This is the fourth and final post in a series on the maintenance needed to keep a new landscape looking and performing its best for decades . (You can read the first article here, the second one here, and the third one here.)

The years have passed like minutes, and suddenly it’s…

Year Ten: Congratulations! A decade in, your landscape is officially mature.

• Most perennials and shrubs will have reached their maximum size by now, and smaller plants may be struggling with the competition. Some plants may have died along the way, perhaps inexplicably. Evaluate your happiness with how your garden has developed: does it still provide color, fragrance, and shade the way you want? Does it still invite you outdoors, and reward you with butterflies and songbirds?

• Even if your garden has performed spectacularly over the last decade, you have probably changed. Are you still using your yard in all the ways you hoped to? Do you have new needs, such as play areas for children or accessible ramps for elders? What areas of your landscape do you use the most? What areas speak to you least?

• Your landscape structures should still be sturdy, but they may have taken on the patina of time. Wood elements such as pergolas and arbors are probably overdue to be repainted or resealed; check for any signs of rot or insect damage, especially at exposed ends and crevices. Also check hardscape elements to see whether the grout between stones is cracked or missing; water seeps into these crevices and then shifts the stones as it warms and cools. Your paving may benefit from a pressure-washing, too; you’ll likely be amazed at how much brighter it becomes!

• Also consider your “utility” systems: Are your irrigation and landscape lighting still functioning optimally? At this age, it’s not uncommon for sprinklers to be blocked by grown-up foliage; for drip irrigation lines to have become buried, clogged, or split; and for even long-life LED lights to be replaced. For that matter, the state of the art for your irrigation and lighting controllers likely has advanced, and new technologies may be available that will offer you greater automation and convenience.

Landscapes are ever-changing, often unpredictably and sometimes serendipitously. Stay in touch with your landscape architect over time to discuss changes and upgrades you’d enjoy. Hopefully, they designed your landscape with an idea of how it would likely grow and wear over time — so they’ll be your best resource to help you manage those anticipated changes and address surprises.

It’s said that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago… and the second-best time is now. So get going with your new landscape plans, then look forward to many, many years of delight outdoors!