Basic Yard Landscaping

Warning

• Landscaping can create problems in addition to solving them. Yard landscaping includes the lawn, trees, shrubs, plants and flowers of your home site, and structural elements such as fences and walls. Poorly placed elements can block lines of sight, creating a hazard for drivers. Overgrown and poorly placed or maintained plants can harm visitors and passersby.

Considerations

• Homeowners should consider the impact of each plant on home systems such as water pipes, air conditioning units, gutters and roofing materials. Homeowners should take into account the amount of maintenance each plant will require and whether their site offers the plants the conditions they require to thrive.

Benefits

• Landscaping can be used to enhance the positive aspects of a site and to disguise many of the negative aspects. Layers of plants and trees can block noise pollution, create an attractive seasonal display and help to lower heating and cooling costs for your home.