Landscaping Basics Tips

Build hardscape before planting. Install paths, patios, retaining walls, and drainage solutions first because heavy machinery and foot traffic during construction damage plants. Lay irrigation pipes before final grading. Build fences and structures next. Plant trees and shrubs. Finish with perennials, ground covers, and mulch. This sequence prevents expensive rework.

Consider budget, style, and maintenance. Poured concrete is affordable and clean but can crack in freeze-thaw zones. Pavers are durable, replaceable (single units swap out), and available in many styles. Natural flagstone is premium-looking and organic but more expensive and requires skilled installation. Gravel patios are the most affordable but less suitable for dining furniture. Match the material to your house style for a cohesive look.

If a slope is gentle enough to mow or plant (roughly 3:1 ratio — 3 feet horizontal per 1 foot vertical), planting is usually better and cheaper than building a wall. Steeper slopes need retaining walls to prevent erosion and create usable space. Any retaining wall over 2 feet tall should be designed by an engineer — the soil pressure behind a wall increases exponentially with height.

A clean-cut edge between lawn and bed costs nothing but an hour with a half-moon edger. This simple line transforms a garden from random to designed. For a more permanent solution, steel or aluminum landscape edging ($1-3 per linear foot) creates a crisp, modern border that prevents grass from creeping into beds and holds mulch in place.

Plant a mixed border in front of the fence with varying heights: climbers on the fence itself (clematis, climbing roses, jasmine), mid-height shrubs or grasses 2-3 feet out, and low perennials at the front. Within two growing seasons, the fence becomes a backdrop rather than a barrier. For faster coverage, use fast-growing annual climbers like sweet peas or morning glory in the first year while perennial climbers establish.

Install conduit and wiring during hardscape construction even if you do not install fixtures immediately. Running cables under a finished patio or path later means tearing it up. Low-voltage landscape lighting cable can be laid in shallow trenches alongside paths during construction at minimal extra cost. Add fixtures whenever you are ready — the infrastructure will be in place.