Take a look at your home’s landscape and how it has served you across the seasons. What do you wish you’d done differently in 2021? How would you change it? What could you add? Can you do it in 2022?
*I wish I had a patio where we would get together with friends…With families staying home more, there is renewed interest in creating outdoor spaces to enjoy with each other and with friends. “People say ‘I still want to be able to entertain’.” says Mike Omar, a landscape designer with Gardens of Babylon’s design team. A new outdoor room may start with an outdoor kitchen that’s more than just a grill on the patio. Start with a gas grill and three to four feet of counter space, Omar suggests. Then consider the extras – a firepit, an outdoor oven, outdoor audio – the options are limited only by your budget.
* I wish I had a small kitchen garden… Imagine a series of raised beds brimming with fresh produce just steps away from your kitchen. Think about the convenience of having fresh herbs at your fingertips throughout the year. Kitchen gardens, whether they’re in-the-ground or in raised beds, can be incorporated into any landscape design, say the design team members. Gardens of Babylon offers a Personal Farmer service to help you plan your garden. “We give you what you want and what we know will do well,” landscape architect Ryan Fogarty says.
* I wish I didn’t have to spend so much time watering, mowing and trimming … If the time you spend running hoses and sprinklers finally seems like too much, maybe 2022 is the year to install an irrigation system. “The biggest advantage, if you have a system set up correctly and a good watering schedule, is that the system is taking care of watering needs for you,” says Tim Nebel, Garden of Babylon’s landscape production manager. Systems can be programmed to meet different needs throughout the seasons — a money-saving bonus, Nebel says. And a regularly scheduled landscape maintenance team can do in a fraction of the time what might take you all weekend. Think of it as more time for you to enjoy with family and friends.
* I wish I had a place to escape to … If you’re a gardener, you already know spending time outdoors can lower stress levels, reduce mental fatigue and boost your creativity and a variety of benefits that can improve health. “A backyard oasis can be your own personal escape,” says Eric VanGrinsven, a landscape designer with the Gardens of Babylon design team. “It’s the area where you can be when you’re stressed from work or things are getting to you, your little spot you can disappear to or just relax and be surrounded by nature.”
* I wish I had a (name that shrub, fruit tree or unusual houseplant you’ve been longing for) … From velvety Alocasia to almost-indestructible Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant), you may very well meet up with that unique houseplant during an amble through the Gardens of Babylon Garden Center. Then you can peruse the pottery to find a container that shows the plant at its best, and the potting mix and tools you need to keep it healthy. Here you can also find containers for porch and patio, fruit trees, shrubs, vegetable and herb plants in season, tools and accessories, seeds, gifts, candles, gemstones and many other items on your garden wish list for 2022.
Need help with your landscape? To book an appointment with Gardens of Babylon’s design or maintenance team, click here.
Gardens of Babylon offers a Winter Wake-Up Guarantee for dormant plants planted by the landscape team in fall and winter: Dormant plant material will be covered under a 90-day warranty if it fails to flush the following spring. Foliage winter burn on evergreen material is not be covered under the warranty.
I need to pull my two acre yard into a central look…by removing and replacing outdated shrubs and adding plants in gardens. I would like a wall built around a very old tree and a river rock drainage ditch across the backyard using mostly river rock. Also several existing gardens to be planted and a stone path installed to neighbors house.
Hi Linda,
We would love to help make your vision come alive. To get started, you can schedule a free phone consultation on our website! https://gardensofbabylon.com/book-consultation/ If you have any additional questions, feel free to text us at 615-244-8949 or email us at [email protected]
Thanks!
Creating outdoor spaces for entertaining and adding a small kitchen garden are great ideas to enhance one’s landscape. Another tip I would suggest is incorporating native plants into the design, as they require less maintenance and are beneficial for local ecosystems. Additionally, considering sustainable irrigation systems and low-maintenance landscaping options can save time and resources. Overall, your article provides insightful suggestions for homeowners looking to improve their landscapes in 2022.
All great suggestions, Mason! If the yard space allows for the “small kitchen garden” to be near the indoor kitchen, how easy and convenient that would be. We discuss more on planting native plants in our Xeriscaping blog if you have time to read more. Thanks for commenting and happy gardening!
Creating inviting outdoor spaces has become increasingly important, as families seek ways to connect and entertain at home. Incorporating an outdoor kitchen with ample counter space and additional features like fire pits and outdoor audio can elevate the experience. Kitchen gardens, whether in-ground or raised beds, provide the convenience of fresh herbs and produce right outside the kitchen. Installing an irrigation system can save time and effort while ensuring proper watering, and professional landscape maintenance teams can efficiently handle tasks that might otherwise consume your weekends.
So completely true, Kaubfa! Having a relaxing space for the whole family to connect is important. We couldn’t agree more that having fresh edibles right outside the kitchen is the perfect location. Glad you are thinking of these great concepts and if you need any help making these special spaces in your yard, let us know!