How to Start Landscaping: Easy Tips for Beginners

Starting a landscaping project from scratch is a wonderful and often rewarding way to personalize and customize an outdoor space. And while it can feel overwhelming, with the right research, preparation, and knowledge, homeowners can create a welcoming yard of their dreams.

Key Takeaways

• Create a plan, consider local regulations, create a budget, and research design elements before beginning a new landscaping project.
• Select plants and flowers that fit your backyard’s natural climate.
• Plan for regular maintenance and consider hiring professional help to create a polished landscape.

Create a Plan

Before starting a new landscaping project, sketch a rough plan for your landscaping project. Consider the following when creating your plan:

• Yard size
• Sun exposure
• Native plants and flowers
• Water access for care and maintenance

Once there’s a general idea of what the space could look like, implementing the actual landscaping elements becomes possible.

Consider Regional and HOA Regulations

Research if there are any city, county, or Homeowners Association (HOA) regulations you need to abide by. In some locations, homeowners are required to follow rules to follow landscaping safety precautions and avoid things like clashing with buried utility lines or creating uneven designs.

Create a Budget

The cost of new landscaping projects can add up quickly, so it’s essential to set a desired budget before selecting plants, materials, and designs.

To estimate landscaping costs, try to first prioritize the most important aspects of the new project, such as adding new flower beds or replacing old hardscaping features, like pavers or stone pathways. Then, research average costs for each type of smaller project to get a good feel for costs and create a flexible plan that accommodates your design.

When budgeting, consider additional elements you’d like to add to your space, such as water features, a pergola, lighting, and edging.

Research Design Elements

Understanding the basic elements of landscaping (line, form, texture, color, and scale) can be helpful when starting a new project. While it’s unnecessary to know the ins and outs of landscape design, it can be beneficial to remember the basics:

• Balance, which ensures a landscaping design remains equal
• Unity to help all the elements of a space come together
• Proportion and scale to help the outdoor space match the size and scale of the house
• Rhythm and repetition, which help control movement through walkways or flower beds
• Simplicity to ensure the space is usable and feels natural
• Focal points to naturally break apart different areas or to create contrast, like with perennial flowers

Avoid Common Mistakes

Researching common landscaping mistakes can help homeowners avoid time-consuming and often costly mistakes as they create their new outdoor spaces. Mistakes to avoid include:

• Inadequate soil preparation
• Poor light conditions for plants and flowers
• Awkward layout or spacing of plants and focal points
• Mulching your beds
• Over- or under-watering plants and flowers

Select Plants and Flowers

When choosing which plants and flowers to incorporate into a landscape design, it’s important to consider factors such as drought tolerance, especially in areas with full sun, soil, which can be evaluated through quick soil testing, and the mature height of trees, ornamental grasses, and other fast-growing plants.

Homeowners will want to consider their own preferences, such as a color scheme, to refer to when choosing plants and flowers for their outdoor landscape. Ground covers and native Missouri plants, as well as perennial plants, are typically great selections for beginner landscapers.

Implement Low-Maintenance and Sustainable Practices

Implementing energy conservation techniques that can save money on utility bills and watering can make starting a new landscaping project less daunting. Homeowners who are beginner landscapers can:

• Plant drought-resistant plants, such as certain perennials and hardy trees
• Try minimalist landscaping designs, like adding simple hardscaping elements or small walkways
• Use strategic planting and add pollinator-friendly plants, ground covers, and shrubs that are easy to maintain
• Add native plants that will thrive in Missouri conditions year-round

Plan for Maintenance and Upkeep

Every landscape requires some level of ongoing care to stay healthy and attractive. While some homeowners prefer a low-maintenance design, others enjoy spending time in the garden. Factors that may impact maintenance include:

• Plants and garden beds: Watering, pruning, plant division, mulching, weed control, and managing fertilizer requirements
• Lawn care: Mowing at the proper height, watering schedules, turf repair, leaf removal, and seasonal weed control
• Drainage features: Occasional inspections of rain gardens, French drain systems, and other drainage solutions to ensure proper performance
• Hardscaping elements: Routine cleaning and minor repairs to patios, walkways, retaining walls, and other outdoor features
• Irrigation systems: Seasonal adjustments and monitoring of watering zones to improve efficiency and plant health

Hire Professional Help

While DIY landscaping is a great way to learn ho to landscape, having a landscaping expert by your side can also bring many benefits. At Poynter Landscaping, our experts offer a tailored approach to all projects to deliver top-tier design. Poynter’s professional landscapers can help create a range of landscaping plans, from installing a small garden area to creating a large outdoor pool and entertainment area.

For planning and installation services, contact us today to get started.

FAQs

Can I landscape with no experience?

Homeowners with little to no landscaping experience can landscape, though it’s best to start small with low-maintenance ideas, including:

• Planting drought-resistant plants
• Adding ground covers and/or ornamental grasses
• Installing stepping stones or edging pavers

How much money do you need to start landscaping?

The cost to start landscaping varies by yard size and project complexity. In general, homeowners should try to set aside anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 to cover materials, tools, and actual plants and/or flowers. As projects grow, the budget can increase.

What is the 3 Year Rule for gardening?

In gardening, the 3 Year Rule refers to the length of time it takes for plants and flowers to fully bloom:

• Year one: plants sleep
• Year two: plants creep
• Year three: plants leap

Essentially, homeowners should expect it to take some time for their plants to look well-adjusted to their new environment.