Summer is the perfect time to enjoy your outdoor space, whether it’s a flowering garden, a cozy patio, or a sprawling deck area. With a little creativity, you can transform your outdoor area into a stunning space for relaxing and entertaining.
Plan Your Space
Consider how you want to use your outdoor area. Do you envision a peaceful retreat, a place for social gatherings, or a family and pet friendly yard? Create different areas for different activities, such as dining, lounging, gardening or playing.
Choose the Right Plants
Understand the local climate. Summers in Virginia Beach are characterized by high temperatures and humidity. This can be tough on plants so it’s important to choose the right plants. Focus on native plants to give your landscape the best chance for success. They are naturally adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, requiring less maintenance.
Lawn Care
During the summer, raise your mower blade to leave grass blades longer, typically around 3-4 inches. Longer grass shades the soil, helping to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.
Water Correctly
Understand the output of your irrigation system or sprinklers. For lawns, plan for one inch of water per week, including rain. Containers and hanging baskets need to be watered more often, sometimes even twice a day, if in direct sun. Water early in the morning. Water deeply. Watch for wilting.
Create Comfortable Seating Areas
Outdoor living is all about comfort. Invest in quality outdoor furniture that suits your style and needs.
Add Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting improves the ambiance, as well as the safety of your yard. Extend the usability of your outdoor space into the evening by incorporating aesthetically pleasing lighting.
Include A Water Feature
Water features, such as fountains, ponds, or small waterfalls, can add a soothing and tranquil element to your yard. They also attract birds and butterflies to your space.
Spruce Up Your Outdoor Living Areas
Incorporate comfortable seating and shade structures, such as pergolas, umbrellas, and sunshades, to create inviting outdoor living spaces. These areas can serve as an expansion of your home providing a perfect spot for relaxation and entertainment. Incorporate outdoor art and décor. Personalize your outdoor space with items that reflect your style. Garden sculptures, outdoor rugs, planters and containers can all be used to make the space your own.
Regular Maintenance
Deadhead flowering annuals. Weed flower beds. Check for pests and diseases. Keep up with harvesting any fruits, vegetables and herbs. Watch for fungal diseases that are common to our area during high heat and humidity. To reduce the risk, water your plants at the base to keep foliage dry, ensure good air circulation, and remove any diseased plant material promptly.
With thoughtful planning and the right strategies, you can create a beautiful and resilient landscape in Virginia Beach. Dr. Dan’s Landscaping & Architectural Design can help you with selecting appropriate plants, conserving water, enhancing or constructing an entirely new extension of our home.