Looking out at my backyard last spring, I knew it was time for a change. The patchy lawn, overgrown bushes, and sad little garden beds were practically begging for attention. My husband kept saying “next weekend,” but we both knew how that usually goes!
After three cups of coffee one Saturday morning, I finally grabbed my garden gloves and decided to do something. What followed was two months of weekend work that could have been so much easier if we’d planned things better from the start.
That’s why I’m sharing what I learned the hard way. Trust me, your back and your wallet will thank you!
7 Tips to Ensure a Smooth Start to Your Landscaping Project
When I think about the hours we spent ripping out plants we’d just put in the wrong spot, or the money wasted on that gorgeous Japanese maple that was all wrong for our soil, I wish someone had sat me down with these tips first.
Start With a Clear Vision
My biggest mistake? Jumping in without a real plan. I saw a gorgeous cottage garden on Pinterest and thought, “I want that!” without considering our yard’s conditions.
Take time to dream a little. What do you want from your outdoor space? A play area for kids? A peaceful retreat? A vegetable garden that actually produces something other than disappointment?
Grab a notebook and jot down what matters to you. For us, it was low maintenance (because three kids and a dog), space for summer barbecues, and pretty flowers I could cut for the table.
Walk your yard at different times of day. Notice where the sun hits and where it stays shady. Our first vegetable garden failed spectacularly because we put it where it looked nice from the kitchen window… which happened to get about 2 hours of sun daily. Turns out tomatoes have opinions about that!
Make rough sketches of your ideas. Mine looked like a 5-year-old’s crayon drawing, but it helped me communicate with my husband without the usual “that’s not what I meant” conversations.
Check Your Local Regulations
Oh boy, did I learn this one the hard way! We built this beautiful raised garden bed, filled it with soil, planted everything… then found out we’d placed it too close to the property line.
Call your city or check online for:
- Permit requirements
- HOA guidelines if you have one
- Water usage restrictions
- Rules about structures like decks or sheds
- Property line setbacks
Our neighborhood has rules about fence heights and tree placement that would have been nice to know before we bought that gorgeous privacy hedge. The lady at city hall now knows me by name after all my panicked visits!
A friend of mine discovered her town offers rebates for water-saving landscapes. She got $800 back after replacing her lawn with native plants! About 30% of cities now offer similar programs, so it’s worth checking what might be available to you.
Choose the Right Professionals
When we decided to terrace our sloped backyard, I knew it was beyond my DIY skills. Finding the right landscaper took longer than the actual work!
Ask neighbors with nice yards who they used. People love sharing both good and terrible experiences. My neighbor Rhea talked for 45 minutes about her disaster with “some guy with a truck” who destroyed her irrigation system.
That’s why choosing the right professional is more important than you might think. For homeowners in Connecticut, Valley View Excavation in Southington has built a strong reputation for reliable excavation work that’s done right the first time.
Whether you’re clearing land, digging foundations, or preparing for hardscaping, they bring local knowledge and precision to every project.
Moreover, always set at least three quotes. The prices we got ranged from suspiciously cheap to “do they think we’re billionaires?” The middle quote came from someone who actually listened to what we wanted instead of telling us what we should want.
Check credentials and reviews. Our guy had photos of similar projects and happy client references. The super cheap quote couldn’t provide either… big red flag!
Ask lots of questions:
- How long will the project take?
- Who handles permits?
- What happens if something unexpected comes up?
- How do they handle changes?
We picked someone who didn’t just answer questions but asked us good ones too. That told me he was thinking through our project, not just quoting a cookie-cutter job.
Focus on Site Preparation
This is the unglamorous part nobody posts on social media, but it makes all the difference!
When we redid our front garden beds, Tom wanted to skip straight to planting the pretty stuff. I insisted we spend a weekend on proper prep, and years later, that garden still looks amazing while requiring minimal maintenance.
Start with clearing the area completely. Get ALL the roots out. Those tiny bits of weed root left behind? They’ll return with a vengeance, usually right before you’re hosting a garden party!
Test your soil. Those little kits from the garden center are worth every penny. Our soil was so acidic that certain plants would never have thrived. A quick adjustment saved us from watching $200 worth of plants slowly die.
Address drainage issues before planting. We learned the hard way that the low spot in our yard becomes Lake Michigan after heavy rain. We installed a simple drain that directs water away from the house and garden beds, saving us from the annual “floating mulch” disaster.
When we finally got around to our backyard renovation last year, about 70% of our time went into prep work. That might seem excessive, but proper preparation means less maintenance and fewer problems down the road.
Plan for the Unexpected
Something ALWAYS goes wrong. Always! Budget for it, both time and money-wise.
Set aside at least 15-20% of your budget for surprises. When digging for our patio, we found an old concrete pad nobody knew was there. Removing it cost extra but had to be done.
Weather will mess with your timeline. Last spring, we planned a weekend project that turned into a three-weekend saga thanks to unexpected rain. Check long-range forecasts, but know Mother Nature loves a good practical joke.
Have a Plan B ready. When our tree delivery was delayed by two weeks, we shifted to working on the garden path instead. Having alternative tasks ready keeps the project moving.
Keep neighbors informed about your plans, especially if there might be noise or mess. Our neighbor brought us cookies when our project ran long because we’d given her a heads-up. Much better than angry glares over the fence!
Communicate Clearly
This applies whether you’re working with professionals or your spouse!
My husband and I have very different definitions of “a few plants” and “not too expensive.” One whiteboard drawing and budget later, we were finally speaking the same language.
If hiring professionals, get everything in writing. Everything! Our landscape design included “mulch for garden beds,” but when installed, it was a thin layer that disappeared after the first rain. The contract didn’t specify depth, so we had little recourse.
Take photos during the process. They’re helpful for remembering what’s underneath after everything’s finished. Those pictures of where we placed irrigation lines saved us when we needed to fix a leak two years later.
Use actual measurements, not vague terms. “Move the garden bed a bit to the left” means something different to everyone involved. “Move it 3 feet toward the maple tree” leaves no room for misinterpretation.
Think About the Long Term
The most beautiful landscape right after installation can become a nightmare without considering how it grows and changes.
Research mature sizes of plants. That adorable little evergreen by the window? It might grow to block your entire view. About 80% of landscaping mistakes involve plants being too close to structures or each other.
Consider maintenance requirements honestly. I love English cottage gardens but realized I don’t love the constant weeding and dividing they require. We compromised with a modified version using lower-maintenance native plants.
Plan for different seasons. Our first landscaping attempt looked amazing in spring and utterly depressing from July through March! Now we have plants that offer interest year-round.
Think about your future needs too. We left space for a play structure that wasn’t in the initial budget but was added two years later when our youngest was ready for it.
Conclusion
Starting a landscaping project right makes all the difference between creating an outdoor space you love and one that becomes a source of stress.
Remember my neighbor Jan with the irrigation disaster? She ended up redoing her entire yard twice in three years. Meanwhile, our carefully planned front garden still looks beautiful with minimal effort because we took time to start things right.
Your outdoor space should bring you joy, not constant work. With proper planning, research, and preparation, your landscaping project can transform your outdoor space into something truly special.
Now excuse me while I go enjoy a cup of tea on my patio… under the pergola that only took us three weekends instead of six because we finally learned to plan ahead!
