Help! New to gardening with no green thumb. I'm killing my garden!?

N

NoName

New member
My boyfriend and I just rented a new house together. Huge front and backyard with gardens in the front and back. I have always lived in apartment communities where i have never had to take care of a lawn let alone a garden!
We moved into this house about a month ago now and parts of the lawn are getting brown/yellow. The plants that are in the garden are dying. I don't have time to water every single day, I am helping my man run a business. So I have a couple questions:
1. Do lawns and gardens need to be watered everyday? (I didn't even know what kinds of plants I have growing here!)

2. Once the plants do die, do they still grow back?

3. Once grass starts to die and I water every other day, do I have a chance to save it?

Please help! Any basic gardening tips would help me out soo much! Thanks for your time!
i forgot to mention that i am in seattle, wa. and i dont know any gardening/plant terms!
 
Lawn and plants don't have to be watered every day unless the plants are in a small container which drys out fast. You should be watering the lawn 2-3 times a week if possible but with a busy life style this is a hard thing to do for some people.

The plants that are dieing could be spring bulbs that are now dieing off. This is ok if they are. Without you knowing what they are it is hard to figure out what is happening with your garden.

With your grass it is just becoming dormant which is normal in hot weather and lack of water. In most cases it will come back if you give it water but you may also what to give it some slow release fertilizer. It will not burn the lawn but make it much happier. You can also give a lawn expert a call and have them come over. Most give free estimates and many will give you advice on your flower beds too.

The Lawn Lady

PS Maybe you can find someone in the neighborhood that can help you out. Just take a look around and find someone who has a lot of gardens too. Knock on their door and explain that you just moved in and you are having trouble with you garden. I am sure they would have no problem coming over and taking a look. Even if it is only because they are curious of the new people on the block.
 
No daily watering is not usually needed. Weekly watering is usually fine. An inch a water a week will usually keep established lawns and gardens going fine. Set out a sprinkler with a cup in the area getting watered. When it hits an inch deep move on to the next spot.
This amount of water of course and vary with where you live, type of turf, etc.
Most turf grasses usually go dormant during drought but will bounce back when regular watering and cooler temps come back.
If your shrubs and flowers are dead it is likely they will stay that way but that too can vary.

-Brian
 
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