Landscaping is a dedicated art that looks incredible … when done correctly! It could take your breath away or choke your hopes of living in a beautiful home with a stunning backyard due to badly made decisions. Before giving your garden an extreme makeover, check out these tips and find out if you can actually DIY this one or you’re better off leaving it to the pros.
Know your skills
A simple way to find out if you’re cut out for landscaping is to ask yourself a few questions: Do I know anything about gardening? Do I have any knowledge of color palettes? Do I have an idea of where I’d like to place certain items in my garden? If the answer to any or all of the above is a confusing and stressful “no”, you might want to reconsider your DIY project or simply think about possibly hiring someone to materialize your vision. You can also start pinning photos on Pinterest or Tumblr with gardens and projects that match your style to later show your contractor.
Figure out your style
A landscape says a lot about a house. In order to convey the right message, keep in mind that landscaping isn’t easy and we sometimes like many different styles that don’t mix well together. Your project should be able to stand the test of time, as well. So once it’s finished, you have to like it because it’s a costly endeavor. So start writing down and saving pictures that you enjoy, and then talk to a landscaper artist that will help you choose and disregard items and styles that won’t mesh well together to get the most out of your patio.
Stick to the budget
As you start to do your research on different kinds of landscaping, it’s quite common to fall in love with virtually every design you find. You’ll want everything and all top-notch. Before you max out every credit card in the house, take the time to elaborate a detailed budget. Figure out just how much you can really spend. Then and only then can you start to purchase the materials that you need first, the ones you simply must purchase, and continue planning ahead. That way your budget will shrink according to need and you won’t have much money left to indulge.
Get an expert
Even if you’re reluctant to hiring a landscaping pro, you still could use a second opinion to see if your landscaping design works for your house but, most importantly, for you! A landscaping expert can help you find the best deals for specific materials and consequently ease the stress that comes with a DIY project. Plus, less money on those materials means more money for that big patio lamp or gorgeous cedar oak deck!
Clear the clutter away
If your house front is like most households, you will have a number of weeds and bushes you’ll want to remove before you start your landscaping project. If the idea of cutting, carving and planting seems too challenging, start by getting rid of all the clutter that distracts people from your home’s outside beauty. It will take a few weeks, but it will cut your work by half. The project itself will be challenging but the end results will last forever!