Apart from enhancing the beauty of your home, having good landscaping tends to increase its overall value. Regardless, the process can end up being a fairly big task. The actual planning and execution can consume a lot of time and energy. Even though it may seem daunting there is no need to hire a professional just yet. Here are a few tips that could save you some money and time.
Initial Planning
First, spend some time visualizing how you want the end product to be. You will need to take into account the function and style of your landscape. Is there going to be an area for the kids to play in, a swimming pool, or a water feature? Do you want to include an area for entertaining guests? Try to focus on the area that you are likely to spend the most time in. Having a general idea of plant placement and type can also be helpful. Finally, think about any other details even if they seem small.
Your design should complement your home
The style of your garden should blend in with the structure of your house. A more modern house with an informal garden will look out of place. Likewise, you should take your lifestyle into account. Would you rather spend your free time pruning shrubs or maintaining beds of annuals? If you plan on hiring a gardener then go ahead, but if not keep in mind that gardens need regular maintenance.
Here are some common landscaping styles you can choose from:
Oriental. Often found in backyards, this type of landscaping uses rocks, evergreens, and water. A wide variety of plants and décor create many interesting angles with this style.
Formal. This style uses a lot of straight lines, symmetrical and geometrical shapes. An orderly arrangement layout instead of random is employed. Heavy pruning and close arrangement are some key features in these styles of gardens.
Informal. This type of landscaping design is best suited for cozy cottages. Unlike a formal garden, Bed edges with curves and random plant placement are best suitable for this landscape style. The overall result is a more natural appearance.
Woodland. This type of landscaping is best suited for a house with a wooded backyard and sloped ground. The use of existing native plants helps blend the garden in with its natural surroundings.
English garden. This style focuses on the harmony between the garden and the house’s architecture.
Formal/Informal Garden. A brick walkway that radiates formality is a common theme seen with this type of style. This walkway normally leads to a circle of plants in the rear of the garden. The plant arrangement resembles the English Garden style, but without formal borders.
Only hire a pro as a last resort
A landscaping plan from an independent designer might end up costing you hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, you should be able to access some free plans from gardening-related websites by doing a quick search.
So when will you know it is time to get the expertise of a pro? It’s time to do so if you foresee any potential issues that you don’t feel comfortable handling. For example, an unusual property with a steep sloop may complicate the design or building process.
