If you are intending to landscape your yard, you need to spend as much time as possible in the planning and preparation stage. The more effort you can put into the planning, the more time and money you are likely to save once work begins, as you will be minimizing the risk of complications and delays. You will also be able to plan your budget more accurately and uncover any potential extra costs, which could be an unwelcome surprise later on. Once you have your plans in place, you can start preparing for the work to begin. This guide outlines some important steps that you should take before you create your vision.
Make a map of your yard
Make a map of your yard, including any permanent features or structures that will need to be included in the design, says NBG Landscapes. For example, there may be underground utility lines, such as gas lines and electricity cables that need to be avoided during digging. If you are planning on having a water feature that needs power, this should be positioned correctly.
Remove unwanted plants, trees, and debris
You need to remove all the dead plants, weeds, and unwanted debris from your yard. This might include fallen leaves, sticks, food waste, animal waste, rocks, or household waste. You can remove weeds by hand, or use a weed killer that will not damage the plants that you want to keep. Dead or unwanted trees are more difficult to get rid of without professional help, so you should contact the best tree company Orlando.
Hardscape structures are features such as walls, paving, and fountains, and you may not want them in your new yard design. Again, it is best to contact a professional when removing these features. If you are planning to lay new sod you will need to remove old grass and roots. A sod cutter will do this effectively, leaving you with bare soil.
Tidy up the plants that you will be keeping
Assuming that there are some plants that you wish to keep, you should prune these using the correct pruning tools and techniques, e.g. climbing up, pruning back. You should remove the branches, limbs, and leaves which are weak or diseased. If you do not remove the plant diseases in your garden, it may contaminate any new plants that you introduce. Some diseases are airborne, being released through spores. If you need advice about the best plan of attack, contact a professional about the best treatment for specific plant diseases.
Assess your home’s water pressure
If your new design requires an irrigation system you should assess your home’s water pressure as soon as possible. Installing an irrigation system requires several stages, but if you can sort it out before the landscaping begins you may be able to simplify the process and reduce costs. The irrigation line that you choose should match the pressure of the water coming from the outside tap; so find out what your flow rate is. You can then design the sprinkler layout and which areas of the yard need to be supplied with water.