Wanna make your neighbors green with envy? A sure way to accomplish this is to build a garden that catches the eyes of everyone who walks past your yard!
Whether you're an experienced gardener or new to the landscaping game, you would be surprised by the many tips and tricks available to help you get started.
So read on if you're interested in gaining a professional perspective on boosting your yard appeal with the help of a garden.
Set a Budget
Above all, you need to set a budget to understand what is realistic and what is not. Landscaping doesn’t need to be overly costly, but it’s easy to overspend without a set budget.
Homeowners tend to think building a garden is the least expensive of the many other landscaping and hardscaping options, but this is not necessarily the case. Since there are hundreds of different flowers to choose from and many different garden styles, the overall cost will have a wide range—some being much more expensive than others. Therefore, if you’re on a budget, it’s important to determine the most affordable plants and what maintenance costs will look like down the road. Once you set a realistic budget, you can move on to designing your dream garden.
First, Create A Vision
Like anything in life, if you're looking to accomplish anything that holds value, the best approach is to have a vision and create mini goals that help you reach that vision.
To get started, you will want to consider the layout of your yard and decide the most suitable area to plant your garden. Once you've established that, the next step is to dream up a layout and design that will transform the entire look of your yard. This step will take time, but time well spent! No gardens are made equal, so it’s important to establish what look you’re going for, whether it’s a rose garden, orchid, or standard flower garden.
Now that you've pinpointed your vision, you can get started on the more technical stuff.
Select Plants That Suit Your Climate
Plants are generally categorized into two categories: sun-tolerant and winter-tolerant. The first thing to note is that some plants tolerate extreme heat while others tolerate cold or coolers temperatures. Here in the Spokane area, we have warm, humid summers, so choosing plants that flourish more in warmer weather conditions would be your safest bet.
But despite where you reside, we recommend you determine the climate in which the plant(s) will flourish. If you plant the wrong seeds or plants for your environment, no matter how well you attempt to grow them and maintain them, they will not survive unless they are climate adaptable.
Perennial vs Annual
Now that you've determined the type of garden you want, you should decide which type of plants you want. The two most popular options are perennial and annual.
Simply put, perennial plants go dormant during winter and regrow every spring. Conversely, annual plants will always need to be replaced because they live for only one season, then die off.
There is no lack of selection when it comes to either option, so your decision really just comes down to your preference. Do you want to replant flowers and seeds every spring, or do you prefer to skip that part and focus on all the other essential garden maintenance duties? Whatever you choose, you can always switch it up the following year.
Keep in mind that perennial and annual plants are not the only options, but they are the more popular options for outdoor gardening.
Pick the Best Potting Soil
This might be the single most crucial gardening tip you will be given. Plants have a high probability of dying if planted in the wrong soil, and if this happens, what was the point of gardening to begin with? Therefore, picking the best potting soil is key to building a garden that will flourish! And this tip ties back to our suggestion of determining what type of garden you will plant. Once you decide the type of flowers you will plant, you can determine the best potting soil.
Know How to Plant Plants
Another tip for preserving your plants is always to check the planting requirements and instructions before you buy them. Doing this will save you the headache of dealing with dead plants that need to be replaced.
For example, certain plants need to be planted with the stem slightly above the soil level. While other plants need their roots to be secured deep within the soil below ground level.
This crucial research step shouldn't be skipped or done without intent, as it can result in your plants dying.
Hire Out the Work to A Professional Landscaper
Now that you have some of the essential tips for building a garden, you may have decided it's a lot of work and you prefer to leave it to the professionals. And if this is what you decided, we don't fault you. Pacific Lawn Maintenance has been in business for years, and it's taken us a reasonable amount of time to master the art of gardening. We can attest to the fact that it’s no walk in the park, especially on your first go!
And if you really want to find a way to leave your neighbors envious of your yard but don’t have landscaping or gardening experience, hiring a professional landscaper is an excellent way!
Bottom Line
If, after reading this comprehensive guide, you decide to don't have the time or skills to master your vision, Pacific Lawn Maintenance would love to work with you. One of our many specialties is building gardens that look designed for a landscaping magazine. So, if you're ready to create the perfect backdrop for your backyard but need a little helping hand, we're prepared to work with you to make that happen.
To learn more about our gardening service or to schedule an in-person consultation with our experts, don't hesitate to contact us at (509) 218-1775. Contact our office today!