Landscaping for Your New Log Home

You’ve spent the last few years planning for your dream log home.  It’s gorgeous – inside and out – and it is everything you had hoped it would be. During this planning process, few homeowners take time to consider what landscaping options might be incorporated into the new property. Since you certainly don’t want the landscaping of your new log home to be an afterthought, here are some factors to contemplate.

Landscaping Options: Set a Budget

Not unlike any other project – whether it’s DIY or completed by a pro – the very first step is to establish a budget.  On average, 3-5% of a home’s value is typically allocated for landscaping.  Consider your initial thoughts on this topic.  Are you looking for a low-maintenance plan or will your grounds be professionally manicured?  Your budget may fall on either side of this average depending on your overall landscaping desires.

Landscaping Options: Low Maintenance or Professionally Manicured

Naturescape:  We heard there’s no such thing as “no maintenance” but some families try to prove the professionals wrong. Like this log home for example.  The family’s canine is the only reason this log home has a lawn.  It’s small but still classifies as a low-maintenance landscaping feature. Additionally, a simple walkway from the garage to the house and from the house to the lake was cut into place and covered with loose gravel.  A small stone wall was erected to segregate the lawn with the natural carpeting of Pine needles, tree stumps and saplings. Mature deciduous trees form a natural barrier to the rear of this property. This is Mother Nature at her finest.  When your property is lakeside, you want to spend time at your home away from home doing what you love – swimming, kayaking and hiking – not trimming bushes and raking leaves.  Albeit some maintenance is required at this property, it is as minimalistic as it can be and certainly on the low side of the budgetary average.

Professionally manicured: Here is an example of the other extreme – professionally manicured.  In the front center of this log home, there’s a large circular shaped landscaping area with a water fountain, massive boulders, Weeping Cherry trees, shrubbery, ornamental and pampas grasses, rock mulch, bark mulch and so much more. Extending just beyond this attention-grabbing landscaping feature is a red inlaid brick circular area that contrasts nicely with the remainder of the macadam driveway.  These homeowners also had a pergola erected between the studio garage and the barn plus additional brick walkways connect further outbuildings to the main drive.  Touches of stone, greenery, and mulch compliment each structure on this property.  It really is a work of art!

So when you envision the landscaping plan for your dream log home, what does it look like?  Next week we’ll give additional considerations to outdoor entertainment areas, overall landscaping designs and more.