Landscaping Basics For People Without Green Thumbs
Close your eyes and picture your yard. Are you happy about what you see? If not, today is the day for change. This article will provide you with many tips and techniques, which can take your yard from junk to oasis in a short amount of time, and your budget won't be broken.
To update your current landscape cut a new clean edge with soft curves. Curved borders create much more interest than the straight borders of the past. Cutting fresh edges is cheap and it changes how your lawn looks tremendously.
While it may be tempting to have a solid cover installed over your out door space, it is a much better idea to install shade bars that are open. Less of the area will be covered, since there is open space, but it will allow more heat to escape so that you will be cooler.
A great landscaping tip that anyone and everyone should implement is to sketch out what they would like their landscaping to look like before starting out on any work. Making a detailed sketch will give you something to refer to while you work and it will also give you an idea of what your project will look like upon completion.
Carefully consider your plant choices, as this will determine the success of your landscaping once the planting portion is done. You want to avoid things like putting plants that need lots of sunlight in a shady area. You wouldn't want to plant trees in areas where they don't have room to grow. Make sure that all your plants are able to survive well in the areas you plant them.
Shop on the Internet for better deals and more variety. There are lots of quality websites that offer popular products at very reasonable prices. Be sure to view customer's reviews to ensure the product you are ordering is one of good quality. Also, compare prices to ensure you're getting the best price for the quality of product you receive.
Whenever you are taking on a landscaping project yourself, you should always take into account your plant's water use. Whether you are using drought-tolerant plants or plants that are very lush and green, the amount of water they use will vary drastically. Make sure that you understand what your watering needs will be before selecting your plants.
For the inexperienced do-it-yourself landscaper, it is a good idea to consult with a professional landscaper to get their professional opinion on your design. A professional can be a great resource that provides you with time and money-saving advice. Professional landscapers and architects both charge about $75/hour, which can easily pay for itself if you put their advice to use.
Plan out what time of the year you are going to buy your supplies in order to save money. For example, lumber does not cost as much in the winter as it does in the summer. You can also find better deals on trees, soil and perennials later in the season when not as many people are buying them.
Start any landscaping with a plan of action. With landscaping projects, it's easy to find yourself overwhelmed with material and decorative needs. Take the time to plan it all out before the start, and build a list of every item that will be required, no matter how small the item. This way, you can save yourself lots of one-at-a-time trips to your local garden store.
Before beginning your next landscaping endeavor, check your local city or town's by-laws to ensure that what you are doing is in accordance with the city's plans and rules. Otherwise, you might face a situation where the landscaping work you do is removed as a result of the city enforcing your violation.
Consider the amount of sunlight that hits different areas on your property before deciding what to plant there. Some plants need full sunlight while others thrive in shade. If you plant the incorrect varieties in the wrong areas, you are setting yourself up for failure. Talk to a professional at your local nursery to determine which plants will do best in different lighting conditions.
Whenever you are planning to take on a landscaping project yourself, it is generally a good idea to talk to a professional first. While you don't have to hire a landscape architect to do your landscaping for you, getting a quick consultation won't cost that much, and it will give you some great information.
As long as you use what you've read here and don't get outlandishly crazy, your yard should transform from your nightmare to a dream come true. It just takes some effort on your part, a little time commitment and a relatively small amount of money, as well as, continuing to learn throughout the process. Have fun and good luck!