It's almost time for the brilliant colors, spicy smells, and crisp breezes of fall! While the seasons are busy changing their aesthetic, you can change yours by revisiting those tired flower beds around the home filled with summer's dying blooms. Here are a few landscaping tips to make sure you're ready.

Let the plants shape your yard

Just like we have habits in our day-to-day lives, plants do too. Be sure to focus on the shape of specific plants as they grow. According to HomeAdvisor, some have a narrow, upstanding shape while others develop a gentle downward curve. You can mix and match plant habits to add a little dimension and interest. Another tip is to use repeated plant shapes and patterns, but break up the color here and there to add character.

Plants in all seasons

One way to ensure you're saving time on landscaping is by choosing specific plants that look great in your yard no matter what the season. Some of these include:

• Pagoda dogwood
• Fothergilla
• Ninebarks
• Viburnums

Also, if you are fortunate enough to live in a place that experiences brilliant, color-changing leaves, then some of the work is already done for you. With trees like these, you only have to add a few additional elements. Pumpkins on the porch are always a nice touch.

Hardscaping is key

Don't forget that while plants add character to your home, you also need to balance your soft landscaping with hard landscaping. Be sure you're also paying attention to stone, rock formations, sidewalks, fountains, benches, etc.

Including a rock garden  a natural element to your garden during the changing seasons. It's easy to maintain and can be easy to install. As a rule of thumb, choose stone that is native to your area.

Update the exterior of your house

It's not always just your yard that needs a pick-me-up – your home does as well. Fall is a great season to give the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint. You can even just take care of the areas that have chipped paint by sanding them and applying a new coat. According to HomeAdvisor, fresh paint ranges from $2,500 to $3,600 and paint repair is around $250 to $919.

Fluff up the mulch

One aspect of improving the aesthetic of your home during the fall season is to turn your mulch. This gives flowerbeds a fresh look and eliminates the need for additional mulch. If you do need to add more mulch, be sure to keep it 2-3 inches thick. Refreshing your mulch helps prevent bugs that can eat your plants, and also keeps it from hardening so that it can easily absorb water.

Plan ahead

Finally, before you throw away all of the leaves, grass clippings, vegetable trimmings, loose flower petals, branches, etc., think about making them into a compost pile. Compost piles don't take up much space and make great fuel for your plants and soil for next year.

Refreshing your yard for a new season can be daunting, but these ideas should be a great starting point to make your home fall-ready!