Article written by-Clancy Egelund
The landscape of a home says a lot about who the homeowners are. Many people overlook the importance of their landscape, not realizing how important it is. If you have neglected the landscaping of your home and would like to make some improvement, read this article for help.
Prior to beginning your landscaping project, you should know which greenery and flowers will flourish in your area and when perennials and annuals will bloom. Do not forget to take different seasons into account when landscaping, too. Putting in the time to gather this kind of knowledge can make your landscaping efforts much more effective.
You do not have to hire a professional to design your landscape for you, but it might be worth your time and money to quickly meet with an architect. Dark gray landscape rock phoenix will get a better idea of how much your project will cost and perhaps avoid mistakes that would end up costing you money.
You will find it daunting to try and landscape your whole yard at one time. Dividing your overall project into phases will make it much easier on both you and your budget. If you run into a problem or realize you need to make changes, it will be a lot easier for you to tweak your plans.
When hiring a professional ask for references. Although their cost estimate is an important factor, their prior customers will tell you a lot about their work ethic and whether they will be right for your job.
Before beginning a landscaping project, go to a home improvement or gardening store first to ensure you have the right equipment. Home Depot and other popular big box retailers not only carry everything you need, but also have knowledgeable staff who can provide advice and recommendations to help you on your next project.
As part of your design, use water. Adding a water pump with a small fountain or waterfall is simple. If you feel uncomfortable with the equipment involved, you can even hire a professional to do the installation for a nominal fee. Include water in your landscaping design and make it a focal point.
Create a plan. Before you pick up a shovel, map everything out on paper. Your plan can range in complexity from a quick sketch to a highly detailed proposal. Be sure to include the features in your garden that you want to keep, and then make several copies of the plan. Use these copies to design a number of different options for your garden, including various types of beds and hard scape.
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.
Landscape according to the different seasons. Make sure you include a variety of plants in your garden that are at their best during different seasons. This way you will create a landscape that offers year-round interest. Plant a combination of shrubs, trees and flowers, and make sure that there is always something colorful to catch the eye, no matter what season.
Do some research about landscaping and design techniques. Anchor plants should be used, or perhaps a plant that you will use as a staple of your design throughout. Continuity is created this way. The textures of your plants should also be considered when planning your yard. Do your research online, at the library or bookstore so that you will learn the best ways to mix plant shapes, colors and textures in pleasing and simple ways.
Use unique textures for leaves such as variegated ones when doing landscaping. The contrast between shape and texture when mixed together can add beauty and interest to your design. Disperse them evenly for maximum effect.
Don’t forget you can decorate your landscape with items aside from plants. Landscape rock gilbert can look a lot better if you use items like urns, jars, lighting, and decorative stones. Try using various decorations around the landscape like gazebos, bird baths, or some water features. Remember that less is more, so try to avoid having things get too crowded.
Before you pick out the plant species to use in any particular flower bed, take the time to determine its sun exposure. How much or how little shade a bed gets makes a big difference in what plants will do best in it. Facing is also important. A spot on the west side of your house will get very different exposure to the sun than one on the east side.
Use an edger on your beds if you want your lawn to look well taken care of. An added bonus is that edging could raise the value of your residence as well; studies have shown that just by curving the edges on your flower beds, your property value could go up by one percent.
Know what items can be purchased cheaply at your local home-improvement store and which ones you should spend top dollar on. It makes sense to purchase common items, such as mulch, pavers and ordinary perennials, at a big-box store. Specialty items and exotic plants should be purchased from a store that has a knowledgeable staff capable of advising you on the correct installation procedures or care of your purchase.
Take extra care when adding specialty features, such as a water garden. You might want to spend some extra cash and get materials from a place that specializes in such items. You can ask a sales associate for advice and make your water garden fit your desires.
If you are going on vacation for an extended period of time, you might want to get a designated person to come to your home to take care of your outdoor space. If you neglect to do so you may come home only to see dead plants and grass. Having this person check on things like watering your plants will save you from a headache.
Having a well-groomed front yard will make the curb appeal of your house gain some serious points in the neighborhood. A well-groomed back yard will give you the outdoor space that you desire for family functions, entertaining or just relaxing on your own. This article has shown you ways to accomplish all of this.