DIY Network

Beyond the Bricks and Mortar

In the beginning stages of homebuilding, you're asked to make a lot of decisions about the interior of your home. Though the end of the process probably seems far away, don't forget about how your home will look from the outside. Most builders will hire a contractor to landscape your home, but you're likely to be called on to make selections. Knowing the options available to you can make the landscaping process easy and fun.

Personalizing your yard gives your home its own unique face. Landscaping is more than just planting grass, trees and shrubs, however. Hard surfaces such as decks and patios are also part of the landscaping process.

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Landscaping serves two purposes. The first is to add curb appeal and make your home beautiful on the outside. The second is practical: landscaping helps to drain water away from your home.

Whether you're having a new home built or you want to give your current home a facelift, landscaping lets you give your home a distinctive look. But with so many options, how do you know where to begin? First, ask yourself how your yard will be used. If you or your children will be very active outdoors, or you like to entertain, you'll probably want to keep most of your yard space. If you're after privacy, you might want to add lots of trees and shrubs. If you have a green thumb, you'll want to leave a garden space. And if you want to minimize the time you spend cutting grass, you might consider adding patios.

If you're having a home built, talk to your builder about whom will be making the final decisions on your home's landscape. Find out what parts each of you is responsible for, and what options you have.

	Softscape includes soil, grass and plantings.
	Hardscape includes driveways, sidewalks, patios and fences.

There are two categories in landscaping -- softscape and hardscape.

Softscape is what you normally think of as landscaping and includes soil, grass and plantings.

Hardscape is just what it sounds like, hard surfaces. Hardscape includes fences, gazebos and water fountains. Flatwork, a sub-category of hardscape, consists of areas of asphalt or concrete around the home, such driveways, patios and sidewalks.

Keep in mind that the landscaping efforts can be delayed; your house may be completed and the final papers signed before grass or other plantings are in place. One reason for delayed landscaping is cold weather, as grass and new plants won't survive in extreme cold. Another reason is that your builder may delay the process so that several neighboring properties can be landscaped at once.

Be sure to talk to your builder during the beginning stages of construction to find out what landscaping features they'll be providing, and what you're responsible for on your own. For any landscaping the builder will provide, ask about options and give your input on what you'd like to see. After all, this is your chance to add a creative, personal touch to your home.