Ideas for Updating Your Landscape

May 4, 2020 | Design

Landscape design has a tremendous impact on the curb appeal and value of your home. If your landscape feels outdated it is not always necessary to start from scratch. Updating an existing landscape can be a faster, easier, and more cost-effective approach to giving your property a fresh appearance, and can greatly increase the value of your home. 

When to Update Your Landscape

Even without starting from a blank slate, updating your landscape design can be an overwhelming project. The following situations are examples of where landscape redesign is worth considering, and may even make you money in the long run.

 

  • The Overgrown Landscape

    Overgrown landscaping may be causing problems you aren’t aware of, such as damaging underground water or septic pipes, gas lines, or electrical cables. Elevated utility lines could also be damaged by falling branches. An overgrown landscape will block views and could scratch your home’s siding, cause roof damage, and even crack concrete in the sidewalk, driveway or patio areas. All of these problems can lead to very costly repairs that a thoughtfully-designed landscape can avoid.

 

  • The “For Sale” Landscape


    If you plan on selling your home, the landscaping is one of the first things potential buyers will notice. Poorly maintained landscaping gives a bad first impression that could discourage buyers, while an updated landscape adds significant value and may increase the final sale price. A complicated landscape might put off buyers who aren’t interested in outdoor maintenance. A simple, fresh landscape design welcomes new owners to your home, and is a great choice for when you’re about to sell.

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  • The Unused Landscape


    A lush lawn and ornamental plantings may be pretty, but they don’t necessarily add value to your home. Updating your landscape to include gardening space and edibles such as fruit trees, berry bushes, and fresh herbs, however, adds utility to your property and can even cut grocery bills. Similarly, a wide swath of lawn does no good to your quality of life if you don’t enjoy it – adding a recreation area, entertainment space, or other outdoor living space can be a fantastic value.

 

  • The High Maintenance Landscape


    Complicated gardens, plants that require extensive care, and lawns that need frequent fertilizing, weeding, and watering can be a significant financial drain on homeowners. Your landscape is primarily for enjoyment, not to create a second job. Updating your landscape to opt for lower-care options can be a way to modernize your property and reduce the time and money needed to keep it looking its best.

By updating your landscape, you can save both time and money, and you’ll find yourself enjoying your new landscape much more than any outdated design will allow for.

 

Ways to Update Your Landscape for the Most Value

Depending on your reasons for updating your landscape, there are many options that will add value to your property – both monetary and otherwise. Popular choices include…

 

  • Widening Pathways


    Wider pathways give your home a more welcoming, open feel that is ideal for entertaining. Existing paths can be expanded with pavers, bricks, gravel or mulch to make them broader. This is also a good time to be sure walkways are level and easy to navigate.

  • Lighting Up


    The right lighting can give your landscape a whole new look. Add lights to pathways, specimen plants, architectural features, or outdoor living areas to update your landscape and create a brighter, safer, more enjoyable space.

 

  • Deepening Beds


    Deep flowerbeds create a luxurious buffer around your home and provide space for additional plantings, such as a row of colorful annuals along the front edge of the bed. When deepening beds, you can also change their shape for a fresh, new look.

modern-landscape-design-flower-beds

 

  • Protecting Privacy


    Landscaping that protects privacy is always desirable. Tall ornamental grasses, large containers, or fencing can create a more private space for you to enjoy. Consider enclosing a patio, blocking unwanted views, or otherwise sheltering your space for greater privacy.

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  • Casting Shade

    Plants or structures that shade your home or outdoor spaces can help control temperature to make your outdoor area more comfortable and save on heating and cooling bills indoors. Planting trees or installing awnings, pergolas or other shade structures are the most popular options.

 

 

modern-landscape-design-outdoor-patio

 

  • New Niches


    Creating a cozy niche in your landscape is a great way to encourage you to enjoy being outdoors. A comfortable hammock, swing or bench can lead to more time outdoors, a fire pit welcomes gatherings, or a meditation feature such as a fountain can be a peaceful addition to any property.

 

modern-landscape-design-outdoor-seating

 

  • Outdoor Rooms


    For more formal entertaining, a complete outdoor room can add tremendous value to your property. An outdoor kitchen, grill, or bar is a great choice, or you might opt for an entertainment area complete with a television, fire pit, and extra seating. Looking for some inspiration? Be sure to check out our guide to outdoor patio ideas today! 

 

  • Trees


    Trees are long-term investments that add wonderful value to your property. A small tree may not seem significant, but over the years it will grow into a luxurious specimen that provides shade and distinction, even fruit, depending on the type of tree.

 

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  • Sod


    If it’s your lawn that needs updating, consider new sod for instant results. Replacing your grass with new sod will smooth out your lawn, remove weeds, repair bare or thin patches, and provide a luxurious footing all in one step.

 

No matter how you choose to update your existing landscape, our experts can help you find just the right options to refresh your property based on your needs and budget. Contact us today to see how we can bring new life to your old landscape! 

Drake Snodgrass

Owner

A lifelong Oregon resident, Drake has been passionate about plants since childhood, beginning with propagating and growing flowers at his grandfather’s nursery. He opened Drake’s 7 Dees in 1974, while earning degrees in Business and Horticulture from Oregon State University. He later expanded into the design/build side of the industry, allowing him to combine his passion for plants with his love of family by maximizing the quality of family time spent outdoors.

Drake is co-founder of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association and is a Landscape Industry Certified Manager (LICM)—a designation that less than two percent of landscapers have attained. Additionally, Drake serves on the Board of Directors for the Portland Japanese Gardens, widely regarded as one of the seven best Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Drake is married to former Oregon Speaker of the House, Lynn Snodgrass. Together, he and Lynn received the Farm Bureau President’s award in 1999 for their service and dedication to agriculture in the state of Oregon. Drake and Lynn have two wonderful daughters, two talented son-in-laws, and seven grandchildren. In his spare time, Drake enjoys camping, water and snow skiing, reading, and of course, gardening.

Tim Sellin

Tim Sellin

Senior Design + Production Manager

Born and raised in the Portland Metro Area… Tim has had an appreciation for the outdoors from a young age.  Inspired by our local beauty ranging: the Mt Hood National Forest to salty, sea spray of Cannon Beach, the arid high-desert of Central Oregon to the rugged terrain of Steens Mountain – Tim sought higher education at the University of Idaho in their Landscape Architecture department.  Graduating with honors in 2004, he returned home to establish his professional career.

Now making his home in Sandy, Oregon – Tim and his wife [Nicole] are raising two happy and healthy kiddos and 4 fur-babies.  Between soccer, football, cheerleading, girl scouts and other extra-curricular activities… the Sellin family are heavily involved in their community and church family.  Since college, Tim has spent 13 of his 17 years with Drake’s 7 Dees and has ‘set roots’ in anticipation of long-term growth at the family-focused company.  Having spent his time away from Drake’s in a ‘boots on the ground’ capacity, Tim has fostered a love for the operational/production side of landscape business, as well as the design/sales.

His goal in life as well as business is to put others first.

Steven Kurvers

Steven Kurvers

Senior Design Associate + Studio Manager

Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, BSLA… 2009
California Polytechnic University, Pomona… Cum Laude
American Society of Landscape Architects – Honor Award

Steven has 15 years of experience in the residential landscape design/build and garden center industry, including 9 years with Drake’s 7 Dees. Steven also has experience working with the National Park Service in Yosemite on sub-alpine restoration projects, as well as volunteer experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving the community of Zaouiat d’Ifrane in Morocco.

Together, Steven and his wife Anna have four lovely children, all 5 years old and under! In his (very limited) spare time, Steven enjoys camping, hiking, archery hunting, and cooking. Steven’s passion for his work lies in helping others, through design to envision a more beautiful space that, once built, becomes a reality that improves their quality of life.