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on Friday, June 17, 2022
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Beyond creating a business plan and building a client base, the process of planning for creating beautiful landscaping on a commercial or residential level is similar. If you are wanting to build a scene or space that is more than a green lawn, the first step to developing a successful landscaping plan starts with the right landscaping equipment for the job.
Find the Best Landscaping Equipment for Your Project
Lawn Mower
The obvious first step is a quality lawn mower. Talk to a Greenmark turf salesperson if you want help determining if a walk-behind, zero-turn, or sub-compact utility tractor would be best for you, your lawn and the landscaping project you are planning. This will impact everything from the aerators, spreaders, mulchers and other attachments that will be available to you.
Hedge Trimmer
Create clean, shaped hedges and shrubs with a hedge trimmer. Like string trimmers, hedge trimmers come in cordless, electric or gas-powered varieties and are an important part of the look of a landscaped lawn. Remember that you’ll be holding a trimmer for extended periods of time, so find one that is comfortable and not too heavy.
Trimmers
[Body] Landscaping projects are often about neat edges, small corners, flower beds and even small ponds. Trimming around these objects and fence lines with a string trimmer, also known as a weed whacker, will help create the manicured finishing touches you are looking for.
Edger
While a string trimmer will cut the grass around a corner or edge, any distinct border you are wanting to create will need an edger that can cut through thick grass, dirt and roots to create that fine, manicured line.
Blower
While commonly called leaf blowers, this equipment does much more than cleaning up weeds. When you’ve used your edger and trimmer around sidewalks, paths or rock borders, they are a quick way to clean debris out of the way so you can see your design clearly. While handheld blowers are probably best, some homeowners opt for the more commercially used backpack blower.
Spreader and Sprayer
Creating the overall look of your landscaping is the first step, but once you work that hard to create your space, you want to maintain it. Fertilizer, weed, and insect controls are vital to keeping your lawn and landscaping looking its best. Spreaders and sprayers made for this use will also help you evenly distribute product without wasting it during application. Both pieces of lawn equipment come as a walk-behind or you can purchase a tow-behind if you’re using a sub-compact utility lawn tractor.
Hand Tools
When implementing any landscaping project plan, you will need hand tools. This can include shovels rakes, pruners, and other garden tools. Again, purchase with comfort and grip in mind since you will be spending a lot of time using these utility pieces.
Bags and Buckets
No lawn project is complete without quality lawn and leaf bags. Finding bags made more puncture-proof will save you time and frustration. We also recommend heavy-duty plastic buckets over metal ones, so you aren’t dealing with corrosion over time when dealing with exposure to water or moisture over the long term.
Safety Gear
When working with lawn equipment it is vital to remember to have eye and ear protection. And even though it can make for a hot afternoon, we also recommend wearing gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and steel-toed boots if you’re going to be walking around any power equipment, lifting heavy brush, and working with shrubs or rocks. Flying debris is unpredictable so it is always the smart thing to consider safety first.
Once you have your landscaping equipment and are ready to create great landscaping, it is best to create a landscaping plan so that you know where to start and what types of bushes, shrubs, flowers or water feature and rocks that you want to include.
6 Important Considerations When Planning Your Landscape Design
Know Your Yard and Map it Out
What overall climate do you live in? What are the micro-climates created by shade cover and length of sun exposure to each area of your lawn? You can break your lawn up in to areas designated as full sun, partial shade, deep shade and the likes when creating this map. Also note how water drains in your yard and design a plan that promotes water moving away from your home.
Do You Have a Landscaping Theme?
A theme can be as specific as “I want an Oriental Garden” or a mini White House Rose Garden, or it can just refer to similar shapes and coordinating colors that will unify your landscape. These themes will guide your planning for plants, flowers and materials that you will need to purchase. Are you looking for soft, lush spaces, or do you prefer clean, geometrical designs? You can also design around the architecture of your home so that your lawn is an extension of a look and feel that you love. Think about the spaces you are creating, what they might be used for or the feelings you want them to evoke and then, if appropriate to your design, create links or paths to move people from one space to another. You can find inspiration for themes and other ideas with any search online.
Plan your plants
Plants can do so many things for you. They can create luscious views, provide beautiful aromas, or even grow delicious fruits and vegetables for you and your family to enjoy. They can be tall and create shade, privacy, and sound buffers, or they can be low-lying to create visual spaces without blocking your view. They can even create some of those micro-climates we mentioned earlier so keep that in mind as you plan because they can change the temperature and light distribution.
Plan your visual details
Plants, rocks, water features and garden ornaments can all create specific visual details. Look at how they complement or contrast with other features. Remember colors, blooming seasons, fragrances, longevity, and even what plants look like years into the future. All of these will impact your enjoyment of the space for years to come.
Who will be using your landscaping and yard and who will be maintaining it?
If you are creating a small space for you and a partner, you will plan differently than if you know you have kids or pets, or if you want your yard to be a gathering space for friends and family. Think about who will be using your yard and how they will use it. And be realistic about what it will take to maintain your plan. Will you be the one putting in the work? Do you have the time? Is that something that you enjoy and in which you are willing to invest the time? Or if you plan on hiring someone else to maintain it, what does that look like in your budget?
Protect your environment
When adding plants, consider how much water, fertilizer, and pesticides they may need. Can you install a rainwater catchment system to provide a sustainable source of water? Do other plants need to be removed? Could those plants be relocated in your lawn or repurposed? And remember to use non-toxic preservatives, stains, paints, and cleaners for all the aspects of your plan. All these things will help you create your beautiful landscaping while also protecting and preserving your environment.
With the right landscaping equipment and a well-developed landscaping plan you can start creating a landscaped world that you and your family can enjoy for as long as you own your home.
