Laurie Bauer | Business Development Manager , TW Insurance Brokers

Being outside has many of us spending our time thinking about landscape improvements . Whether you ’ re a first-time landscaper or a seasoned green thumb , there ’ s always something more you can learn about landscaping around your home . Here are four tips to help you shape up your yard .

1 . Research Your Plants When choosing plants for your landscaping design , it pays to research which plants will suit your home ’ s unique environment . Start by researching the type of plants that thrive in your area . The plants you choose should be able to survive your region ’ s average high and low temperatures for the season . Factors like soil type , humidity , rain , frost , and wind should all be taken into account .

Consider what seasons the plants you ’ ve chosen do best in and what your yard will look like yearround . For example , if the plants you ’ ve chosen flourish in the summer , what will your home look like for the rest of the year ? Choose a mix of plants to suit all four seasons . Careful research will ensure your home ’ s landscape design thrives all year .

2 . Plan for the Long-Term Creating a sustainable landscape requires thoughtful planning . Rather than trying to plan everything at once , start with a few central features like hardscape and trees , then continue adding to your plan over the next few weeks .

Think about what your yard will look like in the long-term as plants and trees continue to grow . Plants that are placed too close together can quickly become overcrowded , which will not only negatively

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