(March 6, 2009 Newsletter) This is a question that I get a lot from new home
owners or those new to a home in need of landscaping. They want to know
where to start and I thought that there might be others out there who want
to know also.
Well, here are some things to take into consideration when planning or
redesigning your landscape.
First, I recommend living in your new place for about a year before
beginning any major gardens or landscapes. This time allows for you to keep
a notebook on how you and your family use the areas and live through the 4
seasons at your new home, which will give you ideas on how you would like to
use color throughout each season, as well as being able to see any potential
problems such as any seasonal drainage, lighting and privacy issues.
When you find pictures of landscapes or articles in magazines that you like,
put them in the notebook as well. Hardscaping generally refers to fences,
walks, drives, retaining walls, patios, decks, or anything that would be
built to add to the landscape. Any major hardscaping project should be done
before landscaping so that plants are not damaged.
Your lifestyle will be a major factor in landscaping. If you have children,
they will need a play space and what will it include, a play set, sand box,
open space for sports, etc. Are pets part of your family? Yes? Then, they
will need a special place to run and relieve themselves. Do you entertain a
lot? Then, you may need to extend the patio or deck areas to accommodate
more sitting spaces. Are you a homebody? You will probably want quite
tranquil spaces for reading, relaxing or soft conversation all with privacy.
If you look out at an area and don't know what you would do with it, then
don't do anything with it. Sometimes a good landscape comes out of patience.
Steve and I still have a couple of spots around our house that still aren't
landscaped and we've lived there a long time. I don't feel bad about that.
Honestly, we enjoy the other areas so much that we don't even notice it. I
refuse to plant something just 'cause.
Two things that you should go ahead with are lawns and foundation plants.
This will give you a good base to build the rest of your landscape on. Basic
evergreen and deciduous foundation plantings can be livened up with
ornamental grasses, smaller flowering shrubs, herbs, and season perennials.
I have started a photo album on our Facebook page with landscape ideas. Be
sure to check it out. Also, soon, we will be adding to our web site a photo
slideshow of even more planting ideas. So, be sure to watch for it. Also, if
you haven't logged onto your members homepage since mid November, you may
need to rejoin. We have found that our newer system doesn't recognize some
of the older membership information.
Until next time,
Cheryl
