Large Projects Transform Your Landscape

If you want a whole new look in your yard, large-scale projects are the best way to achieve that. Adding planting beds, installing trees and trimming the ones you already have require some skill -- and some hard work -- but all can be handled by the ambitious homeowner.

Add a Bed

The hard labor involved in starting a planting bed from scratch is likely to pay off with both a grand new setting in your yard to enjoy and the value it adds to your property. Start by determining the size and shape of the bed you want to create, advised Bill Angelis, a landscape architect with Ruppert Landscape, based in Laytonsville, Maryland. Use marking paint or stakes to define the perimeter of the bed. “This is also a good way to visualize the project before you commit to it,” Angelis added. 

Once you know the size and shape of the bed, start removing the turf. "The easiest way to do that is to get an herbicide like RoundUp that would kill the lawn,” Angelis said. “Remove any residual grass so that it doesn’t come up as weeds in the future. Then you can till the soil. Investing the time to thoroughly till the soil will pay off down the line with the installation and overall health of the plants. It is relatively inexpensive to rent a tiller and well worth the labor it will save you," he said.

Bringing in good-quality soil at the start is important to establishing a new bed, said Denise Putnam, owner of Hands to Work, hearts to God, Gardening Services in Brighton, Michigan. “Mix that with the tilled soil you already have, and then have the pH of the new soil mixture tested so you have a good understanding of which plants will thrive in it.” 

If you’ve started a new bed but don’t plan to install flowers right away, Angelis suggested covering the bed with a good layer of mulch to protect the soil. 

“But try to plan your bed’s creation as close as possible to the time you’ll start planting,” he said. “If you’ve put all the work into getting the soil tilled and in good condition, it makes sense to plant then.”

All in all, a do-it-yourself homeowner can expect to spend as much as $400 or $500 to install a new planting bed, including the cost of renting a tiller, basic supplies and quite a few new plants and shrubs, Putnam said. The quantity and variety of plants you choose is the most significant factor in determining your budget.

Add an Edge

Edging around planting beds is aesthetically appealing because it delineates a well-defined border. It also helps prevent the spread of grasses into your bed area. "It acts as a sort of referee by defining where your grass grows up to," said Brian Labrie, owner of B.H. Labrie Landscape Co. in Merrimack, New Hampshire, adding that there different edging options to consider. Some include:

Spade cut: Edges cut mechanically with an edger or by hand using a spade need to be redone at least once a year, Labrie said. But many homeowners like this clean-cut look.

Stone: "You can also use cobblestones to create edging," Labrie said. "You can buy those at a local box store or granite supplier. Some homeowners like the look of bricks or brick pavers as well."

Purchased edging: Edging materials are made in plastic, rubber and metal. Labrie recommended the latter two over plastic. "The plastic edging doesn't always look as nice and can be flimsy and not hold up as well as sturdier products."

Add New Trees

Planting new trees is another way to reshape the look of your landscape. Brian Labrie, owner of B.H. Labrie Landscape Co. in Merrimack, New Hampshire, said that most homeowners think installing a new tree is as simple as buying one and plunking it in a hole. But, he said, the process takes much more forethought. 

“Homeowners commonly make the mistake of planting a new tree too close to the house, under a cable or telephone line, or even too close to a septic system,” Labrie said. “These things aren’t obvious when the tree is small, but you’re creating a future problem that might warrant paying for tree removal.” 

When planting a new tree, the hole’s width should be twice the size of the root ball so that the soil is not too compact in the immediate vicinity, Labrie advised. Use good-quality topsoil and some good fertilizer and ensure the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Follow with some mulch around the tree.

"When mulching a new tree, it's important not to come up too high with the mulch," Labrie said. “You’ll create what is known as a mulch volcano, which will suffocate the tree. Air and water need to be able to get in there." Typically, 2 to 3 inches of mulch should do the job, he said.

Trim Existing Trees

A total overhaul should also include some attention to existing trees on your property. While whole tree removal is really a job for the pros, consider doing some tree trimming. Indiana-based Joshua Taflinger, a certified arborist, said an extension pole saw is the No. 1 tool he’d suggest homeowners have if they’re going to tackle tree trimming. This type of saw can be picked up for less than $100 at a big-box store. For something a bit higher in quality, Taflinger recommended Treestuff.com, which he says has a nice selection of supplies. 

“An extension pole saw will reach up to 20 feet, so you can really clean up the lower canopy of your tree with a ladder and one of these tools,” he said.

Taflinger said to look for branches that aren’t receiving light because they are blocked by higher limbs. These branches are likely already struggling, and cutting them off helps redistribute energy to the rest of the tree. 

“The other big thing to know is where to cut the branch,” Taflinger said. “A lot of homeowners just cut the branch in the middle and that’s a big mistake. You should not leave any nubs because the tree can’t repair itself that way. Cut just past the bulge where the branch attaches to the trunk. In time, the tree will ‘bandage’ itself and grow over that cut. If you cut flush against the bark, you’ve cut too far and will leave an open wound where disease can get in. It’s a fine line,” he said. 

When working on a tree, Taflinger warned, you can easily do more damage than good. Start slow with any cuts and work conservatively, he said. That’s true of all large-scale projects. If you come to a point at which you feel out of your comfort zone, that’s probably the time to bring in an expert.