Sometimes we get so caught up in the vision and the dream of our future landscaping, that the nuances and logistics are lost on us. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, the Australian Heritage Homes team would prefer that you’re focused on your dream vision and the ultimate goal of what your home can look like. That’s one of the reasons why we started this company and one of the reasons why we started this blog. We knew that there was an opportunity to finesse what the landscape (no pun intended) of designing dream homes looked like, and we learned that a blog is one of the best ways for us to share our stories. This means tips and tricks, it means information about our team and services, and for today – it means that we’re sharing the stories of what’s important to us in the industry. While we know that we play a pivotal role in designing and constructing your dream home, we also feel like it’s vital to have a broader insight into your entire property – which includes landscaping. That’s what we’re focusing on today!
Majestic trees are a mainstay in any valuable property. They’re a calling card for passersby and the best way to tout the environment around your current or future home. That being said, they need a lot of maintenance, and often you need to plan around them in thinking through your landscaping strategy.
We’re thinking specifically about the ground around the trunks, which can be a financial and time investment. The prettiest trees are healthy because the thirsty roots receive the proper amount of water that they need. When you have too many in space or they’re too large with too many branches, they basically fight for nature’s resources and can make it tough for each other to successfully thrive. The results are frequently desolate spots, lack of colour, a lack of textures and more. If you’re a good homeowner, you want your property to look amazing and healthy for you and yours. But, when you work with the AHH team, you’ll be a great homeowner because you’re adding value to the property and the neighbourhood.
There are many myths that we want to dispel, but one of the most common is adding raised borders around trees. You then fill in with soil to create a planting bed. While this will initially look aesthetically pleasing, when you add soil around a tree, the bark can quickly and easily rot. This means that the tree is open to concerns like insects and even disease. We recommend that if you are going to pursue a raised bed, add a border of up to two feet around the tree to let it breathe.
Garden beds are also very popular. If this is the route that you’re going to go, dig out lawn grass already in place before you think about adding soil. If you don’t, you tend to block water and oxygen from reaching the roots of any trees.
Finally, be strategic and knowledgeable about the trees you choose or that are already on the property. We’re talking about sunlight. If you have magnolias or maples, the sun is allowed through the different boughs. Evergreens, on the other hand, are the opposite. When you educate yourself in advance, you’re set up for success in planning the shrubberies and flowers that go below.
More to come on this topic! Questions? Let us know. The AHH team would love to hear from you!