Landscaping is not an easy job, especially for beginners. You need to take time to choose the plants ideal for landscaping and nurture them. If you are interested in improving your exterior, there are simple practices you can follow to make your yard more appealing. Even if you are a novice gardener, your yard can still look its best with these tips.
Develop A Long-Term Plan
You might already have a design in mind. It is exciting to visualize what your new garden will look like, but you need to plan first. Have you picked the plants that are suitable for landscaping? Are they easy to maintain? Decide whether you want a vegetable garden, a play area, or a flowerbed. Start your plan by mapping everything out. Drawing a diagram of your yard including the walls, structures, and fences will help you gauge the space you need.
You will also need to have your soil tested. Keep in mind that the growth of your plants will depend on the nutrition it thrives in. A chemical test will be necessary for this process. Find out what the nutrient levels, pH levels, and the water retention rate of the soil. Since sunlight is critical to landscaping, be sure to evaluate how much sunlight your garden gets. The local climate will also play an essential role in your landscaping project. Depending on your location, the plants rely on the water levels and temperatures in different seasons.
Choose Your Plants
Once you have evaluated your yard, you can start choosing plants. There are several factors to consider during the selection process and one of which is the size. Check the total width and height of the plants. Make sure they fit where you place them and do not require excessive removal or pruning once they reach their mature size. The colors are also essential. Avoid choosing plants that are only good for one season. Select plants that can breathe life into your garden all year-round. Mixing plants that flower at different times also works.
Just like other living things, your plants also have nutritional needs. For instance, if you have a tropical plant, you need to make sure that it has excellent drainage. It also thrives in sandy soil. When it comes to caring requirements, all plants require regular maintenance. Research about the plants so you will know more about their susceptibilities to pests, environmental stress, and diseases.
Consider Starter Plants
It is normal to feel a bit apprehensive, especially if you have never done landscaping before. Choosing starter plants is your best bet. For flowers, choose the ones that are ideal for all types of landscaping projects. Pentas, coreopsis, blue salvia, periwinkle, and Turk’s cap are perfect flowers for beginners. For grasses, you can also consider ornamental grasses to create a powerful statement in your garden. Grasses are ideal for filling bare areas.
Trees also add visual appeal to your landscape. They protect delicate plants and shade the yard. There are flowering and non-flowering trees that can cover large areas. Some great options include maple, redbud trees, and spruce. Another popular choice in Florida is, of course, are fruit trees. Tropical fruits such as mangos and avocados are popular, but there are also numerous even more exotic varieties to choose from. Lychee anyone? If you are looking for walls and borders for your garden, shrubs, hedges, and bushes are excellent choices. On the other hand, options that require less maintenance include roses, boxwoods, lilacs, and arborvitae.
A combination of trees, grasses, shrubs, and flowers will help you achieve your dream landscape. It only requires proper planning and regular maintenance.
CWG Landscape Inc.
931 SE 11th Avenue
Cape Coral, Florida 33990
239-242-0900