Having a beautiful house and yard is a wonderful thing — it enriches your daily life in ways that are hard to quantify, but everyone can feel the difference between an unkempt property and a lush and vibrant one.
However, there are also practical concerns to having a well-landscaped yard. You want to improve your property values, if only to compensate for the time and expense of installing such a gorgeous yard.
Sweat Equity Isn’t Too Hard To Achieve
We tend to think that the cheapest and easiest yard to take care of is a simple grass lawn and perhaps an ornamental tree or two. But not only is that quick dull-looking, the lawn is quite high maintenance. Lawns require weekly mowing, lots of water, and regular detaching and fertilizer infusions to keep it looking its best.
But because most homeowners are familiar with the requirements of maintaining a lawn, they are not intimidated. What they are intimidated by is the idea of planting dozens of new plants that they have no idea how to care for and wasting all that time and money.
But once you know a few principles, growing things other than grass won’t be too intimidating.
Step One: Plan For The End Result
Creating a stunning landscape isn’t something you can pull off in a single weekend; it’s a project that requires careful thought and planning. Before you pick up a shovel or start planting, envision what you want your landscape to look like in the long term. Think of it as crafting an outdoor sanctuary that should feel complete and welcoming not just now but for years to come. Begin by considering how your yard will be used. Do you want to create a serene space to relax in, an area for entertaining, or maybe a play space for kids? Once you understand the purpose, it will be easier to shape your design around these needs.
A professional landscape designer can be invaluable at this stage, bringing knowledge of plants, materials, and layouts that work well for your region and goals. However, if you prefer a hands-on approach, sketch out your ideas and focus on the bigger picture, including hardscaping, pathways, and decorative elements. These might include anything from stone or brick patios to features like boulders, sculptures, or gazing balls. Remember to think in terms of layers and depth. Picture the growth patterns of your plants in a few years; a cedar that looks cute and compact now might crowd out other plants or encroach on walkways as it matures. Good planning ensures your landscape stays balanced and intentional over time.
Step Two: Plan for Low Maintenance
Everyone wants a beautiful yard, but few want the upkeep that often comes with it. The key is to understand what “low maintenance” means for you personally and design accordingly. If you enjoy some light gardening and don’t mind seasonal pruning or dividing perennials, you’ll have more plant options, such as flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses, or perennials that add seasonal color. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a true set-it-and-forget-it yard, focus on planting low-maintenance shrubs, drought-resistant ground covers, and slow-growing trees that don’t require frequent trimming.
In Northern Virginia, native plants are often a smart choice. They are naturally adapted to the climate and tend to be less needy when it comes to water and care.
Using mulch is another effective way to reduce maintenance while enhancing the beauty of your landscape. A thick layer of mulch around plants and garden beds not only suppresses weeds but also helps retain soil moisture, so you’ll need to water less frequently. This also means that your plants can thrive with less intervention, making your yard easier to manage and more resilient through dry spells or heavy rain.
Step Three: Execute Slowly
The most difficult thing to learn is patience. The investment in your home’s curb appeal is a long-term one. If you are going to sell quickly, it will be hard to recoup your investment. But if you’re going to install a paver pathway, lighted curbside plinths, or decorative benches under flowering trees, you’ll want everything made as carefully as possible. Cutting corners will only mean you have to fix things later.
All that work will pay off, though, as everyone loves an attractive and well-maintained home and yard. If you’re making plans of your own, give the top rated Northern VA landscaping company, JK Enterprises, a call and we’ll show you some of the possibilities.
