Top Tips to Spruce up Your Outdoor Landscaping

Nothing says summer has arrived quite like giving your outdoor landscaping a full refresh after the winter chill and spring showers have passed through the area. With a little help from our Gemcraft Homes team, you’ll quickly be able to realize your dream outdoor decor just in time for the summer season, so read on to see which tips you can easily incorporate into your landscaping regime. 

Figure out your signature style

Before you make your way to the store to pick up any plants or flowers that catch your eye, it’s best to first take some time to think about what sort of style you want to focus on within your landscaping. Take a cue from your home exterior to create a cohesive look, or let your imagination run wild this year and create an outdoor space that feels as if you are stepping directly into an English garden as soon as you walk outside. Once you have a clear idea in mind of what you want your landscaping to look like this summer, you can begin taking the next steps to turn that vision into a reality. 

Test your soil

First, you need to test out your soil to ensure that it has all of the necessary nutrients to help your plants grow. Start by clearing out any debris or weeds from your yard before testing your soil’s moisture level by taking a handful of soil and trying to roll it into a ball. If the soil sticks together without falling apart at all, the moisture level is too high—meaning that the soil is too compact and will have a more difficult time allowing air to circulate to the roots of the plants and killing them before they can properly begin growing. Check the weather and see if clear skies are in the forecast to help dry out your soil a bit before you begin planting. 

You’ll also want to test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels before you bring home a variety of plants. There are a number of at-home tests that you can order online in order to perform these tests on your own. By testing your soil before you go shopping for your plants, you’ll be able to see if you need to pick up any additional substances such as fertilizer or compost to add to your soil in order to help your plants grow the best. 

Shop for your greenery

Once you have your ideal landscaping style in mind and know what type of soil you’ll be working with, it’s time to head to the store to pick out which plants you’ll be bringing into your garden space this year. When you choose your plants, you’ll want to make sure that the ones you are selecting are aesthetically pleasing as well as manageable for you to easily take care of. If you haven’t had the chance to work on your green thumb over the past year, you might want to consider a few native plant options that should easily thrive in your garden with limited help from you. In our area, plants such as merrybells, maidenhair ferns or the woodland iris would be a great addition to any garden. 

Spruce up your exterior

When you choose to upgrade your outdoor landscaping, you’re helping to create an incredibly welcoming environment for your home. The exterior of your home should be just as personalized to your style as your interior design, and our team at Gemcraft Homes works tirelessly to ensure that every part of your home is perfectly tailored to meet your design preferences—including the exterior. If you’re ready to start your journey to find your dream home in one of our incredible communities—give us a call at (800) 291-7436 or fill out our online form today.