Do you feel like doing your own landscaping projects? Are you looking for some helpful landscaping DIY tips? Look no further because we’ve got them here.
Did you know that the average American spends around 70 hours annually on lawn and garden care? Lawns, front yards, and backyards are already integral to contemporary American life. It’s no surprise that landscaping is such a big thing in the country.
If you read on, you’ll see a list of 15 landscaping tips that helps anyone and everyone.
Table of Contents
- 1. Start Small with Simple Projects
- 2. Transform, Don’t Throw Away
- 3. Figure out What You Want
- 4. Use the Land as It Is
- 5. Study Your Yard Well
- 6. Stay Realistic
- 7. Invest in Perennial Plants
- 8. Plant for the Future
- 9. Wait for the Season’s End
- 10. Set a Budget
- 11. Be Smart on Spending on Landscaping DIY Projects
- 12. Save Water, Xeriscape
- 13. Make Paths or Stepping Stones
- 14. Mix and Match Garden Elements
- 15. Set a Plant Swap Party
- Start Your Landscaping
1. Start Small with Simple Projects
If it’s your first time to ditch the help landscaping professionals offer, it’s best to start simple. Many of the things they do look easy but need proper knowledge and skill. Complex plans could also cause complex problems, like damaged water or sewer lines.
2. Transform, Don’t Throw Away
Here is one of the most economic landscaping tips we have to share with you: transform, don’t toss. Repurpose and include old items or found items in your landscaping. They’ll act as interesting details and add character to your yard.
3. Figure out What You Want
Doing any DIY landscape design is no easy task. It takes up a lot of your time, effort, and money. Stopping in the midst of a project and changing plans could cost you double the resources.
Find out what you want to do with your space and commit to it. Consider any future costs like maintenance and watering costs. When you’ve thought out and decided on what you want, only then should you get started.
4. Use the Land as It Is
Is your backyard sloping a little? Instead of changing the grade of it, why not plant grasses and perennials to highlight the yard? This is a great landscaping DIY project for anybody who’s looking to get creative and solve a challenge at the same time.
5. Study Your Yard Well
Be careful about making changes to your yard. You never know how new changes can get affected by the elements. Studying your yard can help you make wise decisions about making changes or adding to it.
If you’re new to the home, observe your yard and the environment in all seasons. Understand how the sun, wind, and water affect your landscape. From there, you can then start making changes to it.
6. Stay Realistic
Is your backyard starting to look more like a weathered junkyard? What should you get rid of and what should you keep? Be realistic about what replaceable plants or things you could do better without, even if they still look good.
This also applies to those who are looking to finish more complicated DIY projects. How much time and money do you have to complete the project? Will you be able to finish it by a set deadline or will it be more realistic to choose a simpler goal instead?
7. Invest in Perennial Plants
Yes, perennials cost more but they’ll last longer and are inexpensive in the long run. You don’t have to keep replacing them and they return each year with colorful blooms. Compare this with the varieties you have to buy every year to keep your landscape alive.
8. Plant for the Future
Nothing beats the feeling of seeing how far your garden’s gotten in the last few months or years. When starting a garden, it will be better for your wallet to start with seeds or young plants. This way, you learn to take care of them and they grow with you.
9. Wait for the Season’s End
Are you looking to shop for sod or bearded iris at a lower price? Season-end sales are a great time to look through nurseries for last season’s plants, shrubs, and trees. For a little bit of patience, you get to cut down on costs.
10. Set a Budget
Depending on the scale of your landscaping project, setting a budget aside can be very helpful. Avoid loans or home equity lines of credit. The interest rates may seem low but you never know when you might lose your job.
11. Be Smart on Spending on Landscaping DIY Projects
This point ties in with the previous tip. If you have a small budget, be wise about where you use your budget. Focus on projects that provide the most value to you.
12. Save Water, Xeriscape
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a study on outdoor water use in the US in 2017. The EPA discovered that the average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day. About 30% of that goes to outdoor uses and more than half of that 30% gets used for watering gardens or lawns.
The method that promotes water conversation in landscaped areas is what xeriscaping is. It follows basic principles like planning and designing for water and energy conservation. It also encourages using efficient irrigation and your community’s mulch.
13. Make Paths or Stepping Stones
Looking for some easy DIY landscaping ideas? Try creating a path on your yard. For this, all you need are stones or rocks. Try to place large, foot-sized rocks in pace distance and scatter smaller ones around them.
14. Mix and Match Garden Elements
There are a lot of great combinations that different garden furniture can make. You don’t need to buy anything too expensive or a matching set. You can get as much comfort and appeal with inexpensive pieces.
The key is to get furniture created with natural materials. Wood, rattan, or metal armchairs can serve as your outdoor living room. Add in a pillow or two if it feels uncomfortable sitting on them.
15. Set a Plant Swap Party
Plants are expensive, especially the garden variety. When you’re cultivating your garden, you might have a few extra clumps to spare. Put them aside and call your neighbor or friends over for a swap.
If you want to include more people, that’s okay, too. Plan an exchange party for garden plants for people in the neighborhood. Small gatherings like this give green thumbs in the area a chance to get a plant they like.
Start Your Landscaping
That’s it for our list of landscaping DIY tips anyone can do. It will be easier to create the perfect garden or yard for your home now.
If you are looking for more content like this, check out our other posts.