Maybe my need for individuality and style comes from spending many of my years in tract housing developments where every third or fourth house looks the same. Maybe it's because I've lived in harsher growing environments than this one (Phoenix, Las Vegas) and don't understand why people here don't have beautiful yards. I don't expect you to all go out and spend $40,000 on a landscaper and a new yard, that's just silly, but I hope that you will be able to take a little bit of the information here and make this a banner year for your front yard. Here are some before and after pictures to inspire you to new heights, before I dig into a list to achieve front yard greatness.
You'll notice that none of these face-lifts involve huge expanses of lawn. I know you are tired of hearing about it by now, but giant lawns are so 1985. They are as out of date as pink tile linoleum, lace curtains and brass fixtures. Nothing says, I have a huge lot and no imagination like 1/2 an acre of lawn. Not to mention they cost a small fortune to install and maintain. Now, a small to medium sized lawn that is properly cared for and part of a good design is always in style. For those of you who still don't get where I'm going, one more metaphor. Huge lawns are the landscaping equivalent of a 60 year old man in a small red sports car and a toupee.
Enough, I'm going to move on to the meat and potatoes of this post. Here is a list to get you on the path to front yard awesomeness. At the end you will find a small list of links that will get you to the vital information you need for success.
1. Pick a Genre and Go With It. Are you modern? traditional? whimsical? When it comes to landscaping style, let your freak flag fly. Just remember to fold it correctly and don't display it at night with out properly lighting it. There is no law that says because you live in Wyoming you can't have a beach theme in your yard, even if your neighbors have gone with White Trash Chevrolet Grave Yard. I'm slowly transitioning to a Roadhouse and Blues Music Theme in mine. I teach guitar lessons, so I think it'll be fun for my students to pass by my "Rock Garden" on the way to my porch. I'll post pictures once I get tore into it this year.
2. Follow Good Design Principals. There are multitudes of excellent books on this subject, and a simple Google Search for creative landscaping can yield excellent results. Sunset Magazine is my go to resource for, well, everything so keep it in mind too. Keeping things in scale can be hard, and if you have trouble with this, getting a consultant can really help. Also, remember the golden rule of gardening, put the right plant in the right place. Below I am including several links on plants that thrive in Wyoming as well as some excellent free design resources. Don't forget that when you purchase plants at reputable greenhouses and nurseries, they can advise you on plant/design choices. I'm always here to help, and for a plate of goodies I'm more than happy to come over assess your landscaping situation with you.
3. Obtain Good Quality Plants. Did you know that perennials need to be divided every couple of years? When this happens people sometimes want/need to get rid of some of their plants. KSL is a good place to look for things like this, as well as fun decorations, and I am trying to start a plant exchange on Face Book so people can easily distribute them to each other. Farmer's markets are another place to find these plants, bulbs, and tubers. Ask your friends and neighbors too. I have lots of Currant Bushes in my yard, and you can come over and get a start from them anytime. I'll be dividing my Irises this fall too, and I'll let you know how many I have up for grabs then. For plants you are purchasing, always, always, get them from reputable greenhouses and nurseries.
4. Dream Big and Be Realistic. Sometimes the plan you have in your head is just never going to play out in your yard. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Take what you can and work with it. Do your best. Be flexible. Consider using containers instead of creating huge beds that need to be mulched and weeded. I've seen regular old freight pallets turned into gorgeous vertical gardens and screens for privacy. Maybe you're the neighbor with the White Trash Chevrolet Grave Yard. Go with it, have some fun and make it nice. Maybe you can turn one of them into a Pickup Truck Planter Fountain. Realize that if you are going to create an Old Rose Garden, you are going to need the time patience and know how to keep it up. Maybe you just need some wild and native roses which require much less care to create the same look.
5. Set Yourself Up For Success. Don't put in something that goes completely against your grain. If you are not a robo-gardener, don't put in a maintenance intensive yard. Hate yard work or don't have the time? Put in an outdoor living room or entertainment center. Then you can relax in your yard guilt free, but still have a whole lot of curb appeal.
Finally, the links:
http://www.sunset.com/ Sunset Magazine--a wealth of information and ideas
http://www.uwyo.edu/cessupport/agpubs/Search_Subject.asp Wyoming Cooperative Extension Horticulture Publications. This has downloadable pamphlets on all aspects of Wyoming Gardening including lists of what to grow here.
http://www.jjnursery.com/j15/ J&J Garden Center. These guys are top of the heap in Utah, and they have great ideas and information. Just be sure to check and a make sure their plant suggestions grow in Wyoming.
http://www.landscapingnetwork.com/?gclid=CNDXuZH8t6gCFQImbAodDnWNCw This network has all kinds of ideas to get you excited about your yard.
Don't forget Container Gardening Workshop, May 4th, 6pm, Mountain View Library!
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