How to Un-Zeroscape Your Yard
Xeriscaping is an important trend sweeping the nation, in which homeowners ditch water-hungry plants and yard features in favor of more sustainable landscaping options. It allows for an attractive and friendly outdoor space that places less stress on the surrounding environment and lowers homeowners’ monthly water bills.
Meanwhile, zeroscaping is the act of obliterating all landscaping, leaving nothing but gravel or bare dirt behind. While zeroscaping also reduces a homeowner’s outdoor resource use, it does not look good or feel hospitable; in fact, it is an eyesore in any neighborhood.
So, what do you do when you buy a house that has been zeroscaped, not xeriscaped? You invest in landscaping, of course. How? You hire a seasoned landscape designer Las Vegas or a professional of comparable caliber in other locations who can guide you throughout the process!
If, however, you would want to get the task done yourself, you can go though this guide to learn about a few ways to un-zeroscape your yard, transforming it into a water-wise, welcoming oasis.
Assess Your Yard’s Health
The first thing you should do is determine the health of your land. It’s possible that previous owners didn’t do anything to zeroscape the yard – that it happened naturally because the soil is too poor to allow anything to grow. If that is the case, you need to know before you go to the trouble of putting any plants in the ground.
There are a few tests you can perform yourself to determine your soil’s structure and compaction as well as water availability. You should also buy a soil pH kit because the acidity (or alkalinity) of your soil will determine what kinds of plants will thrive. If you have the funds available, you might hire a yard professional to tell you whether your yard is fit for growing things.
Start With a Lawn
Once you have the green light for growing, the first thing you should do is put in a lawn. Admittedly, lawns aren’t inherently water-wise; in fact, they require at least an inch and a half of water every week. However, lawns are beautiful and functional landscaping features, and they can help reduce other energy use by lowering the temperature of your yard.
A brand-new lawn is difficult to care for, so you should strongly consider contracting lawn care services for at least the very beginning of your lawn’s life. Professionals know the right way to lay down sod, water and fertilize to facilitate root growth and otherwise ensure your grass grows lush and green. After your lawn is more established, you can assume lawn care duties – if you feel comfortable and confident doing so.
Plan Your Entertaining Space
Besides increasing resale value, the only reason to improve the look of your yard is so you can use it to entertain. To that end, you should start designing how you want your outdoor entertaining space to look. Will you have a patio or pergola? Will you have a grill or fire pit? Do you want to be able to reposition your seating, or will you build it into the landscape? You should think about what you would like to use your yard for while you are answering these questions and planning out your space.
Research Native Flora
If you want to reduce your impact on the environment (and reduce your water bill) you should look into planting flora that grows naturally in your area. Homeowners in arid environments in the American Southwest should gravitate toward desert plants, like cacti, agave, and drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. Conversely, in the wet Pacific Northwest, homeowners should plant shade-tolerant vegetation that will survive cold winters, like maple and fir trees or huckleberry and salmonberry bushes. Not only will native flora save you money, but it will also look more natural in your outdoor space. In addition, you may have various questions related to lawn plantation like soil and water requirements, sunlight, and a few other things. For example, Do you know how much sun light your lawn needs? Such queries can be answered by going through online blogs discussing specific topics related to gardening in your location. Moreover, a tree’s sunlight needs may depend on the climatic condition in that particular region.
Remember Curb Appeal
Creating an appealing curb appeal for your home often involves balancing simplicity and sophistication in landscaping. Opting for non-distinct landscaping can enhance the overall attractiveness of your property by creating a harmonious and cohesive look.
However, achieving this balance can be challenging without the guidance of professionals available at Ministry of Ground and similar companies. They can offer specialized services and expert advice to help homeowners design and implement landscaping solutions that enhance the aesthetic appeal of their homes while maintaining a subtle and elegant appearance.
From selecting appropriate plantings to implementing strategic design elements, professionals can assist in creating a visually pleasing landscape that complements the property’s exterior and enhances its curb appeal.
Look for Recycled Hardscaping
To build a patio, define your lawn and flower beds, create pathways and more, you need hardscaping, but hardscaping can be expensive. To cut costs, you should look for recycled options. Plenty of homeowners redo their landscaping, discarding tons of perfectly good border, brick and paving stones. You can look on your local Craigslist site under the “free” section or check out apps like OfferUp and LetGo to find hardscaping just waiting for you to pick it up.
