Easy Steps to Landscape Success For Spring

Spring is the perfect time to get back into gardening, whether it be to plant flowers, grow vegetables or get rid of those nasty weeds from winter. Here are some handy hints and tips for the season.

Planning

Start with a plan. Think about how and who will be utilizing your garden.  Do you need a family space used for playing catch with the dog, BBQs, and watching outdoor movies?  Or a relaxing retreat that serves as your own personal sanctuary? Begin your planning by establishing focal points too, like trees, big shrubs and tall ornamental grasses, as well as structures such as a gazebo, archway, pond, trellis or statue. Once these are in place, the rest of your landscaping can fill in around them.

Don't forget that the house and garden should work together in terms of style, scale, colors and materials. Use trees to frame a house, not conceal it or overwhelm it. Shrubs and flowers should form a welcoming approach to your home's entrance. Create foundation plantings that are more than just a line of shrubs around the house - try varying levels of plants, deep borders and curves.

Sit at the kitchen table or in the den and look out at your landscape-to-be. What would you like to see? Plan views from the inside looking out so you get as much pleasure from landscaping when you're in your house as when you're outside.

Light up your yard

Make lighting an integral feature of your deck, patio, paths and other landscape areas. It's not only beautiful; it's important for safety, and it will allow you to use your yard past sundown. There are so many types of lighting available, you can find lots of options that meld with your garden's style.

Make an entrance

The landscape begins at the edge of your property, not the edge of your house. Professionals often use some element - a gate, an arbor, a small fence, a hedge or a border garden - to create a sense of entrance from the front or side yard.

Create paths

A garden path allows you and visitors to enjoy your landscaping. It also creates a convenient route for plant maintenance. If your yard is large, plan paths at least 3 feet wide so people can walk together. Allow extra space for plants to spill over the sides, or for a bench.

Throw some curves

Curves, angles and free-form, flowing edges add interest to landscape design. Use curves such as paths, fences and edging to draw attention to a special place (such as a gazebo) or a special planting.

Consider mature plant size

Don't worry if the garden bed looks skimpy when you plant it. Consider ultimate sizes before you buy plants. This is especially important with trees and shrubs, which may overgrow windows, power lines or views. A tree will be only a few feet tall when you buy it, but varieties such as the Colorado blue spruce at left typically grow up to 15 m high and 6 m wide.

Integrate vegetables with other plants

It's OK to have a separate vegetable garden, but it's not essential. A vegetable garden mingling with flowers or disguised as one more flowing border garden can be just as fruitful and more aesthetic than a rectangular plot plunked in the middle of a lawn. Here, red Crocosmiaand orange cosmos spice up a bed around a cucumber vine.

Add small touches

Focal points in a garden don't have to be big and expensive. A hand-painted birdhouse finds a home among cone flowers and other bright plantings. A small fountain might be just the tonic for a bland patio. Drop some garden art in the middle of a flowerbed.

Play up colors and contrasts

The eye loves contrasts. Texture, color and shape can all provide contrast in a garden.

Cluster several of the same plant variety together for more color clout. If nearby plants will bloom at the same time, check plant tags or references to make sure the colors will complement or contrast, rather than clash. The many layers of this garden include lilies, feather reed-grass and conifers.

Include plants with variegated and colorful foliage to give season-long color to your landscape. A burgundy-tinted leaf doesn't fade like a flower blossom; it lingers all season. Some plants, such as ornamental grasses and red-twig dogwood, also provide visual interest even through a long Midwest winter.

Give plants the right care

Make sure you understand what kind of care your plants need. Many require special attention in the first couple of years, then can thrive even with some neglect. Avoid overwatering and overfertilizing plants.

A green, well-maintained lawn, free of weeds and clutter speaks to the pride homeowners take in the presentation of their yard.  Consistency is the key when it comes to mowing and/or watering.  Fresh mulch is also an easy way to spruce up garden beds without spending much money.  The contrast between new mulch and plants makes everything pop and will draw attention to your well maintained yard.  Finally, take the time to trim overgrown trees and shrubs.  Nothing says neglect like dead branches and excessive shrubs.

• Lawn feeding can be carried out now as grass growth begins, if not already done, particularly if the grass is yellow and thin
• Mow regularly from now on
• Use lawn mosskiller if there is heavy moss growth and feed the grass afterwards to boost it
• Dead moss can be raked out but this is laboursome and not essential
• Sow lawn seed as soon as conditions are suitable
• Old, thin lawns can be over-sown with some fresh seed on the patchy areas in damp weather. A good shower of heavy rain helps to wash down the seeds and get them in contact with soil
• Do not feed or use lawn weedkillers on wildflower areas

Your home’s exterior is also it’s first impression.  With a little TLC and even less time, you can ensure that the pride in your home is evident AND that all passersby are overcome with that positive first impression it deserves!