Maximize your experience at home and garden shows Creating a plot plan & photo record of your property Developing a rough plan for any project How to hire a contractor How to hire a sub-contractor and what is the difference How to hire a specialty contractor Deciding to move - Making the best decision Welcome Advertising on this Site Home
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Landscape

First decide if you are going to do the landscaping or are you going to hire someone.

When landscaping on your own, you should create an exterior plan of your home and property. This will assist you in knowing how much room you have to landscape with plants, grass, planters, water falls, etc. Next choose what type of plants you want to enhance your yard. Research the plants that are native to your area. By having a plan one will know what to shop for and not waste time or money. Having a plan in place will save you time and money.

As you price check at the local shops also include catalogs and shopping online. By researching all your options you can find your best deals. Remember the least expensive may not be the best bet. Quality of the product is important. Also specialty shops can give you advice on what you will need and how to do the project.

You may want to hire a landscape architect to assist in developing your project. The consultation maybe worth the money it will save you later in the project.

If you can not afford to complete your project at one time you may consider doing your project in phases. This will eliminate a large expense all at one time and you can pace your project accordingly. With the plan in place you are able to project out your desired landscaping project to meet your financial ability.

Hiring a Landscaper

You should create an exterior plan of your home and property. This will assist you in knowing how much room you have to landscape with plants, grass, planters, water falls, etc. If you have an idea of what you want before you hire a landscaper it is easier when you receive bids for the job.

Landscapers can be found by going to your local Chamber of Commerce, word of mouth, local nursery, online. Always ask for references and check out other jobs they have done.

Share with the landscaper what your plans are for your yard. If you have an extra copy of the plan it will be easier for the landscaper to make a bid on what you are wanting. Always ask for bids in writing. Hire the best fit for your project.

Creating A Plan

Prepare a plan view to scale of your property and make extra copies, it can be fun to select walkway styles, which can vary from packed earth, to pebble rock with stepping stone inlaid, to a concrete path. Even a simple concrete path can have a multitude of finishes. There are so many options, please see our "concrete" options section (coming soon). You will begin to "feel" your yard take shape if you pay attention to designing, usable outdoor spaces. The addition of a waterfall or pool can allow your yard to take shape without spending a dime. Taking time to understand your options is half the battle. When you have a good idea of what you want to accomplish in your yard, combined with printed photos from books or websites, you can proceed to interviewing a few landscape companies, and or hiring the sub contractors yourself.