A little piece of heaven.
Lets talk about design for a moment, most people cringe at the thought. It is hard enough deciding what color cushions to put on a bench much less designing a whole yard. Fortunately, There are people out there like myself who can help you with that, but for those of you who would like to give it a try, here are some tips.
Considerations… Is this your home forever? If you know you will only be in your home for a couple of years then don’t get too carried away. Make it pleasant for you to enjoy while making it ready to sell. Using evergreen plants with a moderation of color can make your space feel lived in and enjoyable but attractive when it is time to sell.
If you plan to stay for a while, my first tip…Dream Big! Don’t let all of the doubts and financial constraints cloud your vision. If you had all the money in the world, what would your yard look like. OK, now back to reality for a moment. Of all the elements you just imagined, what could you truly not live without? Would it be shade, lots of trees, a water feature, maybe some seating, more privacy, rain barrels, flowers, a pool? Now you have some place to start.
If this is in fact your dream home or you have no plans to move any time soon, then the sky should be the limit and you should be in no hurry to get everything done at once. This is where a professional design by a qualified Designer can be a huge help. You will have a cohesive plan that allows you to take your time, while executing your vision and allowing yourself time to pace the spending to suit your budget. Why make a tiny patio when what you really want is a huge one? Perhaps you could do the plants this year, and add the patio next year, or in two years. Deferred gratification is the key here, work hard today for what you want tomorrow.
If you feel brave and would like to take a stab at your own design, make a copy of your plat (survey you received at your closing) and draw in the area’s where you would like to see a pool, pergola, built-in kitchen, tool shed, etc. Or, take a digital photo of the space you want to design and use pastels to draw in the features, plants and hardscapes. This is also a helpful tool to present to a professional to convey your vision. It may only be necessary to hire a professional to do a plant or landscape consultation and you will be well on your way. There are also many free online design solutions, or landscape design software if you are so inclined. Look at magazines, cable shows or whatever gives you motivation, then do your homework on the native and adapted plants for your area to make the best plant selections for a low water, low maintenance plant pallet. Study the size of the plants well so you are not planting too closely and be sure to include a combination of evergreen and deciduous plants so you will have color all year round.
Your yard should be an extension of your living space and it should reflect your personal life style. It should be easy to maintain and it should be a place of solace.
If you would like to set up a consultation or design appointment, please contact me at lisalapaso@yahoo.com. Your yard is the picture frame around your home, make it a special one. Here is a list of my services.
Happy Gardening!!
Lisa LaPaso
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Check out my videos on YouTube
Quote of the day: “A garden is never so good as it will be next year.”– Thomas Cooper
Plant of the Day: Lacebark Elm… This is a beautifully elegant tree with silver/grey bark that peels off leaving an amber color beneath it. It is about 40 to 50′ and does really well in this zone (Austin – 8). It is also a pretty fast grower.