When to Start Landscape Design on Long Beach Island for a Finished Yard by Summer

On Long Beach Island, summer has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute the traffic lights are off, the next it’s bikes and cars cruising by, grills firing up, and friends stopping over after the beach. If a finished, welcoming yard is part of your summer plans, knowing when to start a landscape design project makes all the difference.

At Bay Avenue Plant Company, we live here too. We know the seasons, the soil, the salt air, and the rhythm of the island. And we know that the best summer landscapes don’t start in June. They begin months earlier, with thoughtful planning, clear direction, and a vision that’s given the time it deserves to come together properly.

Why Timing Matters on Long Beach Island

Landscape design is about much more than planting flowers or setting pavers. It’s a thoughtful process that begins with understanding your property, how you live in it, and how it needs to perform in a coastal environment year after year.

On Long Beach Island, timing plays an especially important role. The construction and installation season is relatively short, and demand ramps up quickly as spring approaches. By the time the weather turns, schedules are often full and timelines become compressed. Homeowners who begin planning earlier enjoy more flexibility, design freedom, and a far more relaxed path to a finished yard they can truly enjoy all summer long.

The Ideal Timeline for a Summer-Ready Yard

If enjoying your yard all summer long is the goal, fall and winter are truly the best times to begin. As the island slows down, the focus naturally shifts from rushing to install toward planning thoughtfully and intentionally. It’s a calmer  time to make decisions without the pressure of a fast-approaching deadline.

Starting during these months allows time for:

• Walking the property and evaluating existing conditions
• Developing a design that reflects both the home and how you live outdoors
• Selecting materials and plants that are well suited to LBI’s coastal environment
• Finalizing scope and budget comfortably, without feeling rushed

Design work completed in fall or winter sets the stage for early spring installation, which is key to having everything ready by summer. This is especially important for larger projects that include patios, pools, or outdoor living spaces. Bay Avenue Plant Company’s landscape design services are built around this kind of well-paced planning, giving each project the time it needs to come together properly.

What a Professional Landscape Design Process Looks Like

A landscape should feel effortless once it’s complete, but there is a great deal of planning behind the scenes to make that happen. A professional design process ensures every element works together and supports the way you actually live in and use your outdoor space.

That process typically includes:

• Reviewing grading, drainage, and site exposure
• Talking through how you entertain, relax, and spend time outdoors
• Coordinating hardscape, planting, lighting, and outdoor living areas so everything feels cohesive

By taking the time to plan properly from the beginning, projects move more smoothly from design into build. The result is a landscape that feels intentional, functions flawlessly, and stands up to Long Beach Island’s coastal conditions for years to come.

How Different Landscape Elements Affect Timing

Hardscaping and Outdoor Living

Patios, walkways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, pools, and fire features form the backbone of an outdoor space. These structural elements set the tone for how everything else looks, feels, and functions. On LBI, they also need to be carefully planned and precisely installed to last year after year.

Because these features are typically installed first, hardscaping often drives the overall project timeline. Proper planning ensures grading, drainage, and layout are addressed before planting begins, which helps avoid issues down the road. Projects that include hardscaping or outdoor living features benefit from early design planning, allowing everything to come together seamlessly.

Swimming Pools

When a pool is part of the plan, timing becomes even more important, especially for custom gunite pools. On Long Beach Island, winter weather plays a big role in when pools can be installed, and there is additional time needed upfront for planning. In most cases, it’s important to allow two to four weeks for engineering, followed by another two to four weeks for permitting, before breaking ground.

Ideally, pools are installed in late fall, before frost sets in. That’s why it’s best to start talking about pool design in early fall. Since pools are typically the first major element installed, waiting too long can push everything into a tight spring timeline. Starting early helps keep the entire project moving smoothly and takes a lot of pressure off once the season ramps up.

Planting, Gardens, and Lawns

Planting is what truly brings a landscape to life, but timing plays an important role in long-term success. LBI-friendly plants establish best when they are installed during the right seasonal windows, giving them time to settle in and build strong roots before the heat of summer arrives.

Designing planting alongside hardscaping ensures the entire landscape feels cohesive rather than pieced together. Plant selection, spacing, and placement are all considered in relation to patios, walkways, and outdoor living areas. Our planting and gardening services focus on creating landscapes that mature beautifully over time, not just those that look good for a single season.

Planning for Ongoing Care

A landscape doesn’t stop evolving once installation is complete. In fact, those first few seasons are when regular care matters most. Ongoing maintenance helps plantings establish properly, keeps hardscaping looking brand new, and makes sure the landscape continues to mature the way it was designed to.

Transitioning into property maintenance allows everything to stay polished and healthy long after the last paver is set, so your yard remains just as enjoyable season after season.

How to Tell If It’s Time to Start

Sometimes the decision to start planning feels less like a firm deadline and more like a gentle nudge. Maybe you’re already picturing summer evenings outside, or you’ve noticed parts of your yard that no longer work the way you want them to. If you’ve been thinking about making improvements, chances are the timing is closer than you realize.

It’s probably time to begin planning if:

• You want to enjoy your yard fully by summer
• Entertaining friends and family is part of your lifestyle
• Structural upgrades like patios, walkways, or outdoor living spaces are on your wish list
• You value a cohesive, long-term plan rather than quick fixes

If summer get-togethers are already penciled into your calendar, winter planning is right on time. Starting early gives you the breathing room to make thoughtful decisions and ensures your outdoor space is ready when the island comes back to life.

Thoughtful Planning Leads to Better Results

On Long Beach Island, the most inviting outdoor spaces are the result of good timing, local knowledge, and a team that truly understands the island way of life. Starting a landscape design project early creates room for better ideas, craftsmanship, and a finished yard that feels considered rather than rushed. It’s the difference between simply getting something done and creating a space you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Start Planning Your Landscape Design Project Today

Bay Avenue Plant Company is proud to work with fellow LBI homeowners to design, build, and maintain outdoor environments that feel refined and ready to enjoy. Let’s get started on your project before those pesky traffic lights come back on. Reach out today to begin the conversation!