Landscape Gardening - tips for planting

Landscape gardening can make the front or back yard of your home more attractive, enjoyable and provide you with a wonderful hobby to do in your spare time. Those just starting out will want to begin with a small project instead of trying to tackle the whole yard at once. Consider what you would like your yard to look like and use graph paper to sketch out your ideas.

Bushes planted near the house should be at least three feet from any windows. They should also be easy to care for and surrounded, depending on the type of plant, with mulch. A plastic or metal barrier can be put up to keep the mulch in place. A more attractive option is to use stone. Nurseries and retail stores sell stone that is cut so that it will fit easily together and stay in place.

When planting trees, be aware of the location of sewer, gas and water lines. Before you do any digging, contact your local utility company so that they can come and mark the line's location. They will often do this for free to help avoid any accidents. You also want to keep trees a healthy distance from your foundation. As it grows, the roots can get into the foundation and cause it to crack. Choose trees that provide shade and that can handle the type of seasons that your location has. If you are high up and have a lot of wind you can place a row of trees at the edge of your property to provide a wind break.

You can add a walkway very easily. The choice of material that you have varies, including: gravel, stone or concrete. If you use gravel, you will have to put a barrier on each side to keep it in place and install a barrier underneath to prevent weeds from growing. Stone or brick is a popular choice and requires a layer of sand underneath to lay it on.

You can lay in flower beds along your path at intervals. Placing a stone or plastic barrier around the edge and one underneath will prevent weeds. You can then put in fill dirt and plant your seeds or bulbs. By starting small and setting out your vision of your yard, you will be successful at landscape gardening.

Back to DIY articles