Ten yard problems and how to fix them

As summer gives way to fall many of us will still be spending time out in the garden, entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the time in the sun before the winter. But real yards aren't without their issues too. Here are ten common yard problems and how to address them.

The grass is not greener

If your grass is suffering due to lack of care, it may be time to evaluate your fertilizing, watering, and mowing schedule. But another alternative is to replace it all together. Alternative ground covers can provide greenery without all the drudgery. Clover can be a remarkably easy alternative. And in shady areas moss may well be the logical choice. Other ground covers include thyme and periwinkle. Ask for advice at your local nursery.

Don't miss out on fall foliage

Although many of our Canadian trees, including the iconic maple, don't lack for fall impact, some planning can add even more colour to your garden over the fall. Try sumach (the non-poison kind of course), red chokeberry, and tor spirea. Another approach is to replace container plants with displays of dried flowers, gourds, and other fall ornaments.

Winter blahs

When planning a garden don't forget to incorporate some evergreen and other plants of winter interest. Also plan for height: if all your foliage is low lying enough to be covered by snow, it doesn't matter which colour it is. Ornamental grasses, plants which leave interesting fruit such as bayberry plants, and plants with coloured barks such as red osier dogwood are great additions to the more traditional conifer plants to keep gardens vibrant.

Grey and faded decks and fencing

As long as the wood is still sound, you can clean and revive your deck and fencing. First, inspect the area to see whether there is a stain or sealer on the wood. Although deck cleaners are made to clean stained or sealed surfaces (and will in fact remove the sealer), a stained section will make the wood look blotchy if the rest has worn away. If you can see stain left in low-traffic areas, use a stripper in the area to get rid of it, following the manufacturer's instructions.

The next day (or later) you can use the deck cleaner -- plan to spray and then do a lot of scrubbing, again, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Take care not to use a pressure washer at too high a setting or you could damage the soft wood's surface. Finish with a sealer and you'll have what looks like a new deck or fence.

Clear clutter

It may all be useful objects stacked by the garage to you, but to others those bits and pieces can look like junk. If they're not worth actual storage space, it may be time to get rid of them. Go through the pile and be ruthless about whether or not you actually have specific plans -- and a specific timeline -- to use each item. If not, donate the item or have it hauled to the dump.

Lack of privacy

The long term solution may be to plant fast-growing shrubbery, but there's also a this-year fix: try using matching stepladders as a makeshift arbor to shield your yard from the neighbour's, and train vines up as well as placing plants on the steps. Tall container plants can also help to create a green fence of sorts.

Swimming pool ate garden

If your backyard seems to be all pool, take heart. There is a solution: free-standing containers. Choose clay, metal, or wood planters and place them around the pool to create a sense of greenery and style. Just be sure you place watering into your routine -- or make it the condition for friends and relatives who want to come for a swim. To avoid winter blahs, look for a hard pool cover that keeps the snow up.

Keep weeds at bay

If weeds seem to be taking over try the following weed-busting tips. Where possible, dig weeds out by hand -- but be sure to reseed the lawn, if they are in the grass. In flowerbeds, once weeded spread mulch between the flowers to keep them from re-growing. Cut your lawn a little more often to help grass outgrow the weeds. And between patio stones or in the sidewalk, pour boiling water over the weeds and then fill the cracks with sand.

For tips and weed-pulling gadgets, see Great garden gadgets.

You can't find the house

If shrubbery has taken over your lot, it's time to get out the hedge clippers. Trim hedges to the bottom of the windowsills; take out any hedges that are truly oversized. If you want to cover an unsightly wall, window boxes or ivy may be a better choice than hedges that seem to have eaten your home.

Small space

If your yard is suffering from its size, here's a tip for you: think vertical! You can create a sense of lush greenery and still enjoy an area to entertain if you use wall space, trellises, and even arbors to allow climbing plants to thrive. If you have a lot of sunshine try clematis or climbing roses; if it's shady consider Boston ivy or, if you don't mind the wait for it to grow, hydrangea.

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