Landscaping is more than a hobby. It’s an art form. If you’d like to arrange your yard artistically, you need to learn a few techniques to help you. Once you master the art of landscaping, you’ll be able to use your creativity and show off the results to your friends and family.
If you are planting in a spot that has a very large slope to it you should make sure to grow drought-tolerant plants. This is because they are on an angle and will not hold water very well. Since they are at an angle they will be able to get access to more sunlight.
It is generally a good idea to evaluate the sunlight that is available to you before you start landscaping. This way you can plan what sort of plants will go where so that they receive the optimal amount of sunlight. You don’t want to have plants die because of too little or too much sun exposure.
Be judicious when it comes to selecting your plants, because this can have a huge effect on the success of your landscaping project. You don’t want to use plants that require a lot of sunlight in shady areas. You’ll be unhappy if a tree is planted in a place that won’t give it room to grow. Proper planning will ensure that your landscape is successful.
Use stones, and pebbles to decrease the amount of grass on your lawn. Stones and pebbles are attractive additions to any yard, and they do not require regular maintenance. Grass requires regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Reducing the amount of grass in your yard can help to save you time, and energy.
After mowing your yard, consider leaving some of the grass clippings around. As the clippings decompose, they provide your lawn with nutrients, which means that you can apply less fertilizer.
Befriend your neighbors. You might be able to share costs when you rent equipment or buy large quantities of landscaping supplies together. Offer to help your neighbors with their landscaping project and they will probably help you with yours. Let people borrow your tools and talk about creating a common tool collection.
If you are landscaping by yourself, take the time to estimate costs. Jot down all of the supplies that will be required. Take some time to figure out where you should purchase each of the items from. Note that prices can vary greatly, so be sure to check out a few options in your area. Figure out where the best deals are and don’t be afraid to ask around for the lowest prices.
Speak often with your neighbors and friends about your landscaping plans. They may also want to do work on their yards, and you may be able to go in together to rent things like chippers or tillers. By sharing this equipment, you will all save money and be able to get your work done.
Before you begin any landscaping project, it is important to check for any county codes or rules you may need to follow. For example, there are certain plants and heavy objects that will not be allowed on top of a septic drain field. A simple check with the county can locate the drain field and help you avoid disaster!
If you have something that is unsightly on your property, remember that landscaping can be a great way to hide it. You can hide your garbage cans with tall hedges, or a telephone pole with a large tree. Take any eyesores into consideration when you are planning out your landscaping project, then work to plant things that make those areas more attractive.
If your landscape includes a waterfall or pond, it is important you surround these areas with decorative stones and flowers that will not cover up the design of your structure. Make sure that any water items you have are complimented nicely so that it doesn’t take away from their natural appeal.
Consider what look you are trying to establish when building a walkway. For example, if you are trying to get a natural, rustic look, use flagstones and plant a low growing moss between the rock. For a more polished look you can use concrete walkways with formal plantings along the edge.
Before shelling out a ton of cash on trees, shrubs and grasses, locate a home and garden center that offers guarantees on its plants. Many independent nurseries offer at least a one-year guarantee on all plants. Doing so ensures that your money is well-spent on plants of the highest quality.
Determine how much sunlight your property gets. This is important since it can affect the kind of plants you choose. Be aware of shady areas, as you can divide some of the areas where there is full or partial shade. This is crucial because plants can wither from too much or too little sunlight.
If you are looking forward to adding some extra spice to your landscaping project, try adding different types of plants and flowers. Instead of focusing solely on finding plants and flowers of distinctive color types, you can also try planting plants and flowers of different heights to create a varied visual effect.
The year before you plan to start your landscaping project, take photos of the area at beginning of each month. This will allow you to assess how much light the area typically receives and when it receives it. You can then use this information to choose plants that will thrive in your conditions.
If you plan on staying put, buy smaller plants instead of larger plants. This helps you save money on your landscaping costs. You will have to wait a few seasons for the plants to come to full size, but it is worth saving the extra money if you are sticking around.
Now that you’ve read this article, you should have some basic techniques under your belt to help you mold your yard to match your artistic vision. Let your inner artist out so that you can make your yard match your dreams. Landscaping will allow you to be a part-time or full-time artist and have something that you can show off as a result of your hard work.
