A beautifully landscaped yard is one of the features of a home that brings great joy and in most cases, it can turn an ordinary house into an extraordinary home. Make wise choices – it’s important to consider your desired look & function, water limitations, local wildlife and eco-friendly options. If you are thinking about landscape improvements and have the option of hiring a professional landscape architect or design specialist, it’s a good way to go. The end results will show. If that’s not an option, here are some tips to consider while you’re planning.
Get to know your neighbors. Not the people, but rather the wildlife that shares your home. While some of them are adorably cute, they can also be incredibly destructive as they go about their business of looking for food. Before you plant, do some research to see if your desired plants are on the favorite foods lists for gophers, moles, voles, ground squirrels & deer, or if they are a natural repellant. Trust me, your life will be much happier if you avoid the favorite foods. Good news – gophers are repelled by the smell of lavender!
Consider choosing drought tolerant plants, especially if your yard gets full sun. This may be the solution if you currently have a lawn that you’re fighting to keep green, without breaking the bank with your water bill. There are gorgeous options for creating a low maintenance, low water usage yard that have a very current look. You’ll do best to select native plants and can help the environment at large by avoiding invasive species. Many of these are excellent options if you wish to plant to help pollinators, such as honeybees, butterflies & hummingbirds. If you are considering removing your lawn, be sure to check out EBMUD’s lawn conversion rebate program. It may cover all or part of the cost of your project and they even offer landscape design consultants. No matter what type of plants you choose, be sure to amend the soil and create optimal water conditions. A drip system and mulch are generally the best for conserving water.
Avoid plants and trees that are especially flammable, such as eucalyptus or manzanita. They may thrive in our region, but they put your home at greater risk from fire and they may impact your homeowner’s insurance. On top of that, your human neighbors may get a little grumpy if they see you planting these. On the subject of trees, be sure to do your research. Know what to expect in terms of size and root characteristics. If you’re planting close to a structure or hardscape, you’ll want to avoid trees with wandering, shallow root systems. These can be result in roots invading pipes, lifting walkways or damaging your foundation and patios. Did you know that redwood trees need to be planted in groups of 3 or more, preferably in a triangle? They rely on each other for stability. If your home has solar panels, or if you want to add some in the future, remember to think about the location and not plant trees that will eventually block sunlight from the panels. Did you know that Danville protects a lot of trees? Before planting, you may want to consider whether the variety is on the protected list, in case you want to keep options open for something else in that location, in the future.
Finally, plan for the seasons. You’ll want to select a variety of plants that are in their prime, at different times throughout the year. Find out when they bloom or if the leaves change color. It’s wise to mix in some evergreens, to keep your yard looking good in the winter, too. One of my favorite garden features is the smell of exquisite blooms. Aromatic daphne, jasmine, gardenias, citrus and lavender all do well in our region. Be sure to check on frost hardiness and sun and soil requirements, for the best possible results.
If you’re thinking about sprucing up your yard to prepare for a sale, you may want to take a different approach. Every home is unique. Please feel free to reach out to me at 925-964-5010 or via email at Lisa.Hopkins@Compass.com for a custom analysis of your options. It’s never too early to start planning for success.never too early to start planning for success.
