Landscaping is just one of those things that is best left to the professionals. However, even when there are professional landscapers on the job, you still want to be as involved with the process as possible. This is the only way you can ensure the final project is what you originally envisioned or were hoping for.
That means you’ll need to learn as much as you can about landscaping so you can keep up with what’s going on in your lawn and offer your suggestions.
It’s impossible to cover all of the complex components of landscaping in one article, but we will cover many fundamental concepts.
Learning these basics will help you create your own design, idea, or blueprint for your lawn. From there, you can work closely with a professional landscaper to help build your dream yard.
Start with a List
Creating a comprehensive list of wants and needs is a great place to start your landscaping journey.
Creating a list of needs doesn’t require any previous landscaping experience or skill. Just know what you would like and what you absolutely need in your lawn.
Perhaps you want a garden? Maybe you need a large, open area for play space? Only you can answer these questions.
You can take the list a step further by creating some outlines or sketches of the things on the list and where they might go. This will help you determine what stays and what goes, as well as the best size for the various areas.
You don’t need to be a great sketch artist to create some simple outlines of an idea. As long as the landscapers can understand what you mean, they can create a more professional blueprint when the time is ready.
Find Your Focal Points
Every great landscaping project is built around one or two key focal points. Certain areas, such as a garden, will have their own focal points as well. Choosing the appropriate focal points may require some shopping or you might already have the materials you need in your lawn. A focal point doesn’t need to be a painting of the Mona Lisa. A simple tree, a beautiful plant, or even a line of shrubs can work as a unique focal point.
The focal point may not always be obvious at first. Try asking a few friends over and getting their opinion on what first caught their eye in the lawn.
This is a great way to identify trees or existing landmarks that are already catching attention without any extra work.
Avoid Hasty Decisions
Many new homeowners make hasty landscaping decisions they later regret. There’s usually a lot of existing beauty in any yard and it only needs to be accentuated to come to the surface.
Spend some time living with the existing conditions to get a better feel for what elements belong there and which ones should be removed.
Over time, you might find you love some areas of the lawn a little more than you once thought. You might also see new ideas that weren’t obvious at first. At any rate, take time and slowly formulate a plan. It doesn’t have to take place overnight and it never will.
While You’re There
While you’re spending some time with your existing lawn, use this time to study the sun and wind patterns throughout the area.
Find where the sun hits the most, the least, and what areas are most protected from winds.
This study is helpful for various reasons:
- It can help you choose the ideal location for patios, decks, and windows
- It will also help you decide where to plant gardens or flowers in the future
- If you’re installing solar panels, then you’ll know exactly where you should place them for the best results
It doesn’t take a professional to see a great idea in a boring lawn. Working with professionals only makes the job easier and helps deliver safer, more efficient results. Once you’ve got the plan for your dream lawn, it’s time to pick up the phone and contact a local landscaping service.
Working with a professional landscaping service brings a sense of safety and security to the job that otherwise wouldn’t exist. After all, they have tools and experience required to get the job done right the first time.