Landscaping Ideas

Designing Your Yard

2009-03-31T05:54:00.000-07:00

When you are first trying to decide on how you will go about designing your yard, you have to consider a couple of things. Lots of times we get so excited about starting a garden and planting our yards, that we rush out, buy a bunch of plants, get back home and have no clue where to plant anything! That's because we didn't take the time to actually sit down and think about how we want to use our yard, what do we want it to look like and what is the layout of our property?

What do you want to use your yard for?

Will you use your yard mainly for recreation? Do you have children that you want to provide a play area for? Maybe a large swingset or fort to play in? A sandbox? Do you love volleyball or badminton and will need to set aside an area for this?
Do you have pets? You will need to take into consideration any plants that may be poisonous to pets. Do you have a large dog that will need a big space to run in? Will you need to fence off any garden areas to keep your pets out of them?
Do you want a vegetable garden? How about a cutting garden? Do you want to attract birds and butterflies to your yard?
Do you plan on doing lots of entertaining and would like a formal space to do that in? Are you planning to install a pool, deck or patio?

What do you want your yard to look like?

First you must consider the type of house you have. Is it a large brick home with massive columns or pillars? Or a simple country cottage?
Where do you live? Is your property nestled among the trees with streams and woodlands nearby? Do you live near the beach? Is your house located in a desert environment?
What kind of soil do you have? This is important to know when choosing plants for your region. Will you need to add to your soil to make it functional?

What is the layout of your property?

Is your property flat or hilly? Will you need to deal with a steep slope?
Do you have lots of large rocks? Do you want to incorporate them into your design?
Is there water running through your yard? Does your home back up to a lake? Are you just steps to a beach?

These are just some of the things you will need to take into consideration when designing your yard. By taking the time to plan, you will eliminate spending money on the things you don't need or can't use and you will be much happier with the results of your efforts.

Tips On How To Save Money On Landscaping

2009-03-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Try not to do all your projects at one time. This will be expensive and you will probably end up taking out a loan and paying interest. Spread out your projects over several years to defray the costs.
Consulting with a professional could save you money in the long run. Many do-it-yourselfers make costly mistakes that need to be fixed by a pro. If you insist on doing it yourself, at least get their opinions before starting anything.
Plan it out first before buying your supplies. A plan will keep you from wasting money on unneeded materials or plants.
Scan the internet and catalogs for better bargains. Remember to figure in the cost of shipping though.
Share the cost of any equipment with neighbore that might be doing projects at the same time you are.
Save money on plants by sharing with neighbors. Trade what you have with extras that they may have. If you have time, starting plants from seeds or cuttings is always cheaper. Of course there are some plants that cannot be propogated this way and will need to be bought.

Free Landscaping Ideas

2009-03-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

There are lots of places to search for free landscaping ideas. Most people need some kind of help when it comes to landscaping their yards. Thanks to the internet, it's now easier than ever to find some really great ideas and pictures. The library can also be a good resource.

Start by taking a walk around your whole property, front and back. It would be a good idea to take a notebook with you, so you can record all the differences in your yard. Note the slopes and hills, along with level spots. Point out where drainage might be needed. This is so important, because you do not want to have a plan in your mind, start a project and have to scratch it half way through, because it doesn't work with your particular layout. Spending the time to pre-plan is a good investment. Once you are familiar with your yard, then you can start to use your resources to get free landscaping ideas and advice.

After you have done the first steps, it's now time to decide whether you want to pay someone to do the work or if you want to tackle some of the work yourself. It may be a good idea to consult some library books on the subject and again it's a great way to get some free landscaping ideas. Doing some of the work yourself can save you a ton of money in labor.

A last bit of advice would also be to stick with a plan that ties the front and backyards together. There should be a good flow from one to the other. You don't want the front to have a country cottage look that suddenly changes into formal gardens in the back of the house. Again consult some books or search the internet for some free landscaping ideas that mimic the look you are trying to achieve.