Lesson 7: Installation Tips & Mistakes to Avoid
There are some simple suggestions you can follow to make the installation process go more smoothly. And, you can learn a lot by reading these mistakes that others have done.
Installation Tips
Ready, Set, Go! There is no way around the fact that installing landscaping features ard planting trees, shrubs and perennials are hard work. But you are already one step ahead of the game by having a plan. Although mistakes can still be made, putting forethought into your design should greatly reduce any potential problems you may encounter as you are actually digging in the dirt and installing your landscaping features. There are a few other tips that can help make your life easier and the installation process go smoother.
First, remove any physical features that are in the way of your proposed landscaping. This may include pruning or removing existing trees and shrubs. If there are trees, especially smaller trees that you need to move but would like to keep, spray them with “Wiltpruf” the day before you intend on moving them or potting them up. Wiltpruf is an excellent product and available at your local nursery. To learn more about this product go to their website at www.wiltpruf.com. Wiltpruf helps to retain moisture and makes the transplanting process go much smoother.
Your next step is to complete your site preparation including any necessary grading and site elevations. You may want to hire a professional if there is extensive grading to be done. You do not necessarily have to hire a landscape contractor for just plain grading. There are septic installers and excavators who are willing to do grading jobs and may give you a better price than a landscape contractor.
It is always helpful to prepare your tools and have them in an easily accessible location. This may mean sharpening saw blades or cleaning pruners, shovels and trimmers. If you need to rent any equipment, get the biggest bang for your buck. Check your plan and do everything you need with the rental equipment at the same time. Remember to follow your plan, but remain flexible.
Be sure to recognize and mark where your drip line is. Even if you have gutters on your home, be cautious as sometimes with extremely heavy rains (or if your gutters need to be cleaned) the water may flow over and on to your plants.
A way to help mark out your beds is to use a flexible hose, rope, twine, contractor flags or marking paint. If using hoses or rope you can easily curve the outline, adjust the bed and move it as necessary. View your layout from inside your house, off your property and in front of your property. To get a feel for how things will look, place your potted plants around as per your plan and view them from numerous angles. Take a look at the photos on this page to see an example of how beds can be laid out with a hose.
Another option is to hire a consultant to come and view the layout of your beds. This will provide additional assistance as well as an expert eye to view the layout and design and to point out any flaws. Most landscape architects will go out on a one or two hour consultation and provide feedback. This is a viable option as opposed to hiring a landscape architect to do a complete landscape design for you.
To make life easier, get your supplies, whether it is mulch, block, or plants, as close to the installation point as possible. If you are having materials delivered, mark the site where you want them to be dropped. As a word of caution, remember to always lift properly, use your legs and not your back.
Take photos before work begins and as you proceed. This will help if you need to go back later on and make adjustments. Also next winter you can go through your photo gallery and decide on what new landscaping features to add or what changes you would like to make.
