones are determined by the typical annual temperatures in that region. Certain maps also take into consideration the amount of rainfall per year.

Why Use Mulch In Your Landscaping

Fertilizer Tips, Gardening, Irrigation

If you are looking to redo your landscaping this year before the heat of summer arrives, there is one thing you cannot do without — mulch. Mulch is any type of material that is laid out as a covering over soil. It is not only used to protect the soil, but it protects the foliage nearby. For home landscaping, most homeowners prefer to use wood mulch. A layer of mulch provides many benefits and can be used around shrubs, bushes, and trees. It can also be used as a soft surface for a playground.

Lawn Mowing Tips

Education, Gardening, Hernando County, Irrigation, Lawn Care & Maintenance, Spring Hill

Do you take great pride in your lawn? There are many factors that can contribute to a beautiful, lush, green lawn, such as weather, watering technique, fertilization, and lawn mowing practice. If you cut your own lawn, and you have been less than thrilled with the appearance recently, we are sorry to tell you, but you may be to blame. Not cutting your lawn properly can lead to damaged grass that looks less than ideal. We want to share some lawn mowing tips to help you achieve the lawn of your dreams:

Tips For Starting A Vegetable Garden

Education, Gardening, Hernando County, Irrigation

Over the past few years, farm-to-table restaurants have become extremely popular, introducing more people to the idea of growing their own food. Also, with higher grocery prices, more people than ever before are becoming interested in adding a vegetable garden to their property to help with food expenses each month. Before starting your garden, it is important to decide which vegetables and herbs you want to harvest. It is also important to map out your yard and determine which location gets ideal sunlight. Finally, it is important to determine if you want your garden to be directly in the soil or if you are interested in building a raised garden bed. Here are some tips to help you have a successful garden.

Protecting Your Lawn And Landscaping From Frost

Education, Gardening, Landscaping, Lawn Care & Maintenance

Many people choose to live in our area of Florida for the mild winters, although we still have our fair share of frigid days. While our daily temperature will never get anywhere close to single digits, we still have some days that reach close to or below freezing. Even though we have milder winters than other places across the country, we still have to prepare our lawns and outside landscaping for winter weather. We would hate for a frost to strike while you are unprepared and destroy areas of your property. We want to share some helpful tips to be sure that your lawn and landscaping stays protected this winter.

Common Florida Weeds

Education, Gardening, Irrigation

Having a healthy and beautiful lawn requires a certain amount of maintenance. It’s important to make sure that your lawn is cut to the appropriate height for the season. Also, be sure to water it properly. At Challenger Irrigation, we can help you care for your lawn by installing an irrigation system. We can set up your system to ensure that your lawn is being watered properly. As much as you try to create a lawn that is beautiful, it is not uncommon for pesky weeds to get in the way. One of the easiest ways to help prevent weeds from overpowering your lawn is to apply a fertilizer that kills weeds. Before you invest in fertilizer, it is important to know what type of weeds are in your lawn.

Ways To Add Privacy To Your Yard

Education, Gardening, Irrigation, Landscaping

Would you love to add some privacy to your backyard? Whether you have nosy neighbors, live on a corner lot that everyone driving by can see into, or you hear noise from a nearby major roadway, it is not uncommon to add elements to your yard to help with privacy. Not only does it make your yard more private and enjoyable, but it can also add value to your home as well. We want to share some creative ways that we have seen clients add privacy to their yards.

Flowers That Can Withstand The Hot Florida Heat

Gardening, Irrigation, Landscaping

Are you looking to make a change to your property? Adding flowers and landscaping is one of the easiest ways to enhance the curb appeal of your home and update the appearance of the backyard. One of the biggest challenges when living in a climate such as Florida is the water needed to ensure the ground has enough moisture to make it suitable for planting and that your choices will last through the high heat of the summer. One of the best ways to be sure that any flowers, landscaping and trees will survive the summer heat is with an irrigation system. It is the best way to ensure that Mother Nature cannot affect the time and money you have put into your garden.