Source: Southern Living April 2008

Think your landscaping is hopeless? Think again. We overhauled this lackluster lawn and got big results in just four months. Follow these steps, and see the difference.

It all starts with standing at your curb and making an honest evaluation. Before the first shrub is planted, take a good look at your home. Follow these no-fail tips for updating your outdoor look.

  1.  Start with a simple, smooth bed line. No wimpy curves allowed. When in doubt, swing it out. You won’t regret the extra room when plants start to grow in. This bed line should start on one side of the yard and move your eye across to the other. Space plants within the bed so that they echo this curve. Why you’ll be glad you did: Good bed lines can camouflage design flaws and waning plants. They also make it easier to mow the grass.
  2. Don’t clog corners. Give them breathing room. Too often we overplant the ends of our homes with a pyramid of plants that grow beyond their bounds. Instead, work in layers. Beneath a single crepe myrtle, we planted seven ‘Olivia’ Indian hawthorns that will max out around 4 feet tall. Ground-hugging ‘Purple Pixie’ loropetalums and ‘Happy Returns’ daylilies front and flank this pairing. Why you’ll be glad you did: You’ll save money now and spend less time pruning later.
  3. Mass plants for impact. Keep your plant and color palette to a minimum. Satisfy your desire for saturated hues with groupings of ‘Serena Purple’ angelonias, ‘Landmark Gold’ lantanas, ‘Double Knock Out’ roses, and chartreuse sun coleus. Why you’ll be glad you did: Clustering your plants creates a big effect. A garden of singletons doesn’t look like much. Later, you’ll wonder where your money went.
  4. Surround sitting areas with plants. Sure, you want to be friendly with the neighbors, but who really wants to relax on the lone bench that sits beneath the tree? By using plants, you can still survey your domain without feeling as if you’re on display. Set back 10 feet from the walk and staged on an 8-foot-diameter flagstone landing, our Adirondack chairs are nestled in a sea of hostas relocation from the backyard and a collection of Halo Series hydrangeas. Why you’ll be glad you did: You’ll actually use the space.
  5. Place details where they can be appreciated.Why waste money? Plants with interesting attributes should be used where they’ll be noticed. ‘Chocolate Chip’ ajuga is a winner when paired with autumn fern. Around mailboxes, at the ends of walks, and along driveways are other natural choices. Why you’ll be glad you did: This combo is a favorite!

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)