Tips for Landscaping from Scratch
Steps to take and aspects to consider when creating your at-home outdoor oasis.
One to-do item, and often expense, that many people save for last when building a new home? Landscaping. In many cases, new homeowners are left with a fairly untouched lot and dozens of choices to make about the exterior of the home. While that prospect can be overwhelming, it’s also exciting! These tips will help you strategize and prioritize so you can create your ideal outdoor space.
Consider grading
All lots are not created equal! The grade, or slope, of your lot is the first thing to tackle as you make your landscaping plans. It’s important to get this sorted out before moving on to any other aspects because if you need to fix your grading, you’ll likely need to “undo” any planting that has happened thus far.
The slope of your lawn should be between 2 and 10 percent, sloping downhill away from your house. This allows for proper drainage without excess erosion of the soil. If your grading is off, it’s possible to fix the issue yourself by filling in topsoil, but because of potential hiccups like pipes, traps and vents, and the sheer amount of time and labor it takes, many homeowners opt to hire out their grading projects.
Analyze your climate and soil
Before planting anything, find out what types of plants grow well in your area and how suitable your soil is for growing greenery. Testing your soil, either by sending it in to a service or using an at-home test kit, will help you determine whether you need to do some remediation before considering planting.
With new construction especially, fill dirt can sometimes contain construction debris and other items that will get in the way of your planting. Hopefully, any debris will be small enough for you to remove and dispose of in your regular waste removal service.
Assuming your soil is in good shape, the next consideration is climate. Even the most nutrient-rich soil can’t sustain the wrong plant in the wrong place. To get started, use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine the climate zone at your zip code. The zone will give you a temperature range, which in turn will help in choosing species of plants and grasses that will thrive in your climate. This will also help you to figure out what crops you can grow if you opt for a vegetable garden!
Sketch out your space
Once you know what sort of canvas you’re working with and what options you have for planting, it’s time to plan out your space! Consider what you want and need to use outdoor space for. Entertaining? Storage? Growing your own food, and composting your own kitchen scraps into soil? In the front and sides of your house, do you need to plant trees to provide privacy and a noise buffer? Once you’ve nailed down your priorities, you can fill in your landscaping plans like a puzzle.
Take measurements of your yard and determine where you’ll install any fencing. Map out pathways, space for a deck or patio, and any other features you’re looking to have. Think through the material you’ll use for each element of the yard; for example, the space where you want your firepit should probably have a base of concrete or pavers to ensure fire safety. A common filler for “in-between” spots is grass, but rocks and other materials can look and perform well too, with lower maintenance costs.
Once you’ve got these basics figured out, it all comes down to implementation and the finer details! Now it’s time to decide on professional help, specific materials - and who you’re inviting to your first backyard hangout!
Get started on building your dream home and yard with Atmos, where we’ll guide you through every step of the way. Homebuilding has never been easier!
