The landscape services industry is worth $105.1 billion in 2021, according to the IBIS World Landscaping Services Industry Report. To avoid the steep price tag of this ever-growing industry, you can instead opt for a DIY landscaping project.
Some landscaping tips can help with that
Before embarking on the work, however, be sure to do your research. You don’t want to damage the foundation of your home by moving the wrong earth or end up with a drab garden.
With so many variables such as budget, skills, and the weather in play, it may seem confusing where to start. If you’re thinking about how to make your backyard great, read on for some helpful suggestions to add elegance and purpose to your landscaping project.
1. Connecting Through Walkways
A home’s front walkway should make a great first impression on your visitors. Also, a walkway can help them to avoid trampling down the lawn, ruining the grass, and making a trail of dead vegetation in your yard.
A cost-effective and straightforward solution is to create an attractive walkway using concrete stepping stones.
It’s all about pulling the elements together. We suggest constructing a pathway from similar materials used in the house’s exterior, as this helps the walkway blend in and provide functionality.
2. Plan For an All-Year Appeal
A year-round garden ensures that colours surround your house through every season.
Planting a garden isn’t the challenge. The real challenge is to plan a four-season garden, as it requires a lot of planning and organization.
Survey your garden and do some research before buying each plant. Knowing the right plants will allow you to combine different types of plants for four-season colours. To do this, visit garden centres at different times of the year to get an idea of bloom schedules or ask an expert.
Evergreen shrubs retain their leaves all year long, so they’re constantly providing cover and colour. Perennial flowers are great for your planting beds, but they bloom for only so long. You can add more colour and interest by filling in with annuals.
3. Install Water Features
One of the hottest trends in landscaping these days is to add a water feature. Not only are they visually appealing, but they may also provide a naturally pleasing soundscape. A water feature can also be a beautiful focal point.
Water features can be embedded in your landscape naturally or can even be in a self-contained unit. A self-contained water fountain can save money and incur lower maintenance costs over time.
More prominent water features like a pool or a pond may also pose a risk to the homeowners, especially the ones with young children around, so keep that in mind.
4. Outdoor Seating
To truly enjoy your outdoor space, good outdoor seating is a must. With the new trend of creating outdoor living spaces, the options for garden seating are abundant these days.
Installing a traditional patio can be a great addition to just about anyone’s yard.
Building your seating near trees can provide shade in the summer and give some privacy to that area. From adding informal dining furniture to building seating around a fire pit, your landscape is your world to try out new things.
5. Outdoor Illumination
Great landscaping doesn’t only have to shine in the day. It also deserves to be admired even after sunset. Here is when landscape lighting comes into play.
The lights can increase the attractiveness of your home and showcase points of interest in your landscape. You can also use lights to illuminate steps, sidewalks, paths and walkways.
You can use spotlights to illuminate plants or statues in your yard. Garden lights can be placed in natural areas to show off your beautiful plants. You could even put string lights in your trees for more subtle illumination.
Be creative, and you can make your backyard look its best.
6. Buy Smaller Versions of Plants
If you’re on a tight budget, then this tip is just for you. Garden centres usually price plants by the size of their planter pot. Bigger plants can immediately affect the beauty of your landscape, but they can be expensive.
Instead, you can go for a smaller version of the same plant. Younger plants typically root into the surroundings, adapt well to the soil, and grow bigger in what seems like no time.
7. Choose a Theme
Choosing a design for your landscape is crucial. Your decisions will be influenced by the benefits you desire and how you want to use your landscape.
Shade trees can keep your landscape cool while having a lot of colourful flowers can make your garden more appealing.
Taking care of a landscape that doesn’t fit the local environment costs a lot of unnecessary time, effort, and money. To avoid these extra expenses, change your current look by replacing plants with some regional variants and redesigning your landscape to fit in with your vision.
8. Keeping Your Soil Healthy
Healthy soils mean healthy plants. You can either call soil testing services or use a soil test kit to check the health of your soil. Different plants are suited for different soil types, so it’s best to ensure that your soil is compatible with your plants.
Due to foot traffic, the soil may become compacted. Aerating your soil once in a while can increase the uptake of water of the soil, and may improve water flow to the plant’s roots. To establish a healthy lawn, you need to work from the earth up.
Thatch is a layer of dead grass that may block the flow of air, water, and nutrients if it grows too much. Minor thatch accumulations can usually be removed by raking. However, for severe problems, consider renting a mechanical dethatching machine.
The roots of a grass plant can grow almost as deep as the blades are high. To maintain a healthy root system, do not mow your lawn shorter than about 2 inches.
9. Care For Your Plants
Once planted, native plants require little to no water besides rainfall because local plants have adapted to soils in the area. If your landscape has turfgrass, make sure to place it strategically in areas where it has a practical function.
Areas in the same site may vary in soil type and exposure to sun and wind. Placing plants that prefer the open sun in the shade will impact their survivability. Be mindful of a site’s exposure to the elements and choose plants that will grow in the site’s conditions.
When planting trees or shrubs, they will typically require irrigation in the beginning. Once they take root, you can reduce the watering schedule.
10. Minimize Fertilizer Use
We recommend not to use too much fertilizer as it encourages the type of growth that requires additional water.
However, if you need to use fertilizer, look for products that contain “natural organic” or “slow-release” ingredients. These fertilizers feed the plants slowly, in turn creating healthier plants.
A great natural source of fertilizer is the grass clippings whenever you mow your lawn.
Grass clippings can reduce the overall total fertilizer needed. A lawn with healthy grass can also be an excellent defence to prevent the growth of weeds.
11. Battle Pests on Your Lawn
Most landscapers have to deal with pest problems now and then as it’s just a natural thing to happen. Ants, spiders, or rats can cause issues in your grass.
When most people think about pest control, they picture a company like Bamboo Servicing coming to treat their lawns. Professionals do a good job, but you can take some steps to help them in the first place.
To avoid pest infestations, you can add plants and herbs to your yard that will naturally dissuade pests from raiding your beautiful garden and help keep them away from your home.
12. Fun Activities in the Backyard
Landscaping ideas don’t always have to be about gardening; you can have many fun activities set up in your backyard.
Having just a few blankets, pillows, and a projector can help you create a backyard theatre. You can also build an outdoor kitchen to be the ultimate spot for entertaining guests.
If you have children, setting up swing sets and treehouses can be a great way to keep your little ones entertained.
How to Make Your Backyard Great
Are you ready to give your outdoor living space an upgrade? Landscaping doesn’t have to be costly to be luxurious. Sometimes, the right night-time lighting, patio furniture, and DIY magic are all you need to create your dream backyard.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our other articles in the home improvement section for more landscaping tips.