Whether you want a complete redesign or minor changes to your lawn and garden, landscaping need not break the bank. There are various DIY ways to make your yard look like it’s upkept and designed by a professional.

With thoughtful landscaping, you can easily add interest to your yard and boost your house’s curb appeal. In addition, your home’s value will also increase – which is excellent if you plan to put it on the market in the future.

However, if you’ve never tried DIY landscaping, choosing from the many options can get overwhelming. Here are some tips to add a professional touch to your property.

DIY Tips for Professional Landscaping Results

Before you head to your local supply store, make sure to read the below tips. You don’t want to buy plants or pots and find out they won’t fit your space or the central theme of your landscape.  Plus we’ve some great tips below on maximizing those dollars you spend for the most impact on your yard.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Yard

To successfully landscape your yard, you need to familiarize yourself with it. Learn about your area’s topography, climate, and soil type in your yard. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (link here) is where you can check for this information.

You should also learn about microclimates. This is based on the conditions in your yard concerning the amount of sun it gets – deep shade, shade, partial shade, and full sun. You also need to learn how water drains in your area since water movement is crucial to landscaping.

Get your soil tested, if possible. It will be better than guessing the fertility requirements of your ground when you start planting.  However, general rules can be followed based on whether you have proper dark soil or light grey to dark grey sandy soil.  Here on the West Coast of Florida along the Pinellas beaches you’ll find that the lower you are to sea level the more likely you are to have excess sand in your ground/soil.  This is not especially good for most plants but luckily there are plenty of hardy options ready to take root in our sandy subsurface.

Buy Just Enough Plants and Supplies

If it’s your first time buying supplies, buy just enough – plants, soil, mulch, or fertilizers. When purchasing soil and mulch, you must calculate the area where you will use them. As for plants, buy just enough for initial planting, including several varieties.

Use High-Quality Tools

If you’re stocking up on garden tools for the first time, buy only high-quality options. These may be expensive, but cheap tools are more likely to break. So, you can save more money in the long run since you’ll be using your devices for a long time.   However, if you’re living in a temporary rental home, try to just borrow tools from the neighbors 😉

Match with the Seasons

Plant according to all seasons in your area to create year-round interest in your landscaping. Research is the key to doing this. You need to learn about the different plant selections available in your area for each season.

Usually, you’ll have beautiful shrubs and colorful flowering trees during the spring and summer. Choose plants with a good structure for the winter season and fall foliage for autumn.

You should also consider adding annuals to supplement the perennial plants in your yard. Perennial flowers are good, but there will be months when they won’t bloom. And that’s where annuals come in – they ensure you have a lovely garden full of colors all year-round.

Use Hardscape and Water Features

Even if you’re a newbie in landscaping, don’t be afraid to explore and try things that will add texture and structure to your yard. Hardscape features are also great at adding structure to your plants during winter.

Walls, fences, decks, and arbors are great options. Even patios that provide transitions between indoors and outdoors should be lovely to add as hardscape. You can also add water features to add a focal point to your garden. Fountains and small ponds are not only visually appealing, but they are also soothing.

To DIY or not to DIY. If you want to improve your yards but have no time, don’t fret. There is a professional landscaping company that can help you. If you live in Largo & Seminole, FL, Lawns & Palms Inc. specializes in premium but affordable lawn care solutions. Contact us, and we’ll help you create a beautifully landscaped yard – from planning to maintenance.