Planning Some Work In The Yard? Here Are 5 Things To Keep In Mind If You Are Doing Some Landscaping

Let's face it, we all don't have a lot of time or money to spend, but we all want to be proud of our house both inside and out!

So here are five things to keep in mind if you are planning to do your own landscaping!

1. Have A Plan

Work smarter, not harder. Before you go to the store or shovel that first lump of dirt, have a plan. Know what you are looking to accomplish, and have at least a basic layout of your backyard and what you want to do to it before you get dirty. Know where the shady parts of your yard are because that will impact what you can plant there. Garden centers are fun places to hang out, but you can also get distracted and carried away with all the fun things they have. Also know your budget and stick to it!

2. Water, Water Everywhere

Do you get water in your basement or pools in your yard after a hard rain? You may have drainage issues, and you should probably call in a professional to help. Water from rainfall or runoff follows the grade of your yard, so if you are planning to add a new feature or move a large amount of earth in your yard, keep drainage in mind. You don't want to make a problem worse or create a new one!

3. Plant Flowers, Not Seeds

When you go to the garden center to look at flowers, you will see quite a price difference between full-grown flowers and seeds. You may be tempted to plant your own flowers from seeds, but think about this. Having seeds is like having a new baby. They will need lots of attention, plant food, water, etc. to grow into the flowers you see at the garden center. If you have that kind of time, go for it. If not, do yourself a favor and buy the full grown plants.

4. Buying In Bulk Will Save You Money

Just like going to the price clubs, buying in bulk will save you money in the long run. My dad had a deal with a local landscaper in N.C. for bales of pine straw to be delivered a couple of times a year. Not only did it save us the mess of having to go to the local garden center and putting the straw in the back of our truck, but it also saved my parents money in the long run. If you are planning to use mulch, sand, gravel, straw, wood chips or really anything in large quantity, talk to a landscaping company and buy in bulk.

5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Have you heard the old saying that "one man's trash is another man's treasure"? This can be true with landscaping items too. Check garage sales and flea markets for items you can use in your backyard. My parents found a bird bath just like the one my grandparents had for $20 at a garage sale. It needed to be repainted, but it looks beautiful sitting in the middle of their backyard now. You would be amazed what you can find at garage and estate sales or flea markets. Just be careful not to buy something just because it's cheap. You don't want to be THOSE people with the weird pink flamingos in the yard!

As part of Joy FM’s $100,000 Home Makeover, you could win $10,000 in upgrades including landscaping from S&K Land Creations. You've got until Wednesday, July 10 to enter!