The landscaping on your home can make or break the sale to a potential buyer. Even if your home is not on the market, simple landscaping can still increase the value of your home by much more than you might think. Keep reading this article to get some ideas that you can do this weekend.
Consider why you want to landscape your yard before you begin your project. Are you looking to add beauty? Are you trying to add privacy? Is your goal to reduce the overall maintenance of your property? The answers to these questions can help you to select the right variety of plants, making your landscaping project easier to complete.
To help pay for your project, you should divide it into different stages. You will only have to pay for one stage at a time. If landscaping is a hobby for you, taking your time is important since creating the landscape is often more fun than maintaining it on a regular basis.
Making your garden multi-seasonal will allow you to take full advantage of your landscaping. Choose different kinds of plants for different seasons, which are appropriate depending on the soil and region. Evergreen trees and exotic tree species with notable foliage can also help preserve your landscape’s year-round appeal.
A lot of people fail to consider buying landscaping plants online. However, not only is shopping online easier and more convenient, but you can also find different plants for landscaping that are rare and might not be found at your local nursery and especially in a large retail store.
Use balance, not symmetry. A balanced distribution of plants creates a focal point, but the garden should never be symmetrical. For example, a large tree to the left of the garden can be balanced by two smaller trees to the right. This creates a much more desirable effect in the garden, whereas a symmetrical look appears completely unnatural.
Try talking to a pro before you start working on your landscape. You might not need a landscape designer or architect to draft your whole project, but for under $100, a consultation that lasts about an hour can be well worth the money if it prevents you from making costly mistakes later on.
While it is common to use chemicals insecticides to ward off pests, many of them can cause harm to your plants. They best way to keep bugs away, is to grow plants that naturally repel bugs, or use a natural bug repellant like hot pepper spray, or dishwater on your plants.
Anytime you are considering changing your landscape, you must also thing about the structures that already stand on your property. Make sure to locate underground cables, water lines, and septic drainfields before you begin in order to avoid running into them later. Also call your local municipality to come out and mark the underground wires before you begin digging.
Check the quality of your soil before planting your flower bed. Dig a hole and fill it with water to see how quickly it drains. Do a pH test. If necessary, do some soil amendment to achieve ideal drainage and good moisture to oxygen ratio. Give your plants the best possible chance to thrive by preparing the soil properly.
Anyone wishing to create a landscape design with real visual impact, should consider adding elements other than plants to enhance the overall appearance of the space. Furniture, lighting elements, statuary, and stonework are all examples of items that can be layered throughout the outdoor space to create a look that appears to have evolved over time.
Mow your yard regularly. No matter, how many gorgeous flowers and trees you add to your yard, it will always look ugly if your lawn is over grown. Plan to mow your yard weekly in the Spring, and at least on a bi-weekly basis during the Summer.
Be neighborly. Landscaping equipment is expensive. Before you spend money on it, see if any of your neighbors are interesting in landscaping their yard as well. If they are, suggest that you split the cost of equipment rental. You could save a lot of money by simply taking the time to be sociable.
It would be wise for you to put in a walkway to your landscape or garden design. You can do this by using mulch or stones. Without having one, you may end up stepping on your plants or garden, causing damage. It will also make your overall landscape look more professional.
When you are purchasing flowers look for perennials rated for your zone. Annuals are great for quickly creating a colorful flowerbed, but they will need to be planted again the following year. Perennials come back year after year and cut down on the work and expense of maintaining a beautiful flower garden.
Make a design that is as functional as it is appealing. For example, don’t forget that you will need to leave areas for important structures such as a driveway or deck. Don’t plant any vegetation near your home, else you might have an insect problem come summertime.
Plant your lawn in layered horizontal segments for the most visual interest. The tallest plants are typically planted as a background element in the various segments of a landscaping plan. Position your other plants around them varying the height from tallest to shortest as you move away from the central element of a segment.
Beautiful landscape designs are those that take height and layering into consideration. By staggering plantings based on their probable stature when mature, it is possible to create a tableau that appears organic, rather than overly planned. This gives the appearance of a lush, natural garden instead of a formulaic grouping of predictable plants.
You don’t have to pay someone a lot of money or invest in a ton of expensive plants, in order to make your home look good. Simple steps and basic gardening can make your home look like a million bucks. This article has shown you how you can increase the curb appeal and the value of your home.
