Ever notice how, when one homeowner fancies up the yard and adds a few unexpected elements, others seem to follow — also getting inspired to create their own new landscaping looks? It’s almost as if creating a beautiful yard is contagious. Your yard can be the envy of the neighborhood, and it really is true that if you maintain and create your own little piece of the world, surrounding neighbors will sit up and take notice. And you don’t have to call in a bulldozer and landscape architect to do it. Stroll around your space and see things from a fresh perspective. Replace aging plantings, tired color combinations, and ordinary fixtures. And get on a simple schedule of upkeep. It’s that easy.
Strength in Numbers You can get that ‘Yard of the Month’ look by planting in multiples—in drifts—rather than by ones or twos. By grouping the same plant variety or cultivar, you create the feeling of spaciousness. Even a small bed appears larger when you plant multiples of the same plant. You don’t have to rely exclusively on typical blooming perennials, either. Grasses are a hardy touch, and come in a wealth of colors and sizes. Stay away from the ‘one plant here, one plant there’ mindset and use swaths of color or single plants. And don’t plant in straight rows; nature doesn’t do it that way.
It’s in the Details When dividing your beds from lawn grass, try not to use the steel or black rubber edging that everyone else has laid down. Define those areas with inexpensive cut border rock, found at garden centers. You can still get great curves and rolling effect with your flowerbed borders. Just line the small boulders up so they are touching, and place some into the bed, and others protruding into the turf. You get a natural look, your lines aren’t as harsh, and you add further dimension to your design.
Train and Maintain Don’t forget simple maintenance of your lawn and beds. Your landscape can be low care, but only if you don’t let the plantings get ahead of you in growth and watering needs. Most plants can be weaned from water-heavy care, but you will need to water deeper and longer, if you wish to water less often. And stay on a regular schedule of deadheading and pruning as well as watering. Your efforts will pay off with a yard that looks appealing in all seasons, and gets raves from your neighbors.
Live Life to the Fullest,
Chris Olsen
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