Congratulations! You are buying a new home or on your way to having one built. This is a major life event. One of your first orders of business is deciding on the landscaping for your newly-built home. Choose wisely and your property will feature a beautiful perimeter that reinforces the home’s aesthetic appeal. Here’s what to consider when landscaping a brand new house.
How to Landscape Your Newly-built Home: Mind the Dirt
The dirt you stand on when looking at your home is not the same as the soil necessary to sustain healthy landscaping across posterity. With your assistance, the dirt beneath your feet can become suitable for plants and other landscaping elements. Compost comprised of yard clippings and other sundries from your property’s exterior will serve as an excellent foundation. However, few new homeowners have a compost ready-to-go. Some new homeowners have found local zoos provide composted manure at no cost.
Sod or Seed? That is the Question
The typical new home has grass, mud and little else in the yard. The fist step toward enjoying a home with a beautiful landscape is to add seed or sod. A number of factors come into play when making this decision. Everything from your willingness to water at a high frequency to cost, the time of year and the size of your landscaping will shape this choice.
Those who choose sod typically spend fifty cents to a dollar per square foot. Sod is favored for its ability to control erosion, functionality as instant turf and general flexibility. You can plant sod just about anywhere at any point during the growing season if you commit to watering it at the proper frequency.
Some property owners choose seed for their landscaping as it is a mere cent per square foot. Furthermore, there are a number of grass options available. The downside to seed is the process takes more time and additional weed maintenance is necessary across posterity. Furthermore, seed is best planted in a short time window, typically in the early Autumn.
Shrubs and Small Trees
Some shrubs and small trees can be transported in and planted. Homeowners will have to plant other greenery on their own and nurture it to maturity. The bottom line is it will take some time for the entirety of your landscaping to develop in full. If there is absolutely nothing surrounding your home, start with some foundation plantings. Opt for varieties that provide visual beauty in each of the four seasons.
Favor shrubs that are the optimal size for your unique home to maintain visual balance. Evergreen varieties ranging from Inkberry to Korean boxwood and Andromeda will look fantastic around most homes. Consider adding native perennials along with ornamental grasses for continued beauty across the entirety of the year.
Budget
Don’t forget to budget! Landscaping costs can add up quickly and spiral out of control unless you keep purchases within your budget’s constraints. Figure out exactly how much you can spend before starting the project and stick to this figure no matter what.
When in Doubt, Consult With a Landscaping Professional
There is only so much you can do on your own when landscaping a brand new home. Even experienced gardeners will find the assistance of a landscape architect is necessary. This professional’s assistance will prove especially helpful if your home currently has no landscaping at all. A landscape architect will help plan the design of the landscaping, establish a timeline for the project’s completion and provide helpful advice pertaining to shrubs, trees, flowers, mulch, etc.
Follow Up in the First Year
Once your landscaping is installed, the job is not complete. Mind the watering requirements of your new shrubs, flowers, trees and other greenery. Tend to the pruning and fertilization needs as required. If your landscaping has an irrigation system, monitor it for leaks. Take the little bit of time necessary to inspect pavers, decks and retaining walls at least once every couple months across the initial year after installation.