Mother Nature may be giving mixed signals with the recent changes in the weather, but make no mistake, spring is just around the bend. For a lot of people, the onset of extended sunshine means it’s time to get outside and create some curb appeal through their garden or back yard. Whether you plan to dig in and do it yourself, or bring in an expert, here are three things to consider when creating an outdoor oasis.

1. Define Your Space

Before you start a landscaping project, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate how you envision using your space. Are you looking for a quiet place to kick back and relax with a book?  Or do you want someplace where your kids can play, letting their creativity be their guide? Once you know what you want to actually do in your new design, you can begin to consider what types of materials will be a good fit.

2. Consider the Source

One thing that people frequently overlook when planning a garden is the soil. The quality and characteristics  of an area’s soil has a tremendous impact on what will grow. When picking plants, it’s important to match your soil’s chemical (pH), physical (drainage) and biological (nutritional) makeup to plants that will thrive in that source. Most seed packets or plants have growing guidelines on the back. If you aren’t sure about the type of soil you have, you can buy a kit at a home and garden store or even look online for way to DIY.

3. Know What You Want to Spend

We’re not talking money, we’re talking time. If you like the idea of having a flower bed but don’t like to garden, you might want to consider planting perennials. Because they return year after year, buying perennials might cost you more up front. But if you’re looking for long-term beauty that doesn’t require a lot of attention, this might be the best investment you can make for your garden. However, if you see landscaping as a way to express your creative side, you might enjoy starting each season with a clean canvas, and annuals might be a better fit.

Are you looking for a way to add a dimension to your front or back yard? Join us for the upcoming Basic Landscape Design course where you’ll learn to how to blend flowers, trees, shrubs and groundcover to create a space that reflects your personality! For more information about the class visit the construction section of our catalog or call 405.377.3333 to register.

Cara Adney is the Marketing and Media Relations Coordinator at Meridian Technology Center.