Landscaping Tips for New Homeowners
Spring is here! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and homeowners are eager to get outside and enjoy their yard. Whether you love to entertain or simply enjoy spending some quiet time outdoors with a good book, your yard should offer you an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.
If you’re a new homeowner, or just someone who’d like to get more use out of their yard, landscaping is the key to transforming your backyard from a patch of grass into a place where you’ll want to spend your time.
Here are 5 simple home landscaping tips for crafting the beautiful yard of your dreams!
1. Lay Your Sod in the Right Season
If you’re starting from scratch in a new home or are looking to replace your existing lawn, laying sod is a quick way to get great looking grass without having to wait for anything to grow. While the ground will require some preparation beforehand, once installed, sod also requires less work to nurture then seeding.
May is considered Sod Season, since the ground has thawed and your grass will have plenty of time to get established before winter arrives. Make sure you don’t install sod too late, as the soil conditions can quickly become too dry once we reach the height of summer.
2. Add Flower Beds, Flower Boxes or Potted Plants
Flowers and plants add colour and life to a yard. Depending on the size of your space, there are several different ways you can incorporate flowers into your landscaping:
Flower beds can be planted along fences, walkways or the sides of your house, making them a versatile option for yards of all sizes. They can be uniform or incorporate curves to give your yard design a more natural feel. You can also use stand-alone or island flower beds to break up the space.
Flower boxes or raised flower beds look great in both large or small yards and can be built in a variety of shapes to add visual interest to your landscaping.
Potted plants are ideal for smaller plots and allow you to rearrange your plants to change up the look of the space whenever you wish.
Whichever option you choose, try planting in layers with taller plants at the back and shorter plants in the front to create a richer look. Use a mix of different kinds of flowers so you can enjoy a full palette of colours when they’re in bloom.
3. Create a Focal Point
Adding a focal point is a simple landscaping trick that helps to bring everything together and prevent your yard from looking disorganized. It can be as simple as adding a few garden chairs to create a cozy little seating area that the rest of your yard design efforts can flow from.
Water features make beautiful focal points for a yard that will fill the space with the soothing sounds of flowing water. Or, if you love to entertain, fire pits can be very fun to gather around with friends and family during the summer nights. Built in fire pits look amazing, but you can also purchase a patio fire table or fire bowl if you’re looking for a smaller or more cost-effective option.
4. Install Garden Lights
Installing garden lights will help ensure that you can get more use out of your yard, both during the day or night.
A few hanging lanterns, light strings or outdoor light fixtures installed around your garden will give the yard a warm and inviting feel in the evening and will allow you to stay outside as late as you like.
If you are looking to be more environmentally friendly with your power usage, there are solar-powered lighting options that are perfect for yards.
5. Add Personal Touches to Your Décor
The most important thing to remember when designing your yard is that it’s your yard. You’re the one who’s going to be spending the most time in it, so it should reflect your tastes and the things you enjoy.
If you appreciate bird watching, add a bird bath or bird feeder. If you love lawn gnomes, don’t worry about whether someone else might think they look tacky. Place an army of garden gnomes throughout the space! At the end of the day, your yard should be a place where you’re happy to be.
When it comes to building a home that’s designed to meet your needs, Alquinn Homes is your builder of choice. We believe in building homes tailored to our clients so that they can enjoy them for many years to come.
Contact us at (780) 962-1046 to discuss how we can build you the home of your dreams.