Landscaping can be fun, and if you get good at it, you might even be able to make some extra money. Start by learning a few simple techniques that you can practice in your own backyard. Soon, you’ll be able to take pride in how beautiful your yard looks and might even be able to offer your services to someone else.
Test your soil before beginning your landscaping project. This way, you will know what has to be put in or what has to go, and you can work on these things prior to planting. Your plants will thank you by growing to their fullest potential and making your yard look great.
If you are using flowers in your landscaping plans, you should use both perennials and annuals. Perennials come in many beautiful options, but annuals ensure that you have color year round. If you live in a winter climate, you could even incorporate beautiful shrubs and flowers that bloom during that season.
Shop on the Internet for better deals and more variety. Several websites are available that have great products for an excellent price. Check the reviews on the product and retailer before you make your purchase. Always compare prices on several websites before placing an order to ensure you get the best deal possible.
Landscape according to how much time you can commit. While an elaborate landscape might look good on paper, remember that it requires constant upkeep. When designing your garden think about your available time, your physical condition, and your budget. Only take on the responsibilities of a garden that you can easily cope with.
One of the most important things you can do to reduce your landscaping costs, is to draw up a plan before you begin buying plants, and building materials. Knowing what you need, and where it goes will prevent you from wasting money on unneeded items. You’ll save you time as well.
Plan a landscape that will look good throughout the year. This just means having certain plants that will spring to life in the warmer weather, and something attractive in the winter time, such as pine trees. The most important part of having a landscape that is good throughout the year is doing research.
When landscaping the yard, create curvy borders around your flower beds. Having rounded shapes in your yard looks prettier than geometric shapes. As someone looks at your home from your street and sees the curved borders, they will not be focused on straight lines of your home’s more hardscape elements.
Always use the proper tools when doing any landscape project. If you have a stump that needs to be removed, rent a backhoe and remove it properly, do not try to do it with a truck. If you have a lot of material that needs to be moved, use wheelbarrows to reduce strain. Use the right tools for the job, and you will save yourself some grief.
A good landscaping project need not be limited to plants and flowers. For a low-maintenance, earthy look, consider incorporating rocks, water or wooden structures into your lawn, and garden designs. These elements are ideal for parts of the country with low annual rainfall. Many projects of this nature are simple, and can be completed without the help of a professional.
Landscape according to physical challenges. If you, or another member of your family has physical challenges, consider this when landscaping your garden. Raised beds can be built allowing ease of access, enabling someone who can’t kneel down, or an individual who is in a wheelchair to still be able to work in the garden.
When planning your landscape, make sure every plant has enough room to grow. When you buy your plants, find out how much they are going to grow. And even if you keep trimming your plants, remember that their root system will expand under the ground. Ask for advice when you buy a plant.
If you are trying to hide an unsightly fence in your yard, consider adding some climbing plants. Climbing plants will naturally cover the fence, making it more attractive to the eye. This is much less expensive than replacing the fence, and it gives you an extra sense of privacy too.
Always consider your local climate when developing your landscape plan. You may love a certain plant or tree, if it needs elements such as a frost to grow, you may be disappointed if your area is under the frost line. You need to consider rain amounts, wind strength and sunlight before choosing your plants.
Take extra care when adding specialty features, such as a water garden. For these focal pieces, you will want to increase your budget and work with a store that focuses on these types of projects. If you are having trouble with finding what you need, ask a sales associate at a store where the items are you’re trying to find.
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.
In your landscape design, incorporate hard borders at the edges of the lawn where possible. Grass can be difficult to maintain along walls and fences, and will often look unsightly. By incorporating ad hard border, narrow is fine, you will minimize this effect and also give your lawn equipment and solid, ground-level surface to roll on.
Hopefully, you’ve learned some new techniques after reading this article that will allow you to begin doing some landscaping. Your backyard is the best place to begin and you can experiment, so that you can create the yard you want and most people won’t see the results until you invite them to. Don’t forget to have fun while you’re learning.
