Todd Sumamno
Regardless of the size and location, your home’s landscaping should excite neighbors, guests, and passersby. Your landscaping is the first thing people will see in your property, and its condition can create an impression. How can you convince people that your home is well-maintained if your landscaping looks outdated or tacky?
No matter how simple or extensive the change to your front or backyard is, completing a landscaping project is easy. You don’t need to be a professional or invest in several tools to ensure that the project turns out to be a great success—you just need to follow the steps below:
Start With A Plan
Starting a home landscaping project without any clear plan in mind will end up being a disaster. Sure, you want to beautify your front and backyard, but how are you going to do it? How can you determine the areas to change or improve if you don’t have any goals in the first place?
Always start your home landscaping project with a plan. If you want to change the overall style of your landscape, decide on a feel for your space. You can make it feel like a rainforest, a formal garden, or a Japanese garden. After, you need to identify plants that match your chosen style and thrive well in your geographic area.
Next, you need to plan a layout for your landscape. You can either do this using pen and paper or CAD software, such as SketchUp Pro. If this part is too daunting for you, consider working with a landscaping artist to do the planning on your behalf.
Choose A Focal Point
Before you add a variety of flowers, trees, and shrubs to your home’s landscaping, choose a focal point first. Having a focal point is a must in home landscaping projects as it creates an attractive visual element that draws people’s attention. When you have a focal point, you’re telling people where to look or focus in your garden.
The focal point of your landscape could be a colorful flowering tree, a pool, or a gazebo. In general, your focal point should be an element that’s large and aesthetically pleasing. In this way, the focal point can function as the foundation for the rest of your landscaping project and stands out in the area.
Think About The Location
Adding a gazebo into your landscaping and finding out that the spot gets too hot in the afternoon is stressful. When this happens, you’ll likely have to remove the fixture and start planning all over again.
If you want to get things right the first time, don’t forget to think about the location when taking on a home landscaping project. Spend a couple of days or weeks studying the sun and wind patterns in your landscape, especially if you’re going to add seating furniture and plants.
If you’re aiming to put a patio, it’s best to place it in a shaded area of the property. Avoid getting corners exposed to too much wind with a fire pit, as starting and keeping the fire burning can be difficult. As for the plants, assess the lighting requirements and pick the appropriate location in your landscape.
Begin Planting
Once you’ve completed the first three steps, you’re now ready to plant in your landscape. It’s best if you start at your focal point and work your way out by installing bigger plants first. This will make it easier for you to assess the quality and variety of smaller plants to add later on.
If you don’t have any experience taking on home landscaping projects, study the specifics first on how to properly plant different types of flowers, trees, and shrubs. You need to make sure that everything is planted properly to avoid problems and get the best results.
Create a professional appearance by planting alongside your fences and exterior walls first. When adding shrubs, plant them closest to the house and pick varieties that won’t obstruct your windows. The outermost layer of your landscape should have colorful flowers, shorter than the shrubs. Don’t forget to cover the entire area with a new lawn, too.
Add Fixtures
Aside from adding the right plants in the right locations, you can also invest in a few fixtures for your landscaping project. These pieces can significantly improve the aesthetics of your landscape, allowing the space to stand out from the neighborhood.
Depending on the theme you’re going for, you can add metallic lamp posts that lead to your front door or some wooden benches in the middle of your garden. You can also create footpaths using wooden boards or flat tiles to add a more rustic feel to the space.
Always Have Fun
Don’t overwhelm yourself as you take on a home landscaping project. Take all the time you need to follow the steps in this article. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun along the way. Allow yourself to enjoy, so you’ll be inspired to take on more home landscaping projects in the future!
Brittany
