It's Spring. Let's talk landscaping!

Wait, did it hit 60 degrees in the PNW last week? Spring is officially about to sprung, folks, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to enhance your home's curb appeal through thoughtful landscaping. Whether you're a homeowner looking to enjoy your outdoor space this summer, or a seller aiming to make a great impression on potential buyers, spring is the ideal time to focus on yard maintenance and strategic planting. Now, let's dive in! We'll cover topics like what to plant and when, essential yard maintenance tips, and even touch on exterior updates you can do and should not do without obtaining a building permit. 

Lifestyle Benefits of Landscaping: A well-maintained yard isn't just about aesthetics; it can significantly enhance your lifestyle and overall quality of life. Imagine sipping your morning coffee while surrounded by blooming flowers or hosting weekend barbecues in a lush, green backyard on your new deck. Effective landscaping can turn your outdoor space into a beautiful and functional extension of your home, offering additional areas for relaxation and entertainment. We all love our gorgeous summers here in Western Washington. We want to get you outside to soak up that vitamin D this season!

Sellers: Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal: For those looking to sell their homes this spring, landscaping can be a game-changer. First impressions matter, and potential buyers often judge a property based on its exterior before even stepping inside. A tidy, well-landscaped yard can increase your home's value and reduce the time it spends on the market. Simple tasks like seeding and mowing the lawn, laying down fresh bark, trimming hedges, and planting colorful flowers can make all the difference. You might also want to consider pressure washing the exterior or your home, your driveway, walk ways, patios and decks. Once we get into our warmer months, a fresh coat of stain on those decks and fences is sure to make your outdoor space shine. 

Let's talk about planting! What to plant and when: Spring is synonymous with new growth, making it the perfect season for planting. However, knowing what to plant and when is crucial for successful landscaping.

Early Spring (March-April): Focus on hardy plants that can withstand cooler temperatures. Think about planting perennials like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. If you are a gardner, now's the time to get those tomato and pepper seeds started indoors and ready for late spring planting after our last freeze. Vegetables like radishes, onions, peas, carrots, lettuce and potatoes can be started outdoors in March.

Mid-Spring (April-May): This is an excellent time to get out and plant your new shrubs and trees. Here are a few tips you can use to create some privacy and tranquility in your backyard landscape. 

• Dogwood Trees and Black Cottonwoods are native to our area and can help maintain soil integrity.
• Broadleaf evergreens such as Rhododendrons, Laurel Hedges and Hollies can add beauty as well as privacy to any backyard space.
• Looking for something that is going to grow fast? Consider planting Big Leaf Maples, Douglas Firs, Western Crabapples, Pacific Willows and Black Hawthorns.
• Pro Tip: When planting, dig a wide, shallow hole that is approximately three times the diameter of your root ball. Don't forget to water that baby and remember, Spring and Fall planting will put the least amount of stress on your new trees.

Late Spring (May-June): Now is the time for annuals and more vegetables. Marigolds, petunias, tomatoes, and peppers thrive in warmer weather. Now is also the time to move your indoor starts outdoors for transplant in your garden beds. Get out and start planting your watermelon, pumpkin, beans, corn and squash seeds in the first two weeks of May.

Other Planting Tips:

• Warmer May temperatures and warmer soils create the ideal conditions for sowing seeds and faster germination.
• Washington is in 4-9 USDA plant hardiness zones. For more accurate dates regarding planting and sowing you should track your local weather. What can I say, this is Washington after all.

Essential Yard Maintenance Tips:

Regular yard maintenance can be hard work, yet therapeutic to some people. Here is the key to keeping your landscape looking its best throughout the spring and summer months:

1. Mowing: Keep your grass at an optimal height of about 2.5 to 3 inches to promote healthy growth. This will help in the later summer months, and may help you avoid scorching your lawn you have worked so hard to keep green all season.

2. Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from taking nutrients away from your plants and vegetables. Keep those flower beds looking fresh with new bark. It will make pulling those pesky weeds that do sprout up much easier as well. Applying mulch around plants can also help to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

3. Watering: Ensure that your lawn and garden get adequate water, but be sure to avoid overwatering. Early morning watering is ideal as it reduces evaporation. When we head into August and September, missing just one to two days of watering can wreak havoc on any lawn or garden. Luckily there is a wide range of programmable digital water timers and sprinkler systems on the market now that cost thousands of dollars less to operate and install than your traditional irrigation systems. Also, no need to tear up your yard or winterize these systems in cooler months. They even have options to water four different zones from one of your outdoor spigots. All you'll need are hoses. 

Let's talk about permits! What can you build on your property without obtaining a building permit? When will a permit be necessary? We tend to get this question a lot, especially from our first time home buyers. While we always recommend a call in to your local permitting office for specific guidelines, here are a few things you can consider with regards to your next outdoor project.

• Sheds: If you're considering adding a shed to store gardening tools or create additional outdoor space, it's essential to know local regulations regarding permits. Generally speaking sheds smaller than 100 square feet often do not require a permit. Ensure that the shed complies with setback requirements from property lines and critical areas.

• Fences: Depending on where you live, permits may not be required to build a fence on your property. However, there may be style and height requirements to consider. Some jurisdictions, like City Jurisdiction and/or your HOA, may have other requirements that have to be met. A permit may be required to ensure your project complies with code and the overall look of your neighborhood.
• Decks: According to Snohomish County Planning and Development Services, permits are required for residential decks, and associated platforms and steps, if any of the following apply:
  • The walking surface is more than 30 inches in height, as measured vertically to the floor or grade below, at any point within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontal to the edge of the open side.
  • The deck, porch or step is located over any basement or story below.
  • The deck, porch or step is part of a required accessible route of travel serving a facility such as an Adult Family Home or Family Home Child Care.
  • The deck, porch or step includes a roof cover, the framing of which also supports any portion of the deck, porch or step. (Note: a roof cover, attached to a residential structure -regardless of height or location- always require a building permit.

• Patios: Due to permeable surface regulations, there is a good chance all patios will need to be permitted. One way to get around this is to lay down pavers instead of pouring concrete. This way groundwater still has a way to absorb.

• Flagpoles: Flagpoles under 20 feet in height are exempt from requiring a permit in most cases. 
• Hot tubs: These will require permits everytime if electrical is run to the tub.
• Children's play structures: No permit required if you purchase a kit to assemble yourself from a box store.

Please feel free to reach out to us anytime if you have other questions regarding permits in your local jurisdiction. We would be happy to get you in contact with the permitting office that can help assist you with all of your needs.

Spring offers endless possibilities for enhancing both the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space through effective landscaping. Whether you're planning to sell or simply want to enjoy a more beautiful yard, now is the perfect time to get started. By focusing on what to plant when maintaining your yard diligently, and understanding basic regulations for building structures, you can create an inviting outdoor oasis that enhances your lifestyle and boosts property value. So grab those gardening gloves and get ready to transform your yard this spring!