15 Landscaping Mistakes

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You certainly want your lawn and garden to look beautiful, but far too often homeowners succumb to making landscaping mistakes. Here are some of the more common gaffes and how to remedy them.

1. Lawn ornament overkill: Putting too many lawn ornaments into your yard can take away from the natural beauty of the landscape. If you want to add a whimsical touch, stick with one or two instead of many.

2. Improper plant locations: The reason garden centers and nurseries put those care tags on plants is so that you will know how to care for the particular plant. You should take into consideration the proper sunlight and exposure your plants will need.

3. Scalping the lawn: It is not true that cutting your lawn short will mean less mowing. The lawn has different requirements throughout the year. In the cooler weather you can get away with cutting it shorter so that sunlight can penetrate the soil. In the summer, keep the blades longer to maximize water retention and promote soil shade.

4. Picking the wrong plants: Many people pick plants because they simply look good and not because they'll be appropriate for their yard.

5. Thinking animals won't bother your landscape: Once you plant attractive and delicious flowering plants you could find your yard is the new dining spot for a host of wildlife. Intersperse bitter-tasting flowers with the sweet ones to deter deer. Birds, rabbits, squirrels and other animals may need barriers to keep them out.

6. Pruning willy-nilly: Many plants prosper when pruned. However, over-pruning or doing so the wrong way or at the wrong time can harm a plant. Learn the correct way from books or a gardening center. Otherwise, it could be better not to prune at all.

7. Too much color: A smattering of color here and there can be too much and distracting when your landscape is viewed. Instead, choose a color palette and stick with a few similar hues.

8. Forgetting the family: An ornate garden certainly looks pretty, but how practical is it for your way of life? If you have kids, you may have to think about how your property is used and plan your landscape around that.

9. Failing to be safe: Follow the recommendations and warnings on any tools you use for gardening. Always read the instructions and user's manual.

10. Grab and go: It's easy to want to buy everything you see at the garden center, but it's better to go in with a plan and a shopping list. Mixing and matching too many elements in your yard could look sloppy and not well thought out.

11. Poor maintenance: Garden beds generally require weeding and tending once or twice a month. Make sure you have the time to take care of your landscape after you create it. Otherwise, find someone reliable whom you can hire to care for it.

12. Failing to budget: Gardening, just like any hobby, can cost money. Make a list of what you're willing to spend and stick to it. Otherwise the bills can quickly escalate.

13. One-season landscape: Your landscape should grow and change with the weather. Plan for plantings that bloom or offer color all year round.

14. Forgetting the day-to-night transition: Of course you want your yard to look great during the day, but what about enjoying it at night? Make sure it is safe and plan for exterior illumination so that you can have many wonderful evenings under the stars.

15. No roadmap: You must have a plan for your landscape. Plot it out on paper, make a list of your materials and costs, run the idea by all those in the household and only then begin.