A neglected, poorly maintained landscape isn’t just an eyesore. It could be a serious health hazard! A landscape that isn’t cared for won’t just kill your home’s curb appeal: It could very well kill you too.
At ABC Scapes, we understand the importance of safety. A well maintained landscape is a safe landscape. You may not think that danger is lurking out there beneath your fruit trees, in your lawn or under your garden, but it very well could be. Take care of your landscape before it takes care of you!
Trees
One of the biggest potential hazards in your landscape is your trees. Maintained properly they’re a beautiful addition to any home, offering shade and natural beauty. But trees can also be very dangerous if they’re planted incorrectly. Did you place your tree a little too close to the sidewalk or street? It may seem like a good idea at first. Placing a tree close to the street would help give you more privacy and also dampen noise. But that tree could pose a hazard to pedestrians, and if its roots grow far outwards it could damage the sidewalk, making you liable for its repairs.
A tree that you improperly plant or position could be lethal during a storm. Best case scenario it could fall and destroy your car or a section of your home. Worst case, it could crush a human being who has the misfortune of being outside when it comes crashing down. And even if the whole tree doesn’t come down, individual branches that aren’t properly tended to could break off and pose a threat to anyone near the tree.
A professional landscaper is going to be skilled in arbor care. They’ll know how to properly treat and reinforce your tree so it doesn’t become a threat to you and your neighborhood. And if you’re thinking of planting a new tree, they can you plan your landscape design so your trees will be in the safest and most optimal parts of your front or backyard.
Plants
Few things prove that the old adage “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” is wrong like eating or exposing yourself to the wrong plant. There are so many plants out there could hurt or outright kill you if you consume them. And even if you’re wise enough to avoid eating anything you don’t know is safe, can you say the same for your pets? Or your children?
Landscapers know which plants are safe and which ones you or they should plant with the utmost care. If you’re a pet owner who likes setting their beloved dog or cat loose outdoors, talking to a landscaper is essential. That lovely bed of flowers you want to plant could be as deadly to your dog as a tablespoon of arsenic would be for you.
Even if you know that the plants you’re planting are potentially poisonous, that knowledge may not be enough to save you. Plants can interact with each other in strange ways. A “bad” plant could contaminate your good ones and make them unsafe too. Certain plants could also effect your water supply, making it unsafe.
Pests
Landscapes are bursting with plant life. Inevitably it will draw other kinds of life to it, too. Most of these critters are harmless. Indeed, some wildlife can be welcome. Who wouldn’t want to have butterflies in their garden or hummingbirds darting around their bushes? But your landscape could also attract more dangerous animals, like spiders, scorpions, even snakes.
Your landscaper receives training to notice anything that’s out of place. You may just see a small hole in the ground- They’ll see a rattlesnake’s burrow. They can notice warning signs and red flags that you could be blind to. They also know what kinds of plants can harbor dangerous creatures like scorpions, and they know which plants can attract them to your landscape in the first place. Your landscaper could save you from having to call Poison Control one day.
If you’re not maintaining landscaping and need help taking care of it, give ABC Scapes a call at 602-404-0568.