How We Finally Achieved the Perfect Landscaping •

Let me tell you a little secret: when we built our home in 2018, landscaping was NOT in the budget. I wanted that dreamy curb appeal. After signing all those mortgage papers, I was just grateful to have a roof over our heads! We put landscaping on the “we’ll get to it later” list. If you know anything about home projects, you know it requires the right timing. (Spoiler alert: that took years.)

The ‘Eh, We’ll Get to It’ Phase (2018-2019)

For the first year, landscaping wasn’t a priority. We had a new home to settle into. A giant English mastiff treated our yard like his personal playground. Quite frankly, we were exhausted from just getting moved in.

But by the summer of 2019, I had had it. Every time I pulled into our driveway, I cringed at our sad, empty yard. Our house looked like the boring house on the block—like we had just moved in yesterday and never unpacked.

My husband hired a lawn guy. He edged out some space. He laid down landscaping fabric and filled it with black mulch. Boom. One step closer to my dream yard!

Or so I thought…

The ‘Well, That Didn’t Go as Planned’ Phase (2019-2020)

Turns out, just laying down mulch doesn’t equal a finished landscape. We had no clue what plants we wanted. We asked friends, did some Pinterest scrolling, and even spoke to a few nursery workers. The advice was all over the place: “Get low-maintenance plants!” “Try perennials!” “Add pops of color!”

While we debated, life kept moving. We added another English Mastiff to the mix. Before we knew it, the grass had taken over the mulch. The landscaping fabric was peeking through like an embarrassing DIY fail.

By the time 2020 rolled around, we were over it and decided to wait again. Then, you know… the pandemic happened. Landscaping was the last thing on our minds.

The ‘Okay, It’s Time to Call in the Pros’ Phase (2021)

By winter 2020, our neighbors had just finished building their home, and their landscaping was stunning. I mean, I had full-on curb appeal envy. My husband and I both looked at each other like, “Yeah… we need to do something.”

So, we asked for their landscaper’s info and scheduled an appointment. Best. Decision. Ever.

The ‘Real Deal Landscaping’ Phase (2021-2022)

Our landscaper came out in January 2021, took measurements, and asked about our vision. I showed him a photo of a house that looked like ours. He patiently explained what plants would work for our home, our lack of a green thumb, and our busy lifestyle.

We chose vibrant, easy-to-maintain plants. We even splurged on an irrigation system. Let’s be real, I wasn’t about to be outside watering plants every day.

Everything was set!

But then… Louisiana had a historic snowstorm in February 2021, pushing our timeline back. Then, plant shortages due to the pandemic delayed things even more. At this point, I felt like our landscaping was never going to happen.

But finally, in April, the work actually began! Video footage.

The Process: A Week of Transformation

Day 1: Outlined the flower beds, killed the grass, and measured everything.
Day 2: Installed the irrigation system.
Day 3: Dug out dirt, set up the rock border, laid landscaping fabric, and poured crushed granite.
Day 4: Prepped the soil.
Day 5: Planted trees, flowers, spread mulch, and added exterior edging.

We even added a walkway from the driveway to the patio! Adding this elevated our patio.

And let me tell you—after years of waiting, the final result was worth every delay.

What I Learned (So You Don’t Have to Learn the Hard Way!)

Find inspiration before you start. Pinterest, Google, and even neighborhood drives can help you visualize what you want.
Know your plants. Low-maintenance plants = less stress. Also, know the difference between perennials (come back every year) and annuals (one season and done!).
Talk to professionals. Even if you DIY, getting expert advice from a landscaper or plant nursery is a game-changer.
Think about watering. Do you have time to water daily? If not, consider an irrigation system.
Be patient. Delays will happen, but trust me—it’s worth it to get it right instead of rushing through it.

Final Thoughts

It took us three years to get our landscaping right. In the end, it turned out even better than I imagined. So, if you’re staring at a bare yard and wondering when you’ll finally tackle it, just know this. When the time is right, it’ll all come together beautifully. And hopefully, without as many oops moments as we had!

Below is a list and pictures of all the plants we used in our landscaping.