The 14 little mistakes that make your yard look messy

Avoid these errors that make your outdoor spaces look unkempt.
By Reader's Digest Editors

You don’t think about future shrub size

You don’t think about future shrub size
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Before purchasing shrubs for landscaping, check the tag to figure out how tall and wide they will grow to be when mature. Failing to do so may cause you to underestimate the size of the fully-grown shrub, making it difficult for you to control the shrub or keep it in bounds as it grows.

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You don’t prune properly

You don’t prune properly
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Proper pruning includes timing clippings accurately to best enhance shrub blooms. Early bloomers, such as forsythias and rhododendrons, should be pruned immediately after they flower, while late bloomers like hybrid tea roses should be pruned in early spring to encourage more growth.

You don’t keep a garden calendar

You don’t keep a garden calendar
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Keeping a calendar specifically dedicated to tracking dates for planting, fertilising, and other garden and yard activities keeps you from becoming overwhelmed and helps to keep your yard in check. Electing not to have one may bring an onslaught of chaos you’ll struggle to recover from.

You don’t label

You don’t label
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Labelling plants in your garden will help you to keep track of where you planted what, and prevent it from falling into disarray. Use metal labels with wire loops tied loosely onto branches, or thin, natural-looking bamboo sticks to keep track of what’s where.

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Source: RD.com

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