If you already have a backyard swimming pool in place, you already have a great start to creating a peaceful and life-giving outdoor oasis! In Part 1, we looked at the initial steps of deciding whether to DIY your landscaping, dreaming up your ideal oasis, and drawing up your initial plans. Now we’ll look at how to include potential for future upgrades and select suitable plants.
Think Long Term and Clear the Space
If what comes to mind when you imagine your ideal haven is a Japanese-style garden complete with ponds and bridges, you’re probably in for a mammoth project with an equally significant price tag. If you’re up for that, go for it! But if not, don’t worry: it’s not the only way to achieve a Zen-like effect. Maybe you need to start small but know you’ll want to add larger elements later on; that should factor into your plans as you begin.
The next step would be to remove any unwanted bushes, plants, and debris, so you’re starting with a truly blank slate. Even if you’re going to hire a professional for the creation of your dream landscape, you could save some money by DIYing this part — or maybe pay some neighbor kids to do the grunt work for you!
Look up Appropriate Plants
If you’ve already purchased landscape design software, you’ll probably already have access to lists of plants that are suitable for your climate as well as the sun/shade ratios of your backyard space. Otherwise, you can look up plants that are appropriate for your climate and space either in a book or on a website such as gardeningknowhow.com or savvygardening.com.
Alternatively, you can look at gardens in public spaces (or on private property, if you have permission) and snap photos of plants you like that are thriving in an environment similar to that of your yard. You can then identify those plants using apps such as Nature ID or Blossom. If you’re hiring a landscape professional, you can simply collect photos of plants you like and show your landscape designer, who will be well-equipped to suggest similar-looking plants suitable for your yard.
Be Realistic About Your Level of Dedication
If you’ve been dreaming up until this point, it’s time to wake yourself up and get a little more realistic. Maybe you really like the look of roses, but you aren’t really willing to give them the kind of time and effort which they would require. Perhaps you adore the look of a flagstone path but know you honestly wouldn’t be up for the kind of weeding and maintenance that one would require. You’ll also want to make sure to vary the seasons of flowering plants, so you have plants in each section flowering during each season.
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Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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