3 Major Landscaping Mistakes Home Improvement DIYers Are Prone to Make

It is an amazing time to be a DIYer. The internet provides a plethora of resources, knowledge and information to help you tackle nearly any project. It also helps you find, rent or purchase all the tools that you may need to get the job done. However, with DIY comes the potential for first-timer landscaping Mistakes. Here are some errors to avoid if you start a landscaping project.

Not Cleaning Up Properly

Working outside, rather than in the sanctity of your home interior, sometimes leads DIYers — and even professionals — to take the easy way out and not prioritize keeping the work area clean. Leaving nails and screws loose on the ground can become a hazard to feet later on. It is possible for them to settle into the ground with points upward. The same can be said for metal, brick, or concrete debris, which can be sharp. Paint dumping, including washing of paint-laden tools or dumping excess paint outside, is an environmental hazard that may be illegal in your area.

Driving Over the Yard

Many major Landscaping Mistakes projects require heavy equipment, and to save time and effort, it is not uncommon to drive big trucks and tractors right over the yard directly to the project site to unload material or load waste. This can cause big issues with the yard. Heavy equipment will compact the earth beneath it, leaving huge ruts and tearing apart grass if present, especially if the ground is wet. Even if the yard is just dirt, you will need to dig out the ruts and loosen the soil before the space becomes usable or anything will grow. This is one of the reasons why heavy equipment requires mats. Laying down these special mats will help prevent damage even to a grass yard.

Ignoring the Foundation

When planning a landscaping project, you should definitely keep the security of your home’s foundation as a primary concern. While this can take the form of not using heavy equipment like backhoes near the foundation, it also means longer-term planning. Keep trees or shrubs with aggressive root systems well away from your foundation. Research all plants to see how large they may get and the recommended distance to keep away. Even a seemingly benign shrub may actually have the potential to grow large and have roots invade your foundation. Also, make sure with any landscape project that you plan for drainage, keeping the soil sloped away from the home to prevent standing water.

Taking on a big DIY landscape project can be fun and exciting. Landscaping is a great way to customize your property and make it both beautiful and functional at the same time. As long as you avoid big DIY mistakes such as those above, you can create a unique outdoor space to suit any need.

Want a professional to help you create the outdoor space of your dreams? Let Criders help you!