The art of landscaping is not an easy one to master, especially if you have a big yard! Sometimes it can seem as though your greenery has a mind of its own! But don't worry, you aren't alone. When it comes to yard upkeep, many homeowners don't know where to start. Let us warn you, maintaining a well-kept and attractive yard is no easy feat. But before you throw in the towel and give up all hopes of achieving your dream yard, take a look at our top mistakes to avoid.
View the slideshow above for our top 17 landscaping mistakes to avoid.
Knowing what not to do when it comes to landscaping is surprisingly a good place to start to tackle the project. For instance, don't forget to make a landscaping plan. It will save you a great deal of headaches down the road when trying to maintain your greenery. Our list will help you take a new approach to your landscaping and hopefully, help you to avoid the biggest no-no's of lawn care.
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Tags: Green Friendly, Outdoors, Outdoors, Curb Appeal, Landscaping
Excessive (and Tacky!) Lawn Ornaments
Nothing can bring down the look of your outdoor space than an excessive amount of lawn ornaments. One or two well-designed ornaments can be a nice touch to a lawn, but there's a thin line between enough and too much. If you do want to deck your lawn, carefully choose an ornament that will withstand different weather conditions to avoid a tacky, weathered look.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Garden Gnome Overload
Who doesn't like to spot a garden gnome cleverly hiding amongst the shrubs and flowers of a yard? A pair of gnomes is fine, but don't scatter these little men everywhere! Two friendly gnome are more than enough for any yard.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Not Keeping Your Recycling Bins Organized
We all know it's important for the environment to recycle, but that doesn't give you an excuse to have a messy recycling bin. Believe it or not, having a disorganized and overflowing bin outside your house can bring down the look of your home.
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Not Taking In Your Newspapers
Like a messy recycling bin, forgetting to take in your daily newspaper is also a no-no. Don't let your newspapers build up for a week as it creates a messy and irresponsible look for your house.
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Failing To Fertilize
Forgetting to fertilize your plants and flowers is a common mistake most homeowners make, along with fertilizing incorrectly. Without fertilizing, your landscape will never look its best. Show your landscape some love and fertilize at least twice a year.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Not Showing Your Flowers Enough Love
Fertilizing isn't the only way to care for your landscape. If you have flowers in your yard, show them some extra care by watering them yourself. Sometimes weather can be unpredictable so it's up to you to make sure your flowers receive the water they need.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Forgetting Your Climate
A great deal of homeowners forget to consider the climate they live in when designing the landscape of their home. Don't make this mistake or your plants and flowers won't survive the temperatures of your region.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Letting Leaves Pile Up
We know raking leaves is a pain, but letting them pile up isn't a good idea. Piles of leaves is not only an unattractive addition to your landscape, but is a fire hazard.
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Forgetting To Repaint
If you don't maintain the look of your house, you're yard will never look its best. Make sure to touch up the paint on your house when it's starting to look a little drab.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Losing Sight of Curb Appeal
When it comes to landscaping, some homeowners make the mistake of only focusing on their backyard. But don't forget, curb appeal says a lot about the upkeep of your home. Take some time to care for the greenery in the front as well.
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Failing To Plan
Another common mistakes made by homeowners when considering the design of their landscape is failing to plan. Without a set plan, you run the risk of buying too many plants or additions that will end up making your yard looked cramped.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Not Considering Neighborhood Felines
Cats in the neighborhood? Don't forget certain plants tend to be a favorite of these felines. If you don't want to create a hang out for outdoor cats, avoid extra grassy plants.
Photo Credit: jupiter images
Planting Too Many Trees In Tight Spaces
If you're a tree lover, it may seem like a given-in that you plant several in your yard. Just remember, trees eventually grow to be very large in size. When you plant them, be sure to keep them spread far enough away so they have enough room to reach their potential.
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Uninviting Bench
Garden and yard benches are a great way to add a welcoming and friendly touch to your home. When choosing a bench, however, make sure it's actually comfortable! Stiff and hard benches will ruin the warm feel of your home.
Photo Credit: jupiter images
Poor Fence Choices
Nothing looks worse around the outside of a home than a broken fence. Not only does it show lack of care for your space, but it could be a danger to neighbors and children. When choosing a fence, be very selective about the material and type of fence you buy.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Letting Your Shrubs Get Out Of Hand
Shrubs can be a gorgeous and green addition to your landscape. However, the achieving the beautiful look is not without putting in the hard work of maintenance. If you have shrubs in your yard remember to be proactive about caring for them so they don't get out of hand.
Photo Credit: Corbis
Striving For Perfection
Remember, there's no such thing as perfection when it comes to landscaping. Homeowners who make the mistake of trying to achieve the perfect landscape will only be disappointed. External factors, such as climate and weather play a major part in the health of your landscape. You should love your home no matter what, even if your make one of these common mistakes.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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