10 Landscaping Mistakes To Avoid

=====Mistakes can often be fixed, but why not try to prevent them in the first place? Learning about a home improvement topic, such as landscapin...

10 Landscaping Mistakes To Avoid - Mistakes can often be fixed, but why not try to prevent them in the first place? Learning about a home improvement topic, such as landscaping, and what not to do will save you a lot of future headaches.
Landscape design mistakes are quite common, so it's important homeowners who want to do it right, educate themselves on some of the biggest blunders before starting the project. See everything you need to know about home landscaping so you can design your masterpiece in confidence.

1. Doing Nothing

This first lesson can also be applied to life, as the experts say, the worst thing you can do with your yard is nothing. Even if you're not that into gardening and design, your neighbors, the property value and future buyers do care about a well-maintained yard, and therefore, so should you.

A blank slate is a great place to start, but don't let that be your final product. Even if you have to start small or work slow, that's okay. Be patient and make sure you're continuously making progress. It'll all come together in the end. Make a plan, grab your tools and get to work!

2. Planting without a Plan

Many homeowners get so excited about their home landscaping project that they dismiss taking the time to make a plan and dive right into planting and digging. While being ambitious is a great quality to have, it shouldn't distract you from executing all of the steps when working on home improvement projects. Without a plan you risk running into issues with space, design, colors and flow.

3. Not Tending to Weeds

Weeds are not, and should not, be part of any garden or backyard. Ignoring weeds means you're going to have an overgrown and unattractive yard no matter how many pretty flowers you plant. Weeding isn't always fun, but it's part of homeownership. Enlist your kids for help and you'll have those weeds pulled in no time.

4. Letting Critters run Wild

My guess is you wouldn't let critters run around in your home, and the same goes for your yard. It's important to tackle any issues with skunks or raccoons in order to keep your landscape critter free. After all of your planning and digging, it'd be difficult to watch them sabotage your hard work. Installing a fence might be helpful, otherwise do a little research into pest control and make sure the problem is contained, if not solved quickly.

5. Planting only Evergreens

Evergreens are nice, but that doesn't mean you should cover your entire yard with them. Planting only evergreens will give your landscape a monochrome look and won't help to increase your home's curb appeal. This is especially important if you're looking to sell your home in the near future.

We all love the color green, but it shouldn't be the only hue you turn to for inspiration. For example, add variation and texture by planting perennials that bloom in different seasons and give your yard a pop of color. Use different hues and variations of plants to add texture to your yard and make it look alive.

6. Overgrown Hedges

If you don't prune and tend to your hedges they're going to grow to block windows and hide your beautiful home. Letting your hedges go is a big no, no and should be part of your regular upkeep and maintenance routine. Not that you should necessarily care what other people think, but your neighbors and passersby will notice. If you don't want to be the talk of the town, it's best to take care of them.

7. Overdoing It

Botanical gardens are gorgeous and easy on the eyes, but that doesn't mean you should replicate this lavish display outside your home. It's okay to want your yard to be noticed and admired, but it's a good idea to stick with a look that's tasteful and classy. With landscaping, less is more and too much is excessive and wasteful. A good philosophy to live by is everything in moderation, including your flowers and shrubs.

8. Over or Under Fertilizing

Fertilizing is a tricky thing to get right. Too much nourishment will burn your grass and not enough will damage your lawn. The best thing you can do is research what products are going to protect and preserve your lawn, and then stick to a regular fertilizing schedule.

9. Failing to Pick a Color Scheme

As I mentioned above, too much green is fine for a forest, but not your backyard. On the flipside, too many random colors may turn your yard into an untamed circus. Just like you would pick out colors for decorating the interior of your home to create flow, the same should be done for your landscaping.

10. Not Recognizing when to hire a Pro

DIY projects are fun and challenging, but that doesn't mean they're for everyone. Even if you decide to do it yourself, it never hurts to get a pro's advice or estimate of work, should you decide to hire them. If you've followed the steps above and find yourself lost or stuck, then it may be time to hire a pro to help you. There's no shame in it, getting an expert to help you design the landscape of your dreams is worth the investment.

Conclusion

Landscaping projects can be intimidating and scary at first, but mapping out a plan and avoiding making the mistakes outlined above will help get you through the process. Remember that doing nothing isn't an option. You should start by asking yourself what your vision is and mapping out a plan. If all else fails, I suggest contacting a landscaping pro to give you a hand.