August 27th, 2026

YARD BEAUTIFICATION GUIDE Q&A: Answers from Healing Roots Design’s Founder/CEO Keri Evjy

1. When you first look at a yard, what are the first three things you evaluate?
Where is the land in relation to the watershed? This relationship informs the characteristics of the water, soil, landform, contour, air currents, and eco systems at play on the land. 
What is the solar aspect? What direction does the land face in relation to the sun? This relationship determines the productivity of the land and the variations in microclimate. East facing land experiences the first sun and the initial heat and dryness of the day. South facing land tends to have the largest balanced solar window through the day.  North facing land tends to be shady, moist, dark, protected and insulating. West facing land tends to be searingly dry, blasted by the sun and baked, with more wind and a higher evaporation rate.  
What is already there on the land? Bare soil? Erosion? Slope? Bottom, middle or top of slope? What plants are there? Are they hardy pioneer species (the first to colonize newly created environments or recently disturbed environments) or mid-to-late succession plants (species that establish themselves after pioneers, gradually dominating as an ecosystem matures). Where do the humans live on the land? What is the history of the land? What are the existing opportunities and limitations? 

2. What is the most common mistake homeowners make when trying to improve their outdoor space? 
Most common mistakes occur due to lack of planning or not enough time spent in observation of the land before action is taken, yielding the need for an expensive fix later on. Examples include: Building in a flood plane, using an excavator and not pulling aside the top 2” of soil to re-dress and minimize harm to the land afterwards, constructing a driveway that does not take into account how water moves across the site, or siting garden space around a Black Walnut tree, a tree which naturally suppresses the growth of neighboring plants through the chemistry of its roots, leaves and nut hulls. 
To prevent mistakes as a steward of raw land, it is best to consult with ecologically literate professionals from the beginning, before any development, excavation or build occurs, to best understand the patterns impacting the land, site opportunities and limitations, and to protect the watershed and forest. Rushed excavation is a common issue that can result in the need for “emergency services” to stabilize and cover denuded slopes, reforest, add immediate earthworks to mitigate flumes of water down scarred slopes, terrace, and hold back the mountain from generating a creek full of
topsoil. While excavators can perform a variety of essential functions and maximize non-renewable energies to create ponds, grade land for a home site, and build retaining walls, they can also do decades and centuries of expensive and irreparable disturbance and damage in an hour. 
A final consideration to help mitigate potential mistakes is to embrace the concept of  function over form. For example, one may want a view at a certain spot on their land, but what will it take to create it? How will this affect the existing ecosystems? Both form and function can work together, but it is best to take the wider lens. Know your goals, work from patterns to details, and don’t get caught up in the minutia. 

3. How can homeowners figure out their yard’s potential before spending money? 
Consider the following to determine the opportunities and limitations of the site: Climate and micro-climate, landform, water, access and circulation, vegetation and animal life, buildings and infrastructure, zones of use, soil fertility and management, aesthetics, social sphere considerations and legal issues. Pair these considerations with your goals and visions, finances, and time available for maintenance. We dive deeply into these considerations in our initial site consultations. 

4. How can homeowners create four season interest in their yard? 
Ideally, humans are venturing out every season and eating something from their yard.  Many nutritious, edible and medicinal plants are available to fortify our connection to nature and our wellbeing. 
In regards to land design and four season interest, using evergreen trees and shrubs to provide privacy, as an “evergreen screen”, allows for functionality, shapes, color and texture in each season. Some of our favorite evergreens are: holly, eastern cedar, southern magnolia, camelia, evergreen blueberries, heather, and uva ursi. 
Finally, aim to create a palette of plants in your land design that has diverse foliage and multiple bloom successions. It is ideal if those blooms, leaves and stems are edible! Focus on plants that can be used as salad, tea, medicine, or an ingredient in your favorite dish. 

5. What are your favorite plants for beauty and pollinators? 
Some of our favorites are: bee balm, anise hyssop, lavender, echinacea, mountain mint, goldenrod, chives, dill and yarrow. Also consider “pest confusers”, plants that mitigate pests through their scent, allowing the surrounding plants to thrive, such as calendula and poppies.

6. How do you create balance and structure in a landscape? 
To create balance and structure, consider not only the design of the landscape but the human experience within that design. Having a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment in tending the land can be hindered if it requires more maintenance than you can manage, or pay others to manage. We look at site design in regards to “Zones” based on the frequency of human use and types of activity. Each segment has its own needs and analysis. Zone 0 is in the house. Zone 1 includes places we go every day - the driveway, mailbox. Zone 2 includes areas that need moderate tending such as veggie gardens or water systems. Zone 3 includes orchards and large scale plantings. Zone 4 is a bridge area, including timber for firewood and foraging spots (cultivated and not); Zone 5 is natural, untouched space, wild and with no human intervention. 
In landscaping terms, balance and structure is about siting plants in the right space, supportive hardscaping, cohesion, and elements of scale. However, what is the usability, how does this create balance in your life? What maintenance is required?  Make sure that your design is accessible and manageable and gives you peace and nature connection at the end of the day.