HOUSE & HOME

FEBRUAR Y 19 - FEBRUARY 25, 2020 ISSUE 2907 28

First impressions count. Any REALTOR® will tell you that. When showing a property to prospective homebuyers, a well-maintained yard—whether large or small— counts big time.

Second impressions count, too. People are coming to realize expansive lawns and exotic gardens are expensive in terms of gobbling up big chunks of free time. There is also the cost of high water usage, pricy and environmentally unfriendly chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides as well as care and fuel for lawn mowers, weed whackers, and screaming leaf blowers. Or in some cases, hiring a weekly gardening crew to whack and scream.

The answer? “Beneficial landscaping,” which simply means planning a yard that is both low maintenance and kind to our environment. When it is well planned and carried out, beneficial landscaping adds considerable value to any property.

Minimize Lawn Area

A very effective first step is to downsize your lawn. If you are landscaping from scratch, curtail the lawn area by developing wildflower meadows plus vegetable, herb, and flower gardens to provide fresh blossoms for your table and fresh food for your kitchen. If you already have a large lawn, consider an annual conversion of sections of it to groundcover or natural areas to save time and money down the road.

An easy tactic is to leave parts of an existing lawn un-mown to grow naturally into a meadow where wildflowers will eventually appear. In fact, studies show that maintaining a wildflower patch costs less than ten percent of the same area of lawn.

Other time and money savers are perennials—shrubs and flowers that reappear year after year rather than having to be planted anew each season. Popular examples are butterfly bushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, daffodils, lilies, bee balm, and black-eyed Susans.

Attractive alternatives include groundcovers, wooded glens, or rock gardens. Low-growing plants make nice ground cover, particularly varieties of thyme whose fragrant leaves can be used fresh or dried. The flowers are small, but the greenery is appealing.

Verbena comes in a number of shades and is also an excellent groundcover. Pachysandra, which stays green all year, is another perennial favorite and very hardy once it’s established. Cuttings root easily in water and can be used to expand an existing planting.

YOUR

LOWMAINTENANCE YARD SAVES TIME AND MONEY

BY MARILYN PRIBUS

Go Native

Employ native plants wherever possible because they generally require less maintenance than non-natives since they have evolved to fend for themselves. Already adapted to our climate, they are usually perennials—that is, they bloom years after year. Not as susceptible to pests, they generally require less water and fertilizer as well.

The Jefferson chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society encompasses

Charlottesville and seven surrounding counties and has a useful website at vnps.org/jefferson. The site offers a blog as well as an online newsletter with information about meetings, field trips, and guided hikes. For example, their annual Native Plant Sale will be on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at the barn in the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Albemarle County’s official website offers listings of Piedmont Natives—varieties believed to have been here at the time of the Jamestown settlement—at albemarle.org/nativeplants. You can search for trees, ferns, grasses, vines, and shrubs that thrive in neighboring counties as well as Albemarle.

Each listing shows ease of growing, ultimate size, resistance to deer and other nibblers, color of foliage and blossoms, blooming season, and other characteristics.

Other Time-Savers

Using rocks, bricks, stone, or gravel is another good way to reduce maintenance. A mowing strip of bricks or pavers around garden areas will speed any remaining mowing you need to do. A strip of gravel or crushed rock can widen a driveway (and narrow a lawn). One family created a dry “creek bed” of stone in an area that was virtually impossible to mow as well as subject to runoff and erosion.

A rock garden is an enhancement to any yard, especially in particularly shady areas or on hard-to-manage slopes. Create shallow terraces and plant with drought-tolerant native perennials. In a few years, interesting lichens will appear on the rocks, the plants will be well rooted, and watering will be needed only during severe drought.

Water features are another excellent way to reduce lawn area without substantially increasing maintenance. Small ponds or fountains with recirculating pumps are charming. Birdbaths come in a wide range of styles from a simple basin on a pedestal to an elegant setup with a heater in winter and a water dripper in summer. (The sound of the splashing water attracts birds.) Add a feeder or two and you’ll attract pest-snacking volunteers to patrol your gardens and save you time dealing with pesticides. If you live near a wooded area, bring in the feeders at night to foil raccoons or bears.

Marigolds, garlic, and horseradish are known to repel pests, so adding these to your gardens is another good idea.

Spreading mulch on your plantings saves both water and weeding time. Mulch comes in several colors and a once-a-year refreshing keeps your gardens looking nice.

A little planning now can save hours and money at the same time you protect your yard, your community, and your planet.

Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. While their property is more than an acre, their lawn takes about four minutes to mow. The rest of the yard is woods, wild meadow and an expanding planting of pachysandra, which she roots from existing plants.

MEGAN A. PERRY Mobile: (434) 806-5245 • MeganPerry225@gmail.com One bed, one bath Mountain Chalet, the perfect weekend retreat or hunting cabin. 2 story ceilings, lots of windows. The loft area serves as a bedroom. Rear deck overlooks backyard which includes various fruit trees. Low maintenance. Seasonal mountain views. Enjoy access to the South River Falls trail in the Shenandoah National Park, trout fish in the South River, fish the neighborhood pond or hunt in the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area. Only 15 minutes to the town of Stanardsville. This is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream!

67 Deane Rd. • Ruckersville, VA 22968

We’ll Help You Navigate the Road to Your NEW HOME happylittledumpster.com

Real Estate Weekly CA AR

FEBRUAR Y 19 - FEBRUARY 25, 2020 ISSUE 2907 AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance happylittledumpster.com

AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK happylittledumpster.com

AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume M C L EAN F AULCONER I NC. Farm, Estate and Residential Brokers

CALL SHARON Over 25 years of Real Estate experience. email: callsharon.today@yahoo.com cell: 434.981.7200 Farm, Estate and Residential Brokers 503 Faulconer Drive ∙ Charlottesville ∙ VA ∙ 22903 WWW.MCLEANFAULCONER.COM LYONS COURT LANE Two story, stately brick home in North Downtown. In immaculate condition. Set on a quiet street and an easy walk to downtown. Features include; hardwood floors, recently updated kitchen, sun room and full unfinished basement. Gracious living room with masonry fireplace and built-in bookcases. Terrific backyard with small detached garage/ storage shed. $675,000 WATTS PASSAGE Oaklea is a unique, custom designed brick home set on 80 park-like acres. The screened porch, with vaulted ceilings, is perfect for entertaining. Beautiful hardwood floors. First floor master suite. Attached 3 car garage with sunroom. Property also offers a detached garage and 1.5 story cottage. Multiple division rights, several with mountain views. Only 10 minutes from Hollymead Town Center. $995,000

CAAR REAL ESTATE WEEKLY WWW.CAAR.COM Harrisonburg Location 1-540-422-0272 507 Mount Olivet Church Rd Elkton, VA 22827 Waynesboro Location 1-540-324-3593 200 W 12th Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 Charlottesville Location 1-434-422-4704 108 5th St. SE #205 Charlottesville, VA 22902 RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER RENTAL FROM HARRISONBURG TO CHARLOTTESVILLE VA • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume Visit us at happylittledumpster.com or call one of our three locations closest to you. happylittledumpster.com

AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume Visit us at happylittledumpster.com or call one of our three locations closest to you. happylittledumpster.com

AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume Visit us at happylittledumpster.com or call one of our three locations closest to you. Harrisonburg Location 1-540-422-0272 507 Mount Olivet Church Rd Elkton, VA 22827 Waynesboro Location 1-540-324-3593 200 W 12th Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 Charlottesville Location 1-434-422-4704 108 5th St. SE #205 Charlottesville, VA 22902 RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER RENTAL FROM HARRISONBURG TO CHARLOTTESVILLE VA • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume Visit us at happylittledumpster.com or call one of our three locations closest to you. Harrisonburg Location 1-540-422-0272 507 Mount Olivet Church Rd Elkton, VA 22827 Waynesboro Location 1-540-324-3593 200 W 12th Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER RENTAL FROM HARRISONBURG TO CHARLOTTESVILLE VA Visit us at happylittledumpster.com one of our three locations closest to you. AFFORDABLE, SMARTLY SIZED, SPACE SAVING DUMPSTERS SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR JOB SITE 6-DAYS A WEEK • We Protect Your Driveway • We Dispose of Almost Everything • The Right Sized Dumpster • Dumpsters Arrive Clean • Professional Appearance • We Almost Never Say, “No” • We Collect Scrap Metal • Secure Payment Gateway • Client Hub for Invoice Visibility • We Maximize Your Dumpster Volume Visit us at happylittledumpster.com or call one of our three locations closest to you. Use coupon code: RealEstate25 Take $25 off and use coupon code while placing online order.