TurfMutt's Tips for a Purposeful Yard This Spring

Your yard is not just about aesthetics or curb appeal. Landscapes—including backyards and green spaces around homes—should be purposeful, too. After all, they offer places for children and pets to play, act as outdoor living and working rooms and are vital habitats and provide food for wildlife.

Not to mention, numerous studies have shown the benefits of green space to human health, including improved mood, lowered stress, increased fitness levels, and more.

The TurfMutt Foundation offers these design tips to show off your home’s landscape this spring:

Improve the outdoor living room with a balanced landscape mix. Take stock of how the yard will be used and choose a balance of grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers that meet those needs.

Create an outdoor office. Spring is the perfect time to move your office outside so you can de-stress and enjoy nature while focusing on tasks at hand.

Right plant, right place. Homeowners should choose plants that are right for their climate zone (refer to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for more information). This is the environmentally friendly choice and selecting appropriate plants will also save on water usage. Plus, these plants are more likely to thrive in their native environment.

Avoid toxic plants that can be harmful to pets. For a complete list of plants to leave out of the living landscape when pets are in the picture, visit ASPCA’s list of nontoxic and toxic plants.

For more tips, sign up for Mutt Mail, an e-newsletter with backyarding ideas and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard and outdoor office of your dreams, visit TurfMutt.com.