Tips From a Landscaper

Planning

• Start with a plan. To achieve the proper flow for a successful landscape, you need to have an overall picture and long-term vision. How do you want to use the space? Do you need a place for the kids to play? What are the existing site conditions? How much time and money are you able and willing to spend? If resources are inadequate, phase in the landscaping over a few seasons. By developing a plan, you can prioritize and figure out what aspects of the landscape to tackle first. For example, any hardscapes including walkways, patios and driveways must be in place prior to installing planting beds.

Hardscapes

• Hardscapes, including patios and walkways, provide you with outdoor gathering or dining spaces. If you are going to use a professional for any of your outdoor work, this is the place to do so. A properly installed patio and walkway will last years and add character to the landscape as it ages. Improperly installed patios or walkways will sag, contribute to drainage problems and crack. Make sure your masonry work has a properly compacted base or foundation. In cold climates, masonry work must take into account the effects of freezing and thawing.

Plants

• Plants help integrate a home into its surroundings and provide visual interest. Selecting the appropriate plants for a particular location is key to the long-term viability of the landscape. When selecting plants, determine the soil type, sun and shade exposure, water requirements and mature plant size. Some plants grow quickly and will need adequate room to accommodate the mature spread, while other plants' growth habits require less space. In addition, mix up the variety of plants. Evergreen trees and shrubs, deciduous trees and shrubs that lose their leaves in winter and perennial and annual flowering plants will offer interest throughout the seasons.

Maintenance

• Once a landscape has been installed, it will require maintenance. Plants and lawns are dynamic living entities that respond to environmental conditions and require water, food and care. Set aside time on a daily or weekly basis to tend to your gardens and lawn. Trim dead flower off the plants; prune bushes according to the plant's habit; feed the lawn on a monthly basis during the growing season; take care of weeds immediately to avoid spreading and reseeding; and water regularly.