Landscape On a Budget

 Landscape Design  No Responses »
May 032012
 

Sarah LloydBy Sarah Lloyd, Dundee Landscape Designer

 

Now that I have my ideal landscape design can I have it installed in stages?  Can I do some of the installation myself?

 

Installing a landscape plan in phases is a fantastic way to get the yard you ultimately want while working within your budget.  The important thing is to make sure that each phase is part of a master plan.  This way, each area is sure to blend in with the rest and look continuous.  A professional Landscape Designer will help you create a master plan that fits your desires, needs, and budget.  You can landscape on a budget!

 

Each phase can be as large or small as you want it to be.  It usually works best to start in one area and work your way around the house in terms of priority level.  This might mean starting with your front entryway, then the back patio space, then the sides or perimeter, and so forth.  Starting with the front of the house is always a good idea because it can set the tone for your day.  You see this area every morning when you leave for work and every evening when you get home.  If you have a great front landscape it can help put a smile on your face.  The back patio or yard space is often a second area to complete because it may be a primary view from inside your home or be your relaxing, free-time destination.

 

If completing one entire section is too much strain on the budget, consider installing the area itself in stages.  One example of this is installing the planting beds (edging, rock/mulch, berms) in one stage and the plants in the second stage.  If your budget allows, think about installing a few key plants right away and supplementing with the other plants as you are able.

 

Your landscape designer can help you determine the best, most efficient order for installing your plan.  Your designer can also recommend which tasks would be easiest to install yourself and which might be better off installed by a professional installation crew.  Either way, one of the most important bits of information you can give the designer is your budget, initially AND long term.

Do NO Maintenance Landscapes Exist?

 Garden Center, Landscape Design  1 Response »
Apr 022012
 

Sarah LloydBy Sarah Lloyd, Landscape Designer

 

 

Unfortunately there are no such things as a no maintenance landscapes.  Bummer!  The best we can do is LOW maintenance.  This is accomplished by good design, plant selection, and correct installation.

The best landscapes use a variety of materials, both plant and hardscape.  It is best to have a mixture of trees, deciduous shrubs, perennials, and of course, evergreens.  This mixture will give you year round interest with a wide array of heights, colors, and textures.  The question is how to create this so that it is low maintenance.

We must first narrow down the tens of thousands of plants out there.  Trees and shrubs need to be carefully selected so that they will fit into the space and design once they reach mature size.  This can require a little patience because the plants can take a few years to reach their mature size, and until then, your landscape might feel a little empty or spaced out.

Next, evergreens are an important aspect in the Minnesota landscape because winter brown can last from October thru April, or longer.  Luckily there are many dwarf evergreens on today’s market.  Many of these dwarf evergreens grow very slowly in Minnesota and thus can fit into residential landscapes very well.  They offer great color, texture, and structure to the landscape all year round.

Finally, perennials complete the plant palate by supplying blocks of changing colors.  Perennial selection can be most crucial to the amount of maintenance a planting requires.  Some perennials, though beautiful, should not be planted unless they are going to be given a lot of attention.  For a low maintenance plant list we must eliminate the plants that spread and leap to places you didn’t plant them, which is one definition of a weed.  Next, don’t use perennials that get too tall and flop over without support.  Finally, limit the number of perennials to 5 or 6 varieties and repeat them in drifts throughout your yard.  This will make it easier to identify and maintain the plantings.  It will also tie your landscape together and make it more visually appealing.

It is also important to install plants correctly.  Plants installed in a location best suited to their individual needs can be fairly self-sufficient once they are established.  A poorly located or planted plant will be less healthy and ultimately require more TLC.