If you are designing your first garden or rehabbing an outdoor space you inherited, you likely have questions about where to begin. Luckily, we’ve got a few beginner tips that make landscape design a cinch.
When designing and building a unique and sustainable landscape, it can be challenging and tricky to know where to start. If you have not tackled a landscape design project before, you may get overwhelmed by all the different choices.
You should know that landscaping can usually look disorganized and out of place if there is nothing to tie everything together. However, don’t worry, as with a few simple tips and suggestions, you can easily and quickly transform your outdoor living space and make it a welcoming and attractive place for family and friends.
Top Landscape Design Tips for Beginners
Whether your backyard just needs a complete refresh or new plantings, redesigning the landscape can feel overwhelming and time-consuming. Here are simple landscape design tips for the perfect garden.
Determine Landscape Needs or Purpose
You should make a complete list of needs and wants. Do you want to grow fruits and vegetables? Do your children need a play space? Perhaps, you would like to use the area to entertain friends and guests.
After determining your needs and purpose, you should make some rough sketches of the yard with special consideration to where you want to place things.
Plan Your Budget
After the initial research work is complete, you should set your budget. Keep in mind that landscaping can be costly if you don’t pay proper attention or do not plan a reasonable budget according to your needs and vision. This is why it is vital to check the price of plants and other landscaping supplies and materials.
Consider the Location
You should get familiar with the sun and wind patterns in your area. You may want to place a lovely patio on the west side of your house, but it will get plenty of afternoon sun. This may mean that dinnertime in August will not be relaxing and cool—just hot. On the other hand, wind whistling around a corner may easily extinguish a fire pit.
These are common and expensive mistakes in backyard landscape design and planning that beginners make. It is advisable to work with nature when planning and designing your outdoor space to make the most of the offerings naturally provided.
For example, if you would like to create a secluded space to relax, unwind, and soak in the sun, the location must allow for maximum sunlight.
Choose Native Plants
You may know that native plants are best when you’re choosing plants or trees for your new yard. This is because native trees and plants are very beneficial to local wildlife. They are also acclimated to local climate or rainfall patterns.
Native plants hardly need fertilizers, harmful pesticides, or supplemental watering, so they are simple and inexpensive to maintain and are eco-friendly.
Humble Beginnings
You may have seen home and garden TV shows that are masters at revealing full outdoor makeovers in just two to three days. However, remember that they employ a crew of 50 to 60 people, but you don’t have the same resources as a beginner gardener.
There is nothing wrong with starting small since part of creating a great landscape design is to slowly develop a plan and thoroughly enjoy the process. You can, for example, start with a small flower bed and don’t worry about filling everything up immediately.
Give Your Mailbox a Makeover
Another simple tip for an attractive landscape is giving your mailbox a makeover. You can replace your mailbox with a new one. On the other hand, you can apply a different color coat that matches the color combination of the surrounding area. You can also plant some small plants and flowers near the base of the mailbox and make it more attractive.
Find a Focal Point and Design for Every Season
Any good garden or landscape design has a focal point or multiple focal points, such as a sculpture or an eye-catching plant. As a beginner, you can implement this principle easily.
Also, design for all seasons. This is because nobody wants a design that only dazzles and looks inviting in spring. You should design for every season. You can use evergreens for winter, while fruit trees tend to keep summer fresh.
Summing Up
Tearing out old landscaping, or starting over on a blank canvas, can be a daunting task. We hope these landscape design tips for beginners will boost your confidence! With these landscape design tips, you can transform your backyard space easily without burning a hole in your pocket.
