6 Landscaping Tips to Keep in Mind This Spring in Lagrangeville and Poughquag, NY
As the snow melts it’s the perfect time to get going on all those spring landscaping projects you’ve been thinking about all winter. Bringing your landscape to eco-friendly standards will help reduce your home’s water and energy usage and impact on the environment while creating a stunningly beautiful space to relax, play, and entertain in. Here are six landscape tips to keep in mind this spring in Lagrangeville and Poughquag, NY.
Related: 2 Tips for Landscaping With Summer Plantings in Mind in Pleasant Valley NY
Reducing Water Usage
Reducing water usage is one of the best ways for a homeowner to minimize impact on the environment. Installing a new irrigation system will help efficiently direct the right amount of water to the right plants. Using a combination of sprinklers and drip irrigation that are calibrated and timed will not only help your plants flourish, but will take away the stress and work of watering at a certain time of day.
Reducing Energy Usage and Creating Lighting Zones
Updating your landscape lighting from incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen light bulbs to LED (light-emitting diode) lighting will greatly reduce your energy costs from the landscape. LEDs are versatile and can fit into tight and hard-to-reach areas within landscape features and provide lighting in any direction. They are also attractive and programmable. While light bulbs need to be replaced about twice a year, LEDs last far longer and will eliminate your light bulb glass waste. Modern landscape lighting directs just the right amount of light to offer task lighting, mood lighting, security, and ambiance as needed in each activity zone in your landscape.
Prioritizing Native Plants
Using more native plants instead of imported exotics will help reduce your water usage even further. Native plants require far less resources than exotic since they are perfectly adapted to your environment. Choose from a wide variety of beautiful native ground covers, annual and perennial flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees that are hardy and fill your landscape with color and fragrance all season.
Comforting with Fire Features
Nothing brings people together like a natural fire feature. It’s a timeless and primal experience that has remained relatively unchanged by technology. Gorgeous stone masonry fire features can adorn your landscape in the form of a fire pit, fire table, or outdoor fireplace. Loved ones will gather around the fire and share stories while enjoying food and drinks in the light and warmth. A fire feature will become a centerpiece of your backyard.
Soothing with Water Features
Installing a fountain or a waterfall in your outdoor living space can have different effects with different intensities. A traditional roman fountain or a rugged waterfall will have dramatic effects on the landscape, dazzling your friends and family with the sight of rushing and splashing water. A sleek modern fountain or waterfall can have the soothing experience of light trickling water with clean glass and polished stone to bring a relaxing feeling to your backyard.
Driving on New Pavers
The paved surfaces of your landscape (primarily your driveway) are heavily used but deserve to be just as gorgeous as the other features of your landscape and home. Replacing boring poured concrete or asphalt surfaces with beautiful pavers will bring your landscape a fresh new look that is far superior in looks, upkeep, and durability. Pavers aren’t subject to the freeze-thaw cycles that crack pavements.
You could also switch to permeable pavers that allow water to seep into the ground, not only reducing slipping hazards but also helping achieve a harmonious balance with nature.
Related: Landscaping with a Naturalistic Aesthetic in Mind in Hopewell Junction, NY