Time to Design Your Spring Landscape
When you look out your windows this month, it may seem hard to believe that spring will eventually be here. But it arrives every year, and as the days get longer and warmer, thoughts turn to spending time in the great outdoors. If the view from inside your home is less than enticing, start planning now to design the landscape of your dreams and be ready for sunny days and star-filled nights enjoyed right in your own yard.
It’s never too early to lay the groundwork for a landscape renovation. The design team at Landscape East & West is itching to be creative. We know that all too soon, we’ll be busy doing winter yard clean-ups, spring planting, and irrigation inspections, so taking our time to plan some beautiful yard makeovers is a welcome endeavor. If you’re ready for a change, contact us for a free consultation to see what we can produce together.
There are some things you can do right away to begin planning your spring yard.
Assess Your Yard
Take a walk around and note what you like, what needs improvement, and what needs to be removed entirely. The lawn that’s more weeds than grass, the area where the hot sun burns all the plants, and the empty space that nobody uses are all areas we can make better.
Set Goals
What do you hope to achieve? Do you want more functionality in your space for entertaining, play, or dining? Are you looking to improve the aesthetics with a particular theme, color scheme, or plant type? Also, consider how much time and cost you want to put into maintenance.
Stay Inspired
Research ideas from garden books, magazines, and online platforms. The Projects section on the Landscape East & West website is a great place to start. Consider keeping a gardening journal to document your new ideas as well as thoughts on what worked well in previous seasons.
Turn to the Professionals
Designing a new landscape is truly a team effort, and our designers will want to hear your thoughts on how you envision your yard. We’ll meld your ideas with information we gather from a site visit to get cracking on a plan.
When we arrive at your home, we’ll evaluate your space:
- Consider the Space: Measure out the size of your yard to ensure every square foot is used efficiently in creating a cohesive design.
- Assess Sunlight: Observe areas with full sun, partial shade, and full shade.
- Test Your Soil: Use a soil test kit to check pH and nutrient levels.
- Identify Challenges: Look for slopes, water pooling, or problematic plants.
- Begin to Create a Design: Sketch a detailed layout of your yard, including plants, hardscaping, and features.
Every landscape plan is customized to reflect your vision while accounting for the nuances of your yard. Even within a neighborhood, there can exist vast differences in topography and even climate, so we remove the guesswork of what can work in your space. We’ll find the best layout and flow to match your yard and suit your needs, whether you dream of an outdoor kitchen or a simple vegetable garden.
On the backend, we’ll take on the burden of project management and permit applications, leaving the vision to you. Landscape East & West is experienced in managing construction and installation projects and we’ll coordinate all crew scheduling to keep your project moving on time and on budget. We will also navigate local zoning regulations and building codes and apply for any necessary permits, so your project complies with legal and regulatory standards.
A lot goes into a landscape transformation, which is why it’s never too early to contact us and get started. More complex projects can take up to six months between our first conversation and breaking ground. An outdoor kitchen, a series of retaining walls, and water features can take time. Simpler projects like adding a gazebo and firepit may take less than a month.
No matter how large or small your project is, we will be with you every step of the way, keeping you informed and listening to your thoughts. Even if your vision changes after we’ve started, we can switch gears to ensure the end result is everything you want.
When you’re ready to take action on your vision of long days lounging on a patio surrounded by beautiful foliage and listening to the trickle of a fountain or outdoor dinners with the neighbors while watching the kids run around the yard, contact us. We’re standing by to get your spring landscape project underway.
