Fall Planting 101
When people think of adding new plants to their yard, they often put it on their spring to-do list. Springtime brings the excitement of new life and increased sunshine and warmth. After being cooped up inside and looking at a snowy landscape for a few months, many people are eager to get outside and spend some time in their yard! While it’s true that spring is a great time to fill out your landscape a bit more, fall is also a fantastic time to plant—and in many cases, even better than spring. Here are a couple of reasons why you might consider doing most of your planting in the autumn.
Yard and Garden Projects for the Fall
Oct 10, 2022
Fall brings new colors, cooler temperatures, and the excitement of change. With the changing leaves comes new things to do in the yard. Here’s a list of some of the best things you can do for your landscape this autumn.
No Fail Planting Design - Choose the Best Plants for Your Yard
Apr 25, 2022
Designing a landscape can be a daunting task. From determining the layout to selecting your smallest perennial plants, there is a lot that goes into creating the yard of your dreams. Often, people jump straight to picking out their favorite plants or grab whatever looks best while they walk through the garden center. While plant selection is arguably the most visually apparent part of the landscape, your landscape will only be successful when you create a plan first. In this post, we’ll teach you how to confidently choose the right plants for your yard. Read on to learn more!
Landscape Design Rules of Thumb
Aug 10, 2022
There is an overwhelming amount of information available about designing your own landscape. While we believe that you can never learn too much about landscaping, we realize that too much information to sort through can require time and attention that most of us don’t have. We’ve broken down some of the most fundamental guidelines for you here. And if you do find yourself with a little extra time after all, check out our article on the Principles and Elements of Landscape Design for further reading.
Summer Landscaping Tips
Aug 10, 2022
With longer days and the kids out of school, it can be tempting to spend the summer completely transforming your yard, adding in all sorts of new plants and changing everything up. It should be noted, though, that the hottest season is not ideal for transplanting new plants in your yard. The good news is that summer is the perfect time to get outside and tackle all the projects that have been staring you in the face for months. We’ve pulled together a list of our best summer landscaping tips for you here.
Everything You Need to Know About Renovating Your Landscape
Jun 30, 2022
Updating your landscape can feel overwhelming. For most people, their landscape is a work in progress, so it's okay if you fall into this category. However, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your outdoor reno goes as smoothly as possible. Read on so you can avoid making some of the most common landscaping mistakes.
How to Successfully Finish Your New Construction Landscape
Jun 30, 2022
If you just moved into a newly-built home, and the yard is probably either completely devoid of life, or just has a basic design with sod and a couple small trees. Whether you were involved in making all of the decisions that went into building your new house or you just finished house-hunting, you’re probably feeling a little tired of making decisions. This guide will help you avoid making mistakes in your landscape and help to get you feeling just as happy about your yard as you are about your brand new house!
Terraced Yard with Distinct Outdoor Rooms
Jun 10, 2022
Before 2019, over half of this sloped backyard was grass. One day, the owner of this garden realized that no one ever stood in the bottom half of her yard except for her when she came down to mow it each week. So, she set to work and in just three years, totally transformed her landscape. This garden is the perfect answer to the question of what to do with a sloped and awkwardly shaped yard.
Large Whimsical Garden for Entertaining
Jun 10, 2022
Over the last 50 years, the owners of this garden have DIYed every aspect of their spacious, half-acre property. From the front, this house seems unassuming, but as you enter the backyard, your breath is taken away by a beautiful landscape that stretches 300 feet to the back fence.
Formal and Flirty Garden
Jun 10, 2022
This garden is the perfect mix of formal and flirty. The classiness of some of the more traditional foliage plants pairs well with the plentiful pops of color from a variety of blooms. From interesting topiary to overflowing planters, the plants in this garden can speak to any style.
The Water Wise Entertainer's Dream
Jun 10, 2022
In this garden, you can find a near textbook rendition of a water-wise garden. Even though you won't see any grass on this property, the landscape is still functional and eye-catching. This landscape was professionally designed and it shows.
Shaded Forest on a Hill
Jun 10, 2022
Even though many people would worry about purchasing a home with an upward-sloped lot, the owner of this garden said the unique structure of the property was what especially compelled him to take it. Throughout the property, you can find incredible inspiration for making your landscape feel more secluded and natural, even in the middle of suburbia.
How to Landscape to Increase Your Home's Value
Jun 7, 2022
One of the best ways to increase the value of your home and the speed with which it sells is to have a well-maintained and nicely designed landscape. It can be a simple design, but if it is cohesive, balanced, looks nice year-round, and kept clean and tidy, your efforts will pay off massively. Taking care of your landscape is a home improvement that will bring a significant return on investment. In fact, it is the ONLY home improvement that brings a positive ROI!
Landscape Design Tips for Small Spaces
Jun 6, 2022
In the last several decades, houses have become larger and lots and have become smaller, leading to smaller backyards. You may feel like you don’t have enough space to create the landscape of your dreams, but don’t worry. You don’t need a massive, sprawling space to be thrilled with your landscape. If you are intentional with the way you use your space, you can make your backyard (and front yard) incredibly functional and attractive. We’ve compiled a list of seven key tips to utilizing a small space. Through following these tips, you can have the yard of your dreams—even if it’s a postage stamp yard!
3 Landscaping Ideas to Get your Kids Outside More
Mar 24, 2022
Every parent wants their children to spend more time outside. The battle against screen time is real and constant, and we all know that time outdoors is so good for us all—children, adults, and our relationships with each other. Outdoor areas provide opportunities for you to connect with your children. When you spend more time interacting with them outside, the benefits go both ways. We’ve pulled together three basic guidelines to help you transform your yard into a place where your kids want to spend time.
Seven Outdoor Social Spaces (That Aren’t Your Patio)
May 26, 2022
The world seems to feel more chaotic all the time. In the past few years, backyards have become a place where people can retreat and find joy in good company. By designing and installing outdoor spaces that are centered around social connections, your backyard can transform from a barren land that you own, to a richly engaging environment to help you and those you love become closer. Read on to find different gathering spaces you can add to your backyard enhance your socializing.
Seven Hardy Lawn Alternatives
May 26, 2022
The “typical” grassy lawn is going out of style. It requires so much water and maintenance. Since water and time seem to be in scarce supply for many people, other options are starting to gain a little more popularity. However, you don't need to worry that artificial turf or rocks with cacti are the only options. Read on to find out about appealing alternatives to turf in your yard!
Edible Landscaping 101
May 25, 2022
If you want start growing more of your own food, edible landscaping is a great way to incorporate style with function. Edible landscaping, sometimes referred to as gardenscaping, is the practice of growing edible or medicinal plants in your landscape as opposed to plants that are strictly ornamental. Instead of having plants that only look pretty, you can now grow things that look pretty and also yield harvests of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This swaps an inefficient and unproductive yard for a more sustainable, productive, and healthier option. Read on to learn what you need to know before you begin.
The 5 Steps to Creating an Amazing Landscape
May 12, 2022
Whether you’ve just moved into a new place with an empty yard or you’re looking to re-do your existing landscape, there are five main steps to the landscaping process. Putting in the time and planning into your yard will pay off in the end. Many times, people skip straight to step five and don’t set their yard up for success – Read on to make sure you don’t make the same mistake!
10 Things You Should Know Before You Plant Anything
May 18, 2022
You’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your landscape and you’ve already got a design planned out—now it’s time to get the plants and install them in your landscape. It can be overwhelming to figure out how to install your plants in a way that will set them up for success. Read on to find ten important planting tips.
What to Prioritize When Installing Your Landscape
May 12, 2022
After you have designed your dream yard, you may start to wonder how you should prioritize steps in the installation process. For many people, time, financial resources, or other factors may make it impossible to complete the entire project in a single season. If you fall into this category, you’re not alone, and you don’t need to worry. By prioritizing the right things, you can effectively install your yard over a much longer period of time, without feeling like your yard is in a constant project state. Read on to find out how!
How to Design Your Landscape Online
May 17, 2022
When you design your landscape, there are 5 main elements that you need to consider. Each plays an important role in helping your yard to feel functional and stylish. By dividing your space into distinct areas, you can easily maximize your space and minimize confusion. We recommend incorporating each element into your front and back yard. Once you’ve finished reading through this article, you can start creating your own landscape design for free!
Seven Engaging Ways to Improve Your Landscape
May 12, 2022
Now more than ever, our backyards have become places to retreat and find solace. With a little planning, you can create the yard of your dreams! It can be a place of gathering and fun, a cozy and charming hideout, or productive and full of life (or all of the above!). We’ve listed seven out-of-the-box ideas to jazz up your landscape.
Waterwise Plants 101: What to Look for When Buying Water Wise Plants
Apr 21, 2022
With droughts continuing to affect the globe, many people are starting to look for steps they can take to minimize the effects in their own yard. Making the right planting choices can dramatically impact the water consumption that your yard requires as well as ensure that your plants thrive regardless of weather conditions. Read on to learn more about things you should know before selecting plants for your yard.
Surprising Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping
Mar 24, 2022
We know that some of you may envision sustainable landscaping as a yard with nothing but dirt, rocks and a few cacti. However, this is far from the truth. A well-designed sustainable landscape can look and feel like a lush oasis that both captivates the eye and relaxes the body. Sustainable landscaping obviously helps to preserve natural resources, but there are benefits that many people don’t realize. Read through to discover each!
5 Reasons to Buy Plants from Local Nurseries
Mar 25, 2022
Local nurseries are the backbone of local gardening. Shopping local is the best way for you to ensure that the plants in your yard grow and flourish. Using the Simplyscapes app, you can shop online inventories from your local garden center.
The Top 3 Elements of a Fantastic Yard
Mar 24, 2022
If you want to have the nicest yard on the block, but have no idea where to start, this is the post for you. Starting out with a plan for your yard is crucial to its success. If your design is based off of a solid foundation, you are less likely to run into obstacles along the way. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an existing property, this post is full of things you must consider.
Health-Focused Landscape Designs
Mar 15, 2022
When you’re planning out the design for your yard, you have an opportunity to create a plan for your future health. Studies have shown that if people have an outdoor area that is accessible, attractive, and functional, they are more likely to spend time being active in that space. There are many benefits that come from spending time outdoors, and you can access those right from the comfort of your own home if you create the proper design. Read through to learn about the features you should consider when designing your yard.