An important goal of any new homeowner is to make a house feel like a home. Adding personal touches throughout the house helps to enhance the feeling of being home and belonging. However, the yard also plays a large roll in this experience. In fact, with some simple landscaping, a new homeowner can show off a bit of personal style and take the appearance of the home to the next level.
1. Starting point
A yard is typically made of distinct sections. As such, in order to not become overwhelmed at the task at hand, it is important for individuals new to landscaping to choose one section at a time. For instance, if a homeowner values curb appeal, we recommend starting in the front yard. However, if a private sanctuary is desirable, starting in the backyard is highly recommended.
In fact, the starting point does not matter. The only thing that does matter is that the homeowner begins landscaping in an area that is important to him or her as the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment will inevitably propel the individual onto the next area.
2. Low Maintenance
For anyone new to landscaping, we recommend keeping the maintenance to a manageable level. For instance, a yard that includes a patio has less lawn area. Less lawn area translates to less mowing.
Additionally, maintaining a pristine lawn requires the homeowner to ensure the grass is watered properly. However, watering a lawn with a sprinkler can be time consuming as it requires the sprinkler to be moved around the yard at certain intervals. To avoid this hassle, we recommend installing drip irrigation. Drip irrigation ensures the grass is properly watered without being over-watered. Additionally, drip irrigation prevents missed sections.
Another great tip is to use mulch. Mulch keeps moisture in the soil. It also keeps weeds from growing around shrubs, trees, and plants. Additionally, mulch gives a yard a finished look without much effort.
3. Lawn
In addition to maintaining the aesthetics of a yard, mowing actually helps the grass grow. In fact, a properly mowed lawn will be full and lush. Conversely, grass that is cut too short will damage the lawn’s health. For instance, a lawn that is cut too short can leave a formerly green lawn with brown spots and bare-looking areas. Brown spots and bare areas occur because the stored nutrients in the grass have been cut away. This weakens the grass and ultimately leaves the lawn susceptible to weeds.
To properly maintain a lawn, the height of the grass should remain between two and four inches. To achieve this, we recommended mowing at least once each week during the spring through early fall. However, for some new homeowners, this can be rather time consuming. As such, enlisting the help of a local landscaper will ensure the lawn is maintained at the correct height.
4. Design
While there are a variety of plants and trees to choose from, the available yard space will impact what will actually work. Therefore, it is important to consider exactly how each area of a yard will function. For instance, a pool necessitates either no trees or the planting of evergreens. This type of planning helps reduce time spent skimming leaves off the water. Homeowners who love to barbecue must consider the space in terms of the size of the patio, the types of shrubs and plants that will surround the patio, and whether or not to plant trees for enhanced privacy.
Additionally, although flowers enhance any yard’s appeal, it is important to ensure that there is enough room to allow for easy weeding. We recommend keeping the flower rows to a manageable number. Too many rows make pruning difficult because a homeowner will have to reach over the rows without crushing the flowers.
5. Color
Without proper planning, a yard can look like a confused mixture of plants that work together toward a poor aesthetic. An easy way to ensure a newly landscaped yard exudes a cohesive look is to choose a color theme. In fact, even yards that do not incorporate a lot of outdoor accessories can achieve a look that flows from space to space, giving the property a connected feel.
For instance, red is a color that brings a vibrancy to any yard. Placing a few geraniums on the front porch and a red bird feeder in the backyard are great ways to achieve a sense of cohesion. Choosing a few flowering trees to continue the color theme is another great way to give a yard a unified and aesthetically pleasing look.