We have seen and corrected many construction mistakes in our time. Not only are poorly designed outdoor spaces often unsightly and ineffective, they can also be costly if the builder needs repairs soon after installation. Here are some mistakes that are easy to avoid if you plan ahead.
1. Not planning your site properly.
Even the smallest garden or patio can become a useful and beautiful place if the space is used well. Setting up a garden bed and placing it in the center rather than at the border can increase the area of plants and flowers. Walls can also serve as focal points when lined with space-saving espalier fruit trees.
2. Try to eliminate maintenance by using too much leather.
We’re all busy, and sometimes it can be tempting to cover large areas of our garden with rocks or pavers to create a low garden maintenance. This can lead to a landscape that lacks the feel and softness that plants have. Remember, plants are the heroes of your landscape, and some plants are permanent and easy to use if chosen correctly. Although all plants need care, plants that adapt to the space will look beautiful even without frequent watering or pruning.
3. Peace of mind designed to fit your budget.
Infrastructure is all about: Do it once, do it right. Short-term budgeting will make you unhappy when you see a backyard that isn’t right in front of you. Ruining quality products also creates a double whammy when you have to replace low-quality materials that can’t withstand the weight. In the picture below we removed the sleeping wall and a rotten floor; both are bad due to poor construction.
4. very small. Size matters, and expanding the business is often a good idea.
For example, go big when deciding to make your stairs wider or narrower, your pool taller or shorter, your pergola higher or lower. In this project, the fireplace seating area is wider to make the most of the space and ensure it is proportional to the size of the house.
5. Not enough money is paid for the land.
One of the construction mistakes we see is overlooking parts of the design that are not visible, such as soil. Nutrition is important for plant health, and this starts from the roots. Good soil will help your plants grow and make them easier to manage. As we said, it’s better to have a 50-cent plant in a $5 hole than a $5 plant in a 50-cent hole. This Mount Martha method uses rich soil and underground drip irrigation to ensure trees, groundcovers and perennials thrive all season.
6. Ignore easements and boundaries.
It’s important to know any rules or permits that will protect you from home near the border due to services such as fire codes and sewer. If you do not understand and follow these rules, you may end up wasting money on flooring or flooring that can be removed again at your expense.
7. There are many products to choose from.
A bad decorative trick is to not choose materials that follow the same theme, such as pavers. Using multiple mismatched items or materials can make the space seem thrown together without purpose or plan. This makes the space appear denser and smaller than it actually is. This may also occur when different variables are used in plant selection. Therefore, large fields will have better visibility. In the picture below, the same color mortar is used between the red bricks and blue stone pavers, and the lavender-bordered bricks and pavers create a deep visual harmony, protecting the space from appearing crowded.
8. Preserve many elements from previous builds.
Sometimes we find it easier to start over. Things that seemed good when they were the best part of a bad garden will become the worst part of the new place. Choose the items you choose to keep and make sure they are good value for money. This includes hardscape elements and plants.
9. There is no annual interest.
The easiest mistake to make when landscaping is choosing plants that will look best in one season. This might mean choosing more deciduous plants, more evergreens, or more perennials that bloom in one season. This mistake is often caused by food stores because nurseries only display the best plants at that time of year. For example, if you buy only plants that do well in spring, your garden will look good in spring, but without them last year.
10. Wrong plant selection.
Planting and selecting plants that are not suitable for local conditions and not understanding the height and spread of plants can make a beautiful landscape design. These mistakes are often made by good homeowners or housekeepers who do not have a good understanding of the plants they work with. It’s important to know how high your plants can reach and plant small perennials, shrubs and groundcovers at the front of your garden. Place taller plants, such as echinacea, euphorbia, and delphinium, behind shorter plants.
