How to Evaluate Your Landscape During the Summer
Three observations every Treasure Valley homeowner should make before planning landscape improvements.
By the middle of summer, most homeowners already know which parts of their landscape are working...and which aren't.
You may not have thought about it in those terms, but your daily routines tell the story.
Maybe you enjoy your morning coffee on the front porch because it stays cool. Maybe everyone gathers on one side of the patio because it's the only place with afternoon shade. Or maybe there's a part of the yard that looked great on paper but rarely gets used.
As a landscape designer serving homeowners throughout the Treasure Valley, I see these patterns on nearly every site visit, whether I'm walking a property in Boise, Eagle, Star, Meridian, or Hidden Springs. Before we talk about plants, patios, or materials, I want to understand how people are already using their outdoor space.
Summer is one of the best times to evaluate your landscape because you're actually living in it every day.
Spend a Few Days Observing
Over the next week, pay attention to these three things.
Where do you naturally spend your time?
Where does your family gather?
What spaces feel comfortable without much thought?
Those places are already supporting the way you live. Understanding why they work is just as important as identifying what isn't.
Where do you avoid spending time?
Every landscape has areas that don't get used as often as we imagined.
Is there a patio that's too hot by mid-afternoon?
A seating area that's always in full sun?
A corner of the yard that feels disconnected from the rest of the space?
Instead of asking, "What's wrong with this area?" ask yourself,
"Why don't we spend time here?"
The answer often points to your biggest opportunity for improvement.
How does the sun move across your property?
Summer is the perfect time to understand how sunlight affects your outdoor living spaces.
Notice when your favorite places become uncomfortable. Where do you move when the afternoon sun arrives? Do you pull a chair into the shade, open an umbrella, or simply head back inside?
Those everyday decisions reveal opportunities to improve the way your landscape functions. Sometimes a thoughtfully placed tree, pergola, or shade structure can completely change how you experience your outdoor space.
Here's Something I've Noticed...
One thing I've learned after years of walking properties is that clients almost always stop in the same kind of place.
It's where the temperature feels comfortable.
The view opens up.
Or the space simply feels good to be in.
Those moments tell me far more about how someone wants to use their landscape than any Pinterest board or wish list.
That's where thoughtful landscape design begins.
Not by choosing plants.
Not by selecting pavers.
By understanding how you already live outdoors and designing around those patterns.
And one final observation...
Before you wrap up your summer evaluation, step outside one evening.
As the temperatures cool, notice which parts of your landscape become your favorite places to spend time. Do you linger on the patio a little longer? Does the view change? Can you comfortably move through the landscape after sunset?
A thoughtfully designed landscape shouldn't only function in the middle of the day. It should support the way you live from your morning cup of coffee to the last few quiet moments outside in the evening.
Before You Start Your Next Landscape Project
If you're thinking about improving your landscape this fall or planning ahead for next spring, spend a few days paying attention before making decisions.
You may discover that a few thoughtful changes could make a significant difference in how you experience your outdoor space.
When you're ready to turn those observations into a thoughtful landscape plan, learn more about the Landscape Design Process or contact me to start the conversation.
The photographs featured in this article were captured at a recently completed residential landscape project in Star, Idaho.
Landscape Design: Kanvas Landscape Design
Landscape Installation: Sterling Landscape Company
Photography: MIII Media
