Common Mistakes People Make When Designing Their Landscape
Some people are shocked to find out that designing and building a poorly planned landscape can be just as costly as a well-designed one. Too often, people focus on the plants and accessories they want without considering the overall design and flow of the space, so focal points get confusing and the overall theme is lost. The design part of a landscape remodel is arguably the most important part. Here are some common mistakes we see people make when designing their landscape.
Putting Your Plants in the Wrong Places.
This is a very common mistake we see when people design their own landscape. Many people assume that plants just need some sunshine, water and soil and they’ll be fine, but that isn’t usually the case. Plants grow at different speeds and need different amounts of sunshine and water to thrive. If you place drought tolerant plants, like succulents, in a shady spot in your yard, you will be disappointed when they quickly die. On the contrary, putting flowers in the hottest and sunniest spot in your yard will kill them as well. Make sure to do your research to better understand what certain plants need. Then, you should group similar plants together to keep them healthy, save time on upkeep, and reduce your water use.
Choosing the Wrong Plants.
Similarly, many people choose the wrong plants for the space they have. When designing your landscape, you should consider what your plants will look like when they reach maturity. A common issue we see is that people pick tall plants for parts of the yard that should have lower foliage. When a plant grows too large for the space it has, it will spill into walkways, take over fences, and eventually kill other nearby plants to make more space for itself. Make sure you consider how tall and wide your plants will get when they mature, and leave space for them to grow, otherwise you will pay the price with upkeep or needing to buy new plants down the road.
Focusing on only one Season.
The last thing you want to do is focus solely on flowers that bloom in Spring because your landscape will look gorgeous for a few months out of the year and unattractive during the other 3 seasons. By incorporating a variety of plant life that bloom in all seasons, you are able to have a mixture of plants that mature and look their best all year long. Thankfully, here in San Diego, this mistake isn’t as damaging for your yard as it can be in other climates.
Overdoing it.
So many people have big dreams about their space and they want to crowd it with tons of cool potted plants, bright colors, crazy patterns, and too many accessories. Remember that your plants will get bigger, so they will take up more space overtime. By adding too many things to your landscape, you aren’t allowing room for it to grow. Not to mention, all the crazy colors, patterns and accessories take away from the natural feel of the outdoors and will distract you and your guests. The focus should be on the foliage, not everything else. A good rule of thumb is to pick three main colors and stick to them. Less is more, especially when you are going for a relaxing vibe in your landscape.
Forgetting About the Upkeep.
If you decide to incorporate plants like hedges and large bushes, keep in mind that you will need to commit to regular yard maintenance. Likewise, trees have leaves that fall into your gutter and all over your yard – if you don’t want to clean out your gutters and rake up leaves, don’t add a bunch of trees to your landscape. If you are the kind of person that hates yard work, or you just don’t have the time, you should consider putting low maintenance plants in your space, or hire a gardener for regular upkeep.
Photo by Hale Production Studios
Not Considering Furniture.
Many people focus solely on plants when designing their landscape and they forget about furniture. The key to picking the right furniture for your yard is to choose neutral colors that don’t distract from the other elements you have in your landscape. Your furniture should blend into your space so that the landscape remains the focal point of your yard. If you pick too many colors and different themes, your space will feel crowded and guests will focus on your misplaced looking furniture instead of the gorgeous plants and yard you designed. Another important thing to consider when picking furniture is the comfort level. Don’t pick pieces that look really cool but hurt your back after 10 minutes of sitting in them. You won’t really use the uncomfortable furniture and it will end up costing you more money when you decide to replace them with things you will actually want to sit on.
Neglecting Lighting.
If you are going to put time and money into your landscape, don’t you want to enjoy it even after the sun goes down? When done right, lighting can transform your space and create a cozy atmosphere that is beautiful and inviting. Stick to warm toned, yellow lights to avoid a harsh appearance. We love market string lights because they add enough light to your space without taking over, not to mention, they are aesthetically pleasing.
Photo by Hale Production Studios
Not Hiring a Landscape Designer.
As you can see, there are so many factors that go into designing a landscape that is both attractive and practical. It is easy to go overboard and clutter your space, not to mention pick plants that just don’t go together. When we said a poorly designed landscape is more costly than a well thought out one, that was because fixing a poor landscape design can be very expensive. By going with a quality landscape design team from the start of the process, you are able to see exactly what your space will look like as it grows and you won’t have to do all the research on plant types yourself. Landscape designers will consider the overall theme and flow of your yard and they will help you pick accessories and furniture that will improve your space instead of taking from it.
If you are thinking of making changes to your landscape, give us a call! We would love to talk about your yard and see how we can work together to give you space you’ve been dreaming of.