Landscape Designing: 5 Useful Tips for Beginners

Maulik December 19, 2013 0 Comment

Many house owners find landscape designing to be an intriguing task, but it is not everyone’s cup of tea. First of all, landscaping requires good observation and designing skills. In landscaping, it is crucial to understand natural elements and then design something that blends them accordingly.

The land also varies from region to region which makes designing tougher. Therefore, beginners, who are planning to try this on their own, should proceed cautiously. Listed below are few tips that will help beginners to carry out landscape designing properly.

Landscape Designing

1) Site Observation

Starting from climate changes to soil qualities, you will have to know each and every single thing about the area where you’re planning for landscaping. Before you start on actual designing, take a week just for site observation. Start with measurements because that will help you to decide how much area to utilize and how much to spare.

Observe which areas remain shaded for most part of the day and which are sunny. This will help you to work out on flora designing. Note down problem areas. Watch out for areas that are more prone to erosion. Work on drainage problems. Acquire as much information as you can because this will give you a clear picture of the work that you’ll have to do.

2) Decide on Flora

After observation, next step that awaits you is deciding the flora. For most people, gardening is the favorite part of landscaping. But you’ll have to decide on plants very carefully. For example, if your region has dry, sunny days, then Bluebeard would be an appropriate plant for it as this plant can survive such conditions where other plants would get ‘cooked’.

Before deciding the plants, you will also have to take care of soil quality. Fertile soil opens up plenty of options for you or else you’ll have to use mulch to keep your plants healthy. For areas that are too dry, you may need to keep the turf growing and give it a nice cut once in a week. First, list down all favorable factors of your region and then list plants’ names accordingly.

3) Incorporate Hardscape Too

Don’t avoid hardscape completely because walls, fences and steps can be style statements for your garden given they are constructed with right materials. Stone and timber serve as excellent choices for construction of these structures. Firstly, both stone and timber are natural materials and hence, they would blend nicely with the natural greenery. Secondly, they’ll provide proper finishing to your landscaping. Hence, try to incorporate these structures in your landscape.

4) The Final Sketch

So, you are all set for landscape designing with your listed plants, timber fencing and outdoor furniture. But have you prepared a final sketch? If no, then start with it soon because you will need a final sketch to proceed with actual designing. Once you’re done with deciding materials and landscape features, take ample time to prepare it. Besides serving as a blueprint, this will allow you to go through all the data once again and help you to notice things that you might have missed out during initial planning stages.

5) Beginning of All Things are Small

Don’t get too excited by watching those television shows where landscaping requires just three days to complete! Remember, they have a whole crew working there to wrap up the work quickly and appropriately. They are pros and you’re novice. So take one task at a time and move ahead accordingly. In construction of walls and fences, you might require others’ help. Find out some local experts and take their help if required.

Bottom Line

Successful landscaping requires immense patience along with proper planning. Beginners should take suggestions from friends or relatives who have done landscape designing before as this will help in getting better ideas. However, if you are having tough time with finding supplies, then check for them on Internet. There are many online stores where you can find landscaping supplies at reasonable rates.

is the favorite part of landscaping. But you’ll have to decide on plants very carefully. For example, if your region has dry, sunny days, then Bluebeard would be an appropriate plant for it as this plant can survive such conditions where other plants would get ‘cooked’.