Do you have more energy, strong urges for fresh air and sun on your skin? Yep, you guessed it. Summer is here. Well, I have the perfect way to get outdoors - landscaping! Not only will your lungs fill with fresh air, you will increase your home's curb appeal.
Don't know where to start? Luckily, there are countless of experts out there, such as the pros at Flores Landscaping that I recently partnered with to give our clients’ old house curb appeal and to make their new house feel like home. However, all the opinions and advice can be overwhelming so I narrowed it down for you. Here are 10 steps to healthy, gorgeous landscaping:
1. Clip & Clear: Like any home project, the first step is to clean up and clear the clutter. Prune trees as necessary. Shape, thin, and clear out dead, damaged and infected branches. Removes weeds and debris from flower beds and planting areas.
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2. Be inspired: After all the hard work, take a stroll for some inspiration. Look at neighboring yards, public areas, or complexes. Sure you can look through magazines and online for ideas, but a stroll let’s you see ideas firsthand in your climate.
3. Space: You are motivated and everything is clean. Time to start planting now, right? Wrong. A critical item to consider is your space. When choosing landscaping and sizes of plants, estimate how large the plants will grow in 4 weeks, 4 months, etc. Most plants will have height and growth requirements on the pots when purchased from your nursery. Make sure for instance, that tall plants will not obstruct views from inside your home.
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4. Climate and Soil: Examine the climate of your home. How much sun and shade does your yard get? Then consult with your local nursery so you can choose plants appropriate for how much sun and shade different areas of your yard receives.
5. Timing: Many plants will thrive better if you plant them at certain times of the year. Look at gardening websites and ask your nursery what times are best for the plantings you choose.
6. Pests: Sun, timing and space are all important factors, but none of them will matter if you have pests. Insects can wreck everything. Look for abnormalities in plants or signs of visitors, such as nibbles in the leaves, and treat as directed by your local nursery.
7. Design: Once you know what type of plants you’d like and will thrive in your yard, map out the areas in which your plants will be planted. Consider the shape of your flowerbeds. Straight lines are boring! Add curves to the edges of flowerbeds to make them more appealing. Boulders are another great way to break up flat lines with a natural element.
8. Finally, Plant: Head to your local nursery armed with all this knowledge and select your plants. Then, plant away! Water the plants once they are in the ground. Apply fresh mulch around them. Shouldn't there be a step about fertilizing?
9. Maintain: Landscaping is never done. From pulling weeds, watering and pruning, to occasional replacement of dead plants there is always work to be done. But the good news is it gets you outside and can be quite enjoyable if you stick to a schedule to keep it from turning into a large job.10. Extras: Outdoor sitting areas are popular right now. Add appeal to your yard by installing a small fire pit, stone walkway or a little mood lighting. Your neighbors will be sure to be dropping by for tips and oozing with envy!
