Stylish Landscape

With spring in full bloom, home owners are ready to enjoy their yards.

But the outdoors is much more than just the front yard, especially when homeowners want a pond, outdoor room, or orchard. If they can afford all that will depend in part on their budget and site. But the order in which they do the work also makes a difference. Without a general plan to guide the work, the pond cannot leave room for the terrace or garden that the owners could have expected along the way.

"The main points of a plan are to meet community zoning requirements and setbacks and help customers visualize how they are set up and sequenced," says landscape designer Howard Roberts of Pittstown, N.J.
Many homeowners with garden experience can sketch where they want everything to go - a row of tulips and daffodils in front and fruit trees to shade a backyard. But for those without such knowledge or others who want greater improvements like a full outdoor kitchen, it is prudent to bring on board a landscape professional that makes recommendations and draws a detailed plan to scale.

For home owners who aren’t experienced, there’s great advantage to hiring professionals who understand all factors that influence success. They know which plants wildlife craves. They should examine any design pro’s website or portfolio, secure recommendations, and visit some finished jobs — preferably several years old to see how they’ve held up, says Roberts.

Sharing all this information will put homeowners on the right path. With a well-designed site, results make it easier to add value to your home in a planned and sustainable way. But you can also discover your backyard to become an attractive destination in its own right, as the final "staycation" space.