Landscaping Design for Dummies: 5 Helpful Tips to Get Started

When you get home, you feel relaxed and comfortable. But then you look out the window, and your yard looks uninspired!

Landscaping hits your wallet much harder than most people think. A recent survey found that homeowners spend between $3,000 to $250,000. Experts say you should spend about 10% of the home’s value on landscaping to get the best return on your investment.

Don’t jump in and waste a bunch of money on landscaping that you hate in the end. Keep reading to learn five of our best landscaping design tips to get you started on the right foot.

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1. Consider Your Garden Goals

The first step in achieving your landscaping masterpiece is to consider what you need your yard to do. Do you need a place for the kids to play? How about an area for a hammock?

Once you know what elements you need, you can begin to plan the landscaping around that. Otherwise, you may not get everything you wanted out of your yard.

2. Landscaping Design Tips for Small Yards

For those with a smaller yard, basic landscape design tips don’t always apply. To make the most out of your small yard, use the vertical space to create different levels of landscaping. Another tip is to lay your path pavers on a diagonal to give an illusion of more yard space.

3. Immerse Yourself in the Environment

One of the most surprising landscape design tips for beginners is to sit outside for a while. Take a notepad and a pencil with you so you can take notes.

Get acquainted with the yard as it is and make notes of anything that could affect your design plans. Some things to note are where the sun shines the most, any windy corners, and terrain issues.

4. Start With a Focal Point

When you’re ready to put pencil to paper and begin your actual landscaping plan, the best place to start is your focal point. This isn’t always at the center of your yard, though.

A retaining wall makes a great focal point. According to experts like Pavers Plus, LLC, retaining walls have a few practical benefits for your landscaping besides being a visual feature. Consider if a retaining wall would benefit your landscape design plans.

5. Leave Room for Changes

Resist the urge to chisel your landscaping plans in stone. You may need to adjust once you get into the project, and leaving wiggle room for those changes makes the whole process more manageable.

Gardening Is Therapy

Once you do some thorough research, you’ll find that you can DIY most landscaping. It’s much cheaper than paying for a professional and gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

Keep these tips in mind when getting your landscaping plan together, and you’re sure to love the results. After that, take some time to sit back and smell the roses.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned some helpful landscaping design tips to help get you started. If you’re looking for more informative articles about gardening and home improvement, check out the rest of our blog today.