How To Conserve Water When You Are Landscaping
Landscaping can be fun, and if you get good at it, you might even be able to make some extra money. Start by learning a few simple techniques that you can practice in your own backyard. Soon, you'll be able to take pride in how beautiful your yard looks and might even be able to offer your services to someone else.
Prior to going out and purchasing what you need to do your landscaping, make a plan. By having an idea of what you should buy, and where it is going to go in your yard, you will avoid over purchasing supplies. In the long run, this will save you money, time and frustration.
Select your plants carefully, as they have a big impact on your overall landscaping project. Don't plant sun-loving plants in shady areas. You wouldn't want to plant trees in areas where they don't have room to grow. Take time to be sure your plants are going to thrive.
You can save money by timing your purchases. 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.
If you have a very small house, watch your use of big trees. Big trees can be overwhelming when they are placed in the yard of a very small house. They can distract from the house, and might even make it look smaller than it actually is. Choose smaller varieties instead.
While you might not be able to afford to hire a landscape architect or design professional to develop your landscaping plans. It is well worth the money to pay for an hour-long consultation with one. Doing so can help you refine your ideas and prevent you from making costly mistakes.
If you are a pet owner, and you will be using chemicals to take care of your landscaping needs, be aware of which products you are using. Many of these chemical can make your pet sick, and some could even kill them. If you are unsure of which products are safe, ask the store in which you are purchasing them.
When purchasing plants for your yard, be sure you pick ones that are local to your area. This way, you know that your climate is not too harsh on the plants. Also, make sure you know what kind of care is involved for the plants that you choose to purchase.
Check the quality of your soil before planting your flower bed. Dig a hole and fill it with water to see how quickly it drains. Do a pH test. If necessary, do some soil amendment to achieve ideal drainage and good moisture to oxygen ratio. Give your plants the best possible chance to thrive by preparing the soil properly.
Think about how big your plants will eventually get, before deciding where to place them, or whether you should use them at all. This is vital, so that you do not use plants that end up outgrowing their planting space, and overshadowing their neighbor plants. Plan now so you do not have to move plants around later.
Consider the costs of maintaining your newly landscaped yard before you begin the project. Fertilizers and pesticides are very expensive when using a good deal through a year. If you want a pool consider how much the chemicals will cost you a year, plus possible maintenance costs. These are some of the things that are often forgotten of and add up quickly.
If you want a nice looking landscape that is hardy and simple to look after, native plants should be used whenever possible. Plants that have already been proven to thrive in your climate will be easier to maintain than those that haven't. Local plants don't need as much supplemental irrigation and this can save you cash on your bill for water.
Use an edger on your beds if you want your lawn to look well taken care of. An added bonus is that edging could raise the value of your residence as well; studies have shown that just by curving the edges on your flower beds, your property value could go up by one percent.
For big landscaping projects that will not break the bank, consider delaying your major plant purchases until mid-July. During this time, many lawn and garden centers offer significant markdowns on shrubs, trees and flowers. Do not worry if the plants do not appear quite as robust as they may have in the spring; most will survive the fall and winter months, then bloom in the spring.
Hopefully, you've learned some new techniques after reading this article that will allow you to begin doing some landscaping. Your backyard is the best place to begin and you can experiment, so that you can create the yard you want and most people won't see the results until you invite them to. Don't forget to have fun while you're learning.