Spring is here again, and for many homeowners, it’s the perfect time to beautify the garden. Most homeowners go for the usual steps for tree and garden upkeep, including trimming for the shrubs and corrective pruning for the trees. However, if you’re the adventurous type, the season can be a golden opportunity to spice up your landscape and try some new home landscaping ideas. Tailoring your home’s exterior is just like fixing up your space indoors: it’s a chance to create a space that reflects your personality and your needs.
Some people might be worried about the price, but there are cost-effective ideas to add some flair to your garden that won’t break the bank. Here are some great landscaping ideas you can use to make your garden look more appealing.
1. Create Alluring Gravel Paths
Paths are a useful addition to any garden, both for getting around and for the visual effect they contribute.
Consider installing gravel footpaths for your garden. Gravel is a simple, but effective material to work with, as it’s a low-maintenance, durable, and cost-effective material. Using gravel can also eliminate any issues with mud; the gravel can work as an insulator between your feet and the soil, saving you the trouble of getting your feet dirty.
2. Make Your Space More Cosy
There’s nothing like sitting down in a nice, quiet spot in your garden to while away the hours. If you have ample space, create your own cozy little nook. Set up fences and plants in strategic spots to make a small, private space where you can have some time for yourself or enjoy a favourite activity while surrounded by nature.
3. Remember Your Lights
Lights are a great addition to your yard. Outdoor lights offer your home several advantages, from improving visibility along the garden paths or adding aesthetic appeal. The right kind of lights can enhance the nighttime ambiance of your garden and make it feel homier. As an added bonus, lights can drastically improve outdoor security and help you be more secure at night.
Most modern lights are LED lights, allowing you to get the effect you want without adding too much to the electric bill.
4. Play With Perspectives
There are a few gardening tricks you can use to make your garden look bigger than it actually is. For example, long, straight lines can trick the eye into seeing a small garden into looking bigger. Plant a few tall trees and flowers (like hardy hibiscus and aster) to add to the illusion. Another thing you can do is to taper certain the area to create a focal point and make it look more spacious.
5. Plant an Edible Garden
One great advantage of having trees and plants in the garden is that many of them can produce fruits and berries to supply your kitchen. Depending on the season, you can harvest your own produce, making your garden a valuable source of food.
Seeds and seedlings are also a cost-effective investment, especially when you take into account how much you can save on fresh produce. There’s nothing like making food with the freshest ingredients, especially when they can make your life more convenient in more ways than one.
6.Leverage Colours
One way of making the landscape pop is using colours to your advantage.
Plant flowers with bold, bright colours out in front where they’ll be easy to see. Since they’ll be front and centre, those plants can draw the eye and appear more prominent, adding a nice splash of colour to the garden.
7. Take Advantage of Foliage
The plants you have in your garden can also help contribute to making your garden appear larger. Big, bold tropical plants often have large leaves that can change the scale of the landscape and make it appear more spacious. Keep an eye out for specimens with large, lush leaves; the extra-large leaves can help add to the idea that there’s more in a smaller amount of space. As a nice bonus, the “unusual” shape of the leaves can boost the cool factor of your garden and make it stand out.
8. Ask Friends for Some Cuttings
Some plants can be grown from small cuttings of other plants. If you have some friends with a knack for gardening, one DIY garden idea is asking for small cuttings from your favourite plants.
Some plants (like butterfly bush and succulents) grow very well from small clippings, so it’s a fun and easy way to get some nice plants for your garden. Additionally, you can also turn it into a fun bonding experience with your gardener friends. You can swap cuttings of each other’s plants, share similar plants to spice up all your gardens, and maybe they can even help you with your set up.
9. Pay Attention to Your Boundaries
Normally, your boundaries serve to mark the border between your home and your neighbours’. However, you can find ways to make your boundaries tasteful so they also add to your exterior decor.
Plant a line of trees or shrubs along the edge of your garden to make the edge of your space look more appealing. Alternatively, you can grow climbing plants along your fences to give the boundaries a dash of flair.
10. Install a Small Fountain
A few personal touches are a great way to make your garden stand out. One landscaping idea for the backyard you can try is adding a fountain.
Having a fountain in your garden can add character to your garden’s aesthetics and draw the eye. More practically, the fountain can pull double duty as a birdbath. Creating a safe garden for birds can provide plenty of benefits for you. You may find it worth it to encourage your feathered friends to stick around. The sound of water going through the fountain can also be soothing and help you relieve stress once you step into your garden.
Beautifying your garden space can add charm to your home and flaunt your personal aesthetic style. The sight of a pretty garden intrigue and dazzle visitors. It can also calm your nerves and relax you when you’ve had a long day at work or when you’ve been away for a spell.
Creating a simple but elegant garden doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking; these ideas are a helpful springboard to help you find a way to stamp your own identity on your home’s exterior. It might help to call a licensed arborist for help with more delicate plant-related tasks.
At Great Northern Regreenery, we specialize in quality tree care to help you give your trees the TLC they need to thrive. When you have some ambitious landscaping ideas for the front of your house, we have the training to help you make your space look great and keep your trees and shrubs healthy and vibrant. Call us now at (905) 775-7444 for a free inspection and assessment to help you figure out where to go from there.