It might be time to update your landscaping

  • By Jason Hargraves Angie’s List
  • Tuesday, August 25, 2015 6:54pm
  • Life

Homeowners often update or refresh the interior of their homes by changing paint color or furniture, but the design of your lawn probably doesn’t receive your attention that frequently.

Why not? Adding new plants, reshaping existing ones or changing the color of your planters can be just as simple as buying a new throw pillow.

Your landscaping is always evolving, whether it’s seasonal or just maturation. That perfect look you once had may be slightly off balance thanks to the tree that grew too tall or the bush that didn’t survive the last windstorm. Plus, your attitude about your landscape can change, too.

Is your lawn overdue for a change?

Angie’s List member Linda C. and her husband felt the front yard of their ranch home in Newark, Delaware, was completely unremarkable.

“I found I could spend an afternoon doing yard work, and the yard still looked pretty much the same … just ‘blah,’ ” Linda says.

The couple embarked on a landscaping project with the goal of creating a private outdoor summer “room,” complete with a curved stone landscaping wall, a tree canopy as the “roof” and a bird garden. Those big changes continue to lead to small ones.

“The success of the wall project has encouraged and inspired me to continue working on improving our bird garden and patio,” Linda says.

So when’s a good time to assess the look of your lawn? Try to take a hard look at your landscape plan at least every five to 10 years.

James Woodhead, president of Woody’s Custom Landscaping in Battle Ground, says most landscapes need changing over the years. A landscape that was installed 10 years ago, for instance, might not suit your landscaping needs today.

Woodhead points out that perhaps your children have outgrown that backyard play area, or maybe you desire a more inviting space that allows you to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family.

Because the components of your landscape are living (and hopefully growing) things, it’s important to keep an eye on the overall balance.

Patrick Anderson, administrator of plant health care at Heartwood Tree Service in Charlotte, North Carolina, likes to contrast the components of your lawn to your living room furniture.

As your couch becomes older it probably won’t be getting larger and encroaching upon other parts of your home, but your trees and shrubs definitely can, he says.

Anderson adds that mature plant size, placement and the intent of design are paramount when choosing trees and shrubs.

What if I have to redo my landscaping from scratch?

Anderson says completely changing your landscape design is a good thing and something you shouldn’t be afraid to do. Why, he asks, should a homeowner nurse along an old decrepit azalea, when it can be replaced by one of the newer varieties?

Other times, however, you might not have a choice when it comes to changing your landscaping.

Angie’s List member Jerrod N., of Indianapolis, recently endured the unfortunate event of having a sewer line collapse, which meant a large part of his front yard had to be dug up in order to install a new line.

While it was great to have the plumbing fixed, the front yard was left in disarray.

“A large part of our yard was disturbed, and we had to wait for the ground to settle through the winter before we could begin this next phase of restoring our yard,” he says.

Jerrod and his family settled on having pea gravel installed in the patio area because the ground had still not completely settled. It might be not have been his initial intent, but a homeowner should expect a yard to throw a few punches.

So it’s smart to be ready to roll — and change — with them.

Jason Hargraves is a reporter for Angie’s List, www.angieslist.com, a resource for consumer reviews.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.