Table of contents:
1. Plan and Budget
2. Choosing Softscaping materials
3. Choosing hardscape materials
4. Understanding the maintenance involved in your new landscape
5. Hiring a landscape company
As a new homeowner, navigating the intricacies of lawn and landscape care can be a challenging yet rewarding task. It’s common to have questions, especially if it’s your first time owning a home or if you’re dealing with a type of lawn or landscape that’s new to you. The goal is to make informed decisions that enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space.
Landscaping in a city like Calgary, with its unique climate and local conditions, requires specific considerations. Whether you’re starting from scratch or adapting to an existing landscape, understanding the basics is key. This includes knowing the local climate, soil type, native plants, and efficient water usage practices.
Plan & Budget:
Coming up with a plan
Starting the landscaping process with a well-thought-out plan is always a good approach. When considering the landscaping for your new home, it’s important to evaluate whether you want to enhance what’s already there or begin with a completely new design. In many cases, especially with new homes, the existing landscaping might be quite basic, perhaps just an ornamental tree or a few shrubs, essentially giving you a blank canvas to work with.
As you embark on this journey, having a clear understanding of your landscaping goals—what you want and need—is immensely helpful. This clarity not only guides your decision-making process but also helps in effectively communicating your expectations to a landscape professional. However, it’s not necessary to have all the answers yourself. Leveraging the expertise of a landscaping professional is a key part of the process. Their knowledge and experience can help transform your vision into a practical and beautiful outdoor space, aligning with your lifestyle and the unique characteristics of your property.
Budget:
Understanding the importance of budgeting early in the landscape planning process is crucial for homeowners to avoid future frustrations. It’s common for homeowners to initially say they don’t have a specific budget, often because they’re unsure of what landscaping costs to expect. However, most people have a financial threshold they’re not willing to cross, and recognizing this limit is a key step in establishing a realistic budget. Even for large-scale projects, it’s rare to encounter someone with an unlimited budget.
Discussing the budget can be uncomfortable for many, as there’s often a concern that revealing their spending limit might lead to being overcharged. However, in reality, sharing your budget with a reputable landscape contractor is beneficial. It provides them with necessary boundaries to work within, ensuring that they can develop a landscape plan that aligns with both your vision and financial constraints.
Without a clear budget, contractors might propose designs that are either too lavish or too modest for your tastes and needs. A well-defined budget helps to focus the planning process, allowing the contractor to tailor their recommendations and designs to what is financially feasible for you. This open communication about budgetary constraints is vital for a successful landscaping project, ensuring that the final outcome meets your expectations without causing financial strain.
Choosing Softscaping Materials:
Research a Plant Pallet:
Choosing a plant palette for your new landscape project involves a thoughtful blend of aesthetics, environmental factors, and practical considerations. The palette is essentially a collection of plants selected for their complementary colors, textures, and forms, which together create a cohesive and visually pleasing landscape.
Start by considering the climate and soil conditions of your area, as this will influence which plants are best suited for your garden. Plants that are native to your region or adapted to its climate will thrive better and require less maintenance.
Think about the balance of colors and textures in your garden. A mix of flowering plants, evergreens, and foliage plants can create a vibrant and diverse display throughout the year. Consider the heights and growth patterns of the plants to ensure they harmonize well together and fit into your space as they mature.
Functionality is also key. If you’re looking for privacy, taller shrubs and trees can be a good choice. For areas where you’ll entertain, consider fragrant or visually appealing plants.
Lastly, remember that your plant choices should align with the amount of time and effort you can commit to garden maintenance. Some plants require more care than others, so choose varieties that fit your lifestyle and gardening interest.
Creating a plant palette is a blend of science and art, and it sets the tone for your garden’s overall look and feel. It’s about finding the right balance between the natural environment and your personal style.