A well-designed landscape is a pleasure to the family, enhances a community and adds to the property's resale value. Landscape design involves much more than placing trees, shrubs and other plants on the property. It is an art which deals with conscious arrangement or organization of outdoor space for human satisfaction and enjoyment.

If you have decided to consider a new look for your home, then you have come to the right place. Lawn Connections has the knowledge and skill to assist you with your exploration of what a well designed landscape in your own yard can look like.

The first place to start is to establish a plan. Aspects to consider in developing your plan may include:

• Creating the landscape look and feel for maximum use and pleasure.
• Achieving a visual relationship between the house and the site.
• Reducing landscape maintenance to a practical level.
• Establishing a workable budget & timetable to make it happen.

Reports tell us that Americans spend tremendous amounts of money "landscaping" their businesses, homes, streets, parks, schools, etc. What these same reports don't say is that much of this money is wasted, however, because of insufficient planning. We know your resources are important to you, and so it is important to us at Lawn Connections to help you plan your next enhancement to your home.

It is difficult to know how to landscape until you know why you are landscaping. There are several reasons why people "landscape": some think it improves the appearance of their place; others like to grow plants; still others just want their place to look pretty. Too often these landscapes dominate rather than serve. Masses of plants or other materials in the landscape may take up a large portion of the space and leave little room for people to use and enjoy it.

Then how does the designer arrange space so that people will find it useful, beautiful, meaningful and functional?

Here are some ideas for you to consider as you begin this process:

• Observe and analyze your family habits. These may include children, pets, and others who will be using the space, and should include their needs, desires, and activities (e.g., swimming, tennis, etc.) and how much space each of their activities requires
• Study past methods used for these areas.
• Survey available materials to solve design requirements; confirm space needed.
• Analyze the environment of the site including the view in and around the site. The ecology of the site should be carefully analyzed since it is an important design determinant.
• Obtain actual budget figures for each element of the proposed changes being considered.

In most cases, landscape changes are really beautiful and truly enhance the surrounding properties. However, not all landscaping improves the appearance of a building. The work of an insensitive designer can subdue a building, conceal important features or contradict the architect's intent. Good landscape design can significantly improve the building's appearance by adding warmth, live-ability and personality. Lawn Connections understands and is eager to work with you in planning your next project for your home or business. It is our goal to work with you in every consideration so that beauty abounds and your life will be enriched with the new look.

Growth and change separate landscape designs from other arts. Most works of art such as architecture, sculpture and painting look their best when new. Not so with landscaping. Landscape designs, usually are at their worst when new and with care always will improve with age. A well-designed landscape will seldom look the same any two months of the year. In fact seasonal color is often the reason why so many homeowners are now using qualified services to assist them prior to new installations. Viewing something different every season which could bring out the best in the color of your home and accessories is always recommended. It's the little things that bring smiles when you drive up after a long day's work and see beauty in your yard.

The temptation to begin planting immediately is almost overwhelming, and this is especially true if you love plants. Whether you are landscaping a newly-built home or redesigning an existing landscape, the results will be much more satisfying if you plan first. At Lawn Connections, we invite you to consult with our professional landscape architect on planning the best possible options you can and stay within your budget.

Here are a few things for you to consider before you call:

• Base Plan - You may have a photo of something you like or a plan of something you love
• Needs - Special elevation, pool dimensions, or drainage situations that will require specific solutions
• Site - Take as many photos of your property to be landscaped and from many perspectives around the home. Front, back, side, height considerations, fire plug locations, HVAC equipment locations etc. are all important.
• Diagram - Sketch out a basic look if you like or you may have found some ideas in books or magazines to go by
• Materials - Consider Texas8centric plants, grasses, flowers, trees, bushes and the like with special consideration to our location in the annual weather cycles
• Plants - The things you love and want, the colors you are looking to use, and what is currently available could be very different. Whether or not they will grow in our region is also a consideration which we can discuss at our initial consultation
• Landscape Construction - Special use items like decks, any major renovations and new construction currently not completed will be a big factor in placement and purchase
• Accessories - Will any additional lighting, fountains, accessories, etc. be needed?
Call us today at Lawn Connections, An Innovative Approach to Lawn Care.  Let us help you in planning your home or business landscape.
Ph: 877-414-LAWN (5296)