Garden and landscaping projects at this time of year may be the last thing on your mind, especially as intermittent storms come and go, but there are things you can start doing now to get your grounds ready for when warmer weather arrives. Beavercreek homes for sale are prime properties for adding the latest landscaping trends, so let's get going right now in your landscape and try out some of these pre-spring 2021 projects.

Get Going on These 2021 Landscaping Projects

1. Create a raised bed.
   If you didn't plant a vegetable garden last year, get set for spring planting with a raised bed. Choose a manufactured or a homemade frame with dimensions of about 4 feet by 6 feet. The frame sides should be about 6 inches deep. If your yard is clear of snow and ice, you can mark off the area for the raised bed with string or spray paint.  Be sure to choose a sunny location. Double dig to a depth of 2 feet, returning soil to the bed but adding compost. You can create rows for seeds or seedlings later. Cover the bed with mulch and wait for the right planting times.
   
   
2. Do your research and start your seeds and seedlings.
   Research on the types of vegetables that grow best with the conditions you have in your yard. You may want to plant seedlings or small plants from the nursery rather than coaxing up plants from seeds. However, you might prefer to start plants indoors right now with a seedling grow kit and grow lights to augment poor winter sunlight. Follow directions for seed starts and ask for advice from the nursery where you buy your plants, supplies, and seeds. If you're starting a vegetable garden, make sure the plants you plan to grow are ones you and your family like to eat. What's the point in growing great artichokes if no one will eat them?
   
   
3. Plan to add color wherever you can.
   Colorful gardens cheer us up, so if your landscape lends itself to upping the color quotient, plan to do so. The quickest way to add color is to buy annuals in abundance and add them in planters, large containers, and flower borders. Your nursery professional can advise you what annuals to go for to have colorful plants throughout the growing season. Keep a plant journal, starting right now, either on paper or your phone, writing down what you're going to plant and where. Do some rough sketching if need be, so you can plan for succession plantings as the season advances. Perennials will take a bit of planning for how the colors will unfold as the various plants come up and bloom according to season. 
   
   
4. Extend your outdoor season in your landscape.
   The trend toward extending the outdoor season in our landscapes started a few years ago and has continued to grow, even in areas such as ours with longer, colder winters. That outdoor oasis you used extensively all summer long can now be enjoyed earlier in the spring and later in the fall through heating lamps, fire pits, infrared heaters installed in pergolas, and outdoor fireplaces. If you installed a three-season porch and added couches and lounge chairs last fall, strategically placed heating will help you start using them whenever there's a bit of a thaw. Retractable vinyl screens will also help keep the heat in and dispel the wind.

Our REALTORS® have lots of ideas for how you can upgrade your landscaping. Contact us today to find out more.