Oops! Common Landscaping Design Mistakes
Whether you decided to DIY your own landscaping project at home or you hired a fly-by-night “professional” who really botched up the job, landscape design mishaps are, unfortunately, quite common. Here’s what you can do to ensure this doesn’t happen to you again.
Mismatched Design
The big picture is important to look at when designing your yard’s overall landscape. It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of each element, but the problem is, it may not end up being well-balanced at the end. Especially if you’re on a tight budget, you want to get it right the first time. Installing a landscape in phases can be tricky, but keep the big picture in mind when matching up all design elements, from fire pits and patios to steps and walkways. Sketch out the whole site beforehand, taking into account measurements and details, of course, but also harmonized colors and shapes. Think about the four seasons as a whole and what works in each. An even distribution of seasonal plants and perennials is important, because what may look great in fall may not come spring.
Failing to Predict the Future
Become a seer for a moment: how will those plants you put close to your walkway overtake the space next year, in five years, or even 10? Or what about those cute little shrubs you planted underneath the front picture window? In a few years, they could be obscuring your view and blocking sunlight. One of the biggest mistakes is not anticipating how your landscape will look in the future and how it will affect other elements. Another mistake involves failing to check the hardiness of the plants you choose for the climate in which you live. No sense in spending good money on plants that won’t last in extreme heat or cold.
Flow Pattern Fail
Flow is a huge part of a successful landscape. You don’t want steps that are too close together or too high, walkways that are too narrow or that go nowhere, or slope changes that are too steep. Experts recommend incorporating a minimum of four to six feet for walking between each element of your landscape, such as grassy areas, garden beds and hardscaping. For steps, it’s best to keep to six and a half inches when constructing them, or else this can lead to awkward travel at the least and trips and falls at the worst.
Not Using Available Resources
It’s more affordable and much easier if you use readily available materials and resources that are already at your disposal. Got rocks and stones tossed in the woods behind your house? Use them to construct the garden wall that will house your new water feature. Importing flowers and expensive patio materials will only increase your cost unnecessarily.
Established in 2007, Twelve Oaks Landscape is your trusted landscape design and build firm in North Alabama. Consult with our professionals on the best course of action for your landscape. Give us a call at (256) 208-5634 or use our contact form. We would be happy to come out to your home and create a landscape that flows naturally!
