The past few weeks in Kansas City have seen some pretty heavy downpours, but according to weather experts, the Kansas City area is still badly in need of rain. This can be tricky for landscape design, particularly when all fingers seem to be pointing toward more drought-like conditions in the Kansas City metro and Midwest region. At SK Lawn and Landscape, our landscaping teams understand how the weather or lack of rain can affect the quality and longevity of adding landscape elements. Our goal has always been to provide quality professional lawn care, landscaping, and hardscaping services to our customers, and understanding how weather trends may impact landscape elements is a key consideration. In this week’s blog, we look at some of the factors we consider when adding landscaping in areas that may not see adequate rain.
Lawn Care and Landscaping in Kansas City, Leawood, and Overland Park
Landscaping in areas where rain is scarce requires some thoughtful planning and strategic choices. Here are some things our landscaping teams consider:
- Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them more likely to survive with minimal care. Our landscapers can help you pick the plants that are native to your area and incorporate them into your landscape design.
- Drought-Tolerant Plants: If native plants are not to your liking, consider drought-tolerant plants from other regions. Many succulents, like agave or aloe, have beautiful shapes and colors and require very little water. Plants like lavender, sage, or yucca can also withstand long periods without water.
- Mulch: Mulch is a layer of material applied to the soil’s surface. It can be organic – like bark chips, straw, compost, grass clippings – or inorganic – like stones, brick chips, or shredded tires. Mulch reduces evaporation, controls weeds, and can improve the soil over time, making it a must-have in dry landscapes.
- Efficient Irrigation: Consider using a drip irrigation system, soaker hoses, or other efficient irrigation methods. These systems deliver water directly to the root zone of your plants, reducing water waste from evaporation or runoff, which is essential during the hot summer months we often see in the Kansas City area.
- Grouping Plants According to Water Needs: Different plants have different water needs. By grouping plants with similar water requirements together, our landscapers can help make your watering more efficient and avoid over or under-watering some plants.
- Shape the Land for Water Conservation: Designing your landscape to take advantage of any rain that does fall is a key factor in effective landscaping. Swales, rain gardens, and terraces can help hold and distribute water in your landscape.
- Plant in the Right Season: Planting in the cooler season when there is a bit more rain can help plants establish before the dry season. Our landscapers can help you decide when the best time to plant is based on the current weather conditions and season in the Kansas City area.
- Select Deciduous Trees: Deciduous trees can provide shade in the summer, reducing water loss from plants underneath and keeping your house cooler. In winter, they lose their leaves, allowing sunlight to warm your house. However, if the leaves aren’t removed in the fall, it could be detrimental to the health of your lawn once spring arrives.
- Proper Maintenance: Pruning plants regularly will help get rid of any diseased or dead parts. This ensures that the water goes to parts of the plant that need it most.
Remember, every landscape is unique, so what works for one might not work for another. The good news is that SK Lawn and Landscape has successfully designed and installed thousands of landscaping projects in and around the Kansas City area, so we know what works and what doesn’t. When you’re ready to install landscaping that will last, SK Lawn and Landscape is ready to help. Call us today to schedule a free consultation and estimate at (816) 372-4965, or complete the contact form below, and we’ll be in contact.
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