It’s only natural for us to consider the DIY route for any job we undertake around our properties. After all, if we can save money, why wouldn’t we try? The problem is, not all jobs will go off without a hitch, including what might seem simple, like landscape design.
If you’ve been thinking about getting stuck into a DIY landscaping project on your own, think about whether you have the necessary expertise to handle the task. Otherwise, you may face some of these problems below.
Planting in the Wrong Place
You might know where you want your plants to go, but that doesn’t mean where you’re planting them is where they are going to thrive. You might have purchased a sun-loving shrub but then grew it in a shady area that sees no sun.
One way to waste a significant amount of time and money is failing to do your homework on plants. Each plant type has its own unique needs, and your backyard may not always be able to fulfil them.
Not Considering Your Lifestyle
Surprisingly, your lifestyle should feature heavily in your landscape design before you get started. Think about what you will be using the space for and how much time you have to dedicate to its maintenance.
For example, you might like a garden full of exotic plant varieties, but do you have the time to dedicate to pruning, mulching, weeding, and general care? Sometimes, limestone blocks and grasses are a better option, even if you had your heart set on something more elegant.
Not Creating a Plan
Perhaps one of the worst things you can do when trying to landscape on your own is venture into your local garden store without a plan. You might know you need to buy plants, but you can’t simply purchase a few different options on sale and hope for the best.
As most landscapers will tell you, you need to create an extensive plan. This should include a sketch of your property and its permanent structures and boundaries. It should also outline where new plants and other elements will go, the type of soil and sunshine featured in those spaces, and your goals.
A plan can be as extensive or basic as you like, but the more detailed it is, the fewer mistakes you might make.
Ignoring Seasonal Changes
Some plants thrive all year-round, while others lose all their foliage for the colder seasons. Don’t forget to factor all four seasons into your landscape design. If you want to see any foliage during winter and autumn, make sure you include a few plant varieties that thrive year-round.
Not Setting a Theme or Style
While there’s nothing wrong with having a mismatched yard with no organisation or theme, it can be busy on the eye. You may also soon get fed up with how ‘random’ everything is. Set a theme or style early on, and consider symmetry when you start planning.
Even if you are completely competent when it comes to DIY, it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re not an expert. These are just a few of the many common mistakes people make when tackling landscape design on their own. The more you’re aware of, the fewer of them you might make yourself.
