There’s a big difference between having a “lawn” and having a “landscape.” Yet landscaping can be overwhelming for those who have never done it before.
If you long for gorgeous outdoor spaces but have never done anything more complicated than mowing your lawn before here are 7 basic landscaping tips to get you started.
1. Create a Plan
Start by creating a plan. If you’re not sure what to do seek out some design ideas on Pinterest or other visual sites where you can expose yourself to a lot of beautiful landscaping plans.
You can draw your plan by hand or you can use a landscaping planning application so you can see how it all looks before you commit to it. This allows you to decide that you like the new landscape before you spend lots of money and time on creating it.
2. Work With One or Two Basic Elements
When you’re just getting started it’s a good idea not to go crazy trying to incorporate every single thing you can possibly think of. Instead, plan your landscape around a few focal elements.
Are you going to add a gazebo or pergola? Is it important to have a nice place to eat outdoors? Do you want a vegetable garden or flower garden? What about a meditation area or water feature?
Any one of these elements could become the central focus of your design, helping you create a calm, peaceful environment. Give some thought to how people will be using your landscaping as you make your choices.
3. Decide on a Budget
Don’t go crazy once you get to the hardware store. First, you’ll wreck your plan.
Second, you’ll be overcome with buyer’s remorse when you find yourself buried in a ton of landscaping gear that you never intend to use. This also relates to the landscape that you create: don’t fill every inch of your lawn with plants and visual features only to find that you’ve managed to put together something you will never find time to maintain.
If you do, your landscaping will become a source of stress rather than a source of pleasure. That’s the opposite of what you really want.
4. Think Day and Night
It’s a good idea to start planning some lighting elements for your landscape right from the very start. Most people only think about the daytime, but a truly great landscape is a warm and inviting place at night, too.
5. Use Vertical Space
People don’t just look out. They look up too. Whether you add a vertical container garden along one wall or add some hanging plants to your pergola, it’s important to use all of the space at your disposal.
6. Hide Unsightly Elements
Your trash cans and bbq pit may need to sit in your back yard, but they don’t do much for your landscape. Consider adding a privacy fence so that you can tuck these elements away out of sight when you’re not using them.
7. Have Fun With It
A bad landscaping decision isn’t the end of the world. If you find you don’t like your new creation you can always create a new design and try again.
We have been a trusted fence contractor for residents of Menomonee Falls, Glendale, Mequon and the rest of the Milwaukee metro area for over 3 decades. Contact us for a free estimate on a new fence, gazebo, or pergola for your new landscape!
