Landscaping is a bit of a broad term. While it immediately calls to mind tasks such as mowing lawns and pruning trees, it also encompasses more complex projects such as fence additions and retaining wall construction. As such, regular maintenance of all landscaping structures should be a top priority for both private homeowners and commercial property managers alike. To help in this regard, keep reading for a detailed breakdown on 6 tips for maintaining your landscaping structures!

Make Inspection Part of Your Routine

Many homeowners and building managers make a structural inspection of the house or building part of their regular upkeep and maintenance routine.

And while it is just as important to regularly inspect your landscaping structures, it can be a bit easier to overlook them and assume that they will take care of themselves.

Therefore, be proactive and make landscaping a regular part of your inspection routine. What is the condition of the retaining wall? How are the fences? Are sidewalks, decks, and patios all in good shape?

By staying ahead of any potential issues, you can guarantee the safety, aesthetics, and functionality of all landscaping structures for the long-term.

Spray Regularly

Once you have made landscape inspection a regular part of your property management routine, then comes the next step: what do you actually have to do to maintain your landscaping structures?

Spraying is a great place to start. This will help prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and rot from undermining your structures.

Using a garden hose or pressure washer, gently spray landscaping structures to knock away any dirt or standing debris. For larger properties, a Chapin tow-behind sprayer is an extremely convenient tool for this purpose.

When spraying the structures, basic water is generally more than enough to get the job done. You don’t want to add any toxic chemicals that will damage the surrounding landscaping.

Seal Porous Surfaces

Concrete and many types of stone used in most landscaping structures have a tendency to be quite porous. This can lead to degradation during the freeze/thaw cycle.

Therefore, it is important to regularly use a quality masonry sealer to keep these structures watertight. Take common sense measures for how to waterproof under a deck and add a crystalline waterproofer to the deck foundation. Reapply grout as necessary to ensure the area between stones does not present the opportunity for water ingress.

Remove Stains from Masonry

Even after proper sealing measures have been taken, grease, car fluids, acid burns, and other types of oily substances can undermine the appearance of some landscaping structures. Therefore, it will be necessary to use a high-quality concrete and masonry cleaner from time to time to give these structures a like-new appearance. After cleaning the surface, one diluted gallon of masonry cleaner will be capable of wiping away the stains from about 100 square feet of stone landscaping.

Create an Ideal Drainage Infrastructure

Unmanaged runoff can severely undermine any type of landscaping structure. Not only can it be absorbed to contribute to degradation and discoloration, but it can erode the substrate and foundation that hold the structure in place.

Therefore, ensuring an ideal drainage infrastructure is critical for the ongoing success of your landscaping efforts. Make sure that all lawns are gently sloped in the desired direction to prevent acute damage from heavy flow. Add landscape drainage grates as necessary to mitigate runoff. Look into permeable gravel pavers when making sidewalks and driveways to ensure better drainage.

Don’t Assume All Repairs Are DIY

People can sometimes erroneously assume that landscaping is an “anyone can do it” type of trade. While this may be true for basic mulching and weed pulling, the construction and maintenance of fences, retaining walls, decks, and other types of landscaping structures can be highly technical and require the knowhow of trained professionals. Therefore, if you are unsure of the condition of your landscaping structures or need some help executing a project, do not hesitate to enlist professional help as necessary.

Get Started on Landscaping Maintenance Today

Caring for landscaping structures should be an important aspect of anyone’s property maintenance routine. Regular inspections, spraying, sealing porous surfaces, stain removal, promoting drainage, and enlisting professional help are a few of the most important tips for keeping landscaping structures in top condition indefinitely. If you need more help in this regard, contact Chapin International today for the best landscaping equipment on the market!

Stephanie Rogers is a freelance writer that enjoys sharing her love for writing with others. She primarily writes about home remodeling, interior design ideas, and landscaping, but lately has started writing more about her passion for Music. She lives in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona where she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, Chino.