Landscaping installation does not need to be done by a professional. It is important to know that professionals and DIY can have good results following a simple plan of action before they begin digging up an area. Hiring a professional landscaping installation company is a good idea when doing a complete yard renovation or when new construction is involved. It is often hard for the untrained eye to look at a blank canvas and visualize a landscape plan.
Although is you are looking into doing some landscaping installation on your own the first issue you will need to consider is the landscape border. A border gives the landscaping a professional look and feel and is relatively easy to install. You must first decide what type of material you would like to use to compliment the desired look and feel. It is also important that the material is able to follow the design of the landscaping for easier installation.
To begin any landscaping installation project you will need to draw a plan out on paper. This will give you a better feel for how the overall project will look. Make sure to include on your drawing any yard items that are permanent fixtures. This would include any existing trees that you are not planning on removing, fencing, statues and larger items like your home, decks and patios. After your project is laid out on paper it is best to purchase some spray paint that can be used to safely mark out the design pattern on the ground.
Once the border is marked out it is the proper time to begin digging up the area. You can turn up the soil using a shovel or a rototiller. A rototiller is the best for getting all of the grass up and loosing the soil for the installation of the border. If the soil is ease to move the border will be able to be inserted and become part of the land instead of lying on top of the soil.
Picking a landscaping border might be the hardest part of the landscaping installation process. There is a multitude of materials available to homeowners today. It is like picking a picture frame to be used on your entire home. Some people choose not to use a border material. Be careful if you choose this option because often the materials, whether rocks, mulch or pine needles will seep out into the grass.
One material is concrete. You can buy kits now where you can pour the concrete into moulds making your own unique border. My neighbor did this and then stacked the concrete plates on top of one another. This gave texture to his landscaping which looks beautiful. Another concrete option is scalloped edged. This gives height to the border and can be purchased in many colors. If your landscaping has many curves the scalloped concrete edging may be difficult for an inexperienced landscaper.
A popular border among homes within subdivisions is preformed concrete blocks. They provide uniformity and are consistent. They can be used on small landscaping job or larger ones and keep gardens looking similar without having to be the exact same. For instance one homeowner might choose to layer the preformed concrete bricks where another would lay one level row. It would depend on the scale of your home.
I have wooden edging for the border on our landscaping. I love it because it gives a rustic feel to the landscaping. I have seen multiple ways in which wooden borders are done. We have cylinder shaped pieces of wood that are stuck together using a hidden flexible tube. I have however seen where each piece of wood edging is put into place separately and layered in size so that some are smaller than others. This gives a very natural feeling to the space.
Steel edging is used where you are looking for a very modern look. It is often used in areas where it is important that water seepage is kept to a minimum. For instance, steel is used in a space with a paved sidewalk where extra water runoff could reposition the sidewalk leaving it unlevel and therefore not safe.
Lastly and most popular amongst do it yourself landscapers is plastic edging. This is an inexpensive easy to manipulate material to use. It also does not take away from the landscaping itself because it is simple. The only downside is that it does not hold up like the heavier thicker materials so it may have to be replaced more often.
Landscaping installation should be a fun process. It does require a bit of planning and sweat equity. The end result adds not only aesthetic beauty but also value to the overall value of your home. It is a project that can be done with the whole family because most landscaping installation mistakes are super easy to fix and can be handles without too much extra time spent on the project. Happy planting!