Landscapes are always changing and often bed creation is the right creative solution. Plants grow old and die, irrigation fails, expanding shade kills the lawn, or new neighbors put something ugly right in your line of sight. There is usually something happening outside that may prompt you to make changes to your yard to compensate.
There are usually several options on how to deal with your changing landscape, and many of them include the creation or modification of bed spaces. Most people can recognize when something needs to change. It is harder to figure out exactly what to do.
How do I make my yard better?
The first thing to do as a homeowner is to figure out exactly why you want to modify your landscape. Having a purpose shapes the changes you are about to make, and results in a better-finished product. Making a change ‘just because’ turns out much worse than when you have a goal or purpose in mind. Even if that purpose is simply to make the yard more beautiful.
You may be looking for added privacy, an improved view, added color, or a solution to something in the yard that isn’t working. It is common to have struggling plants in a harsh sunny portion of the yard or a deeply shaded corner. There are landscape solutions for all these needs and problems.
If you are having trouble identifying what is not working with your yard, it helps to talk to someone with experience. It can be a knowledgeable friend or neighbor. There are even active landscape communities online. But often talking to a professional will help not only identify the issues, but they can help you move on to solutions as well.
Which landscape solution should I use?
It is often easier to identify a need than it is to find the best solution. Many people have limited experience with landscaping and will choose a solution that makes sense to them, or that they have seen elsewhere. A common solution to privacy issues with a neighbor is to jam a line of fast-growing trees or shrubs between the two houses.
Picking the wrong solution can sometimes lead to bigger problems down the road. Fast-growing trees or shrubs close to buildings can quickly become a maintenance headache. Constant trimming and even tree removal will follow. If you do not know exactly what you are doing, one problem will lead to another.
Reach out to a knowledgeable source to find the best solution. Often, the best source of information are professionals that have been dealing with landscape needs daily for years. Chances are, they have seen your issue before, and they know several good solutions to fill your needs.
Steel and limestone edging
We can help give your landscaping a sharp, established feel with mortared limestone edging. Check out the professional edge on several of our recent projects! Learn more on our page for rock and stone.
Which landscape solution should I use?
It is often easier to identify a need than it is to find the best solution. Many people have limited experience with landscaping and will choose a solution that makes sense to them, or that they have seen elsewhere. A common solution to privacy issues with a neighbor is to jam a line of fast-growing trees or shrubs between the two houses.
Picking the wrong solution can sometimes lead to bigger problems down the road. Fast-growing trees or shrubs close to buildings can quickly become a maintenance headache. Constant trimming and even tree removal will follow. If you do not know exactly what you are doing, one problem will lead to another.
Reach out to a knowledgeable source to find the best solution. Often, the best source of information are professionals that have been dealing with landscape needs daily for years. Chances are, they have seen your issue before, and they know several good solutions to fill your needs.
How experienced are your designers?
It takes a special passion for landscapes and plants to work in this field. Our design team has a passion for landscaping you rarely see elsewhere. They are the sort that enjoys rare plants, take joy in beautiful things, and revel in the result more than you do. They are great at designing and implementing changes to your yard.
In addition to passion, they have experience and training. When you put multiple good designers in a room, they bounce ideas, knowledge, and experience off each other. They share pictures and ideas and brag about excellent results. A good design team gets better every day, with every experience.
Bring that passion and expertise to your property and you will see and feel the difference.
Can I get my landscape done on a budget?
For a good designer, a budget is a challenge (the good kind of challenge). There are limits. Landscaping is typically much more expensive than people initially expect. But, given a reasonable budget, a good landscaper can typically find a solution. Sometimes a better solution is available with a bigger budget, but that does not mean you have to settle for a bad solution.
Be upfront with your budget as soon as you start discussing your project. There are so many options that using a budget to eliminate choices will make the whole process go smoother. Talking about the budget early also helps set expectations. If your budget does not match up with the scope of work, you can figure out what is possible, and what is practical. A designer that cares about the project wants to get the best bang for your buck, just like you do.
Why does a good design matter?
Good design is important for two primary reasons. It produces results that look better, and it maximizes the investment made in the yard.
A good designer knows what plant combinations will look great. They know how to tie the yard together and give it a specific look and feel. They know how plants grow and change over time. It’s easy to make something that looks good now. It takes a special skill set to be able to plan something that will look amazing in five years.
A good designer will also make each dollar spent go further. For example, a poor design might try and screen off a neighbor with several large trees out at the edge of the property. A good design can get the same result with a single tree or shrub placed closer to the space needing privacy. A better result with less money spent. A good design also avoids future problems.
How do I make my yard low maintenance?
Most high maintenance yards are simply the result of poor design. Shrubs do not need much trimming when they are given plenty of space to grow. The lawn grows better when it is not shaded by poorly placed trees. Plants need less care if they are native or adapted to central Texas. Choices made early in the design process can impact your life for years or even decades afterward.
A good designer can not only create low maintenance yards from the start, they can fix problems in a high maintenance yard. Even if you are not maintaining the yard yourself, having a low maintenance yard will save you money. Identifying and fixing a high maintenance yard does not mean you have to abandon plants and install a lot of ugly rock. A low maintenance yard is often just as lush and as beautiful as a high maintenance yard.
We would love to help you fix up your yard and make it better. Let us know, and we can get an estimator out to figure out the best design options for your yard.
If you want more information on how we handle planting, visit our planting page!
Additional planting bed resources:
Basic Design Principles and Styles for Garden Beds – from Proven Winners, plant growers
12 Flower Garden Design Tips That Will Help You Plan a Stunning Landscape – A slideshow from Better Homes & Gardens