Tips And Techniques For A Small Landscape Garden Project

Tips and Techniques for a small landscape garden project using flowers, shrubs or even a tree can create a lovely new addition. Learn some basic tips on how to prepare a small bed and suggestions on what to plant. These techniques will allow you time to do a favorite activity, instead of slaving away hours in the dirt.

Are you thinking about taking those nasty overgrown shrubs out of the small bed near your home? Have you always wanted a small landscape area near your mailbox or along the side of your driveway? Properly prepping for an area can be done very easily and just take a few hours to complete. The cost can be minimal too if you consider doing the job yourself. Below is a picture of an area along the side of a driveway.

This bed was put in near the end of the driveway. Preparing this area only took about an hour with a tiller or a new tool called an Azada digger. Shovels also will work for this type of garden project. Think of what shape bed you would like to create. An easy way to start is take a garden hose and outline the shape you would like the bed to be. Dig around the outline of the hose. Turn the sod or soil over and remove any grass over other type of rocks, and debris. Rake the area smoothly. Apply and rake in an organic compost. I love you using mushroom compost as it acts as an organic fertilizer for a year. Depending on your ground conditions, you may also have to use a soil conditioner.

Help keep your plants happy and healthy!

If you live in a clay base area, adding some bags of top soil or getting a half of scoop from a nursery will also enrich the soil. Here are some tips to plant around a tree. Planting around a tree is a good spot for a little garden. Remember before you purchase your plants, check and see if the area is sunny or shady. Think about the color of your siding, brick, stone or paint when choosing your plant colors. Here are a couple of tips for a small bed. Plant some of your favorite flowers and create an annual or perennial garden. Plant a combination of deciduous and evergreen shrubs. You could also plant an ornamental tree, such as a Yoshino Cherry, Mock Orange, Dwarf Dynamite Crepe Myrtle, or a flowering Crabapple tree. I put in a combination of evergreen shrubs and my clients added some Shasta daisies to bring in a little more color. Notice the two variegated Euonymus, along with two dwarf Arborvitae. I Added one dwarf Hemlock, and also two Birds Nest. This bed is ready for mulch or pine straw now. These were three gallon shrubs, but many places will provide one gallon, which will save a little money.

There are so many different ways to do a small area. A key tip for you to consider, you don't have to do all your landscaping at once. Whether you own a home, live in an apartment and want a container garden, or have just a small area for a single garden project, work within your budget. You have the option to do a little at a time. You can plan your entire landscape project into phases. Do a small bed in the spring, one in summer and another in fall. If your goal is to do your entire front and backyard, and money is tight, these tips on doing a small garden project may be just right for you. Always plan ahead and think about the entire picture when doing outdoor projects. Here are a few more ideas for you when creating a small garden bed.

A couple of shrubs were put in along with some ornaments to accent the shrubs. Just a few plants provide a new look for this small area.

Azaleas were added to this walkway. Enormous colors in the springtime provide a brand new look for this plain pathway.

Perennial flower bed added to a open area on the right side of a house. These flowers produce vibrant colors in spring and throughout the summer months. A very natural look!

These are just a few tips and techniques on how to create in your yard a small garden. Keep it simple and if you choose to, do small beds over a period of time. This is just another possible solution for you to consider when doing any landscape project. Feel free to contact me and I would be happy to assist you in planning your small garden bed.

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