A beautiful yard can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal. And while landscaping comes naturally to some, others don’t know even where to start — or their efforts are met with wilted plants and dried-out beds year after year. But don’t give up hope. We talked to local experts who say a gorgeous landscape doesn’t have to be overly complicated. So here’s how to develop a green thumb, or at least fake it.
Tip No. 1: Focus efforts on key areas of your yard.
Elizabeth Hark, owner and lead designer at Dallas-based Splendid Gardens, notes that you don’t have to tackle your whole yard, especially not all at once. “You need some key focal points, such as the front door, your front [beds] and the space you can see through your window into your backyard.” Starting with these three areas will help you focus on spots that will make the biggest impact.
Even with your areas of focus identified, you can get a lot of beauty with a simple approach. For example, pick out two planters to put on either side of your front door or at the entrance to the porch. “A pop of bright blue or a very modern black can be really good timeless colors,” Hark says. Once you have your planters, add perennials like yucca or salvia. “Those are super easy,” she explains. “They don’t need water every day; they don’t need babysitting.” Annuals like geraniums, begonias and pentas also add nice color.
Tip No. 2: Make use of hardscaping elements.
Xeriscapes that mix plants with rocks, larger boulders and other hardscape elements are a great solution in areas such as the front of your home or under your windows — which may get more shade than sun depending on which way your house faces.
“You can save a lot of money by doing a hard rock-scape in shaded areas,“ notes Jeff Smith, owner of Smithscapes DFW, which specializes in landscape design and outdoor living. “We always use boulders in design. It’s a big impact with a little less money than putting in more plants. A pallet of grass is more expensive than a ton of boulders or a ton of rocks.”
Hark adds that some great options for hardscapes include crushed limestone, which can help deflect some sunlight, or grey Tejas crushed granite. Both options are more pet-friendly than mulch, which dogs often try to eat, and you don’t have to replenish your hardscape every year.
She recommends placing the boulders first, then spacing out your perennials and finishing with the rock. Use boulders for the end caps of your bed; you could place a few small-to-medium boulders or a single large one. As far as planting, “I always like to put grasses behind a boulder and then something colorful in front of a boulder,” says Hark.
Tip No. 3: Use low-maintenance groundcover to add green and other colors.
Groundcover plants are low-growing perennials that serve multiple purposes in yards. There are varieties that can be used in shaded area where grass won’t thrive. (Although keeping your trees trimmed will help grass grow, notes Smith.) Groundcover also forms a dense growth that helps keep weeds from coming in while protecting soil from drought. Best of all, these plants don’t need a lot of attention.
“Jasmine doesn’t require much water and you can trim it a couple times a year and be good to go,” recommends Smith. Other options that are good for North Texas include creeping gray germander, which can be used with xeriscaping and rock gardens; lily turf, a groundcover that can take full sun to full shade and grows dark lavender flowers in the summer; and horseherb, which has tiny yellow flowers in the spring and summer.
Tip No. 4: Add yard art, a fountain or other finishing touches.
Your backyard is a great place for a special feature. Pick some nice tall perennials or medium grasses in the same color story, and place them in odd numbers. The center spot in your odd-numbered cluster is an ideal place for a fountain, boulder, colorful planter or piece of yard art, says Hark. “Having a piece of art that you might uplight with a solar light against a fence is really impactful. You don’t have to crowd a ton of plants, but you could just have a few grasses, a few perennials and a piece of art.”
Hark recommends Amazon as a great source for solar lighting. Stick to odd numbers of lights, and don’t overdo the lights if you want a resort-style feel. “You want to place the lights a few feet in front of the [yard art or flower bed] and angle it at the subject. You kind of have to play with it at night to get it exactly right. But either offset to the left or right, and you never want to light it up like it’s a runway.”
Tip No. 5: Know your irrigation needs.
If you don’t have an in-ground system and you don’t want to have to remember to hand water, there are faucet timers that can do the work for you. They range from yard sprayers, soaker hoses and drip systems for planters and hanging baskets. These automatic watering systems start around $60 and are highly customizable.
Don’t know how much water to give your plants? Brown, wilting leaves can mean that your plants are getting too much or too little water. If the leaves are dry, it’s too little. If they are limp, it’s too much.
For plants that will thrive without a lot of water, go with native varieties. Autumn sage, Texas sage and red yucca are great for full sun, while coralberry, Turk’s cap and beautyberry are recommended for partial shade. If you’re not sure if you’re getting the right plants, Smith suggests asking a pro. “Talk to a landscaper and find out what’s going to fit best in your yard for how much sun you have.”