Have you ever wondered why your lawn turns a dingy brown in the wintertime while your neighbor maintains a lush, green lawn year-round? The answer involves one simple practice, but it’s something that many homeowners neglect in the early fall (generally September 15th through October 15th) — overseeding. Overseeding simply means spreading ryegrass seeds over your lawn to encourage new growth, prevent thinning, and keep that beautiful green color you envy in your neighbor’s yard. We’ll take a look at how to use this practice properly to keep your lawn looking great until spring.

Cut grass short and remove the clippings (dethatching).

To ensure that seeds make their way to the soil, you must first cut your existing lawn. You should set your mower with no more than two inches of clearance and remove the clippings and dead thatch from the lawn as you mow.

Test soil in problem areas.

If you notice patches with consistently brown or thinning grass, the soil may be a problem. Before applying new seed, test these areas to ensure that the soil is healthy and ready to grow healthy new grass.

Seed and fertilize evenly.

Once your lawn has been adequately prepared, you will want to evenly spread seeds over the grass and then fertilize with starter fertilizer in seeded areas. For small patches, you can seed by hand. In larger lawns, a broadcast spreader may be needed.

Water your lawn regularly.

With newly seeded lawns, you need a consistent watering schedule. Light, frequent waterings are ideal, as you don’t want too much moisture wilting the new grass.

For custom residential landscaping to keep your Tucson lawn looking great, contact the experts at Santa Rita Landscaping. We have been serving Southern Arizona for decades, and we understand the unique climate and soil in the area, so we can create a lawn and landscape design that looks great in every season. To schedule a consultation with our team, visit us online or call (520) 623-0421.

Located in the city of Marrakech, the Jardin Majorelle is one of the most popular tourist sites in Morocco. It was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle, who spent 40 years designing the lush gardens and villa on the property. The garden is also home to the Berber Museum and a memorial to Yves Saint Laurent, who became the owner of the Jardin Marjorelle in 1980.

History of Jardin Majorelle

Jacques Majorelle was an amateur botanist who found himself in Morocco after his health forced him to leave the military in 1917. He initially settled in Casablanca, but found the area too humid, before making a home in Marrakech. He was inspired by the rich and vibrant colors of the city and devoted much of his time to painting his surroundings. In 1923, he bought four plots of land and named the property Bou Saf Saf. There, he indulged his interest in botany and carefully expanded the gardens while adding neighboring pieces of land to the domain.

During this time, Majorelle also added a Cubist villa near the main house, and ultimately found that he couldn’t sustain the property on its own. He opened up the gardens—which by this point boasted plant life from five continents—to the public in order to earn money to maintain his home.

Visiting the Jardin Majorelle

Guests flock to the Jardin Majorelle from all over the world. The two-and-a-half acre garden features exotic plants from around the world, as well as a café, a gallery of artwork by Yves Saint Laurent, and much more. The gardens and the Berber Museum are wheelchair accessible.

The gardens are open every day of the year. Hours vary, depending on the season. Reduced admission prices are available for students and Moroccan citizens.

Rental properties are often thought of as a form of passive income, but veteran landlords know better. It takes a lot of work to find and keep great tenants. But with these beautiful and low-maintenance landscaping ideas, you can make your to-do list a bit shorter.

Shape the landscape with earthy pavers.

Earth-toned pavers are popular among Arizona landowners. They blend in well with the desert landscape, and they look natural among desert plants like succulents and flowering shrubs. You can have the landscape design team use earthy pavers to create a beautiful walkway in front of the home, but why limit yourself? Consider adding more pavers to the backyard to build short walking paths and community gathering areas.

Place ornamental grasses in strategic locations.

In desert climates, ornamental grass is a fantastic substitute for turf. Landlords love it because it doesn’t need to be constantly mowed or watered. Here’s a look at some common types of ornamental grasses used in our area:

• Deer grass: Sun-loving and drought-tolerant. Green.
• Gulf muhly grass: Smaller than deer grass, but showier. Pinkish flowers.
• Mexican thread grass: Fast-growing with a fine, feathery texture. Green, but golden in the fall.
• Blue grama: Sun-loving and moderately drought-tolerant. Blue-green.

Add desert-friendly trees for shade.

Your tenants will thank you for adding shade trees to their outdoor spaces. Some desert-friendly shade trees are:

• Blue palo verde: Fast-growing with yellow-green foliage
• Mimosa: Heat-loving with dense canopy for excellent shade coverage
• Acacia saligna: Fast-growing with a very wide canopy for year-round shade
• Purple leaf plum: Very low-maintenance with brilliant purplish foliage

Install artificial turf.

If you do want to give your tenants some lawn space, but don’t want to get it mowed and watered regularly, consider having the landscaping company install artificial turf. It requires very little maintenance. And these days, artificial turf is available in super-soft varieties that are a pleasure to walk on.

Santa Rita Landscaping has earned a reputation for unbeatable craftsmanship and superb customer service. Call our office in Tucson at (520) 623-0421, and find out for yourself why our clients rave about our work. We offer complete landscape design, installation, and maintenance for residential and commercial properties, including apartment complexes and rental homes.

Charleston’s Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is the only garden in the state of South Carolina to have been designated as one of America’s Most Beautiful Gardens by Travel + Leisure Magazine. It’s America’s last large-scale Romantic-style garden and the most visited plantation in Charleston.

History of the Grounds

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens was founded by the Drayton Family in 1676 and has survived through the American Revolution and Civil War. It began welcoming guests in 1970 and is now the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry and the oldest public gardens in the country. Unlike most public gardens in the US, which are formally designed without regard to the natural surroundings, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens were created and continues to be designed around the natural environment, showcasing the beauty of the area alongside the spectacular garden designs.

Visiting Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

The large, romantic-style gardens—the largest, unrestored gardens in the country—are what bring people through the gates. Each generation of the Drayton family has added to the gardens, which now is home to countless species of flowers that bloom all year long.

Visitors to the grounds can also take the Nature Train Tour, where they will explore the wetlands and marshes on a tram, with a close-up look at the alligators, turtles, and other wildlife that live in the Lowcountry. The Rice Field Boat Tour and Magnolia Cabin Project Tour offer a look at the history of the area, including the legacy of slavery. A zoo, gift shop, and café round out the experience.

Has it been a while since you’ve had a landscaper get to work on your property? An overgrown lawn and out-of-control weeds can cost you in more ways than one. Not only do you risk annoying your neighbors, but the city of Tucson just might decide to fine you. Plus, if you’re considering selling your home, unkempt landscaping could deter potential buyers and lower your home’s value.

Unkempt Landscaping Code in Tucson

The municipality of Tucson requires property owners, lessees, and residents to maintain the vegetation around the building. This section of the city code is designed to minimize potential fire, safety, and health hazards, and to discourage vermin from taking up residency at the property or the neighboring land. Tucson considers the following vegetation-related problems to be in violation of the city code:

• Grass taller than six inches
• Weeds taller than six inches
• Dead trees and dead shrubs
• Dead palm fronds within 10 feet of the ground, wall, or any combustible structure
• Any vegetation that may obstruct the use of the sidewalk, street, alley, or traffic lights

Fines for Violations

If any homeowner is found in violation of the city code, a city official can issue a notice of violation. This notice describes the conditions that need to be remedied and sets a deadline for correcting them. If the homeowner does not take the required steps within that time period, the city can issue fines and possibly file criminal charges.

Potential Liability Issues of Your Home

In addition to municipal fines, unkempt landscaping may lead to liability issues. Property owners are required to maintain the grounds in a reasonably safe condition. If someone sustains an injury due to unkempt landscaping, then you may be subject to a civil lawsuit. For example, if an overgrown shrub obstructs a street light, traffic light, or traffic sign, it may contribute to an accident.

Santa Rita Landscaping provides artistic landscaping design solutions and professional installation services for homeowners in the Tucson area. Our award-winning Design Center will find the perfect outdoor design for every budget. Call us at (520) 623-0421 to request a consult, and browse our online portfolio of beautiful outdoor spaces.