Transforming Your Blank Slate into a Dream Outdoor Space
Congratulations on your new home! The final builder-grade dirt lot might not look like much, but it’s a blank canvas brimming with potential. A thoughtful landscape design is the final, crucial step in personalizing your property and turning a house into a home. For new construction properties in Kankakee, Illinois, planning your landscape is an exciting opportunity to create an outdoor environment that reflects your lifestyle, adds significant value to your investment, and provides years of enjoyment.
Why Professional Landscaping is a Smart Investment for Your New Home
Beyond simple curb appeal, a professionally designed and installed landscape offers substantial benefits. It can increase your property value by as much as 15%, creating a strong return on investment. More importantly, it extends your living area to the outdoors. Imagine relaxing evenings on a custom patio, entertaining friends in an outdoor kitchen, or the simple joy of watching your garden mature. A strategic landscape plan also addresses practical issues common to new builds, such as privacy, wind reduction, and critically, proper water management to protect your foundation.
The New Construction Landscaping Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating your perfect yard doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a clear, phased approach to ensure every element is installed correctly and built to last. Here’s a breakdown of the typical process for a new construction home.
Step 1: The Master Plan & Design Phase
Before a single shovel hits the ground, you need a comprehensive plan. This is where you dream big. How do you want to use your space? Consider different zones for different activities: a dining area, a play space for kids, a quiet corner for a water feature, or even a backyard putting green. Working with a professional designer allows you to translate these ideas into a functional layout. Using computer-aided designs, we can help you visualize the final result and make informed decisions about your landscaping renovation, ensuring a cohesive look that complements your home’s architecture.
Step 2: Start with Hardscaping
Hardscaping refers to the non-living elements of your landscape. These are the foundational pieces and should always be installed first. This includes features like:
- Patios and Walkways: Defining your main outdoor living areas and creating clear paths. A beautiful paver patio can become the heart of your backyard.
- Driveways: Upgrading from basic asphalt to elegant driveway pavers adds instant curb appeal and durability.
- Retaining Walls: Essential for managing slopes and preventing erosion, retaining walls can also create stunning multi-level planting beds and terraces.
Installing hardscapes first prevents damage to new sod, plants, and irrigation systems that would have to be repaired if done in the wrong order.
Step 3: Address Grading and Drainage
This is one of the most overlooked but critical steps for new homes. Builders often grade the lot just enough to meet code, leaving many homeowners with water problems down the line. Standing water can damage your foundation, kill plants, and create a breeding ground for pests. Professional landscape drainage solutions, such as French drains, swales, or catch basins, should be installed after major grading and hardscaping to ensure water is channeled safely away from your home.
Step 4: Amend the Soil and Install Irrigation
New construction sites are notorious for having compacted, nutrient-poor subsoil left over after construction. Before planting anything, it’s vital to bring in high-quality topsoil and amend it with organic matter. This gives your new plants the healthy foundation they need to thrive. Once the soil is prepared, it’s the ideal time to install any irrigation or sprinkler systems.
Step 5: Softscaping – Trees, Shrubs, and Plants
Now for the fun part: adding life and color! Softscaping includes all the living elements. Start by planting larger trees to establish shade and structure. Follow with shrubs to define spaces and create privacy screens. Finally, add perennial flowers, groundcovers, and sod. Choosing plants native or well-adapted to the Kankakee climate will ensure they flourish with less maintenance.
Step 6: Finishing Touches – Lighting and Mulch
The final details tie everything together. Applying a layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and gives garden beds a clean, finished look. Professionally installed low voltage landscape lighting is the perfect final touch. It enhances your home’s architecture, illuminates pathways for safety, and allows you to enjoy your beautiful new landscape well into the evening.
Did You Know?
A mature tree can increase a property’s value by thousands of dollars. Furthermore, strategic tree placement can reduce summer cooling costs by up to 25% by providing natural shade to your home.
Landscaping for the Kankakee, Illinois Climate
Living in Kankakee means designing a landscape that can withstand our distinct seasons—hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. It’s crucial to select hardy plant species that are rated for USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. Consider incorporating a mix of evergreens for year-round visual interest and deciduous trees that offer brilliant fall color. Native plants like Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Switchgrass are excellent choices as they are naturally adapted to our local soil and climate, requiring less water and resisting local pests and diseases more effectively.
Ready to Build Your Dream Outdoor Space?
Your new construction home deserves a landscape that matches its beauty and your vision. The team at Forest Landscaping has over 15 years of experience helping homeowners in Kankakee, the Chicago Southland, and Northwest Indiana design and build custom outdoor living spaces. Let’s start the conversation about your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I start planning my landscaping for a new construction home?
It’s best to start planning during the home’s construction phase. This allows your landscaper to coordinate with the builder, address grading and drainage before driveways or sidewalks are poured, and potentially save you money by preventing rework. Early planning ensures a smoother, more efficient installation process.
What is a realistic budget for new construction landscaping?
A common guideline is to budget 10-15% of your home’s value for landscaping. This can vary widely depending on the size of your property and the features you want to include, such as extensive hardscaping, water features, or outdoor lighting. We can work with you to create a phased plan that fits your budget.
Why is the soil so bad at new construction sites?
During construction, the nutrient-rich topsoil is often stripped away or heavily compacted by heavy machinery. What’s left is typically subsoil, which is dense, low in organic matter, and not ideal for growing healthy plants. That’s why amending the soil is a non-negotiable step for a successful landscape.
Can I do my new construction landscaping in phases?
Absolutely. A phased approach is a great way to manage your budget. We can help you develop a master plan that prioritizes the most critical elements first, such as drainage and hardscaping foundational pieces. Then, you can add planting beds, lighting, or other features in subsequent years according to the plan.