Landscaping not only provides instant curb appeal, but it can substantially improve your lifestyle. Every square foot of yard space is potentially a vacation spot waiting to happen.

Homeowners are calling A Abby Group to turn unused yard space into equity-building outdoor living areas. Whether it's patios or gardens to entertain family and friends, or landscape and hardscape designs to uplift a facade, landscaping is an effective and cost-efficient way to add value, beauty, and function to your home.

Realtors often rely on A Abby Group to give a home instant curb appeal and promote a quick sale. Market-conscious homeowners understand the value of landscaping to enrich a neighborhood.

It all makes sense, but once a home looks like a million bucks, how much will it cost to preserve the investment? Actually, following a few simple steps will keep your landscape flourishing for years on end, but unless you have a strong back and the time to do it, it is advisable to rely on a professional service like A Abby Group. Call us today. Discuss your ideas with a friendly landscape specialist who can answer all your questions and provide you with a free, no obligation estimate.

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TOP TIPS FOR SUMMER

1) Mosquito Control: Combat West Nile Virus
Use mosquito repellents when you work outside. More importantly, gear your yard care to mosquito control by taking away breeding habitats for mosquitoes. That means common-sense sanitation, plus eliminating areas where water would puddle. Look around your yard after a rain shower for potential breeding grounds.

2) Keeping the Turf Healthy
The demands of lawn maintenance can be a constant nuisance. And if your grass should die, it can be costly to replace. Learn how to achieve peace of mind by having a professional service applying lawn fertilizers on a schedule. If you have the time and energy, practice effective turf maintenance, but aside from having all the proper tools, be ready for a rather unpleasant aspect of yard care: removing thatch.

3) Check Your Lawn Mower
No matter how faithfully you follow the advice in Tip 2, lawn maintenance will be a major hassle unless your lawn mower is running properly. Carefully check your blade and make sure its clean and sharp. A dull blade will inflict more damage than benefits.

4) Yard Care the Easy Way: Auto-Irrigation
Drought is another enemy of lawns. The frugal can save money on their water bills in the long run through watering lawns with irrigation systems, if they ensure settings are at their most efficient. And there's no question correctly installed irrigation promotes easier yard care. [ SEE: IRRIGATION TIPS ]

5) Plant Drought-Tolerant Plants in Sunny Areas
Of course, other plants besides your grass have water needs, too. To make your life easier, make sure that your sunny areas are planted with plants that are meant to take a lot of sun. A low-maintenance, water-wise, yet still attractive landscape plan for a sunny area calls for the use of drought-tolerant plants.

6) Plant Shade-Tolerant Plants in Shady Areas
Do you have a shady spot on your property that always looks bare, because nothing you plant there seems to like all that shade? Unlike the drought-tolerant plants, some plants do thrive in the shade. Don't let those shady spots on your landscape go bare another year: Shop around this summer for shade-tolerant plants, then plant them in early fall, after the worst of the August heat has subsided.

7) Preparing Your Yard for Hurricane Season
Hurricane damage can be costly to your property. Reduce the costs of potential hurricane damage through prevention.

1. Make sure shed doors are closed tightly: they could end up blowing off their hinges and becoming dangerous projectiles.

2. Bring in flags and secure all awnings.

3. Do not park cars under or near trees (especially if you may be in the car when the storm strikes).

4. Firmly stake tall garden plants that could snap in high winds.

5. Store plastic/aluminum patio furniture and lawn ornaments, such as gazing balls, in garage or protected area. These also become dangerous projectiles in a violent storm.

6. Keep pools filled and check pool covers to ensure that they are secure.

7. Remember that storms sometimes bring flooding in their wake, and that means potential erosion problems. If you live on a steep slope or close to a body of water, you must keep up with local weather bulletins. In areas of your yard where water is known to pass through, remove any items of value that might be carried off.

8) Prepare for Fall
Don't wait till fall to think about displaying fall color on your property. You need to plan for fall color in the summertime and act!

Call A Abby Group for all your landscaping solutions.