Omaha’s unique climate and diverse vegetation make planning a landscaping project time-consuming and challenging. Renovating a landscape is no easy feat and requires extensive strategic planning. Let’s walk through the basics of planning and executing a landscape renovation in Omaha, NE. See what it takes to transform your boring yard, increase curb appeal, and bring your vision to life from start to finish.
How to Plan and Execute a Landscape Renovation in Omaha
Step #1: Take Inventory
Before you get started on your landscape renovation, take a good look at your current outdoor space. Make an inventory of:
- Existing plants
- Trees
- Hardscapes
- Areas with overgrown vegetation
- Poor drainage areas
This initial assessment gives you an idea of what to remove, what to keep, and what you want included in your new landscaping design.
Step #2: Determine Your Objectives and Budget
Identify what you’re trying to accomplish with your Omaha landscape renovation.
- Are you looking for an entertainment space with an outdoor kitchen and lounge?
- Do you want to enhance its appearance with a manicured lawn or blooming flowerbeds?
- Do you want additional functionality from your outdoor space?
- Are you considering a fire feature to gather around during cold winter nights?
Once you have a clear view of what you want, attach a practical budget to that vision—budget for materials, labor costs, permits, and other unexpected financial surprises.
Step #3: Learn About the Climate and Soils in Omaha
Knowing the specific soil conditions in Omaha will help select the right plants and shrubs for your project. Omaha has a hot, somewhat humid continental climate, typical of warm summers and cold winters with average precipitation.
Design a hardy landscape by using native plants that prefer to grow in USDA hardiness zones 5a and 5b. Soil testing provides information regarding nutrient levels and pH balance. This is useful in assessing what type of plants to use and in fertilizer planning.
Step #4: Prepare a Landscape Design
Prepare a detailed landscaping layout. Do it yourself or consult with a professional landscape architect. Your layout should include the following.
- Plant Choices: Trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals are appropriate for planting in Omaha landscapes.
- Hardscapes: Design patios, walkways, and retaining walls.
- Water Features: Add fountains, ponds, and water features, and plan the irrigation system.
- Lighting: Plan outdoor lighting to increase safety and aesthetic appearance.
Sketch a scaled drawing of your design to get an idea of the final presentation. Think about it for a few days and make changes. Ensure everything in the design flows the way you would like it. Ensure perfect harmony between the landscaping and hardscaping elements, the outdoor space, and your home.
Step #5: Site Preparation
Good site preparation ensures a successful landscape renovation. Here are a few of the tasks involved.
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- Site Clearance: Clearing unwanted plant material, rubble, and structures not kept in the new layout.
- Grading and Drainage: Grading promotes good drainage, so pooled water after rainfall or watering doesn’t sit and get stagnant.
- Land Preparation: Conduct a soil test. This allows you to understand its constitution and improve its viability and structure with the recommended soil amendments.
Step #6: Add Hardscaping Elements To Your Landscape Renovation in Omaha
Sketch in your hardscaping elements, such as patios, walkways, retainer walls, or anything that’s not a plant. The hardscape is the framework of the landscape design. Use materials that withstand the brutal seasonal temperature variations in Omaha weather.
Step #7: Include Plants in Your Landscape Installation
Now that the hardscapes are in place move forward with the planting. Follow these steps for success.
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- Plant Trees and Shrubs: The larger trees and shrubs provide the backbone of the landscape design.
- Add Perennials and Annuals: These plants flourish at different periods of the growing season. This adds color and texture to the landscape.
- Mulching: Spread organic matter around plants to hold moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce weed growth.
Step #8: Install Irrigation and Lighting
An irrigation system keeps your plants lush and blossoming all season long, surviving the hot, dry Omaha summers. A drip irrigation system provides water distribution directly to the roots, wasting little of this precious resource.
Include outdoor lighting in your design and install lights on patios and walkways. For nighttime visibility, add lights to other areas around the yard.
When planning your lighting design, consider aesthetics and security. Use low-voltage, energy-efficient LED lights to create a warm, welcoming ambiance.
Step #9: Experience and Adjust
Enjoy the fruits of your labor and reap the benefits of your Omaha landscape renovation. Interact with your new garden over the next few weeks and note the changes you want to make. Observe and take note of how the space functions through the seasons and adjust.
Arbor Hills Landscaping Company Omaha | Best Landscaping Company in Omaha, NE
Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping Services can provide you with everything from detailed maintenance programs to unique plant production, and other services in between. That means we build water features, walls, patios, irrigation, walkways, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and anything else you can help us dream up. Our professionally trained staff can build the landscape of your dreams and keep you from breaking any Home Landscaping Rules.
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Fire Pit Designs Landscaping Services
Imagine the ambiance created in your backyard landscape by a custom fire pit. Nothing is more inviting on a cool spring night or for fall and winter gatherings of family and friends.A fire pit may be used to provide warmth during outdoor entertaining, but also as a heat source for outdoor cooking or simply roasting marshmallows. Our trained custom fire pit installers are experts in turning your vision into reality. More…
Outdoor Living Landscaping Services
Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen offers a professional outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and outdoor living room design, building, and installation services with FREE ESTIMATES. More…
Retaining Walls Landscaping Services
Enhance the beauty of your landscape with a retaining wall that is customized to coordinate with your home’s exterior.At Arbor Hills, our retaining wall designer will create a functional retaining wall that is aesthetically pleasing for your personal taste, and within your target budget. With the many materials available today, the retaining wall project you’ve been considering is just a phone call away! More…
Stamped and Colored Concrete
It is time to upgrade or replace some of the hardscape features surrounding your home? Stamped and colored concrete is a beautiful and affordable material. It enhances the color and texture featured on your home’s exterior.Stamped concrete in textures from modern to rustic is available to coordinate with your home’s existing design features. Colored concrete can be blended to match or enhance your home’s exterior color scheme. A designer from Arbor Hills will consider all these existing features at your site visit and when designing your project. More…
Patio Pavers Landscaping Services
Concrete pavers are a great way to improve your landscape and garden. In fact, they are super strong and lend themselves to many hardscaping projects. They rarely crack but if they do, each piece is easily replaceable. More…
Landscape Lighting Designs
Outdoor lighting can be nearly as important to the overall look and feel of your home as the landscaping itself. So you shouldn’t short-change yourself by skimping on quality lighting products. We are a full-service landscape and waterscape company that can solve all of your residential and commercial lighting needs anywhere in Omaha and the surrounding areas. More…
Water Feature Landscaping Designs
Imagine the sight and sound of bubbling water as you relax in your outdoor sanctuary. A water feature can give just the right ambiance to your outdoor retreat. Or, if you are looking for a water feature with traffic-slowing curb appeal, a designer from Arbor Hills will help you choose the water feature that best enhances your home. More…
Sod Installation Services
Whether you have just built your home, cleared agricultural land for your personal use, or simply want to improve the look of your existing yard, having sod installed is a fast way to create the lush, green carpet of grass you want.It offers instant satisfaction rather than weeks of waiting and anticipating whether or not your grass seed is going to grow. Plus, using sod offers a host of other benefits. More…More…
Mulch & Rock Landscaping Services
The concept, to design, to delivery and installation, we have more than 20 years of experience in the landscaping industry in Omaha and surrounding areas. Our services include delivery, full installation, and mulch and rock cleaning around your beds, trees, and more. More…
Plants & Shrubs Landscaping
Plants and shrubs are the backbones of your landscape, therefore they should be the first things you plant. Proper selection will enhance a home’s appearance and increase property value while reflecting the homeowner’s style and personality. More…
Tree Nursery
Let our trained nursery professionals assist you in selecting the perfect tree or shrub to complete your landscape. We carry a selection that is unmatched in Omaha and the surrounding areas and are willing and eager to explain our favorites. Improved varieties are introduced each year and we always strive to carry the best and newest – varieties more resistant to disease, shade trees better able to withstand storm damage, and ornamentals in unique colors, shapes, and sizes you have to see to believe. More…