The Complete Guide To How Landscaping Can Revitalize Your Home!

 Growing up I watched as my parents spend a lot of time, effort and money into the aesthetics of our yard and garden and I never understood why. In the mind of my preadolescent self, the aesthetics of our yard made absolutely no sense to me, we had a house, a roof, and that is all that mattered right? right? 

Wrong!

They explained how landscaping is more than just mere aesthetics, it is transformative art. It works into the psychology of homeowners, of guests, and neighbors and people passing by. It tells a story of our home, and very gently whispers tales of comfort, tranquility, beauty and value.

In this guide we dive into the intricate realms of landscaping and why it is not just merely a pretty garden but the enhancement of a holistic environment for you and your entire family.

Why landscaping matters for your home

Landscaping: Where Beauty and Substance Intertwine

The beauty of landscaping is that it creates a welcoming environment not just for you and your entire family but for anyone that steps a foot on your property. It is a craft that is mostly overlooked but plays just as an important role into adding value to your home as renovating your kitchen or adding the perfect furniture for your living room. Simply put; landscaping is like furniture for your yard. By choosing to blend certain elements seamlessly, it enhances the overall aesthetics of your home.

But how do you benefit from a well-designed Landscape?

A wise homeowner once said trying to save money on landscaping is like stopping your watch to save time.

Working in the landscaping industry I get asked often, isn't landscaping just flowers and trees? Commonly asked in Sepedi "Landscaping? o ra ma blomo?"

 Landscaping is more than just flowers and trees, it is about increased curb appeal, it steals hearts, catches eyes and intrigues neighbors. Landscaping is about boosting your property value and creating a holistic environment where you can come home from a stressful day and relax in your garden or yard and feel like nature is hugging you. 

Most importantly, landscaping is about creating memories; an enhanced outdoor living space for gatherings and entertainment, from hosting Friday braais with friends to Saturday pool days with your kids and Sunday outdoor picnics with your significant other. 

It is your legacy.

Accessing Your Property

Your property, your canvas

Your home is a canvas and you get to decide how you want to paint it. To ensure that you paint it beautifully is to first analyze it's unique characteristics. That is analyzing its topography, soil type, drainage patterns, exposure to sunlight, and any existing structures, plants and trees. 

This is akin to understanding the nuances of a piece of art so you can complement it with suitable elements.

 It is the first step towards building a unique masterpiece,

Determining how you intend on using your outdoor space is another important aspect towards building your dream landscape. You get to access which elements incorporate your personal style and preferences to create the perfect harmonious blend between the exterior of your home and it's landscape.

Your home should reflect your soul.

Whether you want your landscape to mirror a peaceful retreat or a vibrant entertaining area. Your landscape should be your identity carved in nature.

 Planning your landscape design

A man with a blueprint is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion

Setting goals and priorities for different areas of your landscape is a great way to ensure that your landscape is aligned with the purpose you assigned it. It's always great to have a budget and a realistic timeline in mind for your landscape. This looks like ensuring that enough of your financial resources are allocated to your landscape just as much as the interior of your home. and accessing which funds will be allocated to materials, plants and/or professional assistance. This brings us to yet another important aspect of planning to design your landscape. Professional assistance.

Deciding whether you will seek a professional landscaping company to do your landscape project for you or you will take it upon yourself as a DIY project is something to really consider. 

You get to weigh in the expertise and experience required against your own skills and how much time you have on your hands and decide. 

Creating a functional outdoor space

Designing your Oasis

Your outdoor space should come alive with your landscape.

Creating a functional outdoor is to first ensure that you choose appropriate furniture that blends well with its surroundings and that there is adequate seating for family and guests. 

It is always great to consider adding amenities such as outdoor kitchens, braai area, outdoor fireplace, patios and building decks to enhance overall warmth and ambience of your outdoor space. 

Another important element of designing your landscape is to ensure that you strategically place trees, hedges and/or fences for privacy if need be. Installing outdoor lighting can both enhance the aesthetics of your landscape and improve security by deterring trespassers and robbers.

Your landscape just doesn't have to be appealing to the eye but functional too.

Enhancing curb appeal

First impressions last

Every stroke of your brush matters, just as much as your palette. Consider coordinating the color scheme of your landscape with the exterior of your home. You can use vibrant flowers to add pops of color or use complementary tones or contrasting tones to create visual impact.

Eye-catching features such as water features, sculptures and outdoor decors instill focal points and bring about charm and liveliness to your outdoor haven.

Sustainable landscaping

Landscaping for a better tomorrow

Sustainability is key.

Ensuring that you have smart practices that promote sustainability not just for you and your home but for the environment is important. This can look like using rainwater harvesting techniques for irrigation purposes, having smart irrigation systems that conserve water, incorporating moisture sensors and timers for efficient water usage and installing micro-sprinkler systems to minimize water waste.

Implementing eco-friendly practices such as avoiding chemical pesticides, using organic and natural fertilizers and focusing on building a healthy and sustainable soil ecosystem are some great ways to ensure that your landscaping isn't just beautiful and functional but sustainable too.

Landscaping and home value

Your investment in nature and your home

Contrary to common beliefs, landscaping isn't an expense but an investment.

Your landscape is the first thing home buyers see and this could help increase resale value and differentiating your home from other properties on the market. 

Your landscape can maximize your home's appraisal value by illustrating that your outdoor space is well groomed and that desirable and smart technological features were added.

Major improvements such as outdoor kitchens and swimming pools have a return on investment in future thus why it is important to weigh the value-added by landscaping projects against the initial investment.

Frequently asked questions

Curious minds ask questions

A. How long does it take to complete a landscaping project?

The duration of a landscaping project depends on the scale and complexity of the project. Projects can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months

B. Is hiring a professional landscaper necessary?

Hiring a professional landscaper can save you time and mental load to execute a DIY landscaping project yourself. With adequate research and planning, homeowners can successfully tackle a landscaping project. However, hiring a professional can ensure a high-quality and well-executed design.

Visit our website to learn more about our landscaping services and how we can take the load off you.

Conclusion

I have learned a lot over the years from believing that landscaping served no purpose to writing this article by sharing my knowledge and experience within the landscaping industry. I hope this article gave you insight and inspiration to embark on your landscape journey. 

Your landscape has great potential from transforming your home to a beautiful, holistic and functional space which you can proudly claim.

Thank you for reading.