Landscape improvements can make a tremendous difference in the looks, usefulness and value of your home. While your lawn and landscape may not be the first thing on your mind this time of year, winter is a great time to plan future improvements.

Landscapes consist of many different parts that add to your property’s appeal. Walkways, hedges, trees, flower beds, water features and patios all contribute to your landscape’s overall look and usability. A good improvement plan will take each part of your property into consideration and ensure that all of your new landscape projects work together smoothly.

Even if you’re just making a few improvements right now, a long-range “wish list” results in significant savings in terms of time and money. You will find that with a thorough plan, it’s easier to set priorities, and individual projects can be tackled more quickly because they’ve been thought out in advance.

If you have an older landscape, you might consider a systematic plan for re-purposing a small section of your property each year. This is an effective way to spread out landscape renewal expenses. It also allows you to focus your attention on one section at a time. By concentrating on just one or two areas at a time, you can be detail-oriented and not overwhelmed by the larger objective.

By planning carefully now, you set your property on an enjoyable path of constant improvement.

Fun Facts

• Sometimes it feels like a nut: The peanut is actually a bean.

• Two-thirds of the world’s eggplant, a member of the thistle family, is grown in New Jersey.

• The fruit that is highest in calories is the avocado (167 calories per 100 grams).

• Some rice paper is made from a tree, rather than rice.

• Eighty-five percent of the world’s greenery is ocean plant life.

• Bamboo is really a grass and the world’s tallest, sometimes growing to 130 feet or more.

• Wheat is grown on every continent except Antarctica.