As another new year is about to begin, many of us are making resolutions for a happier and healthier next 12 months. As we concentrate on our personal and mental health, don’t forget that your outdoor spaces can be a huge contributor to your overall well-being. Creating and maintaining an outdoor space that is conducive to allowing you to get outdoors and enjoy your yard and your family is a great way to boost your year to even greater heights.
As we at Mirage Landscaping have been in the commercial and residential landscaping business for three generations, we know a lot about promises made and promises broken. Residential landscaping responsibilities for homeowners can be overwhelming, and we’ve seen a lot of people start projects that they can’t keep up. And so that’s exactly where we come in. We can get your property looking the way you want it to in a few easy steps so that not only it is more beautiful, it’s more functional and enjoyable as well.
10 Ways to Build the Yard of Your Dreams
1. Hire a Residential Landscaping Company to Help With Your Vision
A lot of our clients are extremely well-informed about plants, trees, shrubs, and lawns, and we respect that depth of knowledge. But as much as you know – and we realize it’s a lot – there’s nothing like tapping into the more than 50 years of landscaping experience in Calgary you have access to with Mirage. Plants are expensive; so don’t waste your time and money buying varieties that won’t thrive where you envision them. Let us provide our expertise so that you get the lush residential landscaping you desire quickly and easily.
2. Install an Underground Sprinkler System
Not only are underground sprinkler systems convenient, they help save water, and consequently, money. They are able to deliver moisture exactly where it’s needed, meaning they can be run for far less time than regular aboveground sprinklers. Underground sprinkler systems also save you time. They can also be set with a timer so that you never even have to think about watering. Sensors will also automatically turn off your system when there has been rain.
3. Level Your Property With Retaining Walls
Retaining walls basically allow for Calgary’s many sloped properties to become flat, which increases the overall amount of land you have to put colourful plants and shrubs. As they reduce runoff, they also help control the erosion of properties. Plus, we like them because they add a nice visual element to each yard.
4. Trim and Prune Your Trees
Pruning and trimmingallows for better growth. Thinning removes branches that are crowding others, and also helps a tree grow into stronger, healthier, and more beautiful shape. Very old limbs should be removed in favour of younger ones when possible. Pruning also helps with managing pests and diseases.
5. Get Rid of Unhealthy Plants
It can be hard to let go of a tree or shrub you’ve had for ages, but if they are diseased, totally overgrown, or just not thriving, it may be time to remove them in favour of something else.
6. Boost Your Perennial Population
There are a surprising number of pretty perennialsthat adapt well to city gardens, which add colour, interest, and beauty to your property. The best perennials for Calgary generally fall in Zone 3, and can extend up to Zone 4. The good news is that this allows for a number of different types of perennials to thrive, including peonies, daisies, lilies, tulips, blanket flower, coneflower, hosta, and several types of succulents. Roses also do well in Calgary.
7. Expand Your Patio Area
Patios are among our favourite projects. We know how much a well-designed patio will be used and enjoyed by families, and appreciate how they make yards even more versatile. We encourage creativity, such as creating more than one space to be used for different things. For example, one could be for a fire pit, the other for a barbecue and dining area.
8. Get Creative With Xeriscaping
Xeriscapingis a type of landscaping that is becoming more and more popular in Calgary. It allows for a lot of creativity in both commercial and residential landscape designs, reducing the use of water, and generally requiring less maintenance.
9. Consider a Fun Addition
We’re big fans of outdoor kitchens, which allow you to escape the heat of the indoors when cooking in the summer months. They can also be used during the winter on the warmer days. Other fun additions include a gazebo, pergola, water fountain, putting green, tree house, and a fire pit.
10. Sign Up for Residential Landscaping Maintenance
Treat yourself to truly being able to enjoy your yard and leave its care up to us. We specialize in residential landscaping maintenance and construction services in Calgary’s southeast communities. Contact us to get started on completing your residential landscaping to-dos for 2020.