Gone are the days when a huge, sprawling lawn was considered the pinnacle of successful homeownership. Today’s homeowners are getting far more out of their outdoor spaces by creating unique designs that express personality and turn yards into relaxing oases.
Ready to turn a boring yard into a beautiful, sculpted landscape? Read on to find out what it takes and get some inspiring ideas for how to get started.
Start With a Plan
When landscaping your yard, the best place to start is at the drawing board. Well-integrated landscapes don’t happen by accident. They’re the product of many hours spent envisioning how different design elements will look, finding the perfect plants, and deciding how much time and work can go into the final product. Taking a shovel to earth and starting a new garden or hardscaping project right away may be a great temptation for some homeowners, but it will only lead to frustration in the end.
Design in Hardscaping Elements
Whether homeowners want their gardens to look formal, casual, or downright whimsical, the right hardscaping elements will add to the design both in terms of looks and function. Hardscaping elements don’t have to be complex, although water features, outdoor fireplaces, pergolas, gazebos, and other projects all have well-deserved places in modern landscape design. Something as simple as adding gravel footpaths to a garden adds visual interest while simultaneously protecting the surrounding landscape from foot traffic and reducing problems with tracking dirt into the house.
Light the Night
There’s no reason for nightfall to signal the end of outdoor time for modern families. Landscape lighting makes it possible to relax outside, move around the yard safely, or even throw an intimate get-together without worrying about how everyone will be able to see. Plus, the right lighting design will enhance the nighttime ambiance, improve security, and increase curb appeal. For those who don’t relish the idea of adding to their monthly bills, solar LEDs now offer an affordable alternative to standard lights, and they don’t need to be professionally installed.
Get Creative With Edible Plants
When most people think of edible plants, their minds are drawn immediately to boring rows of annual vegetables that take a lot of resources and time to grow and provide little in return beyond a few fresh meals. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Edible landscaping is the new craze, and it’s one that can improve the beauty of any yard.
Instead of getting stuck weeding annual garden beds, try designing a small food forest in one corner of the yard. Fruit and nut trees, bushes, and edible perennials can all provide visual interest as well as tasty treats. Plus, they will attract beneficial insects and wildlife to the landscape which can further reduce its maintenance requirements.
Involve the Whole Family
Want to make sure that everyone is happy with the final design? Get the whole family involved from step one by asking what kinds of features they would like in a landscape, what everyone’s favorite plants are, and how they plan to use the yard. The result will be not just a landscape that meets everyone’s needs but also one that invites the extra care and work associated with feelings of stewardship.
Know When to Call in the Pros
Homeowners don’t need to tackle every element of their landscape designs and installations alone. Working with professional landscape designers can make it easier to get every detail right and ensure that the end result lives up to the whole family’s expectations.
