GardenMaid| Plan First Dig Later

Plan First Dig Later

Over the years I have learned some things the hard way. Learning to plan an entire yard before the first shovelful of dirt is moved is one of those hard learned lessons. Before you can make a good plan you need to understand what makes a good one. It does not have to be fancy but it should be committed to paper to serve as reference.

To be successful a landscaping plan needs to be well thought out and all issues must be dealt with and accounted for. This means taking into consideration the amount of sun each area of the yard will get as well as how much water it will receive and where the water will drain or stand. Drainage is imperative to any well thought out landscaping plan. You need to have the right kind of irrigation if you want anything to grow and flourish in your landscaping plan.

Unless this is new construction where you are starting with a blank slate, you should take close look at what is already growing around you before start any kind of landscaping plan. All of the best plans will utilize at least part of the existing stock that is already a part of most yards. Most yards will have something going for them so find this and use it to make your landscaping plan stunning.

There may one or more gorgeous flowers or trees, or some great rock formations. Why rip these out only to plant another in its place. Using at least part of what is there will make your landscaping plan will look that much more natural and gorgeous. Some plantings do improve with age.

Examine all aspects of the yard to be landscaped. Will you need to level or build up any areas? Are the angles acceptable as they are or do they need a little help? These kinds of things do matter and will all affect some part of the drainage aspect mentioned above when it comes to your landscaping plan.

Most people do not have unlimited amounts of money to spend so you will have to take this into consideration when you are designing your landscaping plan. You need to know how much you will be able to afford before you go all out designing this amazing, yet expensive landscaping plan. You will probably not be able to afford to change the whole slope of your yard even if you wanted to so try to stay within the scope of your money and your ideas.

You also do not need to do the entire job in one year. You must have a plan, and have a general concept of the type of plants you will plant in each area of your yard. It took us five years to implement our complete plan for a new home we built. We did one area at a time. The first year we planted the front foundation plantings and the trees because they cost the most and grow the slowest.

Make sure that your landscaping plan has taken everything into consideration and then and only then should you start putting this plan into motion.

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