On average, Americans spend nearly fifteen hours per week in their homes’ outdoor spaces. That practically makes spending time outside a part-time job!
When you’re spending that much time in the great outdoors, the space should be one that works for you and that you like to look at. But if you haven’t spent much time working on backyard landscaping in the past, it can be a daunting prospect.
Luckily for you, there are some tried and true tips from landscaping experts that can help you take your outdoor space to the next level. Read on to learn three pro tips for your landscaping.
1. It’s All About the Shapes
When thinking about landscaping, most people’s minds go immediately to the plants and don’t consider any other aspects of the space. However, landscaping is as much about how you arrange the plants as which plants you actually choose.
Take two examples. One lawn has flat land and angular edges on the sidewalk and flower beds. Another lawn has curving walkways throughout the space and flower beds that curve with the natural flow of the land.
Both are beautiful and create a strong effect, but they have very different feels from each other. It’s up to you to decide what’s best for your style and the style of your home.
2. Think About Your Lawn in a Variety of Ways
Your outdoor space will feel different day-to-day, and you’ll want to plan your landscaping with a variety of seasons, weather patterns, and times of day in mind.
While it’s tempting to plan your landscaping design around the sunniest, warmest, most beautiful days of the year, you also want your space to be pleasing and functional on colder, drearier days.
Plan for water drainage out of your flower beds, and if you live in a colder climate, rely on plants and flowers that will be able to weather the harshest temperatures.
Also, take into consideration the ways in which you use your outdoor space. Do you frequently entertain? Perhaps open spaces with lots of room will serve you best. If you prefer to sit in solitude and contemplate the nature around you, various seating options in little nooks throughout your backyard might be the better option.
Finally, be sure to include appropriate lighting options if you plan to use your backyard space in the evening or at night. If planned with care, lighting can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing all at the same time.
3. Hire a Professional
Of course, the best way to get professional-looking yard landscaping is to hire a professional. What might take weeks, months, or even years for you to master can be accomplished by a professional landscaper in a much shorter amount of time.
It can be helpful if you’re able to go into design sessions with at least a beginning idea of the look you want or the feel you want to achieve with your landscaping design, so all of the hard work you’ve already done learning about landscape design will not be wasted!
See here for more information on how you can partner with a landscape architect to pursue the landscaping of your dreams.
Use These Tips for Backyard Landscaping
Now you know three of the top professional tips for backyard landscaping. Follow them, and your landscaping will be the envy of the neighborhood!
Looking for more tips on landscaping your backyard and other home improvement projects? Read the other articles in our Lifestyle section!
