Everyone wants a piece of that American dream. The white picket fence, the 2.5 kids and dog running around in the pile of dirt? NO! The landscaping on your home is just as much of an important factor on that dream than anything else is. If you need some direction, this article can help lead the way.
If you are doing landscaping, you need to know the differences between annuals, perennials, as well as which plants survive and thrive in different geographical areas and climates. Also take into account what your yard will look like in each season of the year; don’t design just for summer. It is important to understand which plants do well during specific seasons to get good results from your landscape plans.
When selecting plants for your landscaping, ensure that the needs of each plant are properly addressed. It’s no good to wind up with plants that thrive on sunlight tucked away in the shadiest part of your yard. Also make certain that there is sufficient room for the roots to grow and spread. Proper planning will ensure that your landscape is successful.
Make your landscaping look more natural by using uneven spacing. Do not measure and separate all your plants equally. It is unnatural to see plants and flowers all lined up in a row. Contribute to a more organic appearance in your landscaping by scattering your plantings in a more erratic pattern.
Create a plan. Before you pick up a shovel, map everything out on paper. Your plan can range in complexity from a quick sketch to a highly detailed proposal. Be sure to include the features in your garden that you want to keep, and then make several copies of the plan. Use these copies to design a number of different options for your garden, including various types of beds and hard scape.
When planning a landscaping project for your house, be sure that you are not losing quality when choosing products that cost less. While it is always a good idea to try to save money, you want to be sure that you are not missing out on quality products that will keep your landscaping job looking great for a long time.
While you might not be able to afford to hire a landscape architect or design professional to develop your landscaping plans. It is well worth the money to pay for an hour-long consultation with one. Doing so can help you refine your ideas and prevent you from making costly mistakes.
Go beyond simply searching for your products online and in catalogs. Botanical centers or arboretums sometimes sell plants, and there may even be people in your neighborhood who are interested in swapping perennials. Your city might be giving away free mulch or there could be a construction site that is looking for individuals to haul away bricks or stone.
In order to make sure no money is wasted, it’s best to plan out everything before you start buying anything. Design a rough sketch of your landscape, this way you can figure out exactly what materials you need in certain areas. You may enjoy just buying things on impulse; however, this can destroy your budget.
While hiring a professional is one of your options, doing the landscaping yourself can save you much money and turn out the same results if you carefully plan and are passionate about what you are doing. Different people may prefer different methods, but just remember that doing the landscaping yourself can make for a great activity and save you much money.
Do you live in a hot and dry area? Choose plants that will live through a drought. If the summer months get really hot and dry, your local government might encourage you not to use water for your yard because it has become sparse. Do some research about different plants and choose the most resisting ones.
Buy lumber for outdoor projects during the winter months. It is going to be cheaper than during the spring and summer months. You may also be able to find some really great deals on trees, soil, shrubs and other things by purchasing them off season while demand is low as well.
For big landscaping projects that will not break the bank, consider delaying your major plant purchases until mid-July. During this time, many lawn and garden centers offer significant markdowns on shrubs, trees and flowers. Do not worry if the plants do not appear quite as robust as they may have in the spring; most will survive the fall and winter months, then bloom in the spring.
If you do not have a very large backyard but you want to spice it up, you may want to add in a garden fountain. Unlike their full pond or winding waterfall counterparts, a garden fountain will not take up much room and they are not too expensive to put in.
Be neighborly. Landscaping equipment is expensive. Before you spend money on it, see if any of your neighbors are interesting in landscaping their yard as well. If they are, suggest that you split the cost of equipment rental. You could save a lot of money by simply taking the time to be sociable.
Don’t be scared off by cheap prices! While splurging can sometimes be worthwhile, at other times, the cheapest materials are just as good as the pricey ones. Before paying extra, consider what you’ll be getting for your money, and if it’s worth the extra cost. It doesn’t always take a lot of money to get quality goods.
Don’t let your lack of knowledge regarding plants and flowers stop you from having that beautiful yard to go along with your beautiful life. Landscaping is easy if you have the right information and a little bit of know-how. The ideas from this article should, at least, start you out on the right track.
