Many homeowners spend thousands of dollars on landscaping during the year. However, they take a DIY approach to the project and choose to avoid consulting with a professional landscaper in the hope of savings on the costs of landscaping their property.
This DIY approach results in several problems with their landscaping and needing a professional to fix them. This post looks at common landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them.
Common Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Not Accounting for Maintenance Requirements
After finishing your landscaping project, it’s time to start maintaining it. The decisions made in the design process affect the money and time you must dedicate to maintenance. Choosing exotic plants for your yard might look impressive, but they’ll require significant maintenance to keep them healthy. We recommend going with indigenous plants to reduce watering and out-of-season maintenance.
Poor Budgeting and Planning
Effective landscaping is an investment in your property requiring effective planning. Before you start the design process, calculate your budget to ensure the best results for the project. Overrunning your budget or not getting enough out of it can lead to disaster and unsatisfactory results with your landscaping project.
Failing to Properly Plan Irrigation Systems
Irrigation is an essential component of any landscaping project. Watering by hand isn’t always possible; when it is, it’s a waste of time. Installing a proper irrigation system from the start prevents the need to dig up the yard after you finish the project. You get effective yard maintenance and peace of mind when installing the irrigation properly at the start of the project.
A Dysfunctional Landscaping Design
How the landscaping project looks upon completion is important, but creating a functional design is the most important aspect to focus on in the planning process. Your plans should include not only the aesthetic value of the finished project but its functionality as well.
Consider how you’ll utilize the yard when planning it out. How will your family, guests, and pets use it? What will make it desirable to future buyers? Don’t skip the design aspect of the planning process. For instance, it could result in placing a flowerbed on the dog path your pet uses to access their defecation area.
Not Accounting for Soil Erosion
If your home has steep or moderate slopes around the property, it might require the installation of a drainage swale or retaining wall to prevent soil erosion. If areas of the property are prone to soil erosion, it’s vital you include these aspects in your landscaping planning and design. You might also need to grade the area before installing any landscaping features. Or select plants and fit artificial grass to limit erosion.
Not Understanding Local Wildlife Behavior
You’ll also need to consider local wildlife behavior when planning your landscaping project. How will you protect your property and landscaping from deer or other local wildlife species that can access your yard? You’ll also need to ensure you’re not landscaping in areas that might block natural trails or habitats, damaging the local ecosystem and environment.
Failing to Plan for Privacy
Take into account your neighbor’s view of your property when planning your landscaping design. You don’t want your neighbors to have a direct view of the pool, entertainment area, or bedroom windows, do you? Include privacy features in your landscape planning, blocking viewing areas or sounds nearby.
Making Outdoor Living Areas and Patios too Small
The patio is where you congregate with friends and family for social events on your property. Your patio should be as large as possible in relation to the size of your yard. You’ll need a minimum of 10 feet x 10 feet to accommodate enough seating and space.
Arbor Hills Landscaping Company Omaha | Best Landscaping Company in Omaha, NE
Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping Services can provide you with everything from detailed maintenance programs to unique plant production, and other services in between. That means we build water features, walls, patios, irrigation, walkways, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and anything else you can help us dream up. Our professionally trained staff can build the landscape of your dreams and keep you from breaking any Home Landscaping Rules.
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Fire Pit Designs Landscaping Services
Imagine the ambiance created in your backyard landscape by a custom fire pit. In fact, nothing is more inviting on a cool spring night or for fall and winter gatherings of family and friends. A fire pit may be used to provide warmth during outdoor entertaining, but also as a heat source for outdoor cooking or simply roasting marshmallows. Our trained custom fire pit installers are experts in turning your vision into reality. More…
Outdoor Living Landscaping Services
Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen offers a professional outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and outdoor living room design, building, and installation services with FREE ESTIMATES. More…
Retaining Walls Landscaping Services
Enhance the beauty of your landscape with a retaining wall that is customized to coordinate with your home’s exterior. At Arbor Hills, our retaining wall designer will create a functional retaining wall that is aesthetically pleasing for your personal taste, and within your target budget. With the many materials available today, the retaining wall project you’ve been considering is just a phone call away! More…
Stamped and Colored Concrete
It is time to upgrade or replace some of the hardscape features surrounding your home? Stamped and colored concrete is a beautiful and affordable material. It enhances the color and texture featured on your home’s exterior. Stamped concrete in textures from modern to rustic is available to coordinate with your home’s existing design features. Colored concrete can be blended to match or enhance your home’s exterior color scheme. A designer from Arbor Hills will consider all these existing features at your site visit and when designing your project. More…
Patio Pavers Landscaping Services
Concrete pavers are a great way to improve your landscape and garden. In fact, they are super strong and lend themselves to many hardscaping projects. They rarely crack but if they do, each piece is easily replaceable. More…
Landscape Lighting Designs
Outdoor lighting can be nearly as important to the overall look and feel of your home as the landscaping itself. So you shouldn’t short-change yourself by skimping on quality lighting products. We are a full-service landscape and waterscape company that can solve all of your residential and commercial lighting needs anywhere in Omaha and the surrounding areas. More…
Water Feature Landscaping Designs
Imagine the sight and sound of bubbling water as you relax in your outdoor sanctuary. A water feature can give just the right ambiance to your outdoor retreat. Or, if you are looking for a water feature with traffic-slowing curb appeal, a designer from Arbor Hills will help you choose the water feature that best enhances your home. More…
Sod Installation Services
Whether you have just built your home, cleared agricultural land for your personal use or simply want to improve the look of your existing yard, having sod installed is a fast way to create the lush, green carpet of grass you want. It offers instant satisfaction rather than the weeks of waiting and anticipating whether or not your grass seed is going to grow. Plus, using sod offers a host of other benefits. More…
Mulch & Rock Landscaping Services
The concept, to design, to delivery and installation, we have more than 20 years of experience in the landscaping industry in Omaha and surrounding areas. Our services include delivery, full installation, and clean-up of mulch and rock around your beds, trees, and more. More…
Plants & Shrubs Landscaping
Plants and shrubs are the backbone of your landscape, therefore they should be the first things you plant. Proper selection will enhance a home’s appearance and increase property value while reflecting the homeowner’s style and personality. More…
Tree Nursery
Let our trained nursery professionals assist you in selecting the perfect tree or shrub to complete your landscape. We carry a selection that is unmatched in Omaha and the surrounding areas and are willing and eager to explain our favorites. Improved varieties are introduced each year and we always strive to carry the best and newest – varieties more resistant to disease, shade trees better able to withstand storm damage and ornamentals in unique colors, shapes, and sizes you have to see to believe. More…