Over the last couple of years, many of us have spent more time than ever in our yards. When you were giving thanks last week, we hope that you spent a moment appreciating all that your landscape does for you.

Our outdoor spaces can give us:

• Better health. Gardening is a great method of exercise. It’s also good for you mental health, helping boost your mood by interacting with nature.
• Better environment. Plants clean the air and provide oxygen. They cool our homes in summer and can protect us and our homes from wind and weather.
• Better home value. A good landscape raises property values and can help your home sell faster and for a higher price.
• Better eating. Growing edible plants in your yard makes life more delicious. Fresher food, picked just outside your door, tastes better and has more nutrients for a healthier lifestyle.

One way to “thank” your landscape is to hand-water it this winter so it will come back healthy in the spring, ready to provide its many benefits for another season.