Many homeowners come to us in need of full landscape design projects. But we also work with homeowners who are interested in smaller projects to enhance their outdoor space.
These so-called landscape enhancements can come in a variety of forms, with the goal of improving your yard’s look and functionality. As a landscape designer and installer, we align your ideas and preferences with enhancements that complement your landscape.
Here are five landscape enhancements you might want to consider for your own home.
1. Installing LED Landscape Lighting
Do you have outdoor walkways that become hard to safely navigate when the sun goes down? Or perhaps even more problematic, outdoor steps that become a tripping hazard in the evening?
Installing LED lights can help illuminate these otherwise dim areas and provide peace of mind to you and your guests. At the same time, this low-maintenance lighting option can enhance the architectural features of your home and create a sophisticated ambiance.
2. Planting Shrubs or Flowers
It’s not uncommon to have pockets of your outdoor space that are unused and unkempt. While this can be a matter of busy schedules, it can also be due to challenging terrains, such as a rocky ground or a steep slope.
Incorporating native plants into these areas of your landscape offers the best of both worlds. The colors and textures of the flowers and shrubs will transform the underused space into a vibrant and inviting area, while helping to support local wildlife and stabilize the soil. The latter is especially important for sloped areas and in locations with heavy rainfall.
3. Installing Water Features
Some homeowners want to make their backyard an entertainment hub; others are more invested in the idea of creating a tranquil retreat where they can relax and unwind. One of the easiest ways to achieve the latter effect is through the addition of water features.
Whether you opt for a stand-alone fountain or a waterfall that funnels into a pond (or a pool), you’ll enjoy the way outdoor water features help mask background noise and — like plants — attract wildlife to your property. As an added bonus, these features also provide a cooling effect when those toasty summer months return.
4. Pruning Trees & Shrubs
When trees and shrubs become unruly, a landscape inevitably winds up looking messy. But the problem runs deeper than what meets the eye. Overcrowded growth limits access to sunlight that supports growth and also makes the plant more susceptible to fungal growth and insect infestations.
To this end, pruning — a job best left for the late fall to reduce stress on plants — is important from both an aesthetic and safety standpoint. On one hand, it helps ensure plants grow in a visually appealing manner and stimulates flowering and fruit production. Simultaneously, pruning makes plants more structurally sound and less susceptible to the impact of storms or high winds.
5. Hardscape Installation
Let’s say you’ve already installed a paver patio in your backyard. You’ve added lounge furniture to the area, but you’re looking for a more permanent centerpiece to the space. You could add a firepit in the middle of the patio, using the same paver materials to construct the firepit and complement your existing space.
This is just one example of a smaller-scale hardscape installation to consider. Other ideas could include adding a seating wall around your patio for permanent seating or a small grill station to conveniently prepare meals outdoors.
Whatever landscape enhancement seems like the right fit for your outdoor space — and that could be a few options from the list above — our team is ready to help you. All you have to do is request a free consultation and we’ll get your project on the schedule fast.
