Do you love your landscape, really love it as it is today?
Now that many of us are spending more time at home, landscaped environments are becoming a bigger part of our lifestyle. Maybe you have become more aware of what a well-maintained landscape does for you and your family.
- If landscaping is well-maintained, it manages the water that it collects, and that passes through it.
- Ornamental plantings capture dust and pollutants. They also screen undesirable views and help to minimize unwanted noise.
- A healthy lawn naturally cools the outdoor environment. Generous turfgrass areas cool the ambient temperature 20-30 degrees lower than hard paving or bare soil.
- We appreciate its calming, nourishing qualities. People that regularly connect with Nature enjoy its restorative qualities that keep us balanced and grounded.
Landscaping Is More Important Than Ever
Your outdoor environment contributes considerable value to your lifestyle. The challenge nowadays is determining how its roles and responsibilities should be expanded.
A recent study revealed some of the more popular landscaping upgrades.
Vegetable Garden
Nowadays people are more tuned into their health and well-being. Not only is a backyard garden a source of healthy vegetables, but it can also be a wonderful science laboratory for young children.
Every gardener will tell you that rich, well-drained soil is vitally important. Achieving this may involve more than adding soil amendments.
You may wish to hire a contractor to remove a portion of our clayey Oklahoma soils, and replace them with a suitable garden mix.
Additional considerations are raising the planting beds to ensure proper drainage, installing drip irrigation systems, and protecting the area from rabbits, deer, and other animals.
Outdoor Office or Studio
Now that working remotely is more acceptable and expected, you’ll want to do it better. There’s no reason to be confined indoors on beautiful days when bringing the outdoor environment can inspire greater creativity and productivity.
You may already have a screened porch or similar outdoor room that will work. If so you should be trying it out to learn how it can be adapted to fully accommodate your needs.
Factors to consider include adequate lighting and power for electronic devices. Adding a ceiling fan will extend its usability throughout warmer periods.
If you are starting fresh, you can design and build your custom backyard office or studio. These studios are popular with writers, artists, and other creative types.
There are pre-built kits you can assemble if you are handy and can handle the heavy lifting. It may be advisable to consult with a landscape design-build contractor who can customize it for your property.
Meditation or Serenity Garden
Having a quiet space where you can simply be with Nature is incredibly rejuvenating. To achieve this you may wish to work with a professional designer with experience in this landscape specialty.
He or she will understand how to balance the typical elements to achieve that coveted “less is more” outcome.
You want to surround yourself with objects that bring you joy and peace of mind, but be careful. One rookie mistake is adding so many elements to your sanctuary. That clutter will occupy your thoughts and undermine the purpose of this space.
For this reason, landscape architects and Feng Shui experts alike agree that every outdoor room and garden spaces need ample open space for people and their energies to circulate.
Landscaping Is Experiencing A Resurgence
We’ve heard from many of our landscape friends this year about their gratitude for the community and rejuvenating qualities their outdoor spaces give them.
Families are enjoying greater time together and that includes every aspect of communing with Nature, including relaxation, play, entertainment, even work.
Extended vacations may be on hold for a while. So it’s safe to reason that the role of landscapes and outdoor living will be expanding in our lives.
Now is a good time to have a conversation about what that looks like for you.
The most vital steps in that process are the brainstorming, planning, and design process. We like to do that in an unhurried fashion to get the scope of your project right and keep everything on budget.
If this is the right time for you please give us a call and let’s talk about it.
