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Your yard can be more than just empty space, it can become a central part of your home and landscaping can make that happen. This doesn’t have to be a grueling or expensive venture on your part, just so you apply some of these landscaping tips.

Function
First of all, determine what your yard is primarily used for. Is it a place for the kids to play, somewhere to hang the laundry out to dry, or do you see it as a place to ease away the tensions of the day? The answers to these questions will help determine what kind of work needs to be done before you start landscaping.

Another useful tip is to determine how your landscaping can help with energy costs. You may not know it but trees and shrubs can help you cut down on your heating and lighting expenses.

For example trees planted on the south and west can help with shading your house, which helps cut down on air conditioning. If these trees are the kind that shed their leaves (deciduous trees) during the fall, it will allow more light into the house during the winter when it’s most needed. Shrubs planted a few feet away from the foundation also help keep the warm air in and the cold out therefore helping with the heating bills.

Hardscape and softscape

Hardscape refers to the “non-plant” parts of your garden (deck, patio, statues, fountains, walls, etc.). Softscape refers to the plants and the lawn.

If you’re just starting out, lay out the hardscape first before you work with the plants. This way, the plants aren’t in the way when you’re installing the necessary hardscape materials.

Walls have the option of being treated as hardscape or softscape. If you want total privacy, you may want to go with a hardscape wall using materials like wood, vinyl or masonry. Otherwise, shrubs and trees make for a more natural wall that give a more open look while still closing the view to other people.

Find a central focus for your yard
This can be anything from a statue, to the play set or even a single tree. Finding a focus for your landscaping gives you a point of reference so that you give your design a better sense of order rather than just having plants scattered everywhere.

These are just some tips to get you started. As you continue working on your landscaping, you’ll be able to come up with more ideas that are distinctively yours, making your home as unique as you are.

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