While driving through Northern Virginia it’s intriguing to see the diverse architectural designs of homes. From Cape Cods and Craftsman to Bungalows and Federal-style homes, many properties mirror the housing styles of decades past but with stunning, modern updates. Northern Virginia homeowners strive to maintain a flourishing landscape that enhances curb appeal and adds color, warmth, and texture.
Your home is your castle and as so, it’s important to invest in your property. The following landscaping ideas are sure to transform your Northern Virginia home and create long-lasting results that captivate throughout the seasons.
Reseed a Sparse Lawn
Green, dense grass contributes significantly to the overall appearance of your landscaping. Soil, thatch, improper irrigation, and poor mowing can also cause grass to look spotty or sparse. To revive your lawn, remove as many weeds as possible. Use an herbicide on difficult-to-control weeds. Dethatch the lawn using a vertical mower or dethatching rake. Once you’ve raked up all leftover debris, aerate the lawn and spread grass seed. Cover the soil with a thin layer of peat moss or organic mulch. Water the area frequently to keep the top several inches of soil moist, but not wet.
Plant Flowers for Year-Round Color
Northern Virginia is one of the most floral areas in the country, filled with blooms of all sizes and colors from April through the Fall. Incorporate colorful flowers in your beds, borders, and containers for vibrant blooms that deliver beauty all year long. Perennials are low-maintenance and long-lasting, pumping out gorgeous flowers and foliage year after year. Plant flowers in the spring or fall when temperatures are cooler to give your plants a healthy head start. Northern Virginia lawns can accommodate a wide range of species, including wild or eastern red columbine, blue wild indigo, swamp milkweed, white turtlehead, wild bleeding heart, narrow-leaved sunflower, and Jerusalem artichoke. Incorporate container plants on your front porch, mailbox, and patio.
Install Decorative Pathways
Enjoy your freshly landscaped backyard without fear that your new grass will be trampled. Create pathways through your yard in areas that see a lot of foot traffic. For natural, easy-to-install paths use slate or concrete pavers. If you prefer a more inexpensive option, affordable mulch and gravel work well to define walking areas. For a clean look, edging is required to prevent the material from spreading out into your lawn. Plastic landscape edging is inexpensive and can be hidden with a border of plants. You can also install aluminum or steel borders for a crisp edge. Stone and brick borders are more costly but can create an elegant, attractive look.
Introduce Climbing Vines Along Structures
Climbing vines create a whimsical look as they gently wrap around fence posts, columns, and trellises. Vine plants can also save space in your garden as they grow up, not out. However, not all climbing vines will ascend any structure. As some wrap, others curl or adhere. Tendrils like passionflower and sweet peas require horizontal supports, such as netting or branches. Twiners like honeysuckle, morning glories, and clematis twist around structures, such as a wire or branches. Other climbing vines include scramblers, adhesive pads, and clinging stem roots.
Add Height with Planters
Add dimension and visual interest to your landscape by hanging planters and baskets. Creating height with elevated planters and hanging baskets creates a range of color from the ground up. Hanging baskets also offer other benefits, such as better drainage and aeration. In each basket plant several different types of flowers in varying colors. You’ll want a ‘spiller’ style plant that hangs over the sides of the planter, an eye-catching center plant that stands tall, and filler plants that keep the rest of the container looking plush with foliage.
Go Low-Maintenance with Hardscaping
If you don’t have the time, patience, or budget to maintain a lush, green lawn, consider hardscaping instead. With a one-time investment, you can switch out your grass for a low-maintenance alternative like slate tiles, gravel, or another rock-like ground cover. In addition to looking clean and modern, hardscaping can diminish water usage in drought-prone areas. To prevent weeds and regrowth under the rock ground cover, install landscaping fabric. Landscaping doesn’t mean you can’t grow beautiful plants. Leave areas of soil uncovered to plant beautiful trees, flowers, and shrubs which will give the rocky landscape vibrant color.
Spread Wood Chips
Mulching creates a finished appearance around plant life while also providing your landscape with other valuable benefits. Use wood chips or other types of mulching material around trees, shrubs, and bushes to add an alluring appeal. Wood chips also trap moisture in the ground to keep your plants hydrated while providing food for vegetation. A thick layer of mulch can also reduce weed growth by preventing root competition. To effectively apply mulch, remove grass in the area and pour the mulch 2 to 4 inches deep. When using mulching around trees, keep it from touching the trunk of the tree.
Conceal Unsightly Outdoor Structures
Maybe you have an old shed on your property or your garage is outdated. Sheds, garages, and other outdoor structures can be enhanced with the right landscaping tricks. To ‘hide’ these structures, create a display of plants and flowers. Large potted plants like ferns can add height and beauty to the front of a run-down shed. Hang pallets vertically on the side of a shed or garage to hold flowers or herbs. Some types of climbing vines can also be made to cover the sides of outdoor structures using lattice work or trellises.
When designing your landscape, you’ll want to make sure that your plan complements the style of your home. You’ll also want to ensure that your home’s façade is as beautiful as your landscaping. One simple way to instantly boost your home’s curb appeal is by hiring a siding contractor to update your siding. There are several types of siding available, such as vinyl, fiber cement, natural cedar, aluminum, and PVC or composite siding. You also don’t want to overlook the trim and shutters which help create a cohesive, polished look. With new siding and fresh landscaping, your Northern Virginia home will soon be the envy of your neighborhood.