Summer is here, which means it’s a great time to attend to the needs of your garden. While you’ll ideally want to spend time enjoying your garden during these warmer months, it can also be an opportune time to give it a bit of a makeover. If you’re interested in learning more about landscaping, below are a few tips.
Carefully Assess the Area
Depending on the size of your garden, you’ll want to perform a careful assessment of the area. Landscaping takes planning and precision, so you’ll do your best to stay organised and map everything out carefully. Another benefit of assessing the area is you can identify potential issues and then plan accordingly. Some of the key things to bear in mind during your assessment are:
Is there any rubbish to remove?
Will the ground need levelling?
Are there plants or structures that need removing or repairing?
Are there trees that need pruning?
What state is the drainage? Are there any waterlogged areas?
After you’ve done your assessment, you’ll want to plan out the design of your garden and decide whether to do it yourself or enlist the help of professionals.
Decide Whether You’ll Go DIY or Hire a Pro
Deciding to do the landscaping yourself can be highly rewarding, especially if you already have a green thumb. However, if the landscaping job requires a lot of work, you may want some assistance. The deciding factor here will obviously be your budget. Included in the budget will be all the materials you need, such as plants, walling, new lawn, and fencing, so you’ll need to evaluate the costs before you hire a professional. However, if you have a lot of money to spare and getting into the dirt just isn’t your thing, then a professional landscaper could be just what you need.
Determine Your Needs vs. Wants
Part of the decision to hire a landscaper can also involve an assessment of your needs versus wants. For instance, instead of installing that beautiful water fountain you’ve had your eye on, you may want to put those funds towards a play area for your kids. Map out the space and figure out what you need to enjoy the space and then see what other extras you can add to spice it up.
Start Small
If you’re landscaping for the first time, it’s important to start small. Going grand will not only cost you more, but it can also become a huge, unwieldy project that takes forever to finish. Experts suggest that you focus on small key areas once you’ve mapped out your plan. For example, work on installing a beautiful flower bed before you attend to the entire garden at once. Or, have a go at manicuring the lawn and getting it in tip-top shape. Depending on the size of the area, you may even want to invest in zero turn mowers that allow you to cut the grass with comfort and precision.
Plan Your Plants & Furniture
Once you’ve laid out the structural areas of the garden, you can then attend to the excitement of adding plants, furniture, and other amenities. These could be based around a theme (e.g., a Zen rock garden or meditation area) or a focal point in the garden that you want to decorate more than the others. Whatever you decide, have fun populating your new garden space!
