20/08/2018
Bigest mistakes when landscaping your own garden.
Here is a list of 25 mistakes and solutions.
Excessive Lawn Ornamentation
Mistake: People often make the mistake of putting too many decorative items in their front garden, which can be a distraction from the beauty of the natural landscape.
Solution: Before setting out that lawn ornament, ask yourself why are you putting it there and how it fits the context of your overall design and plant materials. Stick with one crisp choice, even if it is a little silly. One little whimsical statement goes a lot further than 10.
Forgetting to Recycle
Mistake: Garden projects tend to produce a good amount of waste, which most people don't realize when they set out to do the work.
Solution: Instead of tossing out the branches, clippings and other debris, dispose of them in an eco-friendly way. Rent a shredder and turn them into mulch, and put lawn clippings back on the lawn — they are both great fertilizers. Another idea is to create a compost pile. Compost containers have gotten more attractive. Some almost disappear into the landscape.
Planting in the Wrong Place
Mistake: Improper plant placement is another common mistake. People often do not take into consideration the proper sunlight and exposure for their plants.
Solution: Be sure to pay attention to the little tag that you get when you buy the plant and check Plant Finder for plant requirements. When it comes to planting trees, you need to remember how big they could get and how much space they are going to need. Also think about focal points — choose something that's going to look good year-round.
Planting Too Deeply
Mistake: One of the quickest ways to kill a tree is to plant it too deeply. Some folks figure the more soil they can put around it, the better. But doing so can actually choke the tree to death because there is no air allowed to go to the root system. Going too deep can also encourage root rot.
Solution: Avoid these scenarios by looking at the main stem, where the largest branch is and then where all of the tentacles come out. That's the root ball, and that's what you want to meet, right along the surface. A good rule of thumb with plants is to dig to the actual height of the container in which it came.
Cutting Grass Too Short
Mistake: It's a common myth that cutting the grass shorter means you have to mow it less. That's actually not the case, and you can do more harm than good. If you scalp the lawn, it could result in a bare patch, which could make it too inviting for insects and/or susceptible to disease.
Solution: The key is to cut the lawn different lengths throughout the year. During the summer, the lawn needs a little more shade, so let the blades grow just a little bit more. That way the water doesn't evaporate so quickly. During the winter, cut it a little bit shorter so that the sunlight can actually get into carpet.
Forgetting the View From Your Window
Mistake: It may seem like common sense to think about the view from inside the house, but a lot of people forget it. Keep in mind what it looks like from all angles.
Solution: Place your containers where you want them, and then go inside and look through every major window to see what they'll look like before you plant. It should be like a painting. When you look out, you should see the glass framed with beautiful trees and foliage.
Using the Wrong-Size Pots
Mistake: If you put a plant in a pot that is too large, it can shift, sink down into the soil, get too much water or dry out too fast.
Solution: Remember that you are going to have to re-pot it, eventually. It's easy to tell when that's necessary because little roots begin to stick out at the bottom. A word of caution related to re-potting: Be sure to give a plant plenty of time get acclimated to its new pot before re-potting again.
Failing to Fertilize Properly
Mistake: There are two ways that fertilizing can be a mistake. The first one is not doing it at all. The other is fertilizing too much or fertilizing improperly.
Solution: Ask someone at your garden center to recommend a proper fertilizer for your garden. It's a good idea to do it at least twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. You should never do so in the bright sun, and watering always needs to follow. It's also a good idea to mix in fertilizer when planting new plants. Make sure that, when you dig the hole, you mix in new soil and fertilizer so the plant, over the period of a year, is going to have a nice time release of fertilizer.
Picking the Wrong Plants
Mistake: Just because a plant looks pretty doesn't mean it actually belongs in your garden. You have to take into consideration your particular back gardens with filtered light or shade, and what's going to work best for you.
Solution: Check for plants that would work well in your space. If it's a really hot, sunny spot, maybe you want to go with a succulent. Or, get a great landscaping book for your area to help you figure out what to plant and when, as well as how and when to fertilize.
Not Accounting for Wildlife
Mistake: You could be planting a buffet rather than a garden if you don't consider what animals or garden pests might be around.
Solution: Before you decide what to plant in your garden, think about what pests you have in relation to what you'd like to plant.
Being Shortsighted
Mistake: Being shortsighted is a common problem because many people don't know what the eventual growth of their plants will be. You need to find out how they spread, how they reproduce and what type of maintenance they require.
Solution: Check Plant Finder to see how quickly and large plants will grow.
Improper Pruning
Mistake: Pruning can be just as much of an art form as it is a technique, but when pruning is improperly done, you can do more harm than good. In fact, in some cases, it's better not to prune at all than to do it improperly.
Solution: Every plant has a different pruning process. The fall is usually the best time of year to prune, but be sure to find out for sure. See this pruning guide.
Scattered Color
Mistake: Too much color without a sense of harmony can become a distraction.
Solution: Before making a trip to the nursery, you need to know what palette you'd like as well as which colors work well together. Look at the color of your house and then choose one color that really frames it. Try to stay semi-monochromatic for the most part because if there is too much color and it's too strong, it almost can become a distraction. Repetition and some harmony in a garden goes a long way.
Irrational Irrigation
Mistake: A lot of homeowners make the mistake of over-watering. Most lawns just need about an 2.5 - 5 cm of a water per week.
Solution: The best time of day to water the lawn (and usually any plant) is early morning so it has all day to dry. You can buy a sprinkler with an automatic timer to reduce water waste, or even put in an irrigation system.
Using the Wrong Tool
Mistake: Using the wrong tool for the job could be inefficient and maybe even dangerous.
Solution: Think about the size of the job and dictate the size of the tool accordingly. Some must-haves are safety goggles, gloves, a solid shovel and a good rake. Keep them organized, and keep them clean. For specialty jobs, you might want to consider renting a tool, and not just power equipment, but hand tools. Maybe you don't need that tool for the rest of your life, but you need it for that one specific job.
Failing to be Family Friendly
Mistake: A lot of people get carried away with the theme of their garden. They don't think about how they are going to use the lawn or the area — they just think about how they want it to look. For example, a rock garden is really attractive, but probably not the best thing for a family with small children.
Solution: Sit down and make a list of what you want to do in your garden, making sure to look at the needs of everyone in the family.
Impulse Buying
Mistake: Buying plants without a plan.
Solution: Do a little research before you reach and grab plants at a garden center. You can research plants on Plant Finder. Have some sort of a shopping list in mind and then get what you want and leave. It's very hard to return flowers, so this step is imperative.
Too Much of the Same Thing
Mistake: No variety in the garden.
Solution: Intermingle various shapes and sizes of plants to create visual interest and bring in the right kind of insects. Certain plants need certain nutrients. If you plant just one type of plant, they could suck all of those nutrients out of the soil.
Overlooking Maintenance
Mistake: Not planning for garden maintenance.
Solution: Part of planning a garden is also planning time to maintain it. Make up a maintenance schedule and abide by it. Garden beds need to be weeded at least once or twice a month, minimum. If you don't have the time to take care of your garden, make sure you have enough money to pay somebody to do it.
Ignoring the Seasons
Mistake: Not planning a garden for year-round color or interest.
Solution: Plan out your garden with regard to the seasons. When homeowners go to a nursery or plant, they often just buy what's in season at the time. Various flowers bloom at certain times of the year. If you've got a lot of plants that are blooming in the spring, remember that in the fall you're going to need some other plants, if you want foliage. Select plants that look good in the winter, in the spring and summer
Underestimating Cost
Mistake: There is a lot of sticker shock in the world of plants. People often think "it's just a couple of plants, how expensive could it be?" Landscaping is actually 30 percent more expensive than any other type of home improvement project. Another area that gets underestimated is the budget, and one of the biggest factors in a budget is the labor involved. It always costs more, and people cost the most.
Solution: When you're starting a landscape project, make sure you have enough budget, because you want to do the job one time, and you want to do it right.
Overlooking Exterior Lighting
Mistake: The biggest mistake people make when they think about planning out their yard is only visualizing how it will look during the day.
Solution: Adding some exterior lighting not only helps with vision and movement, but it also really makes the garden pop. It doesn't have to be expensive or entail a lot of effort. For instance, there are a lot of good solar lights that can easily be stuck in the ground. The sun heats them up all day and then at night they give off a soft glow.
Neglecting Curb Appeal
Mistake: Never underestimate the power of curb appeal. A lot of homeowners put all of their energy into the back garden, but the front of the house is where first impressions are made.
Solution: There are three simple improvements you can make that make a big difference out front. Paint your door a contrasting color than what is at the base of your home, keep the grass trim and green and plant colorful flowers.
Mismatched Style
Mistake: Not considering architectural style when choosing plants.
Solution: When selecting plants, you should match the architecture of your home with the theme of your garden. Above, the cottage-style garden goes very well with the style of the home. Besides the plants in your garden, you need to think about your hardscape. If you are putting in a deck, for example, you need to make sure those elements of your garden also reflect positively upon your house.
Not Having a Plan
Mistake: Starting a landscaping project without a plan.
Solution: Decide on a specific theme or look and then draw it out on paper. Figure out where you want to put your plants and shrubs in relation to the shape and style of your house. Examine ways to bring the inside out so that when you are finished, you have a nice, harmonious design. Don't forget to factor in your budget, and when you hit the nursery, stick to it. If you follow the plan, you (and your landscape) will reap the rewards.
-The ecoscape team
Www.ecoscape.co.za
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