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The 5 Most Important Things to Consider for Landscaping Gardens

Written by Anees Sadique Posted On Tuesday, 11 August 2020 14:31
The 5 Most Important Things to Consider for Landscaping Gardens

A landscaped garden adds beauty and harmony to any home. It offers a unique place to retreat, meditate, relax, and spend time with friends and family.

However, landscaping a garden is not a straightforward process, and can be fraught with complications, last-minute realizations, and hasty adjustments.

To help you get your project underway smoothly, here are 5 crucial things to consider before you start planning your dream landscape garden.

1 - Purpose

First off, consider the general purpose of your landscaped area - and who is going to be using it.

Is it exclusively for your personal use? For entertaining guests? Will outdoor pets be allowed to roam around? Are children going to play in it unsupervised?

The answers to all these questions will determine the general layout of the space, subdivisions, and which plants can be used to create it.

Some of the most breathtaking ornamental plants like oleander, hemlock, and hydrangea are poisonous - and to be avoided if young kids are going to frequent the garden. And even some plants harmless to humans can be lethal to cats and dogs, such as lilies, azalea, and rhododendrons.

2 - Environment

What kind of landscaping you can do is ultimately restricted by the overall environment of the region in which you live.

Minimum and maximum temperatures, wind speeds, and sun exposure are the central weather elements that determine which sort of species can be used for landscaping.

If you already have ideas for elements you would like to include, you can check Plant Hardiness Zones or Climate Zone Maps to see if certain plants are likely to flourish.

As a rule of thumb, the closer your landscape garden sticks to the native vegetation of your area, the better it is for plant health. Plus: It will help you keep minimize maintenance work - from wintering to watering.

3 - Plot

Before you start outlining your perfect garden, you should consider the current design and overall state of the plot. This state will determine how much preliminary work it will take before you can get started on landscaping.

Some features are likely to be permanent - such as the shape and grading of the plot, or structures like gates or existing trees. If you’re giving the plot a complete makeover, you will get to determine some of these.

One crucial thing to think about are utility lines. From water pipes to power and phone lines, it’s not easy to tell what is buried where. Going over plans and acquisition documents should give you an idea of where to be careful. The location of such lines has a major impact on earthworks and the planting of larger shrubs and trees, especially as roots will expand.

At this point, you should also take a look at the soil in your plot and assess its type, quality, depth, and drainage properties. Depending on the results, you may have to modify your choice of plants, or install appropriate drainage and irrigation structures.

4 - Maintenance Budget

One issue is frequently overlooked when planning landscaping work, but should be considered from the start: Maintenance effort and cost.

Usually, there is much work that you can do yourself, but you need to be conscious of your own skill level and let professionals handle the rest. Perfectly landscaped gardens are often tarnished by owners overestimating their pruning prowess.

Doing landscape maintenance yourself takes not just skill, but also time and effort. Especially if you have a hectic schedule, you might end up hiring someone to do the work for you.

Thinking about your maintenance budget in advance will help your landscaped garden flourish in the long term. Whether through a large amount of professional care - or modifying its setup to minimize maintenance requirements.

Finally, it’s worth considering that a properly maintained landscaped garden can boost the value of your home. This can be a point against which to weigh maintenance costs.

5 - What to look for in a Contractor

Contractors can be invaluable allies in properly planning your landscaped garden, and helping you decide anything from plot grading to maintenance minimization.

Finding the perfect contractor will take some time and research, but it is worth it.

Recommendations from fellow homeowners with landscaped gardens, or from local societies dedicated to gardening and landscaping can point you in the right direction.

Many contractors put their portfolios online, which will give you a solid impression of their skills and practices. Qualifications such as a State Landscaping License - which requires training, experience, and trade law exams - are also excellent indicators.

With some research, you will find the right partner no matter where you are - whether it’s a general contractor with in-depth local knowledge in Montana, or a niche landscaping contractor in New York.

Conclusion

Planning a landscaped garden is challenging, and takes lots of time, energy, and creativity. There are a million things to consider.

But by being clear about the purpose of your garden, your maintenance budget, and with knowledge of your environment and plot, you will be able to master the challenge - especially with a competent contractor by your side.

At the end of the day, you will be able to enjoy the perfect garden together with your loved ones.

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