Home Landscaping 101

Whether complex and formal or as simple as an unmowed patch of wildflowers, a home's landscape should be designed to meet the needs of the family that lives within it.

Before putting pencil to paper or planting flowers, spend some time figuring out what you want to accomplish in your landscape. Much of the planning and designing will occur in your head as you consider ideas and think about what appeals to you most. Brainstorm and take notes on paper. As you proceed with each step in planning and design, be sure to adapt the plan to your particular conditions and desires instead of trying to follow lots of rigid rules.

Before you spend money on materials or contractors, explore different ways to reach your goals. Learn new skills by volunteering to help a friend build a deck. Watch a professional pour concrete or build a retaining wall at a new homesite. Be inspired rather than intimidated by opportunities to learn.

At any step in your decision-making, don�t hesitate to ask for expert advice from landscaping professionals. When you reach the final design and are ready to begin the actual work, continue to ask for help when you need it.

After all, landscaping is a practical yet personal process, and you want the outcome to be wonderful. What could be more rewarding than designing your home's landscape, transforming your plans into reality, and enjoying the results for years to come? Trends such as butterfly gardening, heirloom vegetables, old roses, and ornamental grasses can be the icing on the cake in keeping the whole process fresh, appealing, and exciting.