
One of the best parts about buying a new home is that your house is like a blank canvas; no paint on the walls and only dirt in the yard. This allows you the freedom to design the home, inside and out, however you want from scratch.
However, landscaping a yard can be overwhelming, especially if you have never tackled the project by yourself. Where do you start? Do you start with purchasing plants, laying down a patio, adding grass…? You will want your yard to have a theme and not look like a bunch of random vegetation. Here are six tips to help you design the backyard of your dreams for your new home.
1. Get organized.
Make a list of the items you need in your yard as well as the items you would like. Do you need grass for pets? Do you need a play space for kids? Do you need a section of the yard reserved for your vegetable garden? Do you need a patio for outdoor dining and barbecuing? Once you figured out what is functional for your yard, add a list of plants you would love to have. (Keep in mind to keep with the same hues when it comes to purchasing plants.) Do a rough sketch of your yard on where you would like to place the above items. Remember, this is just a rough sketch and does not need to be detailed. This is just a tool to help you visualize your yard’s look and feel.
2. Take into account the outdoor elements.
Consider where the sun and wind is during different times of the day and year. For example, you may want to place your patio on the west side of your home due to the fact of that is where you will get the most sunlight during the day. But that also means, come August, you may be enjoying your BBQ in the sweltering sun. The wind is also a factor that many beginner landscaping designers forget to consider. Wind that blows around a corner can easily extinguish a fire pit.
3. Choose a focal point.
To keep your yard looking organized, choose a focal point or a series of focal points. This can be anything from a tree, a stunning plant or even a sculpture or water feature that draws your eye and makes it move through your yard.
4. Don’t rush
Don’t rush to getting your yard done the day you move into your new home. While if you live in an HOA community, you may have to have your yard done within a few months of moving in, take your time to get familiar with your yard. Find out the areas in the yard that have the best views or the perfect amount of sun where you would enjoying sitting or dining in.
5. Start Small
This is not one of those “Go big, or go home” activities. Start small. We have all seen those TV shows that make over a yard in just three days. What you do not know is behind the scenes is a crew of fifty working nonstop. Gardening can be very soothing, so try and enjoy the process. Start with planting a small flowerbed for just a couple of hours. Don’t worry about filling in everything at once. Don’t forget plants grow and will fill in empty space on their own. Many beginner landscapers for get this fact. If you try and rush to have a finished yard, you are more likely to cut corners and end up with a sloppy yard.
6. Placement and Size
Make sure to take note of plants placement and size. This can be the hardest part when designing your new yard. Since plants come in different sizes and colors, you want to make sure you place the taller plants in the back of the flowerbed, against walls or along walkways. To keep your yard organized, have some repetition or pattern with plants that have the same hues or shape.
In conclusion remember, as a beginner, the key is to stay patient. If your dogs or kids are dragging in mud in your new home, or your HOA needs the landscaping done ASAP, fill the yard with easy to remove items like mulch or annuals that can be removed or transplanted. Make sure you take your time and try to enjoy building your new yard.