Landscaping Tips for the New Homeowner

When you buy your first home, you’ll more than likely start seeing things you want to change to make it your own. Whether it starts inside or outside, at some point, your eyes will fall on the landscaping portion of your innumerable projects. When that happens, use these tips as a guide to make your project a success!

Have a strong motivation for why you’re doing it.
Many home improvement projects start off with good intentions but fall by the wayside because you don’t have a clear reason of why you’re doing the project. Maybe you want to add value to your home so that you can sell it later in life or pass it down to your children. Maybe you want to have an awesome yard where you can hang out with friends and make great memories. Or maybe, you just want your own little oasis to escape to after a long day at work. Whatever your reasoning, make sure you have a point to your project. That goal will help you see it through to the end.

Plan first.
Nothing is going to look like it does in your dreams if you don’t have a plan first. Do your research on products and styles and pricing first. It’s also worth noting that if you’re new to this, have realistic expectations. You won’t be a master at everything your first time through, but you can improve on things as time goes on. The first step here is to imagine what you want your yard to look like. Then set a budget and a timetable and see how those match up. Make sure that when you set your budget, you include the price of all materials, including commonly forgotten items such as mulch or sod.

Choose your methods.
Will you be doing this project yourself or hiring a landscaper? Shopping is required in both instances. Keep in mind that many landscaping companies have a minimum price on jobs they will accept, and make sure you don’t fall for “too good to be true”offers. Chances are it’s probably a scam, so steer clear! It pays to do some research and find a reputable company that fits what you need. Pro tip: the closer the company is to you, the cheaper it will be. It may only be by a little bit, but the travel costs!

Execute your plans.
A huge piece of advice to keep in mind for this portion: don’t dig without calling 411 first! You could hit gas or water pipes buried in your yard. Once you’ve gone through this, get started! Mulch is often used right at the start of growing season because it warms the soil and retains heat. It’s a great base for any planting you plan to do. You should also include a sprinkler in your plans to make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste.

Keep the dynamics of the space in mind. Plant the plants that need the most sunlight in the area that gets the most sunlight for example. You also need to keep your climate in mind. Don’t plant a ton of annuals, which going to have to be replanted every single year, since over time that will cost you a substantial amount of money.