For Release On Or After 06/11/10

Landscapes are dynamic creations that are always changing. Plants grow larger. New plants are added along the way. Other plants die. And even trees may be lost in storms. Over the years, a landscape can change radically from its original look.

How your family uses the landscape also changes over time. Kids grow up, so you no longer need a play area. As gardeners grow older, they often have to change a landscape to make it less labor-intensive.

It’s common to move into a house with an existing landscape. But what worked for the previous owners may not work well at all for your family. As a result, you may need to redesign or change the landscape to match your needs more closely.

Summer is a great time to study your landscape and develop plans for change. Spend the time refining your ideas, and you’ll be ready when our prime planting season for trees, shrubs and ground covers arrives in late October.

First, analyze your landscaping needs. Basically, this means sitting down with the family and deciding what the landscape must provide.

For instance, determine whether you need to screen unsightly views, remove overgrown shrubs, create shade or privacy, provide an area for children to play, change or enlarge the outdoor living area, give your home a more attractive appearance or anything else.

Once you’ve decided how you’d like to redesign your landscape, consult landscaping books to help refine your ideas and review gardening books written for our area to help select the right plants. Also, talk to knowledgeable people such as local gardeners, LSU AgCenter agents and garden center and nursery staff.

As you plan, consider the future maintenance of your new plantings. Select insect- and disease-resistant plants that are well-adapted to our area, and make sure they will not grow too large for the locations where you intend to plant them. Remember to choose landscape plants that will thrive in the growing conditions where they’ll be planted. Consider the amount of sun and drainage they will receive, for instance. Remember, flowerbeds are high-maintenance, so don’t overburden yourself.

If you need help developing a design for your yard, landscape professionals can be tremendously useful. If your budget is limited, professionals can help you set priorities and schedule your plan in phases. They also may be as familiar with building codes and deck and swimming pool construction as they are with horticulture and garden aesthetics.

Ask your friends, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations. Your best bet is to select an experienced, well-established firm with a history of completing projects similar to yours. Make sure the company or individual you’re dealing with is properly licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which is required by law.

A licensed landscape architect has a degree in landscape architecture and can sell you an original design whether they install it or not. Landscape horticulturists may help you develop a design, but only as part of a package that includes the plants and their installation. The primary benefit of using any of these experts is to draw on their knowledge, experience and creativity.

If you feel you’re simply indulging yourself when you purchase trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants for your landscape, here’s some information that may make you feel good. Landscaping your home brings quite a few economic benefits.

A well-landscaped home generally sells more quickly and at a higher price than a comparable home lacking a nice landscape. You may have seen television shows on improving curb appeal, and landscaping is a big part. One reason trees and shrubs add value to a home is that, unlike many purchases, over the years they appreciate in value as they grow larger and more beautiful.

Trees also add economic value to homes by helping to reduce heating and cooling costs. Trees work as nature’s air conditioner and heat pump, providing shade in the summer and sheltering your home from cold winds in the winter. Now, during summer heat, is a great time to decide where you need shade.

Landscaping also benefits the environment. A mature tree removes 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year and releases approximately 13 pounds of oxygen. Plants such as lawn grasses control water runoff – a major source of water pollution – slow erosion and allow water to be more readily absorbed into the soil. Trees, shrubs and flowers in the landscape also provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

It’s nice to add to the value of your property and help the environment, but the most important benefit of landscaping is the enjoyment it brings to outdoor living. So go ahead and indulge your love of gardening. It will pay off in many ways in the years to come.