Landscaping isn’t always easy. Many common landscaping mistakes are made by green thumbs, experienced gardeners and newbies alike. Here are some common landscaping errors so you can avoid them. Keep reading below for some of the top landscaping mistakes to avoid!

1) Not having a plan: Never start a landscaping project without having a plan. Figure out a theme, draw it out on paper and also plan out where you want to put your plants and shrubs in relation to the shape and style of your house. Don’t forget to factor in your budget and stick to it. If you follow the plan, you and your landscape will succeed!

2) Mismatched styles: Selecting plants should match the architecture of your home with the theme of your garden. Other than the plants, you want to consider your hardscape. For example, if you are putting in a deck, you want to make sure those elements of your garden reflect positively upon your house.

3) Neglecting hedge trimming: Growing a hedge can be a great way to set boundaries with your neighbors or to partition off a portion of your landscape from another. That being said, neglecting hedge trimming is never a good idea because you don’t want it to grow out of control.

4) Overwhelming your yard with too many garden ornaments: There’s most definitely places for garden ornaments in your landscape, but avoid crowding your yard with too many. There’s a point where those ornaments detract from the other aspects of your landscape. Use this decorative sparingly, which will succeed in attracting attention.

5) Using tire planters in the front yard: One of the questions you want to ask yourself is if you are landscaping for you or for other people. For example, considering tire planters, some may love them while others disagree. It’s not recommended to have tire planters in the front yard if you are trying to sell your home. Tire planters most of the time should go in your backyard!

6) Scalping Your Grass: Lawncare experts will quickly set the matter straight when it comes to pointing out that lawn mowing is not just about keeping up appearances: it’s about grass health, too. Cutting grass too short is a huge no-no. Lawncare experts have also narrowed down the path of how high to cut grass so that way it reduces weed seed germination and will conserve soil moisture. Another key thing to remember is that you want to keep your mower blade sharp because having a dull blade will give a ragged cut instead of slicing through the grass cleanly and that can also cause brown tips on grass blades and provide entry for disease.

7) Not Knowing Mature Plant Sizes: Another common mistake when it comes to landscaping is selecting plants without knowing its mature size. This can soon outgrow its allotted space and cause maintenance headaches. For example, if planted next your foundation, is a large shrub, this might block a window or its roots could invade the foundation and if planted in or near a flower border, the plant can cast unwanted shade on your other plants. The best way to avoid this is to do your homework in advance and select the right size plants for your home landscape!

8) Remember the Four Seasons: Every garden looks great the last week in May and the first week in June, but what about the other 50 weeks of the year? Don’t limit your plant choices for just spring and early summer. Consider plants that look good year-round, such as evergreen shrubs and trees with interesting bark and perennial grasses that turn into lovely straw- colored feathers in the winter.

9) Focus on Foliage: Another common mistake is buying and planting plants based on only their flowers. Experts recommend that you buy plants for their leaves, texture, shape and color because leaves are what you are going to see most of the year.

10) Overwatering: Every plant has different watering needs, but the good news is that you can usually depend on Mother Nature to run her course and do most of the work. People have a tendency to overwater their landscape and they underestimate the hardiness of trees and plants. If they are showing signs of dehydration with yellow/brown colors, wilted leaves, slow growth, etc. – plants probably need a little extra water. Another tip is to always look at your soil. If it’s mostly clay, water retention shouldn’t be an issue; however, if it’s sandy, you will want to water more often.

If you’re trying to spruce up your home landscape or just need tips/tricks, contact TPS Landscaping to turn your vision into reality!