Your property looks great. All of the trees are green, all of the shrubs are manicured and all of the hardscape is clean. However, something seems like it’s missing. The plants that line the property and are healthy and blooming correctly, but it needs a little more. You need that “pop”, that color that brings everything together while also capturing the eyes of anyone who visits. Unfortunately it’s not always as easy as adding some color, so read on for some more tips on making your landscape “pop”.

What to Add?

First, you need to identify what your property has, does not have and what might bring everything together. Depending on what you already have, the end result can vary dramatically. If you have a lot of green and not a lot of color, think about adding flowers. If you have no focal point, like a beautiful entryway or hardscape fixture, think about adding one. Even though it might seem like it’s a small change, it can go a long way. Even fencing combined with flowers can create an aesthetic that pleases the eye. Too much of one thing makes everything blend in and forces your landscape to fade into the background, when it can be so much more.

A word of caution comes with adding plants or hardscapes to your property and that is overdoing it. The goal is adding enough so your property is eye-catching, but not adding so much that it becomes overcrowded. Having multiple hardscapes can be fine, however if you only have an acre of property, having a patio, a gazebo and a walkway will make it seem cluttered and forced.

Front or Backyard?

This designation makes a world of difference in terms of accentuating your landscape. The planting style can be different, the hardscaping changes drastically, and you need to account for what the neighborhood will see. In the front yard, you plan around the entrance. First observe your walkway, you want it to be uniformly wide, including the steps, with the surrounding plants not encroaching the area. Next, take note of your surroundings, as a nicely landscaped front yard will look drastically different in New York compared to Arizona. You can use the design of your house to influence your landscaping, while using the landscape to accentuate the best parts of your home .

In the backyard, you should landscape it how you want. Taking elements from the surrounding area and working them in can create a beautiful backyard to look at. Or if you like to entertain, create a hardscape and shape your landscaping around that. The backyard is a great place to landscape, as you have the privacy and availability to do what you want. With the implementation of a hardscape, think about what plants will accentuate it. If you install a gazebo, take notice of the color. If it’s white, add plants that have splashes of color, while if it’s brown, utilize greenery around it to help it stand out.

How to Choose the Plants ?

Walking into the Home Depot or Lowe’s gardening section can be a daunting task. There’s a ton of plant choices, but how do you choose. You may think that some will bring out the most of your landscaping, but there’s always the possibility they just don’t work out. In order to choose the correct plants, you need to know your property and its features. Where do you intend to add plants? Does that area get a lot of sunlight, a lot of water flow, are when do you intend on the plant blooming? All variables should be known prior to searching for the right plants to make your landscaping “pop”. Once you have figured out these variables, a good tool to help you decide is the Plant Encyclopedia, as you can search for viable plants based on your location and the features you will encounter.

Some of the best plants for the Hudson Valley region to accentuate your property are Rhododendron, as they are colorful and with the number of subspecies, you can find one to fit the variables you have. If you want to attract some wildlife, especially hummingbirds, try out the Bloomerang Lilac, as it is beautiful and blooms twice per year. If you’re searching for a perennial, check out Avens, as these bright flowers will give the property a splash of color and are hardy, so you won’t have to nurture them to keep them alive. Lastly, if you’re looking for an annual that covers some ground, check out Celosia, which has bright orange growth that is simply stunning.  Do some more research and decide for yourself as there’s a lot to choose from.

While it may be tough to plan out accentuating your landscaping, it will increase the curb appeal of your property, while also helping you enjoy it. If it seems like a ton of work that you just don’t have the time for, think about hiring Villegas Landscaping to help you. Our staff is well-versed in landscape design, and accentuating the property is something that we excel at. We also have connections to get the top of the line plants and even genetically altered plants so they bloom with different colors than typical. Call us at 845-897-2307 for a consultation today!

Plant Encyclopedia – Popular Landscape Ideas – Landscape Structures – Perfect Landscaping Plants – 4 Floral Choices  – How to Choose Landscaping Plants – Front Yard Landscaping