Landscaping can instantly transform the look and feel of your home. Although, if this is your first attempt at leveling up your home’s exterior, juggling maintenance and climate changes may seem daunting. With the help of Valerie Depew, member of the Ask a Master Gardener Committee at Texas A&M, we’re here to set you and your home’s landscape up for success. With the right tips, tricks and tools, you’ll have your home’s exterior looking new and improved. Maestro, cue instant curb appeal.

Get Educated

Information is your best friend, especially when it comes to home landscaping. Whether this is your first foray into the subject or you have a breadth of experience under your belt, it doesn’t hurt to become more educated about the process. As part of the Texas Superstar plant program, Texas A&M’s Ask a Master Gardener Committee has created a list of tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your home’s landscape. They cover everything from planting, fertilizers and disease management to the efficient use of water.

Choose the Right Plants

It’s not uncommon for Texas to experience periods of drought — making choosing the right plants that thrive in unpredictable weather conditions one of the most important steps to landscaping. To help homeowners choose the right plants for their properties, Depew recommends for them to become familiar with the Texas Superstar plant program from Texas A&M — an online resource of plants that are chosen, trialed and tested in rigorous growing conditions without pesticides, supplemental watering or freeze protection. The website includes information on each plant and a Texas Superstar plant database to help homeowners evaluate which plants are best suited to their landscape, their climate and their needs. From annual and specialty plants to trees and woody shrubs, browse their collection and find the right plants for you.

Plan Your Landscape

Planning your landscape is crucial to maximizing your home’s curb appeal. Sure, you can place trees, shrubs and flowers on the property, but what makes a well-designed landscape is the thought process that takes place beforehand. You don’t need to be a professional landscape architect or designer either — the Texas Superstar program will guide you through the entire planning process from creating your base plan and evaluating your needs to accessorizing your home’s landscape.