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There’s a lot more to landscaping than simple yardwork, including factors like weather, seasons and acreage. Learn a few tips on budgets, when to plant and more!
While the term “landscaping” is more of a catch-all for lawn, garden and property maintenance, it also includes design, new plantings and installation, including patios, retaining walls and sidewalks. While outdoor trends tend to come in waves, outdoor entertaining is a growing trend even for the cooler seasons. Fire pits are hot right now (literally and figuratively), while adding living space is important to those looking to increase their time outdoors.
Jason Childress, landscape designer for Varsity Landscaping, says many clients are adding outdoor kitchens, areas for hot tubs and other ways to utilize backyard space for family and social use.
“People tend to be going away from the standard deck on the backyard,” Childress says. “They want more flexibility with levels, tiers, outdoor lighting and audio, and all the other options available now.”
Childress has a horticulture degree from Virginia Tech and stresses the importance of using professional landscapers for your home. The right company will have knowledgeable, educated staff who keep up with continuing education practices like new innovations, new designs and plants. Along with experience and know-how, they’ll also have the right licensure and contractor’s license so you have no liability as a homeowner and everything will be done the right way.
“It’s great if you want to DIY, but many times the project turns out to be bigger than originally expected. We can help finish it in a timely and correct manner,” says Childress.
On the fence about a new landscaping project for your home? Many businesses will begin with a consultation, walking through ideas and suggesting ballpark figures to give homeowners a better idea of what needs to be done. A good landscaper will be honest about not only the budget, but the layout and design. Some plants might not work for a particular area of the yard, or a patio may not be able to sit out back due to your yard dropping off into a large hill (or in our region’s case, mountains).
Thinking about the resale value of your home? Start the landscaping now. “It’s hard to create dynamic curb appeal a week before you list your home unless you’re going to spend a fortune on mature plants,” Childress explains. “If you know you’ll list your house in two years, and it’s a mess, start the work now. Then you can touch it up when you’re ready to list. You can always trim and clean up, but a complete landscape redesign takes time to grow into the space. It doesn’t happen in a weekend like on HGTV!”
“It’s easy to make stuff look good the day you leave if you over-plant but it’ll be a nightmare in two years after it’s grown in. There are a lot of variables: how plants perform, their size, sun and shade requirements and more.”
The most important thing to consider for your landscaping is a long-term investment. “Even if you want to break something down and do a little bit each year, you need an all-encompassing plan and road map to know where to start and the order of operations. Know what order makes the most sense, and what value will you get of it.”
When is the best time to plant?
Late October or early November is actually the best time. Turns out the cold weather thing is a myth! The fall is prime time to plant whether it’s trees, shrubs, perennials or many other varieties. Once the root system is in the ground, it’s warm and protected. Childress says they can even plant in January with great results. If you’re looking to add on to your garden or re-landscape your front foundation bed, now’s the time.
“Everybody gets a planting bug in the spring with flowers coming out, but they’re going into summer and that’s a tough stretch for plants,” says Childress. “You have to baby them, water and hold their hand through the summer. If you go away on vacation, you better have someone watering them to keep the summer heat from killing it while you’re gone! Plants grow roots 12 months a year–when the next summer comes around, that plant is ready to fend for itself much better.”
What about general landscaping in the fall?
Fall is the time to shut down irrigation; landscapers do a lot of leaf clean up, trimming and cutting back on trees, shrubs and perennials. Thinning out is good for this time of year. Childress also advises to get those rakes and backpack blowers out–we know full well what our yards look like once the leaves start to fall.
Landscaping is more than just about aesthetics: if those leaves sit all winter long on your yard, the weight will choke out the turf and cause it to die. Leaves can be composted, though it’s about a one year process before they’ll be ready to go in the garden bed. Your turf needs sunlight or it can bleach out. Manage the weeds with lawn treatments throughout the summer; once under control, late fall is an ideal time for lawn aeration and heavy seeding for grass to grow where weeds once stood.
What are this season’s big trends?
Fire pits are definitely great for the fall and add a layer of design to your yard. Accessories such as low-voltage landscape lighting and LED fixtures are big too. The lights help for not just security, but also aesthetics. You can uplight your beautiful trees as well as avoid trip hazards by lighting up the pathway to your front and back doors. Landscape lighting isn’t necessarily cheap, but you want nice, heavy fixtures that will last through the seasons and years.
What if I’m on a budget?
Childress says Varsity Landscaping’s most common calls are for those who want a simpler type of landscape. Whether it’s the overgrown plants in the front of the house that need trimming or you want curb appeal and resale value, there are many options for staying on budget and enhancing the look on your home.
New beds and fresh mulch lend to an entirely new look. Sometimes just putting in a small bed around your lamppost or mailbox with a handful of new plants is an inexpensive undertaking that makes a huge difference. Childress also recommends that if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a paver sidewalk, opt for a nice stepping stone pathway with flowers around it ($5K vs $1,200? We’re sold!).
What if I have a smaller yard?
Even if a large retaining wall or huge acres aren’t an option, your yard can still have meticulous landscaping elements. Intimate patios can be built with enough space for a bistro table, a couple chairs, and a small grill. Big, deciduous trees can also be planted for shade without taking up all of your yard. In fact, sometimes this might be your best solution even if you have a larger yard.
Childress says many homeowners approach them with landscaping ideas, only to discover they have half the yard they originally thought due to the region’s slopes and elevation. “It’s pretty common here; people want a big patio, but you have to build a wall first to have a flat enough area for the paved area. Slopes are a challenge and costs can go up due to sight factors that come into play. Many things must be done before a landscaping project can even get started; consider your yard space and how to best utilize it without having to spend a fortune.”
What is the correct way to plant?
Our soils in this region are comprised of a lot of clay, which is not conducive to growing a big, healthy root system. Childress recommends planting slightly above grade so the soil can crown up to the plants, thus preventing them from sinking too far into the heavy clay.
When you start digging your hole, make it wider and bigger than the plant itself. You’ll want to amend the soil with native soil, compost, a good fertilizer, and plenty of water. The biggest mistake a homeowner can make when planting is to plant too deep or in a small hole. Trees and shrubs need space to grow.
Best year-round landscaping ideas?
Homeowners want evergreen materials that won’t grow too big, but mix in color and flowering shrubs to strike a nice balance. You also want to think about the wildlife in your yard; for example, boxwoods are deer-resistant, whereas that beloved apple tree will have them practically camping out in your backyard.
Consider blooming cycles and rotate colors out for an eye-catching difference that will feel like a fresh change to the home with each season. It’s also important to note sun and shade, and directional exposure, especially if you plan to be there long-term. “A well thought out landscape will be lower maintenance in five to 10 years, as opposed to picking out random favorites and hoping for the best,” says Childress.