5 Tips For Landscaping Your New Construction Home
The yard around your newly constructed home can look like a wasteland. Landscaping is needed, but don't rush the process. The right decisions during installation will ensure an attractive and healthy yard.
1. Grade Appropriately
Some grading was likely done by the construction crew to ensure that water would flow away from the home's foundation and toward the nearest storm drain, but further grading may be needed depending on your landscaping goals. For example, you may want to add small swales or dry creek beds for interest, rather than having a flat and one-dimensional design. This grading and shaping of the landscaping must occur before any other work is done.
2. Install Hardscaping
Many of the hardscaping elements should be installed before the living components. These include pathways, patios, and features like decorative boulders or fountains. Water features, such as ponds, should also be included with hardscaping. Pour concrete and install things like paving stones before doing anything else so that there are no concerns about hardscaping installation damaging young plants.
3. Improve the Soil
During construction, the topsoil is removed, and fill soil may be used. This soil tends to be rocky and compacted, as well as low on the nutrients the plants need. A soil test can help you determine what soil improvements are needed, but as a general rule, you will need to add compost and topsoil to the existing soil. There may also be a need for the addition of fertilizers, as well as lime or sulfur to adjust the pH of the soil to make it better suited to plant health.
4. Plan for the Property
Study your property and create a map before you choose your plants. Make note of sun exposure and moisture conditions in each area of the yard, then choose plants for those areas that will thrive in the specific conditions. This is also the time to consider future plant needs. For example, you may want a shade tree on the south side of the house to block the summer sun, but a deciduous tree that drops leaves may be preferred if you want to enjoy the extra sunlight come winter.
5. Opt for Sod
For grassy areas, sod is the way to go with new construction. The other plants in the yard will need several years to mature and fill out, but sod can provide you with an instantly green lawn that will improve the look and enjoyment of your new landscaping right away. Further, sod protects the new soil you just installed from issues like wind and water erosion.
Contact a landscaping service that can help you with new construction installation for more help.