Landscaping: Can I do it myself?

When it comes to landscaping, this is the first thing that many people think of. Landscapers have to cost a lot, right? And what else do you need really besides some shears, a wheelbarrow, and a lawnmower? Well, you might not actually need anything more than that; and if that's the case, then DIY landscaping might be perfect for you. But before you dismiss the idea of hiring a landscaping company altogether, there are some things you may want to consider first.


The first thing you need to consider when thinking about DIY landscaping is how large of an area you're dealing with. Are you talking about one small flower bed that needs some work, or a complete overhaul and redesign of your entire lawn? If there is a lot of work that needs to go into your landscaping plans, it's probably best to hire a professional landscaping company. There is a lot that can go wrong when you're landscaping and a large area covers things such as phone lines and other utility lines. A professional contracting company will be knowledgeable about these things, and all the other elements that go into proper landscaping, so there won't be any problems during the project or afterward.

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Is this your first landscaping project? If so, then you also might want to consider hiring a professional, especially in this case, if you're covering a large area. You can always ask the landscapers to leave a small flower bed or a row of bushes for you to trim and design while they take care of the larger projects. This will let you start to grow your green thumb, but not let your entire yard take the brunt of your inexperience!


If you do have a large amount of knowledge and experience working with plants, you might be able to do much of your landscaping yourself. This can be great for those who love to work in their garden but don't want to do the really dirty work, like digging out drainage ditches or hauling in all those rocks for the rock garden!


Be warned that if you're going to take responsibility for the selection and planting of the plants and flowers, you must have a good understanding of plants. It's extremely important to understand which plants work well together and which don't before you plant your beds. Some plants simply don't like each other, or have contradictory characteristics. For instance, planting two far-spreading plants very close to each isn't a good idea because they'll overcrowd, and eventually kill, each other.


Should you require it, a professional landscaping company will create the design for your landscaping, including the types of plants and flowers that are planted. They will have the knowledge about the different plants that will not only look beautiful together, but will also work beautifully together.


Needless to say, if you just want a beautiful lawn and don't want to deal with the hassle, hiring a professional landscaping company can also be the better way to go. It's a landscaper's job to make sure that you have a beautiful lawn as quickly as possible so they'll be over every day until their job is done. You on the other hand, may only be able to tackle certain projects on weekends or after work, which can be difficult and make the process even longer and more arduous. If you simply don't want to deal with all of it, hiring a landscaping company is a no-brainer.


Even if you have a lot of experience with plants and want to take on the task of landscaping your own yard, you should still start with a very small area. Even the most experienced do-it-yourselfers can come across things they wouldn't expect such as clay in the soil or thick, impenetrable roots. Starting with a small area will allow you to become aware of big problems that you won't be able to handle on your own, before you get in over your head!

Information provided by: Mulch & More