Whether you are hoping to achieve a beautiful landscape as a do-it-yourselfer, or you are hiring a professional, don’t let your investment go to waste by not following these ten common landscaping mistakes. This advice will help you correctly calculate your needs for landscaping, incorporate existing aspects of your yard into your design plan, and how to save money by avoiding costly mistakes.
1. Not working with what you have
Maybe your yard is naturally rocky or has more shade coverage than you’d prefer. On the other hand, your yard may be sloped or exposed to a bountiful amount of sunshine. Whatever the conditions of your yard, the most practical approach is to incorporate these conditions into your plan if possible, instead of spending additional money trying to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. You may think a rocky landscape means a detriment to your landscape design, but that is far from the truth! Sometimes, rocks in your yard can be incorporated into the design and add an aesthetically appealing look to your garden. Some plants are even drought-tolerant, which means they do not need moist soil to thrive. Look for plants or shrubs that will thrive in a drier climate.
If your yard is too shady, consider plants that don’t require much sunshine and are likely heavy drinkers. In other words, shaded areas tend to be soggier, and the soil tends to not dry out as fast. Ensure the plants you choose for a well shaded area are plants that require much moisture without becoming over-saturated. Wetland type plants are ideal for heavily saturated soil. If your shaded yard tends to have standing water that doesn’t drain well for days, you may consider installing a French drain to drain any water that may collect.
For yards that receive much summer heat and sunshine, drought resistant plants are ideal. Some plants, even flowers, love the hot, dry summer heat. If your yard is parched and receives much sun, ensure you are planting appropriate plants for this type of climate. If your yard is too dry to sustain much of anything, consider installing an automatic irrigation system that ensures your lawn is regularly watered. Whatever the present condition of your yard may be, ensure you are planting the proper plants and shrubs that will thrive in the conditions of your yard.
2. Maintaining a beautiful lawn just because your neighbor does
Some people believe that maintaining a beautiful, lush lawn is an essential part of being a homeowner. The truth is, just because your neighbor has a beautiful green lawn that you covet, doesn’t mean you have to compete. Maintaining a lawn that’s lush and green requires commitment and hard work. If you are not too keen on regular mowing and maintenance that a beautiful, healthy lawn needs, then maybe side with an option that requires less maintenance. There are acceptable, lower maintenance options that can bring life and beauty to your yard such as drought resistant shrubs, bushes, and plants, stone pavers for pathways, moss, and ornamental grasses. Just be sure you choose a landscaping option that fits your style and commitment level. Don’t just follow what you think everyone else is doing. Branch out and create an outdoor space you can be proud of and enjoy for years to come.
3. Lack of color during the fall season
As soon as spring and summer are around the corner, it is natural for people to start getting the itch for wanting to spruce up their yard with lots of colors from flowers and bushes. Most people tend to forget about the natural beauty that the fall season bestows upon us. There are varieties of vines and shrubs that pack a big punch of fall color, long after the dog days of summer have passed. Sumac, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Virginia Creeper, and America Bittersweet are a few vines and bushes that will add color to your yard during the fall season.
4. Neglecting the beauty of winter
Just think, if the fall season is often forgotten about, what about the winter? It is common to think of winter as bitterly cold for much of the U.S. and how could anything survive in freezing temperatures? There are many evergreen shrubs and conifer trees that maintain their vibrant color throughout winter. What makes a plant ideal for winter is not only its ability to thrive in cooler temperatures or even snow, but its height. A winter plant serves no purpose if it ends up spending its days buried under the snow. Choosing plants that grow considerably tall during the winter will ensure you can see them, even when it snows. Plants to consider for wintertime are; trees or shrubs with berries, plants or shrubs that catch snow on its branches, trees with colorful bark and unusual texture, and evergreens that maintain their lush color. Birch trees, Canadian Hemlocks, Bayberry, Yew shrubs, and Winterberry Holly are some examples of ideal trees and shrubs for your enjoyment during the winter. When planting your winter landscape, consider adding tall, ornamental grass such as Plum grass, to add height and charm to your design.
5. Failing to irrigate your lawn
Summer is the time when most people like to travel. The kids are out of school and life tends to slow down, except for your garden. There’s one problem, how will you ensure your plants are watered properly? Don’t let the money and time you’ve spent planting your garden and landscape just because you want to enjoy a trip away from home. Although relying on a neighbor or family member to drop by and water your plants seems like an easy solution to your dilemma, it may not be the most reliable option. Don’t cancel your summer trips because of your lawn. Don’t leave your landscape to chance; instead, install an automatic irrigation system to take care of your watering needs.
6. Planting on a slope prone to erosion
Steep grades in your yard can be difficult to deal with if you are not sure how to incorporate them into your landscape design. Maybe you’ve tried planting various shrubs or plants on a steep slope only to see them washed away over time, due to erosion. An easy fix to this problem is to install a retaining wall to help prevent soil and plant life from washing away when it rains or even from regular watering. Retaining walls not only helps prevent soil erosion, but also adds color, depth, and beauty to your landscape. Just embracing the natural landscaping challenges of your yard can turn out to be a beautiful aspect to the overall landscaping design.
7. Failing to incorporate plants that are deer-resistant
If you’ve spent loads of money and time planning and maintaining your landscape, the last thing you want is to have it destroyed. Let’s face it, Bambi is cute, just not in your yard, killing your plants. Certain plants tend to be deer-resistant and can even add beauty to your landscape while protecting it. Consider planting bushes or shrubs that ward off deer while also adding beauty to your landscape. Here are some to consider, butterfly bushes, Black-Eyed Susan, Autumn Joy, Catmint plants (not to be confused with catnip), Speedwell, Garden Phlox, Shasta daisy, Long-Blooming Salvia, Russian Sage, Lambs Ear, or Lavender. Before designing your landscape be sure to do your research or leave it to the professionals at Promier Landscapes. Call us today for a consultation with a professional landscaper from Promier Landscapes of Kingsport, TN. We will ensure your landscape is suitable for your needs and incorporates the functionality of your yard. Plus, Promier Landscapes can provide the maintenance required to keep your plants thriving.
8. Never keeping your garden tools handy
If your garage or storage shed is a mess and unorganized, trying to find your gardening tools when you need them will be a challenge. Failing to keep your garden tools handy will mean you end up neglecting your landscape. Be sure to maintain organization among your tools and resources that you will use when working on your landscape. Keep shovels, rakes, and other tall hand tools in one place that is easily accessible. Also, for smaller tools such as ties, measuring tapes, shears, and such, keep them organized in one place by using labeled containers or even hanging them in an organized manner.
9. Not incorporating the functionality of your landscape
Of course, you want your landscape design to be aesthetically pleasing, but don’t forget about functionality! Incorporating the functionality of your landscape can help add elements to your yard that you may not have considered. Plus, it can help save money by working with much of what you already have at hand. For instance, if your yard is shady and doesn’t drain well, try to incorporate this feature by planting shrubs and plants that thrive in these types of conditions. It is much more economical and environmental to try and work with the conditions of your landscape if at all possible. Be sure to create a safe, secure, and usable landscape while incorporating beauty and functionality.
10. Not properly planning your landscape
Piece milling your landscape is not an efficient way to plant. Have a plan before you even start shopping for plants. It is best to begin your planning process by sketching out your entire landscape to see a bird’s eye view of what you have to work with when designing your landscape. Don’t just fill spaces with any ole plant, start from scratch and consider all aspects of your landscape, not just bits and pieces of it.
Since 2003, Promier Landscapes has proudly served the Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, TN areas. Promier Landscapes offers extensive experience with landscape design, planning, building, and maintaining landscapes. Promier Landscapes maintains a contractor’s, plant dealer’s, and pesticide license. Our employees are also trained and certified in the installation of irrigation systems, pavers, and retaining walls, which allow us to meet the needs of every customer. Call Promier Landscapes today to schedule a consultation with a qualified technician. We will gladly help you plan, build, and maintain an outdoor space you can enjoy for years to come!