Landscaping

What to know about landscaping before you start digging up the yard

Landscaping projects are a great way to give character to your suburban or rural home. Even some urban homes can benefit from a touch of landscaping depending on how much land is available to work with. Whether you want to install a food garden, flowers or simply a splash of color on your lawn, landscaping projects are among the most fun home improvement renovations.

DIY vs. professional

Weighing the choice of whether to go with a professional landscaper or the DIY route often comes down to which you possess more of: money or time. If you have more money than time, a professional landscaper might be the best way to go. On the other hand, if you have time to spare and need to save a few dollars, designing and implementing your own landscaping solution can be a fun way to get out in the sun and commune with the plants.

Additionally, more complex landscape strategies with extensive paths, watering requirements, fountains and other elements may be too labor-prohibitive for a DIY project. If you want a large landscaping project done in a single season, hiring a professional is often the only way to go.

Maintenance

Landscaping shouldn't be seen as a one-shot fix the way a fixed pipe or electrical issue is. Successful landscaping requires regular maintenance, especially during the growing seasons of spring and summer. While some landscaping solutions are less labor-intensive than others, they usually all require more maintenance than most home improvement projects.

Grass needs to be mowed, gardens need to be weeded and harvested, trees need to be pruned and shrubs need to be kept in check. Depending on the size of your property, this could be a weekly or even daily project. While this is incredibly rewarding, some simply don't have the time. Gardeners or professional landscapers can make it easier to maintain your ideal landscape without you having to put in the time.

Tools

If you plan on doing DIY landscaping and gardening jobs, the first step is to get yourself a set of good tools. Depending on the quality of your soil, you may need a good spade shovel, pick-axe, bow rake and hand trowel at the very least. For gardens or orchards, you will almost certainly need to till the soil before the growing season begins. This will aerate your landscaping bed and make it more amenable to the plants you plan to place. 

Timetables

Different landscaping strategies require different timetables for implementation. Landscaping differs from most home improvement projects in that it may require several seasons to look exactly how you want it. This is both frustrating in the beginning and rewarding when your home's landscape finally looks how you imagined. Its growth will mirror the deepening of your relationship to your house, neighborhood and community.