10 Things To Consider When Planning Your Landscaping

If you’re thinking about redesigning your outdoor space, here are 10 things to consider when planning your landscaping. A total landscaping overhaul can be quite an involved project, so before you purchase supplies, take a look at our list of important things to consider before you begin:

1. List Your Needs

To begin, we encourage you to make a list of everything that you want to accomplish in your outdoor space. If you want to define certain spaces or create a sitting area, for example, write down exactly what you want and the steps you will have to take in order to accomplish your goals.

2. Consider Your Time

Often, the time it takes to complete a landscaping project can be underestimated. If your plan is to complete your project on weekends or evenings after work, your landscaping project may take several weeks or months to complete. Make sure that this approach fits your schedule and meets your expectations.

3. Invest In Tools

Investing in quality tools for your landscaping project will make all the difference in how quickly and efficiently you are able to get it completed. If your space requires a lot of weed, grass, or plant removal, or transplantation, you may want to rent a tiller. This is just one example of a professional-grade piece of equipment that will help your project run smoothly. We recommend making a list of all the tools you’ll need and purchasing or renting good quality brands.

4. Assess Your Existing Landscaping

In your assessment, account for everything from cutting down or pruning trees to digging up weeds and relocating plants — and don’t forget to list out each variety of flower and shrub that you want to include. Once you’ve chosen your plants and flowers, it’s helpful to do some research into the needs of each variety. Plants and flowers can be very fickle and may not thrive if they are not planted correctly and are not receiving the right amount of sun, water, and nutrients. This will help to provide an overview of the complexity of your project so you have a realistic understanding of the requirements before you begin.

5. Define Areas

After you have assessed your current situation, take some time to define the areas you want to work on. This is your opportunity to imagine how the space will be used so you can design it in a functional way.

6. Think About Decorative Elements

Now it’s time to decide if you want to include any decorative elements like rocks, statues or raised wooden flower beds into your design. If the answer is yes, you’ll want to source out these items and include the added time and investment you’ll need to purchase or build them.

7. Map It Out

Your next step is to draw a map. This will be your guide through your entire landscaping project. Be as detailed as you can, include the number of rows you’ll plant in each area, and add a legend with each flower name. You can use this map as a handy reference guide when buying your supplies and when you actually start to get your hands dirty.

8. Pay Attention To Detail

No detail is too small. If you take the time in advance to be as thorough as possible, your project will cause you fewer headaches in the long-run. Design details like colour arrangements, themes, geometric shapes, or structures should be included in your plan.

9. Consider Resources

In your detailed plan, it is wise to include resources and their associated costs. This can include, water, fertilizer, and even an irrigation system.

10. Budget

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you will be able to determine an accurate budget. It isn’t uncommon to find that the associated costs are higher than you may have predicted before delving in deeply, which is why each step is so important to keep you on track.

If you feel overwhelmed by the planning process, Kerr & Kerr Landscaping would love to help. Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to assist you with your landscaping project.