Landscaping 101

Article by: Donna Evans

Landscaping can add beauty, value and functionality to a home. , Garden Pond Construction However, before you actually start buying plants , Unifying and Separating Landscaping ing Beds or digging into your yard, , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide it is essential you take a look at your yard , Garden Pond Construction and think about what you need to do and what you want to accomplish with your landscaping. , A Home Garden – Fun for the Whole Family Start out by answering the following questions:

1. Are there problems with the yard, , Wood Furniture for the Outdoors: Durable, Dependable, and Pleasing to the Eye house, , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide etc. that need correcting - problems such as drainage, erosion, areas where the sun , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide beats down that need to be shaded, etc.

2. Do you have specific needs and priorities? Are you looking for a place , Garden Pond Construction for a flower , Orchid s bed or a vegetable garden , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit or just a patio , Vegetable Garden Layout sitting area for relaxing? Other considerations may be if you have children or pets or if you want to do a lot of outdoor , Ornamental Fountain entertaining.

3. Consider the style of your house , Give Your Plants the Finger and the size of your yard. , The World of Herbs A small house , Ornamental Fountain can be overpowered by using big trees, , Garden Pond Construction but a large house , Gardening During Hard Times or Emergencies - You Can Feed Yourself! and yard , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening can be empty without them.

4. What do you have existing in the yard? Do the existing trees , Wood Furniture for the Outdoors: Durable, Dependable, and Pleasing to the Eye provide much needed shade or are they old and in need of pruning , Step by Step for New Gardeners - Part I or perhaps even need to be removed? Are there specimen plants , Insect Spray Warnings and Healthy Alternatives you want to keep? Or do you have large, overgrown shrubs , Mint: The Herb of Hospitality and perennials , Location, Location, Location: Where to Put Your Water Garden that need pruned or even removed?

5. How much light , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide do you have to work with? Certain plants , Gardening During Hard Times or Emergencies - You Can Feed Yourself! require almost full sun , Theme Gardens while others thrive in the shade.

6. What is your budget? Can you do your landscaping , Treating Rust on Metal Railings over several seasons , Vegetable Garden Layout or do you have projects that need to be completed all at once?

7. Are there significant features , Japanese Garden Lights Bring Tranquillity to your Garden and Peace to your Body and Mind that need to be emphasized or hidden - things such as rock outcroppings, phone , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide poles, sheds , Save Your Fish -- Heron-Proof Your Pond trash receptacles, etc.

Although the task of actually landscaping , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide might seem overwhelming, begin by answering the above points and then start by putting together a site inventory map or sketch of the yard. , Organic Solutions For Pest Control This will include the house, , Insect Spray Warnings and Healthy Alternatives lot lines, major features, , A Modern Day Glove Affair large trees, , Garden Pond Construction fences, sheds, , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening etc. Also make note of other neighboring influences - noisy neighbors, dusty roads, and prevailing winds.

Then get ideas. Look around the neighborhood and see what plants , Unifying and Separating Landscaping ing Beds do well, and also make note of plants , Save Your Fish -- Heron-Proof Your Pond that appear to be suffering. Visit neighboring gardens , In the Veggie Patch - December and garden , Silk Palm Trees centers, and look at gardening , In the Veggie Patch - December books at a local , 5 Must Know Tips For A Better Looking Landscape bookstore or library.

The next step is to prepare a bubble diagram. The easiest way to do this is to place , A Modern Day Glove Affair tracing paper over your site inventory map and casually sketch in various areas - garden , A Home – Fun for the Whole Family areas, patio , Location, Location, Location: Where to Put Your Water Garden areas, lawn , Home for a Gnome? areas, etc. This helps to make sure that the entire area is unified into one design, , Beneficial Mycorrhizae - Your Plant's Best Friend rather than just a scattering of plants. , Specialty Trees - A Beginner's Guide

From the bubble diagram the next step is to get the drawing more formalized. Add in the specifics in your bubble areas. For garden , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit or planting beds, , Orchid Flowers draw in circles for plants, , Gardening - Hibiscus Care for patios, , Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting fences, retaining walls, , Gardening Tips To Excite Toddlers And Preschoolers trellis use squares and lines. Make the drawing to scale, the general scales used are 1 to 8 or 1 to 10. By drawing to scale the appropriate number of trees, , A Modern Day Glove Affair footage for walls, , Ideas On How To Use Container Gardening To Decorate Your House And Garden amount of mulch, etc. can be determined.

Once your drawings are completed begin estimating your costs. Get prices from various nurseries for your supplies and start your work! Remember not to cross your work.

Donna Evans is co-owner of Gizmo Creations LLC,a landscape , Gardening During Hard Times or Emergencies - You Can Feed Yourself! design and website design , Fences company located just north of Brainerd MN. For more information , Swimming Pool Chemicals: Algaecides & Clarifiers on landscaping, , Fences including sample landscape , Dealing With Pests In a Hydroponic Garden plans and photos, go to http://www.gizmocreations.com.

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