What's The Latest

Things to decide when landscaping

In a recent post we spoke of some of the benefits of adding landscaping to your new home, and this week we’ll discuss some of the key issues to keep in mind when planning your landscaped yard.

Level of maintenance

An important aspect to consider when looking into landscaping options is the type of plants you will have, and just how much maintenance they will require. Some gardens are happy with the bare minimum of occasional watering and some pruning every now and then, while others will require regular work.

Will your garden require professional help?

As plants grow and mature, it’s not uncommon to find gardens which have outgrown the homeowners’ ability to keep up with maintenance. Trees may grow larger than anticipated and need professional tree loppers to cut them down to size, while some varieties of flowers etc may need special treatment also.

Will it get out of hand?

While compact and appealing at the start, it’s important to remember some types of plants can easily get out of hand and ultimately have a negative impact on your home. Plants such as bamboo have a tendency to take over whatever space is available to them, and prove almost impossible to remove once established, and some trees can form huge networks of roots which may interfere with your home’s plumbing.

Varieties of plants

• Flowers, natives, trees, fruit & veg, or all of the above?
  There are so many options when selecting species to plant in your garden that the choices can seem endless. While not a critical issue in terms of landscaping, deciding on the right kind of plants for you is a must for many home owners.
• Evergreen or deciduous?
  This is another choice home owners will need to make when landscaping, whether to opt for plants that keep their leaves throughout the year, or those which will lose their foliage, and in many cases turn the lovely colours of autumn. If planting trees for summer shade, you may want deciduous species, which will lose their leaves in winter and allow sunlight through. However if you’d prefer a garden with minimum maintenance and don’t want to spend time raking up leaves, then evergreen varieties might be the best option for you to choose.
• Is your selection of plants suitable to the local environment?
  While personal taste plays a very important role in planning the landscaping of a home, it’s also vital to keep in mind what kind of climate you live in. Planting cacti in a tropical climate for example could prove to be an uphill struggle, as would trying to keep tropical plants alive in dry desert-like conditions. Consulting local nurseries or horticulture experts prior to deciding on what kind of plants your yard will feature is the best way to ensure they are suitable to the area.

Professional landscaping or DIY?

The last thing you’ll need to decide when planning the landscaping of your new home is whether to hire professionals to carry out the work for you, or to simply do it yourself. To landscape your own yard will take lot of hard work, however the rewards will be worth it, not to mention the savings, however many people simply don’t have the time. Indigo homes can include landscaping as part of the package when building your new home, so if this interests you; bring it up with one of our sales reps when discussing options.