Landscaping: It’s All About the Base

With the weather finally turning to spring here in central Pennsylvania, most residents are eager to get outside and enjoy themselves.

As that happens, many are looking to find a way to stay outdoors more often in the coming months.

No matter the size of your yard or the size of your budget, there are several opportunities for those wanting to find themselves comfortably outdoors this year.

Getting started involves clearing away the clutter. To really access your outdoor space and what it has to offer, you need to have a clean slate to work with.

The brainstorming begins with preparation. Raking up those leftover fall leaves, gathering downed tree branches and sticks, or clearing away old plantings can give you a chance to approach a new landscaping project with all the opportunities at hand.

This step might even involve some demolition especially if there are patio stones or rock walls that are no longer serving their purpose.

John Ziegler, of John Ziegler Landscaping in State College, sees this phase as vital to the success of any landscaping project.  “It is important because you can’t envision the finished product if you have something in the way, that’s not working for you,” emphasizes Ziegler.

Once the area is cleared, one can start seeing the possibilities. Brainstorm what type of personal space you are looking for. Visualize how you want the surroundings to look.

It is then best to take accurate measurements and create a diagram on a piece of paper showing how you want the project to turn out. Changes are more easily done with an eraser now than with a shovel and a stone-cutting saw later on.

Nancy DuBois, from College Gardens in State College, suggests having pictures of the project area. “Bringing in printed-out pictures, along with the measurements, really helps us advise people,” says DuBois.  “It definitely helps us come up with the right selection of plants for their space.”

Once your landscaping dreams are coming together on paper, it makes sense to collect a list of supplies and materials that you will need and match that with a budget that you have in mind. This can typically involve talking with the some experts, doing online product research, or shopping around for the best prices.

Ziegler also suggests having a long range plan for sizable projects, depending on your budget. Most landscaping ventures can be broken into stages. It is prioritizing the timing and order of the stages that will help alleviate stress involved with finances and completion.

Some projects will involve hardscape, with patios or walkways or seating areas. Whether it is a quiet place to read or somewhere that can host your friends and family, your personal space starts at the bottom – literally. 

Matt Harter from Nature’s Cover in Bellefonte stresses the importance of creating a proper base for any hardscape project that you may have in your plans. Beneath the pattern-cut flagstone or bricks or irregular flagstone is the foundation that will determine your project’s success.

From digging and excavation to laying and compacting stone and grit, the foundation layers all need to be carefully prepared to accommodate your surface area. 

“Your base is your starting point,” says Harter. “It is important to keep things level so that it turns out the way you want it to.”

The other area of importance to your personal space is the surroundings. The plantings that you select should work to meet your specific needs.

If your space needs privacy, there are several options at nurseries and garden centers that will work well. You can choose options best suited to the height, width, and density that you desire.

Ziegler suggests taking your time with making your selections.

“You want to understand the look of the project in the future,” says Ziegler, “looking down the road with mature plant materials.”

“Make sure to read the tags carefully,” adds Ziegler. “It tells you a lot about the plant. Does it need sunlight or shade to thrive? How tall and wide will it end up being? Does it need protection from harsh winds on your property? That is all very important information when making those decisions.”

As an example, DuBois illustrates that importance of plant maturity with the selection of arborvitae (an evergreen tree or shrub) at College Gardens. “We have one arborvitae that grows to about 15 feet tall with a four-to-five foot base while the other can reach 30 feet in height with a much larger base,” says DuBois.

One’s plantings also might simply be chosen to be aesthetically pleasing. Colors and sizes matter here as well, allowing you to create wonderfully attractive planting areas that fit your taste and budget.

With planting beds, Harter suggests investing in some weed fabric to reduce the maintenance needs of your beds. “This really does help prevent weeds from going up through the soil and allows you to enjoy your space with less work in the end,” says Harter.

To hold down the weed fabric, as well as dress up the new plantings, a fresh coating of mulch adds the perfect finishing touch.

So whether your personal landscaping project will involve a couple of spring weekends or take a few years to complete, the time to start is now.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, work is the number one factor that keeps persons and families from enjoying the outdoors, even in summer.

However, with some thoughtful design and a little (or a lot) of work, now is the time to get out there and make your surroundings work for you.