Landscaping can make a world of difference to the appearance, value, and feel of your home. When beginning a new landscaping project, experts agree, that the first step is to plan out what you would like to achieve. Making a plan will save you a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of headaches.
Draw your idea out on paper and be both specific and realistic. You can’t dream away that gigantic oak tree in the middle of the yard, so work around it. If you live in an ecosystem that gets a lot of rain, don’t plan on cactus, and if you live in a desert, don’t plan alot of vegetation. Take into consideration how much sun your yard gets and which parts get more and less sun. Be aware of the drainage in your yard. Do some spots puddle after a rain, are there dry spots, do some spots flood?
Look at gardening magazines for ideas and tips. Go to the library for how-to books. Be inspired! Go to your local gardening shops and ask questions, take a look around, and add to or subtract from your plan until you think it is perfect. Also take into consideration how much time you want to spend on this project and be honest, how many weekends do you want to sacrifice?
The local flea market and even junk yard can be a landscaping treasure trove. Old discarded porcelain bathtubs can be cute planters, railroad ties give the landscaping a wonderful rustic look, and even old tires can be cut and painted to form a gorgeous path to the front door. Be creative and believe in yourself.
Embrace your ecosystem. If you aren’t into a cactus garden, but you don’t get enough rain to have grass, consider a rock garden: a low maintenance and energy efficient (you never have to water!) alternative.
If you are a bit unsure about what to do, or still need inspiration, there are landscaping softwares out there that can help you design, plan, and take action. Also, the big named hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer classes in landscaping that are free to anybody who wants to attend. Take advantage of these and learn great ideas from the trade experts. There are landscaping clubs and groups that love sharing their expertise. Find them in the yellow pages or online.
Landscaping can be fun. Explore all of your options, plan, and budget to get the most out of your yard.
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