There’s no bigger kick I get than watching people fumble in their back yards. What a bunch of idiots. They make all kinds of mistakes, from trying to domesticate an outdoor space, to trying to create a King Ludwig palace out of an exterior environment.
Come on people, it’s the backyard. It is not a trophy space, unless maybe you are Donald Trump or something.
The good news is that you can learn from these bumpkins. Avoid the foibles of their mistakes:
Not Having the Right Equipment
How much sense does it make to have a big lawn and not own a good decent quality riding mower? If that is you, you are an idiot, too. Don’t use a hand push mower in a large yard. There’s probably a statistic somewhere about how many men die while trying to cut grass with a hand mower.
A hobby farm large yard riding mower is one of the best pieces of technology ever invented. It was invented for you. Use it.
Trying to Color Coordinate Mother Nature
If you think you can truly create a color-coordinated flower bed, think again.
First, plants can mutate. You can start out thinking you have one geranium color, only to find that the pot label was incorrect, or that the flower has mutated into a different color.
The other thing that can occur is that flowers from last season can volunteer to come back, even though you thought you had removed them all.
Simply put, let nature do her thing without getting into your issues of obsessive control for the yard. You can try for a certain group of flower or plant colors, but don’t get all crazy if the plan unfolds in another direction.
Labor Intensive Plantings
I don’t like having to baby plant bushes. Their job is to grow and thrive. Not be coddled.
Take it from me, two things I will probably never purchase again are rose bushes and aspen trees. They each have their own set of pest bugs and preferred growing conditions that can make them persnickety in the garden.
For me myself, I’d rather have plants and a yard that can stand up to whatever harsh condition the season happens to present.
I also do not want wimpy whiny plants that cry out for water every day. I’m lazy. I don’t always get to watering each and every day.
Trying to Impress the Neighbors
If you live in one of the finer parts of town (around here, we call them “doctor neighborhoods”), it is very easy to get caught up into dress for success and all the accessories of wealth. There is a certain amount of keeping up with the Jones family that comes with the territory.
Honestly, though, life is too short to live it for others. Don’t buy a two thousand dollar outdoor seating arrangement, just because you think that others will think better of you.
It’s not worth it.
Go for the products that suit your taste and that will make your outdoor life more enjoyable.
Bottom Line
Enjoy your yard.
Create it for yourself.
Keep it simple.
Spend money wisely.
Living outside in the summer months is a great way to enjoy the beauty that God has created. Avoid these mistakes, and the fine moments of the season will be yours, as you delight in your landscape and cruise in your lawn tractor.
