Landscaping the exterior of your home can be a huge task, especially if you are doing it for the first time. You have to think about types of flowers and plants, trees, design and budget. And, like many people, you may feel like you do not have the time, resources or energy to tackle an entire lawn on your own. Here are the top five landscaping tricks for you to use in all seasons. These tricks will help you clean up your lawn without having to make a huge monetary or time investment.
1. Hire someone else. Hiring someone else to design your landscape and execute the plan takes the burden almost entirely off of you to do the work. You will, however, be putting the burden on your wallet. When you hire someone else to do the work, ask him or her to suggest plants that last through the seasons so that you will not have to make an additional investment into the hiring of someone next season, or into ensuring that your yard looks nice year-round.
2. Choose plants over flowers. Plants will last longer and appear fuller than flowers. They are a cheaper investment for the year-round return that you will get from them. On the contrary, flowers are relatively expensive for the duration of their life cycles. Flowers are also seasonal, so your investment will go away from half of the year. Plants are also larger, so they will help to fill your property in where the landscaping is sparse.
3. Invest in trees. Plant trees on your property to create privacy, age and a sense of pulled togetherness. While trees tend to take awhile to grow into a sizeable height and bulk, they are a worthwhile investment for the homeowner that desires to lay some steadfast foundations to his or her landscape. You will, however, have to maintain trees – so do not expect to have a worry-free installation. Leaves need racking and branches need trimming. The trade-offs, however, are worth the investment.
4. Create beds. Beds are the designated places in your yard dedicated for you to plant shrubs and flowers. Your beds should be elevated from your lawn a slightly slope into the center of your yard. By creating a multi-level yard with the beds, you are adding a dynamic element that will add interest and appeal to an otherwise flat territory.
5. Redo your walkway. Consider changing something as small as your walkway. Your walkway is the entryway to your home. It should be clean, inviting and make from an exciting material, such as brick or tile. Line the walkway with shrubs, flowers or rocks to set a nice boundary. If you do not have a walkway, but rather have cut a dirt path across your lawn so that you can reach the front door, then invest in one. It will add value and comfort to your home and help to make those daily steps to and from your house more appealing to you and your guests.