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Community Corner

Landscaping tips for Homeowners

10 Tips to Prepare your Home for Spring Landscaping

 

Once the first official frost is no longer a threat, gardening, landscaping and increasing your curb appeal is on most people’s minds. Depending on your geographic location and what type of soil and plants are native to your region will steer you in the right direction for your home.  Here are 10 tips to also help you prepare your outdoor home for gorgeous landscaping.

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1.)  Know your climate: Choose plants appropriate for how much sun and shade in different parts of your lawn.

2.) Do research beforehand: Similarly to a do it yourself project, plan out your strategy for your landscaping in advance. Are you going to break it up in phases or hire a landscape professional to help with your planning?

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3.) Know what local ‘pests’ are in your neighborhood such as wildlife, insects, and stray animals, as they can wreak havoc on your landscaping. Before planting you may fencing, wire mesh, or possibly planting natural plantings can deter and ward off many local pests.

4.) Plant landscaping at the suggested time of year: While you may be excited to plant your fruit trees and flowering shrubs, many plants will thrive better for years to come if you plant them at the suggested times of year that horticulturists and gardeners suggest.

5.) Plan for growth: When choosing landscaping and sizes of plants, estimate how large the plants will grow in 6 weeks, 6 months, etc. Most plants will have height and growth details on the label at time of purchased.

6.) Get inspired: take a look at neighboring yards, or traveling to other areas of your town to look at landscaping, home and garden publications or local home improvement gardening centers.

7.) Map at the area: Once you know what type of plants you’d like at your home, map out, or stake out the area in which your plants will be planted. Estimate enough room for pedestrians walking around, as well as growth and future maintenance of your landscaping. Ensure walkways will have safe areas for footing, and tall plants will not obstruct view lines from inside your home.

8.) Plan for maintenance: once finished planting, plan on pulling weeds, watering and pruning, to occasional replacement of dead plants, etc… Once again, plan what plants will suit your maintenance schedule. Consider hiring a professional gardener or lawn service to take care of your yard if necessary.

9.) Low and high maintenance plants: The beauty of landscaping and gardening is there are plants for every lifestyle, as well as every taste! If your home has a rustic or desert aesthetic, ornamental grasses that grow wild may be more suitable for your home. While if you live in a tropical region, flowering plants and shrubs may be more suitable.

10.) Contrast with your exterior home: Your landscaping should be an enhancement of your exterior home. Choose plants that compliment or contrast the colors in your home as well as the architectural time period of your home. A modern and minimalist home may enjoy a modern Zen-inspired landscape, while a Victorian home may have quaint gardens and flowering areas that are typical for the Victorian era.  Plan your outdoor landscaping to be in harmony with your exteriors.

      

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