It’s your yard—and you can do whatever you please with it. While it’s great to have that freedom, it doesn’t mean you have to be outside tending to your yard 24/7 in the Texas sun. That being said, a few small improvements could really make your yard stand out. Here are a few easy landscaping projects that won’t break the bank and will impress your neighbors.
Add Edging to Your Lawn
Show your lawn who’s boss by adding edging that can handle even the toughest of crabgrasses. Don’t make the mistake of purchasing the flimsy plastic edging, thinking it will be easier to install. It will have a cheap and unprofessional look from the outset. Moreover, it won’t be able to stand the test of time. Before you know it, your garden bed and lawn will become indistinguishable from one another. The better option is to buy a more rigid material such as fiberglass, aluminum, or steel edging.
Build a Flagstone Wall
Choose a stone of consistent thickness. Flagstone can be limestone, sandstone, shale, or any other type of rock that splits into large, flat slabs. Here’s a super simple way to construct a solid flagstone wall:
- Dig a trench a couple of inches deep and wide enough to accommodate the flagstones.
- Fill with pea gravel and/or sand and tamp to make the ground level.
- Stack the smaller stones first.
- Save the most attractive flagstones for the top layer.
- Backfill with gravel
Create a Flagstone or Gravel Path
A meandering pathway to your front door or back garden is undeniably charming, and inviting, which makes it an important factor when it comes to making a great first impression. You can opt for flagstone, pea gravel, decomposed or crushed granite, or even poured concrete. For a path that’s an easy DIY project, follow these tips:
- Allow 3 feet of width for clearance
- Create curves rather than straight lines for a visually pleasing effect.
- Remove sod at least 3 to 4 inches deep to prevent grass from returning
- Lay down your path material of choice. For a path that can withstand heavy rains, use large stones.
Build a Tree Surround
Creating a masonry surround for a tree is a triple-threat project: It looks great, it means you have less grass to mow, and it doubles as extra seating for your outdoor parties.
To start, simply dig a circular trench, fill it with sand, and install brick, cement blocks, or stone for the look you prefer. The hardest part is getting the circle evenly spaced around the tree. You can do this by tying a rope around the tree, making sure the outer edge of the loop is where you want the surround to be. Then, hold a spade inside the loop with the handle plumb and move it around the tree—the rope will keep the spade the same distance from the tree, resulting in an even circle.
To build the tree surround:
- Dig out a circular trench about 8 inches deep and 6 inches wide
- Add a layer of sand
- Set bricks at an angle for a sawtooth effect or lay them end-to-end
- Fill the surround with 2 to 3 inches of mulch
For more tips and tricks to enhance your home and garden, visit the Chesmar Homes blog. At Chesmar, we specialize in creating stylish and practical newly built homes in some of Texas’ most desired cities, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Central Texas.
