The plan, prep, and plant Method is a simple landscape solution for you. You love the color of your kitchen. It is totally you! Landscape projects are the same, your very own identity. Overall landscape projects start with the first step, your own ideas. Start by taking a picture of the area where you want to landscape. Think of the colors of the outside of your house. Write down some these different colors and some of your ideas of shrubs, trees, flowers or any outdoor features that could accent the colors and tones. Walk around and notice the colors of some of your outdoor features. Your shutters siding, brick, stone, or paint colors. These outdoor features create a balance to your overall landscape and gardens.

You are now beginning the first phase, PLANNING!

Color and textures are an important part of your overall landscape look. Maybe you are re-doing a single bed. What colors surround the bed? Consider doing a walkway, decorative pond, or dry rock bed. Plan on incorporating an outdoor feature, as there are many different items available today. It doesn't matter how large your landscape project is:

GOOD PLANNING RESULTS IN A GREAT LOOK!

The next step is to work within your budget. In our society today everyone is budget conscious. Look at the entire project and this will help you determine what you can afford. Below are some possible expenses you may have.

1. Design - It can be simple and creative. Your design does not have to be elaborate.
2. Trees, shrubs, and flowers.
3. Hard-scape features.
4. Prep work - hiring a landscaper or doing it yourself.
5. Planting materials - top soil, mushroom compost, fertilizers, pine straw, or mulch.

Sounds like a lot of work? I have been on hundreds of landscape and design consultations. Above are suggestions I have given to people. One budget solution I recommend, Phase Planting. This is a good way to control your budget. Here are a couple of ways to start small.

• Plant more than one bed - plant the trees first and wait a few months before planting anything else. This will give your wallet a rest. You can look at the trees and decide if you want to modify your design. Whether you live in an apartment or condo with only room for patio gardening, or whether it's balcony gardening or window boxes for you, you really can create a great container garden. In fact, small space gardening lends itself perfectly to garden designs that reflect you and fits your lifestyle.



• Install a pool or decorative pond before planting trees or shrubs. A mistake that some people make is to plant some trees and flowers to hide ugly outdoor fixtures or wanting some shade in their yard. Two years later they decide to invest in a pool and guess what? The only place for the pool is right where they planted.

It does not matter how large or small your landscape project is, having an overall plan will set you in motion for our second and most important step, PREPARATION!

What is preparation? Preparing your soil and area to ensure your plant material or landscape feature can be properly installed. Without proper preparation, your plant material may not grow, and your wall or walkway may not last.

There are so many different climates that have different soil ingredients. I live in the southeastern part of the United States and our soil is clay based and high acid. A sandy base soil may require adding some good quality top soil. (Sandy soil is great for growing herbs) I recommend getting your soil tested from a local government agency or a college extension. This should be done especially when you are investing a lot of time and money. Whoever tests your soil should be able to give you advice for correcting any problems they find. A tiller is a great tool to use to turn the soil over. This should be done several times, as working the soil will help all your plant specimens develop a strong and healthy root system. My crew and I used some basic tools such as tillers, shovels, and rakes.

If you are doing a big excavation may require outside equipment. Know your landscaper to ask questions on methods of preparation. You may have a problem area to address. Here is a quick look at a few simple solutions.

1. You have a slope, use jute - a commercial landscape fabric.
2. No time to take care of plants - plant low maintenance trees and shrubs.
3. Poor drainage - add corrugated piping or a drain box.
4. Too many rocks in the area - use the bigger rocks in your design.
5. Grass won't grow around trees - mound 4 to 6 inches of top soil and plant some flowers or small shrubs.

The Mop Cypress is a delightful variegated evergreen shrub that will grow around four to five feet tall. This shrub is stunning with solid evergreen trees and shrubs and will work well in front of the Emerald Green Arborvitae. The Gerber Daisies creates a mass of color in the summer months, and also compliments the Emerald Green Arborvitae and Mop Cypress. Gerber Daisies are perennials and will do well in many geographic locations. These are just three different size plants, and they also have their very own unique characteristics. You don't have to be an expert to plant. Learn how to plant trees, shrubs, or flowers in mass grouping. The garden project section has suggestions for you on different styles of gardens.

The different topics on this website should give you some exciting ideas using your own personality. Go ahead and start that landscape project you have been putting off. Head on over to the site map and see everything that is on this site!

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