What if your home could be an oasis of beauty, relaxation and value?

Although many people associate landscaping with aesthetics, it is more than that. It adds functional spaces to your property or a more fulfilling living experience. Besides, landscaping raises the property value of your home, adds greenery like trees and shrubs that help with mental health and has environmental benefits like water managing-controlling flooding and drainage.

Picture yourself in medieval times living in Persia. The Arabian heat is relentless and unyielding. The air is thick with dryness that patches the throat and when the wind stirs, it carries a scorching breadth laden with fine sand crystals that sticks to the skin. Even at night there is little reprieve as the land slowly releases the day’s stored heat, keeping the air unbelievably warm.

Yet in this harsh environment there exits a garden that offers immense relief; the high walled pleasance garden that are in vogue then. Here fountains spew forth mists, and along the walls, almond fruit trees clad in a mass of showy pink flowers offer visual relief, while the strong scent throws up a sensory delight. And it is not just almonds. Dates, citrus fruits, pine, poplar and cypress trees dot the compound, swinging in the intense wind and ameliorating the heat.

In this moment you could literally give anything to sit by the fountain under the almond tree shade ,feet dipped in the water, lazing out in this somewhat unique  out of world  experience!!

This is the beauty of landscaping. It gives you the possibility of making your own oasis even in a hostile environment. While many people associate landscaping with aesthetics, it goes far beyond that.

Why landscaping is important for your property

Here are 5 reasons why landscaping is important or your property.

Creates Functional Outdoor Spaces

This is the most important benefit of landscaping. If you have a house and all you do is get in, cook, sleep and move out with the outdoors underutilized, you are limiting your living experience. Even if you are not an outdoor person, you need a space for relaxing and resting, private conversation, walking, or play areas. Somewhere to breadth in the fresh air that abounds outdoors.

Such functional spaces include gazebos, pergolas, walkways, ponds, waterfalls, or just seats under a tree.  You may also need sand pits, swings, to meet play needs or children.

Makes the Property Aesthetically Appealing

Who hasn’t been stunned by the arresting beauty of a well landscaped garden such that time stood still as you got lost in admiration of the artistry involved? Good landscaping makes an invitation for people to partake of the scenery, even if only by stealing glances.  On many occasions, I have had people stop by and talk to me about the garden whenever I am out watering.

Raises Property Value

Professionally done landscaping will increase the value of your property by between 10-20%. When you landscape your property and add features like gazebos, pergolas, decks or waterfalls, you increase buyer desirability. Upgrades with these kinds of features are known to give a return on investment of between 66-500% depending the quality and types of upgrade. Mature trees and shrubs, irrigations systems and other improvements to a  garden  add to  long term curb appeal, driving up the value of the home by as much as   value by as much as $10000. An investment in your property’s landscaping is a good deal in the long run; you enjoy the benefits and pass the costs to the new owner.

Get environmental benefits

But more importantly is the environmental benefits landscaping add to your property. Landscaping will turn your property into a home by making it more livable by addressing functional issues like drainage, flooding and water management. The layout of your garden means little to the contactor. Once they are done setting up the structure and handing you the key, it is the landscaper who will work with you to work on matters like soil erosion, control of soil erosion, air quality and noise pollution and support of local wildlife systems through wildlife garden.

Mental health

Finally, landscaping contributes to your health and mental well-being. Studies show green spaces improves mood, relieve stress and improve the air quality. Green spaces also improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and enhance your creative skills-the very reason writes will take a walk in the forest once a day!

Landscaping Ideas for every Budget

No two landscapes will be the same. Budget is a major consideration when it comes to budgeting. Below we highlight practical approaches you can use to improve your garden based on your financial wherewithal.

Low budget Landscaping

You can achieve this by growing indigenous or native plants. They are cheaper and easily available. You could even get seeds and cuttings from friends.  They are well adapted and will not need a lot of tending. Because they are native they are water efficient. For other plants, watch out for plant sales at local nurseries where you can get plants at a bargain.

You can do cheaper garden by going or a Japanese style garden. Also known as Zen garden, this makes use of gravel and rocks rather than having a lawn and other plantings. Occasionally rake the gravel in a way that imitates sea waves to achieve full design effect. Besides the garden even driveways and parking can do with gravel while or beds, use mulch or a clean finish. Small personal projects like bird tables or raised beds are also suitable for the low budget garden.

 Medium Budget ideas.

Here is where you may partly need professional help to assist you in technical aspects. For instance you could have a landscape designer help you design the garden, but carry out the landscape installation yourself. Such projects   include putting up a walkway or a patio, a pergola, planting shade trees or installing a water fountain. Although such tasks may seem technical, you only need to be given the design and materials and if you have time, carry them out. Often I see homeowners who are DIY nerds paying or demonstration and sample work and picking up from there

High end landscape transformations

This would include living areas like gazebo construction or full outdoor kitchen for alfresco dining.  In addition, aspects like installation of waterfalls, irrigation systems or smart landscaping are premium features that would require a hiring of a landscape contractor and may involve considerable expenditure.

Wondering how to get started with your landscaping?

Here are tips to get you started on your landscaping journey ;

Assess your site

Before you commit root to soil, it pays to take a hard at your space .

 How is the soil? Will it requite any improvement in terms of adding manure or compost? And what is the size of the property. Often the property size will determine the overall landscape; small gardens do well with normal planting while large garden can be informal with winding paths and curvy flowerbeds. What amount o light does the sun receive? Light determines what sort of plants you can grow-or even the type o grass you can have.

Set Goals

What do you want the landscaping for? Is it for outdoor entertainment? Do you just want a space for relaxation?  The smaller the garden, the more careful the planning has to be.

Research plants and materials

Once you have determined what you need the garden for, embark on researching the plants and materials you need to realize your garden. A stroll around the neighborhood should tell you which plants are thriving around. ‘Steal’ ideas from other gardens and modify them as needed.

Start small

Finally with all done, begin your project. Start small. A plan, however small is ideal. With a plan, you can do the garden in phases. I have seen some people start with trees even before construction of the main house starts.  Then move to shrubs. Finally they do the lawns and flowerbeds when they move in as these need regular tending.

Adopt sustainability in your landscaping

Whether you are doing the landscaping at once or gradually, it is important that your garden be sustainable in the long run. Sustainability can be as simple as incorporating indigenous plants. Grow native trees and shrubs. They demand little from the environment.

In a world that is increasingly facing acute water shortage, strive to have a water wise garden.  Place sun-loving plants in sun and shade plants in shade. Make use of hardy plants like cactus and succulents.  Install smart irrigation systems if you can.-Smart irrigation responds to changes in weather and adjusts the watering accordingly.

Practice wildlife gardening.  This is gardening that encourages birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife. Grow plants that attract wildlife. These plants include;

Bees

Lavender, sunflowers, borage, coneflower thyme and rosemary

Butterflies

Buddleia(butterly bush), verbena, pentas, lantana,milkweed and zinnias.

Birds

Salvia, holly, sunlowers, elderberry and serviceberry.

Multi-attractor plants

Echinacea, sunflowers, bee balm

You can also leave part of the garden to grow into a meadow-unmowed grass that becomes a wildlife hosts. Use composting to recycle waste, and avoid synthetic chemicals that harm living organisms.

Overcoming Landscaping Challenges

Obviously it will not be smooth sailing as you work to make your garden the haven you wish for. Here are some of the challenges you will face and how to overcome them;

Budget constraints

Money is never enough. To overcome this, work in phases. Start with one section of the garden, and gradually move onto other parts. As long as you have a plan you are keeping to, the garden should come together beautifully. Exchange plants, cuttings and seeds with family. I have got so many lilies and orchids I could never have afforded were it not from friends and family

Time and effort

If you lack the time or energy to work in the garden, go for a low maintenance garden. Grow hardy plants that do not need regular tending. Avoid a lawn if you can.  Have a Zen garden that requires little maintenance. Better still automate some tasks like watering.

Conclusion

You will reap big when you landscape your property. The resale value o your home goes up. You have functional spaces that enhance your living experience, unlike many people who may just be confined to the house. You create a micro climate through the greenery and trees than envelope your home, resulting in benefits like reduced heating of the home. And o course the beauty that rocks the neighborhood! I know of properties which are identified by their landscapes-like the palm-dotted home, and the green-gated home.

So whether you are a novice gardener or an old hand, take the plunge! It only requires the hoe hitting the ground and making the first indent. The confidence will come along. After all even veteran gardeners are constantly learning and adapting. You are no exception. Your dream garden is within reach. Start your landscaping journey today and watch your garden bloom in a riot of colors.

Share your landscape photos as you embark on your project-and let’s travel together.