Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Backyard
Before I put my “landscape designer” hat on and talk about New Year’s resolutions related to landscaping and your outdoor spaces, I’d first like to talk about New Year’s resolutions in general. Like most people, I used to make New Year’s resolutions that 
were destined to fail. (In fact, according to Forbes magazine, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions.) My theory on why so many of us with good intentions fail is simple: people make resolutions that are somewhat unpleasant in the “doing.” Losing weight and getting out of debt are two of the most common resolutions people make. Often, resolutions go “against the grain” such as “eat more vegetables,” knowing you’re a die-hard meat-and-potatoes guy that only likes peas. Some resolutions are simply too ambitious and would be better portioned into smaller “baby steps.”
I avoid all of these pitfalls by making only pleasant resolutions that enhance my enjoyment of life and are things that I want to do, like go to more art openings, hike a new trail, entertain more, look up old friends, that sort of thing. It’s amazing how much easier it becomes to keep your resolutions!
Now that you understand my philosophy on New Year’s resolutions, here are my top 10 landscaping-related suggestions that can help you and your family enjoy your backyard more not only this year, but in the years to come. In a series of blog posts following this one, I’ll explain why each of these is on my list, and perhaps there’s one that you’ll want to add to your resolutions for the New Year.
- Spend more time in your backyard with family and friends. More on this in my next post. This should be your biggest motivator for undertaking at least one of the projects listed here.
Use a landscape designer to develop a landscape design plan. Have you ever tried to bake a cake without a recipe? Too many landscapes are pieced together over time, and it shows. Imagine how much easier and how much better the results could be if you had a plan!- Update your current landscaping. An article I read recently put it very well: “The wrong landscaping can date the outside of your home as fast as harvest gold appliances date the inside.”
- Renovate your swimming pool. Sooner or later, every pool needs some major work done, whether for practical reasons or purely cosmetic ones.
Install a pool if you don’t have one. While the statistics vary, no one should be surprised that Texas and Dallas are among the top states/cities for pools per capita. With our hot summers and moderate temperatures the rest of the year, pools have become an integral part of the Dallas landscape and entertaining in Dallas.- Invest in a quality sprinkler system. Like everything else, irrigation or sprinkler systems have evolved, thanks to computers. Today’s “smart” systems know when and how much water to use, both conserving water and saving money.
- Add an outdoor grilling station. Less of an investment than a complete outdoor kitchen, an outdoor grilling station adds a lot of convenience to outdoor cooking (and is an attractive feature for home buyers when you decide to move).
- Grow an herb and vegetable garden. Create your own mini farm-to-table experience by growing your own vegetables and herbs. If there isn’t a good spot in your yard, herbs and many vegetables can do very well in containers.
- Hire a professional to maintain your trees. It’s sad to see trees that have been deformed through improper pruning or worse, have died due to improper care. Often, by the time a homeowner realizes something is wrong with their tree, it’s too late. Hiring an arborist is well worth the investment.
- Hire Bonick Landscaping for both landscaping design and maintenance. In undertaking any of the projects, above, hiring Bonick Landscaping ensures your project will be planned, built, and maintained correctly. We are a full-service landscaping company. Whether you need a landscape designer, someone to build or remodel your pool, lawn care maintenance, or a pool service provider, we can help. Bonick Landscaping has been designing, building and maintaining outdoor environments in the Dallas area for over 30 years. Call us at 972-243-9673 or email info@bonicklandscaping.com.
For over 30 years, Bonick Landscaping has served Dallas area clients with the highest standards looking for out-of-the-ordinary luxury landscape design and pools by offering the best in service, workmanship, and plantings. Services include hardscape and landscape design, pool designs, pool construction and installation, estate management, lawn care services and garden maintenance, pool maintenance, and more. For discerning clients in Dallas who want to express their own distinctive style through their landscaping, Bonick Landscaping can help you realize your dream. Call us at 972-243-9673 or visit our website at www.bonicklandscaping.com.