So you think your house is the nicest on the block until spring comes and you see it’s a disaster! Linda Jensen, who heads Arrowwood Landscape Design, Inc, shares some basic landscaping mistakes
- Putting the wrong plant in the wrong location: You have to understand the principles of design. Look at the bigger picture. You can’t just buy one plant and stick it in, Jensen says. It has to go with the flow of the entire landscape so it presents a unified picture.
- Overplanting: Don’t put too many plants in one space. Find out how far apart they should be.
- Poor pruning: Jensen always says “Put done the pruners!” Improper pruning can ruin the beauty of shrubs and trees.
- Lack of diversity: Don’t make your landscape dull by having it look like everyone else’s on the block or just using one or two plants.
- Ignoring height: Know how tall and wide plants or trees will grow. Otherwise you might have them covering windows, walkways and more.
- Lacking a plan: You want a landscape that is well-designed and well-thought out. That way it will look like a unified, cohesive package. That’s why you should call in the professionals, even if it’s just to outline your project.
- Ignoring irrigation: Avoid overwatering or underwatering. An irrigation system with designated zones will help prevent this problem.
- Forgetting about animals: Deers, squirrels, birds and other animals may use your landscape as food. Investigate ways to keep the animals out.
- Not planting for your lifestyle: If you don’t hang out in the yard at all, you might not even need grass. But if you have kids and have no grass for them to play, they might be unhappy.
- Planting too deeply: If you plant too deeply, plants won’t be able to get enough moisture. In turn, they will dry out and die.
