Easy Landscaping Tips For The Novice Landscaper

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If you wish to sell a home or give it a nicer look, landscaping can help with that. Whether you enjoy doing things yourself, or would rather employ professional help, the tips in this article can help you progress towards your landscaping goals.

Do you plan to sell your house soon? You can see big returns from a small landscaping investment. You should fix up your front lawn initially, so that your home will be appealing to buyers as they pull up to your curb. You can also develop your backyard as an outdoor living area that extends the function of your home.

It is very difficult to landscape your whole residence all at once. Dividing your overall project into phases will make it much easier on both you and your budget. By doing your landscape in phases you will also be able to make any necessary changes along the way.

TIP! If you are thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen, then consider using granite as your surface cover. While it may cost less with marble or a similar material, granite is good because you place very hot things on it and does not require much maintenance.

Most people don’t consider going online to get their landscaping items. This can not only save you money, but it can also help you to find plants that are more rare and not carried locally or even in specialty stores in your area.

Purchase at certain times of the year to save money. Buy lumber in the winter or mulch in late season to save funds. When new plants are introduced to the market, wait a year or two for their prices to fall before purchasing them.

When planning your landscaping, try more than just a couple kinds of plants. This is critical to preserving your yard should it be the victim of an insect infestation or disease outbreak. If you use few types of plants, the insect or disease will take them all out. Maintaining diversity with your landscaping is very important to the overall health of all of its inhabitants.

TIP! It is not necessary – or even wise – to try to landscape your entire property all at the same time. It’s better to divide and conquer one area at a time.

Measure your work area before you go shopping for materials. This will allow you to know exactly how much of any item you need. This will ensure that you purchase just the right amount of all materials.

When planning on making some changes to your landscape, you need to pay attention to existing structures before breaking ground. Consider where sprinklers, cables and air conditioners are placed so landscaping doesn’t affect them. Also call your local municipality to come out and mark the underground wires before you begin digging.

If the scope of your landscaping project is large enough, an hour or two with a professional landscaper or architect may be worth it, as they can give you expert guidance on choosing your plants and help you refine your design. A professional will give you key information that will help your project run smoothly. It may cost you $75 or so for a one hour consultation, but it may be well worthwhile.

TIP! Select good products instead of inexpensive ones. You will encounter many cheap, shoddy landscaping products if you shop at a home improvement store.

There are some landscaping items that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on. Items such as common perennials, mulch and containers are no different no matter how much they cost. It is important to look your plants over well though. Places that offer them at a reduced price might not have provided them the care that they need.

When tackling landscaping on your own, it is very important to plan your costs out ahead of time. List out each material, plant and even labor costs before you begin. The next step is to determine where you will purchase these materials. You don’t want to overspend, and that can happen easily since different stores can vary wildly in price depending on where they are located. Also look into buying reclaimed materials and industrial scraps to save some money.

Don’t overlook the impact that certain types of landscaping can have on your yard and home. If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself with plants with root systems that affect your underground pipes or shrubs that block line-of-sight to traffic when exiting your driveway. Take this into consideration when coming up with a landscaping plan.

TIP! Find a larger selection and save money by shopping on the Internet. Plenty of websites offer high quality products, usually at reasonable prices.

Inexpensive products are not always the best when buying materials. Sometimes it is worth paying a bit extra for materials at a store which has a knowledgeable staff and offers an excellent return policy. Therefore, weigh all of your options before purchasing anything. It’s possible that these few additional dollars will save you cash over the long haul.

Think about the climate where you live as you choose the plants you want to use. Some plants require a frost to get them started, and if your weather does not cooperate, they may not sprout. You need to consider rain amounts, wind strength and sunlight before choosing your plants.

Work your way around your yard in phases. You can find it affordable to split your garden up into different types of projects. If it makes more sense, you could also break up your yard by plant type instead of by area.

TIP! Always keep any existing structures in mind prior to any landscaping project. Always know the location of utility lines, buried cables and similar things so that your plants won’t interfere with them.

Never let a lack of funds stop you from beginning to work on your landscape design. Depending on how large your landscaping project is, you can do the project in phases and learn new things every step of the way. You may also find that adding a few specialty plants into your design will create an appealing look.

If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, it is important that you update your landscaping to add curb appeal to the front of the home. More potential buyers will be attracted to your home if you lawn is green, if you have landscape stones, or if you have a birdbath.

You can add some beautiful color to your landscape by using various kinds of flowering trees and shrubs. Shrubs are available in a variety of colors in addition to green, and some of them produce flowers in spring and summer. If you have enough space, you should make sure to include trees that produce blossoms in spring.

TIP! If you are assembling your own landscape plan, add an estimate for the cost. To create an accurate list of costs associated with your landscape design, include plants, mulch and equipment.

Your home will look much better by doing something as simple as sprucing up your lawn, adding rocks to your landscaping, or putting in flowers or trees. Taking just a small amount of time to research what you want to do is very important for creating a successful yard that will bring you much praise. Use the tips you have just discovered to get started on your landscaping project today!