The last step of the custom home building process consists of making the final touches, such as those pertaining to the outdoor look, and softscaping with plants is included here. You can now begin to paint broad brushes of color into your landscape and add layers of leafy texture with plants. However, you must pay attention to the soil around your new home. Fill dirt and construction waste brought to the site may have rendered much of the soil around your home less than desirable.
During the tree-planting process, you must keep their growth patterns in mind and how their placement may affect your views from inside. Remember that trees grow underground, too. Root systems can damage foundation walls and underground sewage lines. A good landscape plan eliminates these potential problems by protecting the trees’ root systems from damage that can be inflicted by heavy trucks parking too close to a tree, or excavation that disturbs the roots.
Remember that trees that drop their leaves mean extra yard work. Trees with blossoms or berries planted near your deck or front walk may bring clean-up tasks with them. Also, some trees require little pruning, others a lot.
Flowers are preferred by many people and they give a beautiful look to your yard. However, most garden experts advise you that flowers are short-lived. When choosing flowering plants for your yard, keep the plants’ other characteristics in mind. You can get the answers to all your questions regarding flowers from the multitude of gardening books available, your landscape designer, or even by looking at neighbors’ yards. The latter method may be the most helpful if you plan to build your home in a region that’s new to you. You may not be familiar with the types of flowering plants that thrive in the climate. Taking a tour of local gardens can give you a quick tutorial.
Carefully Calculate the Budget for Softscaping with Plants
Before designing your floral arrangement, estimate how much money you are willing to spend on this final step. Poking around your neighbors’ gardens (with their permission, of course) can actually save you money. Your local gardeners and your landscape professional may agree that certain types of flowering plants just don’t do well in the climate, or require a high degree of maintenance. You can lower the cost of your landscape by choosing plants that require little watering and less fertilizing in your climate.
This procedure might even get you a few free plants, as neighbors are usually willing to share their flowers. Many plants must be divided seasonally to maintain their shape or their health. Offer to help your neighbors thin their stock, and ask if you can take divisions home to plant. Other gardeners’ castoffs could be a windfall for the barren plains around your new home.
Remember to stick to your plan when buying plants. Don’t just buy something because it’s a bargain — it may not thrive in your garden, and you might end up losing time and money while softscaping with plants.