Are you thinking of sprucing up your garden?
A scruffy or plain yard can get the best of down. There’s nothing more disheartening after doing up your interior to be magazine perfect. But if you’re no gardening whiz, it can be difficult to know where to start or how to approach a landscaping project.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Read on for these 11 landscaping tips and tricks all homeowners should know.
1. Make a Budget & Stick to It
Beauty comes at a cost, and with landscape gardening, it’s not a cheap one. One of the best landscaping tips is to set your budget and stick to it.
Put aside money for mulch and seedlings, and extra for ongoing maintenance costs. You’ll need new tools, more fertilizer, and other items that’ll crop up.
Each yard will be unique but expect to spend at least a few hundred dollars at the start. Also, consider how much yard storage you have. If you don’t have any, then you’ll need to budget for a shed to keep your gardening tools and supplies.
2. Set a Realistic Timeline
You aren’t going to get the yard of your dreams in one weekend. You need to go through your landscaping ideas and pick one, then prepare your yard. Not to mention buying all the plants and tools you’ll need.
Work out when you will have time (you’ll need a series of weekends) and set them aside for your yard. Schedule a few afternoons or mornings for big jobs like mulching or planting. Any smaller projects could fit into some weekday evenings.
Don’t forget, there is work left even after you’ve planted your last plant. Make sure you have time to weed, re-plant, and look after your new yard.
3. Start With a Blank Canvas
Home landscaping requires a blank canvas for the best results. Existing trees, patios, and planting can stop you from seeing the full potential of the space.
Unless your heart is set on keeping a feature, it’s always best to start from scratch. Remove any current plants, de-weed, and take up any paved areas or decking.
With a clean space, you’ll be able to see the full size of your yard. You can picture where you want your planting to go, where you want your lawn, and any seating/leisure areas.
4. Design for Function & Beauty
Beauty is all well and good but your yard is another living space. It needs to be functional for you to enjoy it. Think about your space and where you’re placing features.
Do you want a play area for the children? Would you like a raised herb and vegetable garden to grow your crops? What about a seating area for outside entertaining?
How you want to use your space should help you plan the design of your yard. Take these areas and find a design that will tie them all together while keeping their functions.
5. Have a Focal Point
As with interior design, exterior landscaping works best when there is a focal point. A top tip for landscaping beginners is to choose one area of your yard or one feature (a plant, fountain, etc.) to be the start.
Your focal point should be bold, big, and draw the eye when you look at the yard as a whole. Once you have your star, work your design out from there. Tie in, but don’t overwhelm, the feature for a cohesive finish.
6. Use a Splash of Color
If you don’t think about color, you could end up with a busy color scheme that detracts from your yard’s look. The best way to approach using color is to pick a color palette.
With this, you can connect your planting with your material items. All you need to do is use your color palette for your outdoor accessories and your flowers. This ensures your yard will flow from area to area with a seamless finish.
You can pick any color you want, from bold reds and oranges to muted pinks and blues. The general rule though is to pick no more than three colors, and they should complement each other. Choosing shades rather than different colors is a way to avoid color clashes.
7. It’s Not All About the Plants
The non-living features like plant pots, fences, arches, and furniture often get overlooked. But, they’re as important as the living elements for your final yard look.
Your items will make your yard usable and welcoming. They will also help blend the inside of your home with your outside space. Consider adding items like:
- benches
- potted plants on decking and patios
- a splash of paint (true to your color scheme) on fences
- a fancy gate
- archways with climbing plants on pathways
They’ll add extra depth to your design and help you add some personality too. It’ll amaze you what a fresh lick of paint and some stylish outside accessories can do.
8. Remember You’ll Have to Look After It
If you’re new to landscaping and gardening, know your limits. Don’t overcommit to a design or plants you can’t maintain. It’s better to pick low-maintenance plants and fixtures when you’re starting.
By choosing plants that are easier to look after, you can still get that dream garden design you’re after. But, you’ll be making your life easier in the process. Remember, if all your plants die off because you can’t look after them, it won’t be a dream garden for long.
9. Learn About Your Climate
Each local area will have plants that can and can’t survive there. Texas might not be the best place for a sea of bright green grass, but Illinois will see it thrive.
You need to consider your local climate, and your home’s location too. Does your yard get a lot of sun? Do you have areas of dominant shade? How does your yard drain off rainwater?
Draw out your yard and divide it into sub-areas, with the appropriate labels. As you decide on the plants for each area, refer to your map so you choose plants that will thrive in those conditions.
10. Ask For Help
Don’t worry about asking for help, because you’re going to need it. Your mom might have an eye for planting arrangements or your dad might know the best way to keep the lawn green.
When you’re in your local gardening center, ask them what plants are best for your local area. Most places will offer a wealth of landscaping services and knowledge.
For more complex situations it’s better to get in an expert. Call in one of the professional landscaping companies like Franz Witte. They can help guide you through to get the best results.
Landscaping Tips and Tricks You Won’t Want to Miss
So, there you have it! Now you know these top 10 landscaping tips and tricks you’re on your way to the garden of your dreams.
Work out your budget and stick to it, and be realistic about what you can achieve as well as a timeframe. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself and end up ruining all your hard work. Bring in color and a focal point, but don’t let the design overrule the function of your yard. You want to be able to sit back with a chilled glass of wine to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
If you found this article helpful, check out our other blog posts for more!