By Abel Gally


Landscaping is an art form that requires the proper balance of planning and technique to do well. Your canvas is the yard around your home. Once you learn some basic techniques, you should be able to do almost anything that you want with your yard. Read on for some basic tips about how to landscape.

Use local plants when landscaping. It's easier to take care of native plants because they are adapted to the climate and soil type in your yard. This is good because they will be low-maintenance. Check out a local gardening store and see what plants are actually native in your area.

You need to decide how much design you actually want in your landscape. While it's less costly to build a square deck or patio, it is not worth it if you don't like the outcome, and if you don't use it as a result. You may wish to hire a designer to create something you can use.

Try to make your landscaping beautiful for all seasons for beautiful year round results. Select a wide variety of plants, with some blooming in each season, according to the region in which you live. You can also pick trees with nice foliage or evergreens which make your yard look alive all year long.

Prior to going to the nursery to purchase the plants for your landscaping project, take some good measurements of the area to be renovated. Having exact measurements makes it easier to calculate the needed amounts of materials. This helps you to not waste money on gas and time by buying too much and having to return it.

When selecting trees for your landscaping project, look for those with rough, glossy or peeling bark. Birch, crepe myrtle, paperbark maple and Japanese cherry trees all have interesting bark that can add texture and visual appeal to your landscape design. Choose trees with bark colors that complement other aspects of your landscape, such as stones or flowers.

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.

Cheaper doesn't always mean better. Generally, common plants and some building materials, like lumber, cost less. Cheaper materials may not have the quality and selection that you can find at many specialized stores. While they may be pricier, these stores tend to include expertise that you won't find in some of the cheaper places, like tips, assistance, deals, and warranties on the particular materials that they specialize in.

When selecting your landscaping design, look to your neighbors for some inspiration. While there is nothing wrong with being creative when it comes to choosing your varieties of plants and trees, you never want your house to stick out like a sore thumb. Try to choose varieties that compliment the plants in your neighborhood, to add the most beauty to your house.

You probably know by now that landscaping has a different definition for everyone who does it. Sometimes your landscaping will just require some patching and touch ups, but other times it needs a full scale renovation for best results. The tips listed here will help you make your yard look fabulous.




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