Any property can benefit from a well-maintained garden. Depending on your level of dedication, the outdoor area can play a vital part in determining the price of a listing, which is why garden remodeling is a lucrative investment.
However, a nicely decorated garden can provide hours of outdoor relaxation besides its resell value. Starting can be difficult and getting everything into place may take a while. Still, once your project takes root, this green getaway will be the favorite area for your entire family.
The compilation below will give you plenty of actionable ideas that won’t dent your wallet. Let’s do some landscaping!
Plant at varying levels
Gardens lack the vertical area of indoor space with plenty of décors. Our eyes get bored with two-dimensional ornamentation, and differences in height are the best way to introduce a lively dynamic in an otherwise dull exterior. It is vital to plant accordingly.
Choose trees and tall plants to provide a proper background, and experiment with pots of varying sizes to achieve a captivating vertical narrative. Some homeowners prefer elevated flower beds to offset the lack of vertical space quickly, so it may be wise to pile up stone and gravel to serve as a foundation.
Install an irrigation system
Depending on the weather, an irrigation system may be a luxury or an absolute necessity—homes in the south face harsh conditions with frequent heat waves. San Antonio, for example, has a hot season lasting between May and September, with average highs above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, to save yourself hours of work, you’d need automation.
An irrigation system doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should provide coverage for most of your outdoor area. Installing one early on can save you money on water and grass replacement and increase the resell value of your property.
Build charming pathways
Luxury properties in San Antonio and all over the south are located on acreage lots, providing endless garden decoration opportunities. However, the bigger the space, the bigger the necessity for separate pockets of garden décor.
Therefore, large outdoor areas create an opportunity for building many charming pathways. They can connect your patio with your pool area and your garden with your driveway.
Experiment with materials, and don’t be afraid to integrate the pathway into the rest of the garden. They can blend seamlessly with plants, or climb multiple levels, especially in smaller, cozier backyards.
Use plants for privacy
You can use plants to seclude the patio or separate the driveway from the backyard. To achieve this, buy taller Italian cypress or install a wooden fence with climbing plants.
Depending on your overall garden décor, you can experiment with different colors and types, such as Virginia creeper, Clematis, and Boston-Ivy or Black-eyed Susan vine. Use white gravel to achieve contrasting tones and yellow rock for a more complementing look.
Experiment with colors
If you have experience decorating interiors, the garden can provide a much larger canvas. Outdoor remodeling relies on various materials and textures; you can use these to your advantage.
Once you have a color palette, you can introduce plants and pathways that either contrast or complement one another. Similarly, flowers can provide numerous highlights, creating drama and vibrancy for the entire space.
Plan around focal points
Most homeowners chose the patio as a focal point for their entire garden. However, you can install a small fountain or strategically place an old wooden bench in front of an elaborate plant wall. Whatever your choice, make sure to have a focal point in mind.
Introducing a design hierarchy is one of the best ways to bring life to your garden, and highlighting a single area is how you do it. Don’t be afraid to ornament the space by adding detail, mosaic tiles, or anything your heart desires.
Create living walls
Living walls are increasingly popular, and there is a good reason why you should think about them too. Irrespective of size, a nicely planned living wall will unite some of the above principles. It will introduce color, provide privacy, and spice up your vertical dynamic.
If you are remodeling a spacious garden, plan a better irrigation system because it is much easier for vertically planted vegetation to dry off. Similarly, living walls can act as mosquito magnets. If your location has problems with these annoying little fellas, install repellents immediately.
Lighting
When we look at pictures of gardens, we tend to forget the night-and-day cycle. However, most homeowners would decorate their outdoor space only to find themselves spending time outside in the evening.
Therefore, playing with lighting as much as you would with plants and flowers is vital. Remember that warmer color temperatures are relaxing and soothing, so aim for the 2800-4000 Kelvin range.
Similarly, don’t forget to apply the principles discussed above. Install lights on different height levels, vary their power output, and try to make them compliment your overall design narrative.
