If you have a new house or are planning to re-landscape your existing home, you need to plan ahead.

Whether you want a natural or formal look, large grass areas or more natural areas, consider first want you want from your landscape. If you like to entertain, maybe an outdoor kitchen would suit your needs or a patio with outdoor furniture to relax in. These are all aspects to think about when designing your landscape.

If you are not sure what to do, have a landscape designer come out and consult with you or have a landscape design drawn up. If you want to design your own landscaping, go to the garden center and browse through all the plant materials available.

There are many varieties of trees, hollies, junipers, azaleas, hydrangeas, Leyland cypress, arborvitae, wax myrtles, Cleyera, Rhododendrons, annuals, perennials and herbs to choose from, just to name a few. Study the plant materials, perhaps take a picture and try to visualize how they might look in your landscape. By doing this you will get a good idea of how different plants will look in your yard.

When designing outdoor living areas, consider what will best fit your needs. Patios are one of the most popular ways to enjoy the outdoors. They can be made out of concrete, pavers, natural stone or stamped concrete. Make sure that the material used will compliment your home. If you enjoy relaxing, pick out some quality outdoor furniture since it will last longer and should maintain its beauty longer. For the cooking enthusiast install an outdoor kitchen. Use a high quality kitchen such as Viking brand since with proper care they can last a lifetime and give you great trouble-free performance. They are available with refrigerators, warmers, side grills, and counter areas and can be adapted for use with natural or propane gas.

Planning ahead, giving consideration to how you will use your outdoor areas, careful plant selection and using high quality materials all add up to give you great results and lasting enjoyment of your outdoor areas.