North Shore Hwy 61

John Hilde of Concrete Designs installed the paving stones and placed the vegetation in this landscaping project.

Aesthetics

Use landscaping to show your personality. Create individual designs that incorporate personal touches like sculptures of your favorite animals or a rock garden featuring a birdbath and a gazing ball. Jon Hilde, owner of Concrete Design and Landscape in Grand Marais, specializes in custom pavers, pillars, steps, fire rings, ponds and decorative concrete.

Hilde says “We work with the customer and their ideas. If you can visualize it, we can make it happen.”

Add color and texture by bringing in vibrant flowering plants and shrubs throughout your yard. By using materials that are native to your property rather than hauling them in, you will save money and your landscape will look more natural.

Add a pond or waterfall. Take advantage of pre-packaged pond kits to help you get all of the necessary parts to build your pond. A kit to build a 21’ x 26’ pond starts around $3,000. If you’re handy and have access to equipment you should be able to install it yourself, although you should consider hiring a licensed electrician to wire your pump and lighting. Waterfalls and fountains are also pleasing to listen to, with the sounds of flowing water being soothing and creating a restful retreat in your own backyard.

Added value

Improving curb appeal may increase your home’s value by up to 10 percent, and is key to selling a house. It’s what gets people past your front door. Bonnie Van Fleet, of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America says “A properly installed and maintained landscape gives homeowners a 100 to 200 percent return on their investment and increases overall property values in the neighborhood.”

Functional

Drainage. Build swales and berms to route water away from undesirable areas, such as low spots or along your foundation, and direct it to ditches or ponds. Increase accessibility to other areas of your property by building paths and stairways and make more usable space out of a hill by creating two separate level areas with a retaining wall. Walls can be made from boulders, stackable blocks or green-treated timbers, depending on the look you’d like to achieve.

Light control. Using trees to control the amount of light coming into the house will help increase your energy efficiency in the summer. Mature trees placed on the south side of your home will be a barrier when the sun is at its hottest.

Wind control. Plant rows of trees along open sides of your property to serve as a wind breaks and help control snow drifts in the winter.

As you can see, landscaping is more than just making your yard look nice. When done properly, a well planned and constructed yard adds enjoyment to your home for years to come.