A beautiful yard is more than just a pretty picture. Depending on the specifics of the landscape, it can actually increase your property value by adding curb appeal for future buyers. If you’re thinking of beautifying your yard, here are just a few ideas to inspire you.

Choose a Theme or Aesthetic

Have a vision for your landscape. It could be as simple as “storybook garden” or as broad as “spiritualism from the East.” Either way, centering your landscape around a certain theme will give you purpose and direction as you choose its plants and water features. The overall result will benefit from its uniformity as well. For example, if you’re building a tropical-themed landscape, you’ll know to plant palm trees rather than desert cacti.

Consider All Types of Plant Life

Flowers aren’t the only things that you can grow in your yard. Trees can be transplanted at various stages of life; bushes and shrubs can be strategically placed for both beauty and privacy. Vines can climb up your fences and trellises for a fairy tale look. Some companies, like Lee’s Nursery and Landscaping, know that ground cover can add vibrancy to your landscape while also protecting against the growth of weeds. If you aren’t sure which types of plant life are best suited for your area, reach out to the professionals at a plant nursery.

Make a Splash

Outdoor water features can range from small koi ponds to elaborate fountains and waterfalls that take up the entire backyard. They can be purely decorative, or they can also serve some kind of purpose; a birdbath is a good example of the latter. If you’re feeling creative, you can look into unique water features such as rain fountains, water walls, and garden creeks that ribbon through stones and grasses.

Grow a Garden

If you’ve always wanted a garden, there are countless ways to start one, and they don’t have to be confined to boxes and rows. You could create a wildflower garden, for example, or one centered around a specific species such as roses, tulips, or marigolds. You could grow a vegetable garden and either eat or sell the efforts of your labor. You could also go back to the “theme” idea and design something like a zen garden. In addition to growing flowers, you could also dig ponds, cultivate moss, plant bamboo trees, and install water wheels.

The first step of creating a beautiful landscape is deciding what you actually want to build. Use these suggestions for utilizing plants and water features in a way that completely transforms your outdoor space.