Whether you’ve just relocated to a new country or been living there the whole time, you’re bound to feel the need for a home that suits you best. Sure, there are plenty of fully furnished properties you can choose from, but those may not always match your lifestyle and preferences.

This is why a lot of people still choose to build their home from the ground up.

Of course, that comfortable life you’ve been dreaming about isn’t just limited indoors. You also need an outdoor space where you can experience your own brand of tranquility and relaxation. The solution? Landscaping and gardening.

Don’t fret, though, as this isn’t something that will take up too much of your time. For one, you can always hire a Dubai landscaping company for the task. It also pays to learn different tips and tricks to help you reap the benefits of a well-maintained landscape and Garden, like these best Gardening hacks of all time:

1. Keep your tools neat and rust-free.

When it comes to gardening, the most obvious solution to your maintenance woes is the regular and correct cleaning of your tools.

Gardening tools need to be washed after every use. Although these are designed to handle dirt and debris, gardening tools can accumulate dirt over time, making them difficult to clean.

Luckily, there is a way you can save both your time and effort while dealing with this problem. Simply apply bicycle chain lubricant or non-stick cooking spray on your metal tools, including shears, hoes, shovels, loppers, and bypass pruners.

Doing so makes it easier to scrub off dirt and debris while preventing rust.

Once you’re done, keep these in pots filled with clean play sand. This will help remove any remaining debris and ensure that they remain rust-free for the entire year.

2. Keep notes in a garden memory book.

Remember that perennial flower you planted two years ago that you used to love but now forgot how to care for? If you don’t, then you’re in dire need of a garden memory book.

Using a recycled notebook, journal, or empty scrapbook, write down or stick information and care tags of every plant you get from the nursery. Set aside at least one page for every plant, depending on the size of your memory book.

You can also use this to keep track of your fertilizing schedule, the types of bulbs planted in certain flower beds, and literally everything else that has something to do with your garden.

Once you’re done, place the memory book in a plastic bag – preferably those zip-top ones – and keep it with your gardening tools. This will preserve the book’s condition and ensure that you can always get quick access to it whenever you want.

3. Don’t shrug off container gardening.

Many people don’t have the luxury of space to plant everything they want in their backyard. This is why they opt to use containers like pots and recycled materials for container gardening.

But did you know you can also benefit from container gardening even if you have a bigger landscaped garden?

For this, you’ll need several pots of roughly the same size. Stack two pots together. Then, bury these in your garden at ground level and repot your plants in the top pot.

Doing so makes it easier to change seasonal plants in your garden since you only need to lift the top pot and swap it with one carrying a different plant.

This technique is also quite useful, especially when the weather makes it impossible for certain plants to thrive outdoors. You can simply bring plants indoors and look after them there.

Besides saving space, container gardens also look tidier, not to mention they look more stunning. It can also help you save water when you use larger pots because they dry out much slower.

Pro Tip: For added height, use long galvanized tall buckets or long pots in flower beds for tulips. For cosmos, clematis, and roses, you can use old cattle troughs or dolly tubs.

4. Go native when choosing plants.

When deciding what to plant, your best options are those that are already native to your area. You should have plenty to choose from in local nurseries. Don’t give yourself more work by adding high-maintenance plants.

Also called “indigenous flora,” native plants are those that grow in a certain area through natural processes and without human intervention.

When searching for a native plant, you should also factor in the general weather and microclimate where you live to make sure you only plant those that have a chance to thrive in the existing conditions. And, of course, do a bit of research online to get more information about specific care requirements and whether they are within your expected maintenance level.

5. Don’t forget to buy a tarp.

Want to know how landscapers move things easier and keep their workspace nice and tidy? Simple: they use a tarp.

Tarps are helpful when moving weeds and leaves. They also serve as protection for your lawn grass should you need to dig a hole by keeping the soil tucked away securely. You can even use them as cover for the plants you bought from the nursery as you transport them on the back of a truck.

6. Save water with water-saving pots.

Saving water benefits both you and Mother Earth. Besides being smart about how you water your garden plants, you can try the following strategies that landscaping experts and garden centers recommend:

● Look for leaks and deal with them.

Did you know that even a leak with a mere 1/32-inch diameter can cause over 6,000 gallons of water to go to waste if left unattended for an entire year? Just imagine what multiple leaks can lead to.

Remember that outdoor leaks are easy to overlook because of their location. To avoid this wasteful situation, hire competent landscape experts to maintain your lawn. You can also do your own maintenance, but you have to make sure that you include leak inspection as a priority on your weekly to-do list.

● Have a rain barrel installed.

Rainwater is excellent for the plants because it doesn’t contain the chemicals and salts present in most urban water sources. You can consult a landscape expert specializing in irrigation systems on how you can integrate a rain barrel into your existing sprinkler system.

● Use water-efficient emitters.

If you’re planning to invest in garden gadgets anyway, make sure you include water-efficient emitters on your shopping list.

Before replacing your sprinkler heads, drip irrigation, or rotors that are already several years old, talk to an irrigation expert to determine the most water-efficient alternatives you can use.

7. Fertilize with Epsom salt.

Fertilization is a vital task in gardening. But instead of spending more money on store-bought products, you should consider looking for alternatives already available in your home. An excellent example of this is Epsom salt.

This type of salt – which is hydrated magnesium sulfate – contains magnesium that promotes seed germination. It also aids in chlorophyll production and the optimum absorption of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other vital nutrients for plant health.

To help your plants grow better, water them with a mixture of two teaspoons of Epsom salt and a gallon of water. This is also useful as a foliar spray and can promote plant growth significantly.

Take note: Epsom salt works best for roses and vegetables.

Landscaping and Gardening Made Easy

Landscaping and gardening are two things that could get a lot easier with clever tips and tricks developed by experts.

Should you decide to take on the maintenance of your yard yourself, this article should provide enough knowledge to make the task easier.