Creating Your Dream Landscape One Phase at a Time

by Teresa Watkins, Landscape Designer

Creating a dream landscape rarely happens overnight. In fact, many homeowners aren't exactly sure what they want their landscape to become when they first begin. Others may have a vision but not the budget to complete everything at once. And sometimes, taking a giant leap can feel a little intimidating. What if you invest all that time and money and then realize it's not quite what you imagined?

That's why designing a landscape in phases is often the best solution.

This lakefront landscape is a perfect example. While the property already featured a beautiful Florida lake view, it also came with a few challenges. The homeowners were concerned about stormwater runoff, felt there was too much turfgrass, and wanted to create a landscape that would attract butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. (See Before 2019)

Fortunately, there's an easy way to approach these challenges: follow Mother Nature's example.

Nature transforms landscapes gradually through a process of evolution and succession. A natural habitat may begin with only a few small plants, or even bare ground. Over time, birds, wildlife, wind, rain, flooding, fire, and even human intervention introduce new plants. Shrubs mature, trees grow taller, and plant communities become established. Within a decade, a landscape can look completely different from where it started.

The same approach works beautifully in our home landscapes.

With a thoughtful plan that considers site conditions, drainage, current needs, and future goals, you can create a landscape that evolves into exactly what you've envisioned. Whether you tackle the work yourself or partner with a landscape professional, small steps can produce dramatic results over time.

In this project, the original landscape consisted of large expanses of turfgrass. While turf can be practical and relatively low maintenance, the homeowners wanted more color, variety, and wildlife activity. Because the property sits on a lake with a naturally high water table and an irrigation system available when needed, reducing the lawn area was a workable option.

The first phase focused on adding definition and function. Garden beds were installed around the pool and along the backyard borders. River rock was added to improve drainage near the home's gutter discharge area, and the landscape began its transformation. (Phase 1, 2021)

As the homeowners enjoyed the changes, they became even more excited about the possibilities. During Phase Two, they decided to reduce the lawn area further and expand the gardens. We enlarged planting beds and incorporated low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly plants such as thryallis, pentas, and Lomandra 'Platinum Beauty.' The drainage area was also transformed into a rain garden, helping manage runoff while adding beauty and habitat value.

The results have been remarkable. The homeowners now enjoy more butterflies visiting their landscape than ever before, along with greater seasonal color and interest throughout the yard.

The lesson is simple: it's okay to dream. Your ideal landscape doesn't have to happen all at once. With patience, planning, and a phased approach, you can turn your backyard into the landscape you've always wanted.

And we're not finished yet. We're currently working on Phase 3: creating a spectacular butterfly garden in the front yard. Follow my Facebook page to see the latest Phase 3 "after" photos and watch this dream landscape continue to evolve.