Installing landscaping for a newly constructed home is exciting because you are starting with a blank canvas. It's also a task that requires careful planning so there aren't issues with the landscaping later.
1. Regrade the Yard
After a home is built, the current grade of the yard is often not ideal for landscaping. A basic grade would have been completed to ensure that the ground slopes away from the house and toward the street or a drainage basin, but further grading may be necessary for landscaping. This can include adding level areas for patios or building up swales or low terraces to add visual interest. Grading should be done by a professional to ensure it doesn't introduce any drainage problems to your property.
2. Install Drainage Zones
Drainage tends to be problematic in a few key areas of any landscape, with problems becoming more severe once everything is planted and irrigation begins. Grading prevents major drainage issues, but small areas of poor drainage still tend to exist and need to be addressed. Being proactive and installing a drain tile beneath any low-lying or drainage zones, such as a dip in the yard or where the roof gutters drain out of the downspouts, may prevent soggy areas and water pooling that would destroy the landscaping later.
3. Put in Hardscaping
Hardscaping is part of a landscaping project that deals with the inorganic components of the yard, like sidewalks and retaining walls. The hardscaping will provide the main framework or infrastructure for the final landscaping. For example, put in terraces and retaining walls to secure a slope before you begin to plant on it. Patios, garden pathways, and sidewalks should also be laid out and installed first. Your hardscaping may also include concrete curbing or low brick walls along planting beds, fountains, and water features.
4. Bring in Soil
Soil is often a major issue for new construction. Most of the nutrient-rich topsoil is stripped away so the house can be built. Then fill soil, which can be quite sterile, is brought in to level out the site afterward. If more fill is needed than the amount of topsoil initially removed, then you end up with less-than-ideal soil. Begin with professional soil testing to determine the nutrient availability and type of soil on your site. Your landscapers can then rebuild and condition the soil by adding in the nutrients needed and adjusting the soil type by adding components like fertilizers, compost, or sand.
Contact a local landscaping firm for more help with your new construction installation.