In the Know

Looking forward to spring.

Spring is coming; soon we’ll be outdoors enjoying our yards again.  If you are considering landscaping don’t wait until the first warm spring day to start.  Now is the best time to do your planning while freezing temperatures and two feet of snow traps you inside. 

Remember that the landscaping you do today will last a long time, 10-20 years or more for hardscapes and the tree you plant today could live up to a hundred years or more.  A well-planned landscape looks better, performs better and meets your needs now and into the future as well as being completed with fewer problems and delays.  There are a few important steps to planning any project from a complete renovation designed and installed by a professional landscaping firm to a simple do-it-yourself weekend project.

How you will use your yard both in the short term and into the future.

• Will you be making major additions like a garage, hot tub, or patio in the future?
• Will the kids need room for a ball diamond or swing set?
• How much time do you want to spend caring for your yard?

What are your goals for this project?

• Have a larger area to entertain friends?
• Improve the curb appeal of your home?
• Make a private area where you can sit and relax?
• Create more play space for the kids?

Consider your budget for this project.

• Remember large projects are often phased over a few years.

Put your ideas into your order of priority but also remember the practicalities, you don’t want to tear up this year’s garden to do next year’s patio.

Choose the best materials for your project. 

• Choose plants for their mature size and form, season long interest and ability to thrive in your unique conditions.
• Everything should blend with your home, yard and the other materials you use.
• The right patio or wall materials are critical to meeting the goals of your project.
• Carefully consider the quality of the materials you choose today, saving money today may cost you in time and money over the long term.

Contact Iowa One Call to locate your underground utilities and check for overhead lines

Do it yourselfers

If you like planning and doing the research you may be able to do all or most of your own design work.  But, if you don’t want to take that time or your project is more than you are comfortable with contact a landscape designer to work with you in the planning process.  At Forever Green Inc. our designers will work with you to design a landscape that meets your needs and help you understand how to complete the installation correctly.

For an archive of articles, see below:
April Article
May Article
Planting Spring Bulbs