New House, New Yard: A Landscaping Checklist for Your Brand New Home

So you’ve purchased your new dream home and couldn’t be happier. The structure of your home itself is breathtaking, but your yard could use a little work. Especially if your home is newly constructed, the exterior of your home might look more like a warzone than a well-manicured landscape.

Here are a few landscaping tips for you to consider to help you transform your yard into something you can be proud of.

Grass

Your first task as chief landscaper of your new property is to take care of the grass which is the foundation of any yard. Good-looking, sturdy, thick grass sets the tone for the rest of your yard. But before you purchase sod, there are several important points to consider when you are planting grass at a new home.

The first step is to make sure any yard debris is cleared up. You should only plant new grass in nutrient, fresh soil. That brings us to the second task, spreading at least 6 inches of topsoil around your yard that will feed the young grass seed you intend to plant.

After adding the topsoil, you can move onto fertilizer. A proper fertilizer can make a world of difference in how your grass comes in, so choose wisely. Soil is often absent or deficient in important nutrients that vegetation needs to thrive. 

Especially if you live in drier, more extreme climates, supplementing your soil with fertilizer is important. Your grass will grow healthy and quickly, saving you the cost and headache to reseed in the future.

After you finish with the topsoil and fertilizer, cover the yard with a hearty dose of water and let it soak. Return in two weeks to drop the seeds or sod, then water regularly, and wait for your beautiful new grass to grow in.

Flower Bed

Many proud new homeowners beautify their properties with flower beds. Nurseries are full of seeds from all kinds of exotic and traditional flowers, so you have the choice to decorate your property with whatever flowers you want.

The only question is how to get started building a flower bed. First, select the right location. There should be full or partial sunlight here, meaning for the whole day or at least half of it your flowers will lay in a bed that receives direct sunlight. You can choose an area as small as 5 feet by 5 feet, depending on how large you would like it to be.

After you have chosen the location, till and fertilize the soil (unless you already did that while preparing for your new grass). Separate the flower bed from the rest of the yard with small wooden barriers. This separation will make tending to your garden easier once your flowers come in and is also aesthetically pleasing.

Then, it’s time to fill your new flower bed. The specialists at your local nursery will be able to explain which flowers grow best in your particular area. You can either buy flowers that are already sprouted or buy seeds and grow them yourself.

Trees

Of course, the idyllic American family home has a large oak tree out front, perhaps with a swing attached to it. Trees add character to a home, provide some level of shelter from the elements, including shade in the summer, as well as provide precious oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide. They filter the water in the soil and reduce soil erosion, aiding you in your quest to build the perfect yard.

A spacious tree in the yard could provide the perfect reason to host your next big summer event like your next family reunion.

Sprinkler Irrigation System

All the plants in your new yard need plenty of sunlight and water to thrive. The sunlight is free, but you’ll need a sprinkler or irrigation system to make sure your soil stays moist. A good sprinkler system actually saves water by efficiently distributing it evenly throughout the yard. 

Studies have actually shown that grass and flowers in a yard grow better when a sprinkler system is installed. Best of all, the automatic watering of a sprinkler system saves time and hassle on your part – leaving you more opportunity to enjoy your new yard! The good news is most systems are reasonably affordable and usually require little upkeep.

Landscaping is as Easy as You Make It

Naturally, every new homeowner wants their yard to look as beautiful as possible. Achieving an attractive and welcoming yard is actually much easier than it sounds with the right tools, materials, and a little time investment.