Spring is finally here! This month is the prime time to get the ball rolling on spring landscaping projects as well as upgrading exterior features of your home and property to improve its overall curb appeal. Whether your vision for your property includes simply adding some color or a few improvements, or you’re gearing up for a larger scale endeavor with an extensive to-do list or complete landscape installation, it’s a good idea (even for the most talented do-it-yourselfer) to at very least pass your ideas by an expert first to ensure you’re taking everything necessary into consideration for the best end results. As many of us have found out the hard way, it’s not always as easy as it seems to get from winter barren to spring beautiful!
Right now is an exciting time as many of us are preparing to begin our spring landscaping projects. While it’s common to want to dive into all the projects you want to accomplish head first, it’s important for property owners to begin with a more cautious approach that includes due diligence. “The question that should be addressed first and foremost before embarking on any major landscaping projects is ‘Where are my property lines/borders?’” emphasizes Toni Montana of Land Survey Inc. “One should not implement a landscaping project near property lines without knowing exactly where those borders are first. The effort, time and money spent on planning and then building can easily go down the drain without taking the initial time to have a professional boundary survey done. I have experienced too many property owners skipping this process and unfortunately it ends up costing more than double the money (or more) to properly complete their landscaping project. By getting a professional boundary survey of your property done, it will be on file and any future disputes will be nullified. You’ll then be able to proceed with your project and enjoy the fruits of your labor for the rest of the year and on into the future without any complications that would arise from accidentally crossing past where your property lines lie.”
Spring is a time of renewal, when we come out of winter tired of the cold and snow and we are more than ready for milder temperatures and the first signs of new growth in our landscapes. With a fresh start in the spring, it’s important to assess the overall state of affairs of your property’s exterior features prior to getting started with your projects. The first thing you should do is to take a walk around your lawn and make a quick survey of the effects the winter had on your property. This includes removing any leaves that are still scattered across the lawn as this will help the grass to breathe and absorb the sun and moisture. Once you have a blank canvas, it’s beneficial to have a professional come out and take a look so they can help you to set up an effective plan for landscaping and maintenance moving forward.
“Consulting with a professional to establish a plan to get your landscape from where it is now to what it will ideally look like once the project is finished, whatever that time frame may be, will largely determine if your vision is feasible or if it needs to be reworked based upon the conditions that are present,” explains Brandy Prettyman, owner of The Grounds Guys of SW Omaha. “For those with an established landscape, what you planted last fall that will begin blooming soon will have a major impact on how you’ll proceed this spring. However, if you’re installing a new landscape, you’ll have to adapt your plan to allow for what can still be planted during the spring months. Depending on how much you want to stick to your original preferences, you may even want to consider extending your plan out to next year and beyond. I always emphasize that you don’t have to do everything all at once. It’s easy to have the ‘all or nothing’ mentality when it comes to landscaping but that’s not generally ideal to reach the goal of an established landscape with plenty of interest. At The Grounds Guys we focus on planning for a modular approach to redesign that will fit within your budget and vision for the future. In fact, most times we start with what you want the end result to be and work backwards from there. Planning for your landscaping is a marathon not a sprint; you’ll want to look past this season and on to one, five and ten years down the road. This is one of the key areas where an experienced professional can be of great help. We can design a plan that spans years of installation in small, targeted increments with ground management factored into the overall cost and then divide it into manageable payments over that time. In fact, we excel at building on a simple concept year after year so that our clients don’t have to mortgage their house just to afford a beautiful landscape year after year.
Regarding major residential landscaping projects, you’ll not only want to determine exactly where your property lines lie but you’ll also need to investigate if the equipment will even fit in the area you are developing. While in areas of new construction the sky is the limit, the small spaces between existing homes in developed neighborhoods will restrict the equipment that you or your contractors will be able to use on the project. For example, you may not be able to plant trees that have grown past a certain size. So expanding upon the design of the back yard versus the front yard will present certain limitations based upon the existing structures on the property and the blockages they create.
A few other things will also likely have an effect on your landscape design in the planning stages. The grade of your property must support proper drainage and will affect the types of plants that will thrive there. It’s also important to understand the weather in our geographic area – we can have some vicious spring weather here in Nebraska and as such it should always be taken into consideration when it comes to landscaping.”
She adds, “One of my favorite new trends is butterfly landscaping, or incorporating cone flowers and grasses that attract butterflies. You’re not only able to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and the butterflies, but you’re creating a habitat for them that will help them to avoid extinction. Rain gardens are another big trend, where you structure your landscape to build in watering with barrels that collect rain and then distribute it through your plant beds via soaker hoses.
As I touched on before, it’s important to always keep the big picture in mind. People tend to concentrate on the beds—flower beds, mulch beds around trees, etc.—but a lot of times they forget their actual lawn. Make sure to incorporate your lawn into your spring landscaping. Consider the ways you can support the health of your lawn; even something as simple as aeration, overseeding, or power raking to remove dead grass can have a profound impact. A healthy lawn will serve as the backdrop that highlights all other aspects of your property, making them really ‘pop.’ While caring for your lawn doesn’t have the same flashy appeal as redoing your landscape or flower beds, it truly will work wonders for improving the overall appearance of your property.”
Contemporary landscaping has progressed towards sustainable methods in recent years, and now more than ever there are plenty of innovative ways to incorporate that into your planning for upcoming spring landscaping projects. “Sustainability should be the main focus in all landscapes,” explains Travis Lerdahl, owner of Priority Turf and Irrigation. “During any process of working with landscaping it is very important to think of what has the potential to negatively affect it in the future, such as heavy rains, windy conditions, and human/pet interactions. As a prime example, creating rain gardens can prevent damage by containing heavy rains for use within the property and at the same time can help prevent flooding of storm sewers. Soil management techniques, such as composting and mulching, are another great way to enhance the quality of your landscapes and gardens while being environmentally friendly. Smart irrigation is a big factor too. Overwatering is bad for turf, especially as soggy areas lead to ruts from lawn mowers and fungus, as well as the pocketbook and the environment. In fact, installing a weather monitoring device can save 36,000 gallons of water (based on a 7,000 square foot property) in just one season! Aside from frequency of watering, it’s also important to conduct an assessment of the irrigation system itself. Valves, pressure regulators, proper design, and programming are all key elements to an efficient irrigation system.
Efficiency is still at the top of the list for property owners when talking landscaping, and smart irrigation systems are more than just rain sensors these days. On-site weather stations combined with a smart controller are now affordable and the way of the future. Controller/Weather Station combinations are reading solar radiation, moisture, ET rates, temperature, soil types, sprinkler types, and slopes. This information is then used to re-calculate zone run times on a daily basis, creating very green landscapes (both in color and eco-friendly). LED’s have also made a major impact on the way we design landscape lighting projects. Wire usage and transformer sizes have dropped significantly in price, which in return helps with the initial purchase and long term costs. Converting existing lighting systems to LED’s be easily done with simply replacing wiring or a transformer! As I previously mentioned, storing rainwater for use in your automatic sprinkler system, landscapes, and gardens will be the new exciting trend. By planning accordingly, our landscapes can be just as ‘green’ as the grass. Think green this spring, contact the professionals, and do your part to be conservative.”
He adds, “I also advise my clients to invest in both aesthetics and safety. Unfortunately with warmer temperatures comes an increase in nighttime break-ins. A well designed outdoor lighting system will not only add beauty but also security and safety to any home or business. Reducing shadows and glare are very important when it comes to security; experienced burglars rely on the shadows and glares to hide themselves. Illuminating steps, walkways, and transition areas will guide your family and your guests safely to where everyone needs to go. Also, temperatures can drop quickly in Nebraska, so another great reason for having a weather monitoring sprinkler system is that it can prevent icy sidewalks by not allowing the system to run when it gets below 37 degrees.”
Extending modern home amenities to outdoor living spaces has definitely become quite popular over the past few years as the technology incorporated in these systems has advanced by leaps and bounds. “Echo Systems has seen a notable increase in demand for enhanced outdoor living/entertainment lighting and technology,” agrees Doug Dushan of Echo Systems. “With many benefits of functional outdoor lighting systems, finding the lighting style and fixtures that will add beauty, function and safety to your outdoor areas is easy with the help of a professional.
Specifically for those interested in installing an outdoor sound system, the key is a greater quantity of speakers evenly disbursed throughout the area. The conventional method of placing a single pair of speakers on the structure and projecting out is largely ineffective. Individuals further from the speakers tend to turn up the volume, meanwhile drowning out the ability to converse by those individuals close to the speakers. With multiple speakers and subwoofers evenly distributed throughout the area, we can provide a constant and adequate volume level throughout a large outdoor space. That’s the main reason that the trend seems to be shifting to a larger quantity of smaller, aesthetically discreet speakers imbedded in the landscaping. Often times they match the look of outdoor lighting fixtures, and seem to disappear. Even subwoofers that can be buried are becoming more commonplace. Our specialty is streamlined home automation systems, and we have unique and modern options for every taste and function.”
If you’re considering adding a new outdoor living space or upgrading your current space, now is the time to get started so you can enjoy it for the rest of the year! “Functional outdoor entertaining spaces allow you to utilize more of your property, which makes them a wise investment,” advises Randy Wheeler of Carson Stone & Supply. “With everything that’s available now, including fireplaces, fire pits, grills, and so on, the finished product will offer plenty of enjoyment for years to come. It is important to make sure that the materials you choose will stand the test of time and exposure to the elements, which is why stone is ideal for these types of projects. When it comes to stone, there are natural and man-made options and each has their advantages and disadvantages. For example, natural stone products even have a considerably higher heat tolerance than manufactured stone products in certain cases which make them better suited for the elements where fire is required for a specific purpose.
Incorporating stone into your landscaping will add value to your property as well as enhancing its overall function and appearance. At Carson Stone & Supply, our specialty is natural stone products. This includes boulders, cobblers, edgers, natural wall stone, flagstone/steppers, ledge rocks/steps, and countertop slabs. Mother Nature has given us a great resource that has the potential to transform a plain property into a beautiful space with natural appeal, texture and dimension. For each type of stone there are different techniques that can be applied for various projects. A great way that property owners are incorporating boulders is by cutting them in half to create a bowl for a fire pit or a water feature. Glacial boulders can also be used for a more unique pattern in the stone. This makes for a very interesting effect and is a great example of a project that can be done fairly easily and inexpensively compared to other options out there. Homeowners are also utilizing stone to create natural drainage ways (and previously mentioned rain gardens), which is a somewhat newer trend to retain water for use on the property before it’s discharged into the drainage system. Limestone is particularly popular for retaining walls, as its ideal for constructing a larger, heavier wall system that will hold everything in place. As you can see our products have many uses, so when a customer has a specific idea in mind we can help cultivate that with suggestions that meet their specific requirements.
We always caution our customers that all stone products are not created equal, so for outdoor spaces, make sure to choose your materials carefully. Pay attention to the quality and durability of the materials, and if you are in doubt, make sure to ask plenty of questions. We supply products to contractors and homeowners, and we would be happy to discuss what type of materials would work best for your next project. It’s also important to note that working with natural stone generally requires some pretty heavy equipment that you might not have readily available in your garage, so you may want to look into equipment rental. We can also help you on the planning side by advising you as to everything that will be required to successfully complete your project.”
Curb appeal is an important part of the overall impression of your home and is not limited to aspects of your landscape such as lawn, tress, outdoor living areas, etc. “First impressions are really important, primarily the front of your home!” emphasizes Michelle Christensen, owner of Papillion Windows & Siding. “If your home’s exterior appearance is in need of a facelift, consider updating your entry door, now available in hundreds of styles and colors, as well as front porch rails and porch columns. You can also add decorative touches such as shutters, which come in several styles and numerous colors, window decorative mantels, or decorative railings and columns to spruce up your front entry.
Spring is also the time to assess the condition of your windows, siding, and roofing, especially if you are considering the resale value in the future. Papillion Windows & Siding offers free inspections of roofing, siding, and windows, and can offer ideas that will fit the design and architecture of your home. For example, if you have windows with rotted or soft frames, trim, or seal failures, there’s the potential for big energy loss. The same goes for rotted or soft wood siding, which can affect the structure of the home, attract insects and birds, and also decrease the efficiency of your home. If shingles are peeling, cracking, or curling that is a good sign that it is time to consider replacing your homes’ roof. Furthermore, a leaky roof can be extremely costly if left in disrepair. Winter can take its toll on a home’s exterior features and spring is the perfect time for necessary repairs or replacement.”
You’ll also want to take pest control into consideration as soon as spring arrives—we all know the warmth of spring invites ants and other pests into our yards, homes and businesses. Be on the lookout for spiders, aphids, wasps, ants, fleas, ticks and “pantry” pests (insects and mammals). Here are a few things you can do in the spring to ensure that you eliminate the risk of pests making their homes on your property:
- Keep soil away from wood and siding to reduce pest access. If there must be wood or soil contact, such as on a porch or deck, use pressure-treated wood or material that is insect resistant.
- Eliminate damp conditions, increase ventilation and replace decayed wood. Focus especially on cellars, crawl spaces and under dirt-filled porches.
- Add crushed rock around flower or shrubbery beds instead of mulch or discuss with a professional what type of mulch is best for deterring pests and eliminating potential food sources and habitats.
- Keep gutters in good repair and make sure they are clear of debris from fall/winter.
- Reduce plant coverage around the foundation.
- Remove leaves and other debris under decks, in window wells, and behind bushes to eliminate decaying organic matter that may provide food sources and habitats for pests.
Whether you are excited about upcoming spring landscaping projects on your to-do list or it’s not your thing but you still want to have a nicely landscaped yard, consult the professionals and see what your options are before you make the commitment to moving forward with your plans. This will open your eyes to all of the possibilities so that you have a clear idea of your expectations and how they match up with an expert assessment. We’re back to living in color thanks to the recent arrival of spring, and now it’s time to get your landscaping done so that you have plenty of time to enjoy it!