#Landscape design ideas for front yard free

Once planted, ground cover spreads to create a carpet of vegetation and fills in gaps, which means less work for you in the long run. Not only is ground cover downright beautiful, but these plants also help prevent weeds and erosion by covering any bare spots in the soil. “Lawns are usually the highest maintenance because they need consistent watering, fertilizing, weeding, and regular mowing,” agrees Cimino.

Additionally, plant swaps have become a great way for home gardeners to add variety on the cheap.ĭitch your lawn mower and opt for ground-cover plants. Look out for these types of posts in early spring and fall when gardeners start splitting vegetation. It is not uncommon for gardeners to end up with a surplus of plants, particularly after they thin out their overgrown perennials to keep their gardens healthy.

#Landscape design ideas for front yard free

There are many ways to create the look you want on the cheap, and perhaps even for free! Score free plants by joining local gardening groups either in person or online through a platform like Facebook or Nextdoor. The great thing about low-maintenance landscaping is that it can be low-impact on your wallet too. How do I create an inexpensive low-maintenance yard? “For example, layering boxwood with ornamental grasses will offer evergreen and structure, while there is whimsy and movement from the grasses,” she says. For a sophisticated look that requires minimal effort, she recommends creating masses out of pared-down complementary plantings. “Simplicity is one of my favorite landscape strategies, as it’s underutilized but can be extremely effective,” Yost adds. You could introduce more hardscaping elements, like a larger driveway, a concrete patio, or walkways that decrease the amount of lawn space. If you go this route it’s important to still consider ways to keep greenery to the yard. “Gravel or mulch is great for cutting down on yard work and creating a space to spend time in,” Cimino says. Minimizing the lawn is always smart, since mowing can take a lot of time and effort. When it comes to creating low-maintenance landscaping, it’s important to consider what aspects of your yard actually require maintenance before you get too involved with front yard landscaping ideas. How do I landscape my front yard for low maintenance? If you’re planning to revamp your yard anytime soon, know that with a little planning and preparation, you can ditch the mowing, weeding, and watering and thrive in a hassle-free outdoor living space. “But also lush, diverse, and seasonally stacked to have different things blooming around the perimeter all year long.” You really can have it all. “I create spaces that are low-water and low-maintenance,” Cimino says. Luckily, a beautiful landscape design with undeniable curb appeal doesn’t have to be synonymous with hours of backbreaking lawn care and upkeep. “A traditional American lawn takes tons of maintenance and water and doesn’t really attract any wildlife,” says Camille Cimino, a Los Angeles–based landscape architect at Nature of Things, a firm specializing in low-maintenance, drought-tolerant designs. When it comes to your landscape design and backyard ideas, work smarter, not harder with low-maintenance landscaping.