Curb Appeal: Small Upgrades Create A Big Impact

Curb Appeal, front door of lake home with view to the lake, brick walkway entrance, potted flowers, green foliage flanking walkway
Photo courtesy of Scott Walker, Lakelight Photography via Star Tribune

First impressions are everything—especially when it comes to our lake homes. Curb appeal is, after all, one of the most critical factors when buying and selling homes. But regardless of whether your house is on the market, we still aspire to generate a welcoming experience for ourselves and our guests. So whatever your taste—modern, transitional, traditional, cozy cottage—the entrance to your home should offer an inviting signature statement from the dwellers within.

There are many inexpensive ways to amp up your curb appeal surprisingly quickly and with minimal effort. Small changes can deliver significant impact. In addition, you’ll love the results yourself and will always look forward to coming home. So, if you want to put some wow factor into your curb appeal, check out these cost-effective changes that are sure to impress without breaking the bank.

Paint Power

turquoise blue painted front door surrounded by green foliage
Photo courtesy of Read McKendree via House Beautiful

There’s nothing like the transformative power of paint to create an instant refresh for your front door. Just look at how eye-popping and visually pleasing this turquoise door becomes when backdropped by gray shingled siding and lush green foliage. A fresh coat of paint packs a powerful punch, and there are endless shades to choose from. Try a vibrant red or bright orange for a modern edge that looks striking against a dark neutral backdrop. When selecting your shade, try a complementary color that will pop against your home’s exterior. A sleek, elegant black also makes a bold statement and lends a sense of refinement to contemporary and traditional styles. Beautifully grained natural woods are also an option if you want to create contrast without actually painting.

Next-Level Locks & Hardware

For an even more impactful door makeover, consider upgrading your hardware. This simple fix will create big drama and acts as the jewelry for your front door. Choose a finish that complements the style of your home’s exterior and pairs effortlessly with the color of your door. Brass, bronze, and matte black fixtures befit both rustic and modern looks. In addition, polished and brushed metals pair well with a multitude of styles, including traditional and contemporary. The shape of your hardware also contributes to the overall aesthetic, from clean and streamlined to curvaceous and ornate.

You can also consider upgrading your security with an integrated smart lock that you control via an app on your phone. There are many types to choose from that will blend harmoniously with the style of your front door.

Liven Your Landscape

front entrance greenery, potted flowers and potted plants, white stone walkway, arched glass door with metal accents, black metal lighting sconces flanking door
Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Do you have a lackluster landscape? Take inventory and start cleaning it up with simple things like weeding, trimming, watering, and replanting. Aside from your yard, you can dress up your front door with luxuriant potted plants and flowers that will frame the entrance to your home. Create a symmetrical look with pairs of matching plants and pots, or display colorful blooms for an eye-catching accent. You can even switch them out seasonally to create unique looks for spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Stylize Your Address

illuminated house numbers at front entrance of home
Photo courtesy of Ohashi Design Studio via Home Design Lover

It’s all in the numbers, as they say. In this instance, it’s your house number. Make sure yours is attractive to look at and easy to read for guests and delivery services. If it’s looking unpolished or outdated, replace it with a style that’s more appealing and befitting to your home’s exterior. You can choose from a range of styles, including ultra-modern numerals and 3-D numbers illuminated by LED lights for a brilliant display. For more rustic and traditional looks, choose classic or vintage styles. The options are endless, and you can easily find one that suits your taste and budget.

Thrive Under Pressure

If your exteriors look dull and dirty, it’s time for a pressure wash. You can hire someone to do this for you, or you can rent or purchase a pressure washer if you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer. This is an excellent technique to scour away grime and mildew from your siding, driveway, and walkways. It’s also an efficient way to clean decks, patios, and even outdoor furniture. To go the extra mile, consider re-staining your wooden deck to enhance the beauty of the grain and protect it from the elements.

Enlightened

Exterior lighting for lake home at front entrance, lawn, under eaves, and rooflines
Photo courtesy of Southview Design

One of the most dynamic enhancements you can make to your home is exterior lighting. This sets the tone for your home’s curb appeal at night and also highlights the architectural features. You can illuminate almost any area with sconces, uplighting, and overhead lighting, especially at the front entrance. Accent with lawn lighting to set your landscape aglow and create a welcoming ambiance for friends and neighbors.  

Shoreline Appeal

lake home seen from the water with tiered landscaping and steps leading to the back yard
Photo courtesy of Supreme Lawn & Landscaping

As lake homeowners know, your home has another curb that needs constant attention. Showing off your home from the water is often the most important view, so ensure your lake landscape and shoreline are tidy and well-manicured. If you have a dock, refresh the paint when it looks worn, and do the same with your outdoor furniture.

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your curb appeal and get ready for another glorious season at the lake. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and enjoy the new look you create.

Enjoy this article? You might also like: 5 Things to Know About Selling Your Lake House in the Fall

A Guide to DIY Weed Killer

Photo courtesy of Almanac.com

As any gardener knows, keeping weeds away from your prized plants can be a hassle. Even in the most successful gardens, weeds will creep into the soil and sunlight that your plot provides. Luckily, there’s a myriad of options for weed killers. However, many of the store-bought options contain herbicide chemicals that you may choose to keep out of your garden. If you’re looking for an all-natural DIY option, we’ve got you covered!

A Weed Killing Recipe

Photo courtesy of getgreenbewell.com

For a safe and effective weed-killing recipe, a combination of white vinegar, salt, and liquid dish soap will usually do the trick. The acetic acid in the vinegar and salt help to draw out moisture from the weeds, wilting them. To complete the concoction, dish soap serves as a surfactant which helps the plant to absorb this toxic mixture, instead of sitting topically on the leaves in beaded form. To create this mixture, just combine a gallon of white vinegar, a cup of salt, and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. If you want to add some extra potency, try squeezing some lemon juice too. 

Don’t have vinegar or liquid soap handy at the lake house? As an alternate DIY weed-killing solution, you only need one ingredient — boiling water. Its high temperature can help by killing the invasive plants down to the roots, permanently killing the weeds. However, you just want to make sure you don’t burn yourself in the process! Be sure to stand far away from where you’re pouring, and exercise caution.

Pros and Cons of DIY Weed Killer

Photo courtesy of Cook’n

Let’s start with the pros. With just a few simple ingredients, this herbicide is super simple to create. It doesn’t require a trip to the store, and it doesn’t expose your backyard to harsh chemicals. A win-win! However, one downside of a DIY solution is that it doesn’t get to the root of the problem (no pun intended). Chemical herbicides directly target the plant’s root system, while the DIY solution may require multiple spray sessions to finally kill the weeds. Despite its limitations, this quick, low-cost homemade solution is perfectly effective in managing a lake house garden.

When to Apply Weed Killer

Photo courtesy of Glen Carrie on Unsplash

To make the mixture most effective, it’s best to apply it to a group of weeds on a bright, clear sunny day. In the sunlight, the effects of your handiwork would be evident within a few hours. When you see wilting leaves and browning stems, you know the herbicide is working. Usually, they’ll turn fully brown before finally withering away.

Weed Prevention

Photo courtesy of Green Lawn Fertilizing

In addition to killing weeds once they’ve already sprouted, developing solutions for deterring weed growth in the first place is an excellent prevention strategy. Mulch is one easy solution that obstructs sunlight and prevents weed growth. It also retains moisture in the soil, carving out less watering time for you. Additionally, practicing good lawn care such as mowing at a taller height, regular watering, and checking on the health of your plants can be helpful. 

When it comes to properly kill weeds, you might have all you need right in the kitchen of your lake home. For more gardening tips, continue to check out our blog!

Softscapes 101: Lush Plantings for Your Lakeside Lawn

Photo courtesy of Jeff Sinon Photography / Swenson Granite Works

In a previous post for Lake Homes Realty, we presented some inspiring hardscaping ideas for your lakeside landscape. For part two of our feature, we’re going to focus on softscapes—the living, growing components of your lake property. Think of these as the soft horticultural elements of your landscape, like trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and ground covers. To get some expert advice on how to plant in a lake environment, we spoke with Larry Bates, a landscape architect for Russell Lands and a 30-year resident of Alabama’s Lake Martin area, to get his top tips.

Balance, Unity, & Simplicity

Photo courtesy of Landscape Trades

Before you select plant materials for your lakeside landscape, you first want to consider what will blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings and facilitate the enjoyment of your property. “By virtue of having a lake property, your home is situated within a natural environment,” says Bates. “The plantings should always blend with that environment and enhance the presentation of the house.” 

Bates also suggests keeping in mind that a lake home doesn’t really have a backyard because it typically faces the water, and people will view it from the water. “This is not a backyard, so don’t treat it like a backyard,” he explains. “You essentially have two faces to deal with that are equally important, so you have to invest in both sides—the entrance from the driveway and the lakefront,” he adds.

By applying a few basic principles of landscape design—balance, unity, simplicity—you can create a softscape design that complements the natural scenery, any hardscaping elements such as patios, fire pits, and stone pathways, and your desired level of maintenance. 

“If you’re a part-time resident, this isn’t the place for a time-consuming rose or vegetable garden,” says Bates. “Always consider the maintenance of your property and whether or not a yard service is an option when you’re away. Plan how you’re going to take care of your landscape—mowing, irrigation, soil care, weeding—and think through how you’re going to get it done.

Grass & Ground Covers

Photo courtesy of Landscaping Network

Incorporating grass and other soft ground covers into your lake landscape brings textural balance to hardscaping elements and creates softness underfoot. “A lot of Lake Martin landscapes have grass lawns,” says Bates, “but keep in mind you don’t have to grass your entire property. It’s often more visually appealing when the edges of your property segway back into the natural environment with organic mulches and other natural materials,” he notes. 

Bates recommends drought-tolerant lawn grasses such as Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, and the ever-popular emerald-green Zoysia for warmer lake climates. “I like to use Zoysia whenever possible because it’s a very dense and durable grass that can withstand the heat,” he says. “In cooler climates, fescue or bluegrass lawns thrive well.” 

If you’re looking for a grass alternative, soft ground covers such as sweet woodruffautumn ferncreeping thyme, and creeping phlox can spread quickly and create a plush, textured landscape look. Ground covers typically require less maintenance, and some are ideal for sloped areas where mowing can be difficult. Use them to cover shady and high-traffic areas where turf grasses won’t grow or perform well. Some ground covers even work to choke out weeds. Always consult with a landscape professional when selecting the best choices for your climate.

Trees, Flowers, & Plants

Photo courtesy Belknap Landscape

When planning your lake landscape design, keep in mind that you want to achieve an ideal balance of softscapes and hardscapes for the best visual appeal. Plants and trees come in an endless array of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures, so you’ll want to make sure your selections complement each other as well as the surrounding environment. Tall trees and shrubs create vertical interest to draw the eye upwards, and lush plants and flowers display their beauty more at ground level. Container gardens placed around the perimeter of a deck or patio can also soften the rough edges of these hardscapes.

“When selecting plants, a big concern on lake properties is wildlife,” says Bates. “On Lake Martin, deer and beaver are public enemy number one,” he laughs. “You need to consider these things when deciding on plant materials and mitigate the damage. If they’re feeding on your plants, they’re not so charming anymore,” he adds.

Bates has had success with a lovely blooming shrub called sweetspire and most anything in the viburnum family for this southern lake region, including evergreen, sweet, and snowball viburnum. “Deer really don’t care for them like they do hydrangeas,” he notes.

Bates suggests native oaks, tulip poplars, and black gum trees for tree options that blend with the surrounding scenery, all of which tend to thrive with little trouble. Heartier evergreen trees like hemlock, fir, and spruce can tolerate colder climates and bring a magnificent forest feel to your lake landscape.

Go With the Flow

Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

As lake lovers, we strive to preserve nature’s profound beauty by honoring the natural environment encompassing our homes. This is a good guideline to live and plant by as we face the challenges of impending global climate change.

“Lake environments tend to be forested environments,” says Bates, “so it’s desirable to create a landscape that blends and relates to it. And because forests are nature’s filter in keeping the lake clean, it’s a real incentive to have landscapes that transition gracefully into any undisturbed natural eco-systems.”

Bates also points out that a lot of wooded areas are thick with pine trees. The pine needles and natural ground floor filter the drainage, stop erosion, and keep sediment out of the lake—ensuring the water that flows to the lake is high-quality water, clean, and pure looking.

“If you have evasive vegetation like kudzu, you most certainly have to deal with that, but keeping the forest healthy doesn’t require much help from us,” he sums.

For more inspiring softscaping ideas, check out Pinterest. Happy landscaping this summer—we would love to hear about your planting adventures at the lake.

Best Materials for Creating a Backyard Walkway

Photo courtesy of Swenson Granite Works

When designing your lake house’s backyard, low-maintenance landscaping strategies can help you cut down on manual labor and reduce water waste. One often overlooked tip for a stress-free backyard is incorporating hardscapes. In particular, walkways are an excellent choice. Not only do they minimize your grass maintenance workload, but they’re also beautiful. The contrast between grass and a material like brick or stone adds an element of visual interest to your lakeside curb. If you’re thinking about installing a backyard walkway into your landscape, check out these ideas for inspiration.

Stepping Stones

Photo courtesy of How to Build a House Blog

For anyone who prefers DIY over hiring a professional, this backyard walkway idea is for you. To make a stone walkway at your lake house, all you need is several large stones. Just arrange them over grass to form a simple yet beautiful pathway through your backyard. To create a more interesting, rustic look, pick stones of all different shapes. The DIY Network walks you through this easy process with their tutorial.

Gravel

Photo courtesy of GAP via This Old House

Gravel is an easy, inexpensive way to create a stunning walkway. These small stones come in all different colors and sizes so that you can customize the path to your liking. You can even add stone material alongside the path to evoke a more structured look. To ensure the gravel doesn’t wash away in bad weather, The Gardener of Good and Evil has instructions on creating a foolproof DIY gravel walkway.

Pallet Wood

Photo courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors

At a lake house, a rustic pathway through your lakeside garden is certainly fitting. If you want to lean into the natural look, use pallet wood to create your backyard walkway. Plus, if you incorporate space between the wide wooden boards, it allows room for plants to grow. Laura from Garden Answer demonstrates a budget-friendly way to create one of these charming pathways. For this DIY project, all you need are wooden planks and some basic power tools.

Brick

Photo courtesy of Family Handyman

A brick walkway is perfect if you prefer a more upscale, polished look. This design also allows for customization, so you can arrange these bricks however you’d like. While a herringbone pattern is classic, you could also organize these stones in many patterns, alternating between vertical and horizontal to create visual interest. As brick pathways are a bit harder to DIY, installing this yourself is possible, as demonstrated in this HGTV tutorial. Just be sure to take the time to level out the ground first.

Mulch

Photo courtesy of Bob Vila

With a backyard walkway made from mulch, you’ll immediately make your guests feel like they’re entering a botanical wonderland. DIY friendly, this material evokes a strong sense of natural beauty. It’s a perfect combination of rugged and sophisticated. Mulch is also easy to combine with other materials such as stone. The blog Pretty Handy Girl details instructions for creating mulch and stone walkway combinations. 

 

Mosaic

Photo courtesy of Fine Gardening

Want to invoke the same aesthetic as the Ancient Romans? Installing a mosaic walkway is a great way to impress all your guests. It immediately gives off an elegant, stately essence. Due to its complexity, many lake homeowners would have a mosaic walkway installed by a professional. However, if you’re interested in the DIY route, follow these instructions from This Old House. By creating a mosaic pathway yourself, you can incorporate your own creative designs into the mix.

Concrete

Photo courtesy of Home Talk via Pinterest

Concrete is one of the most popular choices because of its versatility. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can stick to a beige industrial look or opt for a darker gray tone for a faux-stone aesthetic. Concrete also gives off a striking impression when contrasted with grass, as its smooth surface stands out against textured greenery. If you want to use concrete for your backyard walkway, The Family Handyman has tips on how to DIY. 

No matter what material you choose, we wish you the best of luck with your backyard walkway DIY project!

Hardscapes 101: Top Design Ideas for Your Lakefront Landscape

Photo courtesy of Attainable Solutions Inc.

Outdoor living is one of the joys of lake life—so now that summer is here, let’s make the best of it. A well-balanced landscape design should complement your lifestyle and add value to your lake property. It’s typically made up of two main elements that define outdoor living spaces—hardscapes and softscapes. In simple terms, think of softscapes as the living things in your yard and hardscapes as the hard stuff like bricks, wood, stone, and concrete. For part one of our two-part feature, we’re going to first focus on hardscapes

Retaining Walls & Steps

Photo courtesy of Mom’s Design Build via Turf Magazine

If your lakeside landscape sits on a slope, you might benefit from a retaining wall. Creating a hillside terrace adds visual interest and more usable land and reduces soil erosion and water runoff by slowing down the flow of rainwater and diverting it to a drainage system. Low retaining walls can even double as extra seating for outdoor entertaining. Incorporate a cascading stairway into your retaining wall, and you now have an elegant pathway down to the shore. Say the experts at Gardenista, “Think of retaining walls as support hose for sloped terrain: they hold everything in place—discreetly.”

When considering material options, select those that will complement your lake home’s surrounding natural landscape and architectural style. Building material choices are abundant and range from brick and stone to poured concrete to treated and stained woods.

Before getting started, it’s best to consult a landscape architect or gardening professional to guide you. Click here for more inspiring ideas. 

Winding Walkways, Paths & Driveways

Photo courtesy of Homestead Gardens Landscape Division

Alluring pathways and driveways lend instant visual appeal and create a welcoming first impression for visitors. A dynamic driveway or walkway to your front door adds pleasing curb appeal and can even increase the resale value of your lake home.

Whether you decide to go with solid pavers for a sleek, contemporary vibe, or charming steppingstones that lend an English cottage feel, your options are virtually endless. A good rule of thumb to follow? Always choose surfaces that complement the style of your lake-dwelling and the surrounding environment. 

If you’re not a DIY enthusiast, start by calling in a landscape professional to help you find the best design for your property. They can also guide you through the array of material choices that include brick, concrete, bluestone, granite, gravel, limestone, and more. If your lake home is in a colder climate, consider options that can stand up to freezing temperature, such as terracotta, travertine, and slate. Click here for more creative ideas for walkway designs.

Fire Pits & Fireplaces

Photo courtesy Mom’s Design Build

There is nothing more blissful than sitting by a fire while relaxing at the lake. Firelight creates an ambiance like no other and brings warmth, a soft romantic glow, and an inviting interactive experience. So, whether you want to incorporate an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, there are a few things first to consider:

When placed on the edge of a patio or pavilion, a fireplace takes up less space and can be used in inclement weather if it’s under cover. This architectural element can also bring a graceful focal point to your outdoor entertainment space. The benefits of a chimney direct the smoke upward and outward, ensuring a pleasant, fresh-air environment.

On the other hand, a fire pit is a bit more like having a cozy bonfire or campfire. You can place seating all around it for fun family gatherings, like roasting marshmallows with the kids and making s’mores. If you’re looking to design a custom immovable firepit, make sure you choose the perfect spot with the desired view and have a landscape professional guide you on its placement—where lake breezes can move the smoke away from your other outdoor areas. For more fireside inspiration, visit HGTV.

Pools & Entertainment Areas

Photo courtesy of Mom’s Design Build

Pools—and the lavish, lounge-like seating areas that surround them—can create a splendid oasis for your lake landscape. Crisp and cool, the refreshing element of water always provides a calming visual connection to your lakeside environment.

First, decide what type of pool best suits your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Pools are costly to install, and the upkeep may not be for everyone. Consider pool shapes and styles, such as a seamless infinity pool spilling over a vanishing edge, a long narrow lap pool, a therapeutic spa feature, or even a non-chlorine natural swimming pool. You’ll definitely want to consult with a landscape architect or pool specialist to discuss material options, cost, and maintenance.

Other considerations include lighting and underwater lights, poolside landscape plant materials, seating areas, furniture arrangements, and outdoor furniture options, including luxurious poolside loungers, chaises, patio sets, and plush water-resistant cushions and upholsteries. For more inspiration, check out these dreamy pool design ideas.

Decks & Patios

Photo courtesy of Mom’s Design Build

A deck or patio added to your lake property will instantly create an additional room and expand your living space to the outdoors.

Typically made of wood, decks float above the ground—from a few inches to many feet—and are framed with support structures. If your lake setting sits on a slope, then a deck might be the perfect choice for you. Deck flooring materials include natural wood—cedar, redwood, mahogany, teak, ipe, bamboo—and other options such as pressure-treated lumber and sustainable composite decking.

Patios are constructed on a flat surface at ground level with hard materials like brick, concrete, stone tiles, and pavers. Ideal for poolside areas or level outdoor spaces where you want to enhance the architectural appeal of your home, patios are a durable and aesthetically pleasing choice. For more ideas on creating spectacular outdoor spaces, click here.

In an upcoming post, we’ll show you how to balance your lakeside hardscape designs with lush, green softscapes. In the meantime, happy hardscaping!

Xeriscaping Basics: Creating a Water-Wise Lake Landscape

Photo courtesy of Mirage Landscaping

Those of us who love lake life know that water is a precious natural resource. We also know that enjoying a laidback lake lifestyle is far more appealing than spending hours on excessive watering and lawn maintenance. Now, more than ever, water conservation has become vital due to global warming, unpredictable droughts, and daily consumption by millions of people.

Experts estimate that American households use nearly 107,000 gallons of water per year, with about 50 to 70 percent to water their lawns and gardens. According to the EPA, “As much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems.” The good news? Creating a water-wise xeriscape (zer-i-skape) for your lake home can reduce your water usage by as much as 50 percent.

So, what exactly is xeriscaping? Originating from the Greek word xeros, meaning dry, combined with the word landscape, it is an eco-friendly sustainable method of landscaping that will ultimately conserve water, help protect the environment, and require less maintenance overall—a win-win for all of us. Coined in the early eighties by a team of landscape and water industry professionals in Colorado, xeriscaping has become increasingly popular in all areas of the country—not just drier climates.

Xeriscaping 101

Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works

If you’re ready to embrace the idea of xeriscaping on your lake property, start with the basics. Developed by Ken Ball, ASLA LLA, a landscape architect who was part of the original xeriscaping team in Denver in the 1980s, the Seven Principles of Xeriscaping are a great guide to follow:

Planning & Design

First, sketch out a basic landscape plan on paper. Map out plant materials and hardscaped areas appropriate for your regional climate and include any water-saving solutions. For instance, plot out areas where you could replace turf with drought-resistant plants or mulching. Add stone walkways, a fire pit or barbecue pit, and any other desired seating and entertaining areas that may replace water-thirsty landscaping.

Strategize Turf Areas

Photo courtesy of Redfin

Limiting turf areas that require a lot of water and maintenance is an essential part of xeriscaping. Check with your local garden and lawn care center to learn more about native and low-water grasses suitable to your region and landscape aesthetic. There is no need to replace all your grass with mulch or gravel. Instead, think through how you use your yard and what best appeals to you visually. Consider using Bella bluegrass, a dwarf vegetative grass that thrives in warm and cool climates and most any soil type. It also requires less water and mowing than other typical turf lawns. Consider putting in low-growing ground cover, brick or stepping-stone pathways, or other more durable options that won’t look trampled down for heavy traffic areas.

Plant Selection

Photo courtesy of Habitat Network

Choose your plants carefully. Consider the location and grouping of your plant materials and make sure they are drought tolerant and don’t require excessive watering. Remember that plants needing more sunlight will be happier on the western side of your landscape. Also, consider the slope of your lake landscape, as plants requiring little water are best placed at higher elevations, and thirstier plants will catch excess water if they are set lower. When xeriscaping, native plants perform best, but you can check with a garden center for a list of plants appropriate for your climate, soil conditions, and available resources. For more ideas, visit Epic Gardening.

Soil Improvement

Remember that good soil equals healthy plants. Most soil contains a combination of silt, sand, and clay, but silt ultimately performs best for xeriscaping. Clay can sometimes retain moisture too long, and sand can allow too much drainage. Rich, organic soils encourage deeper roots, absorb water better, and reduce water runoff. 

Mulching

Adding mulch to your lake landscape is a relatively easy way to help your soil retain moisture, keep your plants—and the ground—cool, and minimize water evaporation. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also keeps weeds at bay. Choose from organic wood-based mulches like cedar, pine, and bark for sunny areas and stone-based inorganic mulches such as lava rock and cobblestone for shady spots.  

Efficient Irrigation

Make sure you know the water requirements for all your plants and group them accordingly. Some can thrive in drier climates, and others will require more water, especially when newly planted and establishing their root systems. Without enough water, roots will lose their foundation and become weaker. Save watering instructions from your garden center and monitor your plants closely. Automatic sprinkler systems and hose-end sprinklers can provide efficient irrigation for your xeriscape. Keep any irrigation systems low to the ground to avoid excessive evaporation and prevent water from reaching unwanted areas. Micro-spray, drip, and bubbler irrigation systems are ideal for shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Always check with a professional to keep up to date on the most current irrigation technology.

Maintenance

Photo courtesy of Lankford Architecture

When it comes to xeriscaping, maintaining your lake landscape is surprisingly easy. As pioneer Ken Ball once said, “The further you take a design from the natural environment, the more maintenance you have to apply forever. If you don’t, Mother Nature will reclaim the site.” Think of xeriscaping as a more natural approach to gardening and landscaping. Its very intent is to create an eco-friendly environment, improve sustainability, and cut down on overall maintenance, mowing, and watering. Of course, you’ll want to groom your plants as needed and promote growth by keeping your yard clear of debris, leaves, and branches.

If you’re ready to embrace all the beautiful benefits of xeriscaping on your lake property, talk to a local landscape professional or visit Love Your Landscape for more information.

Green Thumb Glossary: Need-to-Know Gardening Terms for Your Lake Home

Photo courtesy of Bullis Photography via HGTV

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned ‘green thumb,’ anyone who attempts to garden—from hostas to hydrangeas—needs to have some basic knowledge to get things growing. And as a lake homeowner, it’s essential to know a few lake-specific garden terms to ensure you get the most from your scenic waterside landscape.

We spoke with Peter Wodarz, the owner of Gardenbau Group and a landscape architect/project manager for Michael Schmechtig’s firm Sheldon Landscape in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This full-service landscape management company and its award-winning staff have served residents throughout the beautiful lake region for more than 42 years. Here, Peter shares—and demystifies—some of his top gardening terms and tells us why these are important to lake homeowners. 

Annuals

Photo courtesy of Lynn Coulter via HGTV

An annual is a plant that lives for just one growing season. You must replant annuals every year, as they will sprout, flower, seed—and then die in the winter. “Annuals provide seasonal displays of abundant color and texture,” says Peter. “Their colorful masses—mixed in with perennial borders and shrub beds— brighten the landscape throughout the season, and annual displays in containers bring a splash of color to front entrances, porches, balconies, and piers,” he adds. 

The advantage for many lake homeowners is that annual plants quickly display their color and hold it all summer long—the most common time for lake dwellers to enjoy their outdoor setting. New varieties of New Guinea impatiens and begonias are perfect for shadier areas of the garden. Marigolds and petunias are common choices for sunnier spots, and in the southern regions, they can provide three full seasons of color. Pansies, vincas, and zinnias are trusted standbys for long seasonal colors in warmer climates.

Perennials

Photo courtesy of Sheldon Landscape

Perennials are plants that return year after year with little required care. These “forever” plants are often used to highlight the seasons as different varieties typically provide color for four to six weeks when in bloom. Woven together, they can form a tapestry of color.

“Perennials such as coneflowers, bee balm, catmint, and astilbe found in Midwest lake home regions provide easy care with long seasonal color displays,” says Peter. “They are perfect for those weekend staycation days meant for relaxing at the water’s edge and not toiling in the garden.”

Other easy-to-grow perennials include Shasta daisies, black-eyed Susan, yarrow, hardy hibiscus, aster, Siberian iris, daylilies, hostas, and moss phlox. When designing your lake home garden, be sure to plant a mix of varieties that will flower at different times of the year to ensure a continuous burst of blooms. If you’re unsure of what to plant, ask a gardening professional to recommend perennials—and annuals—that will thrive in your garden zone.

Native Plants

Photo courtesy of Julie Martens Forney via HGTV

“Native plants thrive in their natural environment—the region’s climate and soil conditions—and therefore require little care and watering,” says Peter. The U.S. Forest Service defines native plants as: “All indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat.” Life forms include hardwood trees, conifer trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, and others. Generally, native North American species are recognized as those appearing on the continent prior to European settlement.

 “Native plants in the Midwestern region such as blazing star, false indigo, and blue star can attract birds and butterflies common to the area, adding movement and activity to the lake home lifestyle,” Peter adds.

These plants also create beautiful landscapes, promote biodiversity, and offer many environmental benefits, making them essential for lake home gardens. Large swaths of native plantings also provide habitat for wildlife such as foxes, rabbits, and other small mammals. For a list of native plants in your region, visit PlantNative.

Ornamental Grasses

Photo courtesy of Donald Pell via HGTV

Ornamental grasses bring a dynamic element to your lakeside environment. They sway gracefully with the breeze, color the landscape, and provide beautiful visual interest even in winter. There are many types and sizes of ornamental grasses that can punctuate your exterior spaces with tall plumes or large, vibrant masses low to the ground.

“One type of tall grass ideal for screening out unpleasant views is maiden grass,” says Peter. “Varieties such as ‘Purpurascens’ (flame grass) begin to flower in late summer and retain their showy plumes through winter. It begins to turn red in late summer, changing to a striking orange-red in fall,” he explains. Prairie dropseed is another outstanding ornamental grass that reaches a height of nearly two feet. Airy seed heads appear in late summer and dramatically capture the morning sunlight as it peeks over the water. It can be used in large masses or interspersed with perennials to provide contrasting foliage. To find the best options for sun and shade, visit HGTV.

Raised Beds

Photo courtesy of Hortus, Ltd./P. Allen Smith via HGTV

Raised beds are typically used to grow annual flowers and vegetable gardening. They help prevent overwatering and allow the plants to perform their best. Combined with a permaculture technique of using logs and wood chips at the bottom of the raised bed, proper soil moisture is much easier to maintain.  As the logs decompose, they act as a sponge soaking up excess moisture and releasing it when the plants need it. This makes the task of daily watering unnecessary and provides peace of mind when you’re out of town or occupied with friends and family.

“Raised beds typically warm up quicker, giving lake homeowners a jump on the season,” explains Peter. “They also deter slugs and snails, making pest management easier as well,” he adds. By merely adding fresh compost and not tilling the soil every year, weeds are suppressed, freeing up time to enjoy life while still reaping a harvest of fresh vegetables and flowers. For more information, visit HGTV.

Lakeshore Terracing and Viewing Terraces

Photo courtesy of Westphalen Photography via HGTV

One of the most compelling elements of any lake home is the view. When properly placed, an outdoor terrace provides a setting for daily activities while capturing that all-important vista.  

Lake homes are typically situated on a sloped lot, with the terrain angled towards the water. This can be used to the homeowner’s advantage to create a beautiful backyard terrace. Nestling the terrace into the hill can be done using a retaining wall of natural stone or other material, which will hold back the slope while also creating the opportunity to incorporate a seating area directed toward the water.

“Constructing the walls of locally sourced materials such as granite boulders or outcrop stone can help tie the area to its natural surroundings, making it feel at home in the landscape,” Peter explains. “You can reiterate this look in the materials chosen for your terrace surface as well. Large irregular flagstone pieces lend a casual lake house vibe, while patterned stone such as bluestone creates a more formal aesthetic,” he notes.

Nothing says relax more than a pair of Adirondack or lounge chairs looking out over the water. Having some moveable seating allows you to capture that perfect sun and water angle throughout the day, and incorporating a fire pit into your terrace extends the entertainment possibilities into the night. Bringing the elements of fire and water together make for a great gathering spot for friends and family. For more techniques on terracing, talk to a landscape professional.

Plants for Shoreline Stabilization

Photo courtesy of Sheldon Landscape

Many shoreline properties are sloped towards the lake and require thoughtful solutions to avoid erosion. Plants play an essential role in stabilizing the sloped areas by setting down deep roots. These plants work together to hold soil in place. 

“Plants such as Siberian Iris, fox sedge, and Joe Pye weed are valuable plants used to prevent soil erosion and add color to the landscape,” says Peter. “The Iris variety Caesar’s Brother blooms from late spring to early summer and has graceful grass-like foliage. Fox sedge is very adaptable and has a spray of bronze seed heads in late summer, creating a beautiful display,” he adds.

For more information, visit Solitude Lake Management, or contact your lake management professional to help determine the best plant species for your area.

Ready to start a gardening project at your lake home? Get growing, enjoy, and share your results with us!

Low Maintenance Landscaping Tips for Your Lake House

Photo courtesy of salliehilldesigns.com.

There’s nothing better than a beautiful landscape overlooking your lakefront property. However, behind every polished garden is hours of intense gardening work. What if you want a gorgeous backyard at your lake home, but don’t want all the labor? Fortunately, there are several ways to practice low maintenance landscaping. Check out our tips below.

Use Hardscapes

Photo courtesy of southviewdesign.com.

Who says that your landscape has to be completely green? Hardscapes are a great way to add variety and dimension to your outdoor space. As a simple first step into hardscaping, you can customize your yard with one of these DIY stone walkways. For a more classic garden, choose a brick path. If you’re seeking an artistic flare, create a mosaic trail. It all depends on your taste.

Additionally, hardscapes make excellent outdoor dining areas and outdoor kitchens. Once you’ve laid the floor material, add a dining table and chairs, a grill, and a fire pit, and you’re all set. Nothing beats grilling burgers while looking out at your lake view. 

Plant Perennials

Photo courtesy of hgtv.com.

It’s best for low maintenance landscaping to reduce the amount of time you spend with gardening gloves and a shovel in hand. Annual plants are a hassle because you have to replant every season. By contrast, perennials only require one planting session. Because they grow back naturally each season, you can enjoy watching them grow without the heavy lifting. When picking perennials for your garden, make sure you choose native plants acclimated to your climate. Of course, make sure you plant according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. If you live in a warm climate in Zones 7-9, it’s helpful to select heat-tolerant perennials like Russian sage and lavender. Both are low maintenance and attract pollinators that help your garden flourish.

Get Ground Covers

Photo courtesy of lowes.com.

It’s no secret that grass is high maintenance. As gardener Peter Weeks writes in The Daily Gardener, most people mow their lawn once a week. This task is exhausting and time-consuming. To reduce the square footage of your yard that requires mowing, consider planting ground covers. These plants sit close to the earth and spread out across your landscape. Not only will they replace grass as a lawn cover, but they also add color and interesting texture. Further, they do not require frequent watering. Although typical ground covers like succulents cost more than grass seeds in the short term, they’ll save you both money and energy in the long run. 

Try Xeriscaping Techniques

Photo courtesy of Forbes.

If you don’t live in a dry climate, you may not have heard of xeriscaping. This low maintenance landscaping practice involves selecting plants that require little to no irrigation. In desert areas with sparse rainfall, this practice is perfect for creating a low-maintenance yard. Xeriscaping is also beneficial to the environment, as it reduces water waste and creates a more sustainable landscape. Even if your climate is humid, you can still borrow xeriscaping techniques to build a low maintenance garden. For example, try choosing hardy, water-wise plants such as aloe or Pride of Madeira. While you’re planting, replace the surrounding grass with rocks and mulch– a common xeriscaping practice.

In comparison to grass, mulch is lower maintenance, provides natural fertilizer, and chokes weeds. To further reduce water waste, ditch the watering can, and install irrigation systems under the soil. With this tool, water travels directly to your plants instead of scattering across the leaves. This way, you aren’t using a drop more than necessary.

Group Plants Wisely

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

When designing subsections of your garden, it’s tempting to focus solely on aesthetics. The plant by number technique creates visual appeal, and bold color combinations leave guests in awe. While there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing beauty, grouping plants based on similar needs is an easy gardening hack to create a low maintenance garden. Specifically, try groupings based on specific growing conditions like sunlight need, shade requirements, and tolerance of wet and dry soil. This easy shortcut will simplify the maintenance process, and you’ll always be able to remember which areas of your garden need more care than others. Once you’ve grouped plants according to these conditions, then you can focus on looks. 

We hope these tips will help with your low-maintenance landscaping practices. After all, we’d all rather spend time admiring our lakeside landscapes than working in them.

Sustainable Scapes: Environmentally Friendly Landscaping Solutions

Photo courtesy of The Lily Pad Cottage.

Imagine your dream landscape in the backyard of your lake house. Maybe the freshly cut grass is a vibrant shade of green, your flowers and shrubs are perfectly manicured, and a sprinkler is installed to keep everything looking fresh. However, this vision of a perfect green space may not actually be sustainable. Andrew Gabries, the owner of Go Green Lawn and Pest Control, warns, “A yard that looks good but isn’t healthy is difficult to maintain.” Despite the green grass appeal, it’s best to design an environmentally friendly landscape. Fortunately, there are several solutions to creating a beautiful — and eco-friendly — backyard at your lake house.

Reduce Water Use

Photo courtesy of Evergreen Turf.

Despite long showers and multiple dishwasher runs, most residential water usage is concentrated outside the home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical American household uses 320 gallons of water per day. Further, 30% of this amount is used for outdoor purposes like landscaping. In dry climates like the Southwest, this number increases to 60%. Simply put, this common practice is wasteful.

In contrast to popular opinion, you don’t need to water grass daily. By watering less, utilizing hardscapes, and planting artificial grass, you can reduce the amount of water waste at your home. At the end of the day, even though bright green grass might look ideal, grass with slight brown tones is healthier. 

Choose Native Plants

Planting non-native flowers and shrubs may add a fun, exotic flair to your garden. However, they are not likely to flourish without manually engineering the environment. This is not helpful for environmentally friendly landscaping. Pablo Solomon, environmentalism leader and science consultant for the U.S. Department of Education, advises, “Whenever possible, use local natural plants and trees in your landscaping. This will reduce watering and dependence on herbicides or pesticides.” For example, lupines and willowherbs are native to Lake George in New York, while crown beards and evening primroses will grow naturally at Lake Lanier in Georgia. If you aren’t sure which plants are native to your lake area, the National Wildlife Federation created an interactive Native Plant Finder tool to help.

Reconsider the Lawnmower

Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.

Although many lake homeowners have a standard gas lawn mower on hand at their properties, these tools emit fuels that can be toxic to the environment. Further, at a lake property, landscaper Steve Ambrose comments, “These fuels can easily float in the air and into the lake as vapor, even if you are far above the water.” Luckily, there are several environmentally-friendly alternatives to the traditional gas lawnmower. Solomon advises gardeners to “use hand tools if your time and health allow. You not only help the environment but stay in shape as well.” 

However, if you don’t have the time or physical capabilities for hand tools, electric mowers are another great environmentally friendly solution. Ambrose adds, “Electric maintenance equipment saves on fossil fuels and pollution, but also cuts down enormously on noise pollution.” You may even consider investing in an automatic electric mower. With this tool that essentially functions as a Roomba for your landscape, there’s no need to expend energy. It’s also best to mow the lawn at midday, just after the morning dew has set in, and the grass can dry and heal throughout the day before nighttime. 

Don’t Spoil the Soil

Many gardeners add chemicals to their soil to foster plant growth. However, these chemicals are rarely necessary and negatively impact the environment. If you’re unsure, you can test the soil in your backyard to see if chemicals are needed. If it turns out that your soil needs some fertilizer, opt for a natural choice such as adding mulch to plant beds. Ambrose comments, “I would stick to entirely organic naturally occurring fertilizers and see if the soil that is directly next to the lake can go unfertilized.” Gabries compares a landscape to your own food intake as a human: “The more organic products you consume, the better the results tend to be.”

Why Go Green?

Photo courtesy of bluegrasslawn.com.

For any homeowner, choosing environmentally friendly landscaping techniques benefits wildlife, reduces air and soil pollution, and creates less work for you as a gardener. However, lake homeowners specifically have a greater calling to go green. Ambrose explains, “Lakeside properties are a lot harder to be environmentally friendly with, but the responsibility is far greater. Usually, a house on a lake has water access, but the water actually belongs to the state. You will need to be careful to be a good citizen.” So, next time you think about turning on the sprinkler or the gas lawn mower, keep in mind that a perfectly polished lawn doesn’t always equate to sustainability. When it comes to landscaping, aim for natural beauty. Your plants will thank you.