Seven Tips for When You’re Undergoing a Massive Garden Project
Starting to re-do or re-design your garden can be a scary prospect, if you follow these tips, things will go smoothly. In this guide, we explore Seven tips for when you’re undergoing a massive garden project.
Take your time
Massive garden makeovers take a lot of physical work and time. Make sure to work in reasonable increments so you don’t overexert yourself, take breaks and hydrate frequently. You should always listen to your body, so you don’t get injured. Consider seeking extra sets of hands from family/friends for the more labour-intensive parts.
There will inevitably be things that require more time – for concrete to cure, plants to be in stock, soil amendments to take effect, etc. Make your timeline realistic and also factor in the physical exertion needed and how your own pace may slow progress. You can make things go a little faster by looking into a concrete barrier hire service.
Plan
Sketch out what you want your garden to look like, what plants or features you want to include, etc. Having a vision will help guide you through the whole process. Break the plan into manageable chunks that you can tackle segment by segment. You should spend lots of time researching your plant options and design ideas and determine how much sun the areas get, the direction of wind and drainage, size and dimensions so you know what you can do and is realistic. To help plan and imagine it, you can consider sketching out layouts and playing with shapes and placement of features.
Scale Properly
It’s very easy to bite off more than you can chew in an ambitious garden project. To prevent this, you should make sure the size, scope and workload are sized appropriately for your budget, skills and time, as building in phases over the years is perfectly fine to do and this stops you from having to redo something.
Check Permits and Regulations
If adding major permanent structures or altering drainage flows, you likely need permits from the city and to follow codes. Checking permits and regulations is an important part of planning any major landscaping or garden construction project. Structures like sheds, gazebos, pergolas, ponds, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, etc usually require a building permit if they meet specific size thresholds. Requirements vary significantly by city and county, and you should research your local codes. Local zoning governs whether certain land uses, setbacks, and structures are allowed on a property. For example, having limitations on commercial activity or height maximums.
Prepare the site thoroughly
Make sure to remove all weeds, debris, and unhealthy plants/trees. Till the soil if needed to improve drainage and mix in compost or fertilizer to enrich it. You can consider installing things like irrigation, pathways, retaining walls, or garden beds is best done at this early stage.
Invest in quality materials
While it may cost more upfront, using durable hardscaping materials, healthy plants, efficient irrigation, etc. It will save you hassle and money in the long run. Using cheaper products could mean redoing work sooner when inferior materials wear out or break and you should also consider Long-term Care. As you lay out plants and features, ensure your design allows for easy ongoing maintenance. Include things like weed barriers, automated watering, and wide enough pathways.
Budget
A garden makeover can get very expensive, so know how much you can realistically spend. You should get quotes for materials, contractors, and any equipment rentals and factor in both hardscaping improvements and plant choices. You should always plan which pieces are DIY and which you’ll hire out.
