Buying a new home is exciting—but once the paperwork is signed and the boxes are unpacked, many homeowners realize their outdoor space needs just as much attention as the inside. Where to start? Whether you’ve purchased a brand new construction home with a blank yard or an older property with established landscaping, having a plan can help you create a landscape you love without overspending.
Landscaping doesn’t have to happen all at once. With the right strategy, homeowners can prioritize improvements, make smart investments, and gradually build a beautiful outdoor space that adds both curb appeal and long-term value.
Many new construction homes come with minimal landscaping—often just basic sod and a few foundation plants. While this can feel overwhelming at first, it’s actually an opportunity to design your outdoor space exactly how you want it. The key is starting with a landscaping design plan before installing plants or features. A thoughtful design helps ensure the right plants go in the right places and prevents costly mistakes.
When planning landscaping for a new home, consider:
By thinking through these elements early, you can create a landscape that grows beautifully over time rather than needing constant redesign.
One of the biggest surprises for new homeowners is the cost of landscaping. Because outdoor projects often happen after the home purchase, they aren’t always included in the mortgage budget.
A common guideline is to plan to invest around 5–10% of your home’s value in landscaping over time. That doesn’t mean everything has to happen immediately. Many homeowners choose to install landscaping in phases over several years.
For example, a phased approach might look like this:
Year 1 priorities:
Year 2 improvements:
Year 3 and beyond:
Phasing your landscaping allows you to spread costs out while still making steady progress toward your ideal outdoor space.
Older homes often come with mature landscaping, which can be a major asset. Large trees, established shrubs, and perennial gardens can add instant character and value to a property. However, not every existing plant deserves to stay. Before pulling everything out, take time to evaluate what you already have.
Walk around your property and ask:
Some plants may simply need pruning or relocation, while others may be better removed entirely.
Many older landscapes contain plants that would take years to replace if removed. Mature plant material can provide structure and beauty that newer landscapes often lack.
Plants worth keeping often include:
These plants can serve as the backbone of your landscape while new additions help refresh and modernize the space.
Sometimes older landscapes contain plants that have simply outgrown their space or require more maintenance than homeowners want to manage.
Common candidates for removal include:
Removing these plants can instantly improve the look of the property and create room for new landscaping that better fits your style.
If you’re unsure what to keep, what to remove, or how to redesign your landscape, a professional consultation can be incredibly helpful. An experienced gardener or landscape designer can identify plant varieties (including natives and invasives), evaluate plant health, and suggest improvements that make the most of your existing landscape. In Indianapolis, Spotts Garden Service offers garden consultation gift certificates, which make it easy for homeowners to get expert advice on their landscape. During a consultation, a professional gardener can help you:
This kind of guidance can save you time, money, and frustration by ensuring landscaping decisions are made with long-term success in mind.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or working with an existing landscape, the most successful outdoor spaces are usually built gradually. Taking time to plan, budget, and evaluate your property helps ensure every addition contributes to a cohesive and beautiful design.
For new homeowners, landscaping is one of the most rewarding ways to personalize a property. With thoughtful planning and the right guidance, your outdoor space can become a safe haven for your family, as well as a place to relax, entertain and find some quiet time for yourself at the end of a long week.
Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood and beyond.
Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds.
Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service.
We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen.
At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts.
Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: DIGS Garden Center, Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.
#bestlandscaperindianapolis #bestlandscaperhamiltoncounty #bestlandscaperboonecounty #outdoorliving #customoutdoorspaces #lovelocal #supportlocal #loveindy #do317
