Or garden, as the British would say. You have looked at other homes gardens, compared theirs to yours, and decided to take the plunge. The waist-high weeds have to go, the fence needs attention, and the patches of bare earth need to disappear. It’s time to create a usable, fun, relaxing, and rewarding paradise that will enhance the value of your home.

Layout the Landscape

A little bit of planning goes a long way. Your landscape needs to be useable space and it should be harmonious with your lifestyle. If you have pets, your back garden should reflect it. The same goes with children. A tree that blocks your view of your children should be a safety concern and be removed.

So how will you be using your back yard (gardens does sound better doesn’t it?); are you using it as an extension of your dining room? Will it be for outdoor entertaining for guests or family? Will it be for your children to play, or will you be using it for planting edible plants? Choose a landscape to suit your lifestyle and begin planning.

Designing the back gardens

Before you start drawing up a plan, take measurements of the back gardens. Using the computer makes things easier, but simple graph paper will do. Now you have a map. What structures do you wish to add? Do you want to add a deck, a shed, or a child’s play structure? Before adding them to the drawing, make a list of the structures; this way the map doesn’t get too busy.

Will you hire a professional?

Doing the work yourself will be less costly, but it will take up a lot of time. I think of professional landscapers the same way that I think about my mechanic. Sure, I can change my own clutch on my car, but I’d have to buy the tools (that I won’t use again) and I would have to do the job after work. Being a father of two little boys, I’d rather spend my time with them, so I take may car to the mechanic and he gives me a loaner. He does the job faster than I can, and his job is under warrantee. Professional landscapers are identical. They have the tools, they will do the job while you are at work, and they will be done faster than you can hiccup. You can find a local outdoor contractor on www.thelandscapenetwork.ca and see examples of their work and what jobs they excel at.

Is it Alright with the City?

Before digging, get information from City Hall regarding the rules and regulations for landscaping. One poor father built a tree house for his children and now the city is knocking on his door, demanding that he deconstruct it. There could also be power lines or gas lines under the grass; be safe, and call the city.

The Style of your Garden

If you are going to plant, have a soil analysis done. This will guide you in choosing the right plants. Is there plenty of shade? Or is there plenty of sun. Choose your plants carefully. They are not cheap to buy, and replacing dead flowers can get expensive after awhile. Do you pay for water? If you do, choosing plants that don’t need plenty of water may be a suitable choice for you.

Speaking of water, how will you water your plants? I would strongly recommend setting up a sprinkler system. This will allow you to spend more time enjoying your garden, and less time maintaining it. This too will increase the value of your home without spending too much money..

The End?

Once you have made the map, positioned the structures, and created useable space on paper, and contacted the proper authorities, it should be time to get to work. Make sure that you have a list of things that you will need and head over to the Hardware store. I prefer the smaller ones because of the personal service, but a box store will do. Don’t forget the most important part of your project: have fun!