Five Questions to Ask Before Starting Your Denver Landscape Project

Even though fall is upon us and we are all heading inside as the weather turns cold, now is the perfect time of year to start thinking about what your spring landscape plans entail. If you wait until the weather starts to warm again to brainstorm ideas, you will feel rushed and stressed. There are so many possibilities when it comes to landscape design, so before you start planning your Denver landscape project there are a few key questions you should ask yourself to clearly determine what you want and what you have to work with. Answering these questions will help to make sure you get the best results possible for your outdoor space and that you are ready to go next spring!

How do you want to use the space?

The very first thing you need to decide when designing an outdoor space is how you intend to use it. Will you be doing a lot of cooking outdoors? Do you want to be able to entertain in the space all year long? Or are you mostly looking for a nice quiet place to relax and maybe do a bit of gardening? Once you determine how you’ll be using the area, you can start to decide what types of landscaping elements will complement those activities.

What environment are you working with?

There are many environmental elements to take into consideration when planning your landscape. Knowing which parts of the yard get the most and least amount of sun, as well as what your water flow and drainage is like, will help you know where in your outdoor space to place different plants. Also take into consideration the climate you are working in. This will help you choose plants and features that are native to the climate and are more likely to thrive in your yard with the least amount of maintenance. Denver is often very dry and sunny and there are many different plant options that thrive in our environment. If you aren’t certain what kind of plants and bushes will work in your yard or garden, our professional landscape designers can help you pick the perfect plantings that are both beautiful and do well in our Colorado climate.

What’s your style?

Now that you’ve got you space loosely planned out and you know what environment you are working with, you can start to think about the actual style and aesthetic details of your landscaping. It is so important that you like the look and feel of your landscape design and with all of the sunny days and outdoor entertaining lifestyle in Colorado your outdoor space should be an extension of your home’s style and should reflect your unique personality. We can work with different colors, sizes and height of plants as well as various hardscape and xeriscape plans to create a unique environment that you will be proud to call you own.

How much maintenance do you have time for?

Once you’ve got your dream landscape style planned out, it is important to consider how much maintenance you will be willing and able to put into keeping your space in optimal condition. If you enjoy spending time outside gardening, pruning, and weeding, then you don’t need to shy away from the more high-maintenance plants. On the other hand, if you find yourself with little time to spend on grooming the flowers and plantings and simply want to enjoy relaxing outside, you should stick with plants and features that can mostly be left to their own devices and require little attention.

What is your budget?

Finally, you need to be realistic about the budget you have for your outdoor space. If you don’t have a good idea of how much you can spend before you start your landscaping project, there’s a chance you’ll overspend at the beginning and run out of money before completing the project. No  matter your budget, the professionals at Wild Irishman are here to help! You don’t need a huge budget to be able to afford to work with a landscape designer.

Consider what elements are really important to you and are “must-haves” for your space and which items you could do without if it came down to it. Wish-list features can always be added at a later date but you want to make sure your essentials are covered. Love to cook? Space for an outdoor grill is key. Always entertaining? You will need space for an outdoor dining table and food serving space. Want to be able to enjoy as many days outside as possible, regardless of season? Consider installing a covered and heated deck or investing in some heat lamps.

Once you have an idea of what you want out of your outdoor space and you have determined your budget contact Wild Irishman. We can help create a plan for the best Denver landscaping project that works within your space, complements your personal style and fits your budget!