The winter time in Gainesville when things go dormant a lot of us are thinking about the spring and what changes we’d like to see in our lawn and landscaping. If you are one of those people I recommend using this time of year to create a maintenance plan to keep things on track. Thinking ahead will help ensure that you are not disappointed with the results down the road. Here are some important questions to ask yourself when coming up with a plan of your own.
WHAT DO I WANT?
This is what I call the “fun stage” of planning. The sky is the limit here as you think through all of the things you’d like to see and accomplish with your landscaping changes. Is expanding your outdoor living a priority? Is landscape lighting high on your list of needs? Do you want to see lots of color attract butterflies to your yard? Are you envisioning a relaxing tropical oasis secluding you from the outside world? At this point we are not worried about practicality or other constraints; this is where I really encourage you to dream big!
WHAT IS REALISTIC?
A successful landscape is going to be beautiful and practical so we need to think about what really makes sense for your Gainesville yard. Things to consider in this stage of planning include climate and maintenance. A traditional English garden might be my dream, but how well suited is it to our climate and am I prepared to handle the amount of upkeep a project like that is going to need. It's also important to consider any irrigation changes that may need to be made.
HOW MUCH SPACE DO I HAVE?
When planning your landscaping it’s especially important to keep in mind the full size of plants of trees later down the road. Will those plants that look just right now still look right when they have grown in? Is the number of shrubs and the distance going to be sufficient to create a beautiful hedge? And don’t forget to take into account the final size of any trees you include in your landscaping. Too many times I’ve met with a client who has had to take down beautiful trees simply because they were planted too close to existing structures.
WHAT IS MY BUDGET
Outlining a budget helps to prioritize landscaping projects and make sure that your most important goals are handled first. This can help you break your project down into manageable parts and maybe plan one project for spring and a second project later in the year.
There are also many tools you can find online like www.FloridaYards.org where you can find information on Florida friendly plants and other useful information. A little extra effort you will be well on your way to achieving the yard of your dreams. If you would like The Master’s Lawn Care to assist you with creating the yard you’ve been dreaming of I would love to meet with you. Just give us a call at 352-378-5296 to schedule a time or submit your request online.