Have you ever heard of the concept of love languages? Simply put, a love language is a way that we give and receive love to each other. Each of us is unique in the type of love languages we prefer and use to express how we feel about someone, but they all provide a way to let someone know they are valued, appreciated, and, well, loved.
There are five well-known love languages that people use: words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts, and quality time. Interestingly enough, the concept of love languages can be applied to many things in life, and what they really boil down to is the concept of nurturing the relationships we have in our lives. (You might not want to rely so heavily on the love language of “physical touch” when it comes to your boss, your dentist, your accountant, a bus driver, or your mother-in-law, but you get the idea.)
And just as you use naturally a combination of these to express and receive love from friends and family, you can also use this approach to give your landscape a little TLC:
- Signals of affirmation
There are some people out there who insist that talking to plants makes them healthier and happier, and far be it from us to argue with that concept. But instead of words, think about how you nurture your landscape and let it grow to its fullest potential, through things like proper watering/irrigation, fertilization, and care. By doing so, you’re affirming their rightful and wanted presence in your landscape.
- Physical effort
Instead of physical touch, consider the physical effort given to your landscape, from regular maintenance to special projects, such as pruning and weeding. Our clients rely on us to take on this role, and there’s a good reason for that too: with our experience and expertise, the physical effort leads to beautiful results.
- Acts of service
Incorporate acts of service by tackling those special projects that you know your landscape needs. Again, this is often something that our clients rely on us to do, and we’re happy to do it for you. But we like to work with you, to ensure that your great ideas become beautiful realities!
- Gifts
The biggest gift you can give your landscape is the gift of time, whether it’s simply taking care of things or spending a few moments thinking about what you can do to make it healthier and happier.
Perhaps a gift of a refresh, with new plants or hardscapes is a gift you can also enjoy. A gift can also be a removal of a barrier or a struggle, which is what we do when we weed and prune, which makes it easier for your landscape to grow and flourish.
- Quality Time
Finally, commit to giving your landscape quality time throughout the year. Plants, trees, and turf respond well when we invest time and care in ensuring their healthy growth. Quality time is also a gift you can give yourself and your family - spend some time enjoying that landscape year-round, both in its quiet months and when it is in full, glorious bloom.
