Landscaping 2
Success in home landscape design is certainly attainable for the D.I.Y enthusiast however there are some pitfalls that should be avoided if maximum satisfaction is to be achieved.  The mistakes covered range from miscalculations that have practical ramifications to more subtle errors that negatively impact your enjoyment of your home landscape design.

1) Have a Plan

Many home landscape designs evolve helter-skelter planting. A plant is planted somewhere in the garden simply because there is room for it there at the time. Ideally, it's best to start from scratch, draw a plan for the whole garden, and stick to it. Short of that, try at least to sketch a rough plan for one large area of your garden, and put all your energy into implementing that plan this year.

2) I want a lawn

Many  make the mistake of assuming that having a grassy area in the garden designated, as "the lawn" is somehow an obligatory part of home landscape design. But historically speaking, the lawn as we know it is a relatively recent introduction to landscaping. For those not attracted to that rather monotonous "green carpet" look or who dislike having to mow grass every week, it's important to know that other very acceptable options exist many artificial grasses of high quality look and feel are available. 

3) Insufficient autumn colour

Spring and summer receive most of our attention when it comes to planting. Unfortunately, it's easy to forget to plant for fall. Yet the fall season holds enormous promise for those landscaping enthusiasts willing to plan for it. Don't allow your home landscape design to miss out on the colours offered by autumn's bounty!

4) Lack of winter interest

If the fall season is often neglected in home landscape design, matters stand twice as bad with the winter season, it is precisely in wintertime that we may need a garden decor that will bring us cheer. There are many trees and shrubs that give winter interest do some research.

5) Failure to irrigate

Many of us face a dilemma: we enjoy having plants in our gardens, but we also like to travel. So how do the plants get watered while we're gone? Sometimes a friend or relative can come to the rescue, but why chance it? There's a lot tied up in your home landscape design, both in terms of money and sentimental value. But don't ditch your travel plans! Just install an automatic irrigation system in your home landscape design. 

6) Hillsides prone to erosion

Do you have a steep slope in your garden? Is it tough to retain your topsoil there during a heavy rain? Have you tried growing your favourite plants there to no avail? The problem is that you failed to fix your erosion problem prior to planting. Build a retaining wall first, and then do your planting afterwards. 

7) Work with what you have

Do you have a rocky garden? A garden with a lot of shade? Or perhaps your garden's problem is the punishing summertime heat that scorches all in its path? Sometimes you can successfully fight the terrain you inherit in your garden, as in the case of building retaining walls for slopes to fight erosion. Other times, instead of fighting it, it's better to go with the flow and work with what you have. The key is to know what you're up against and what options you have.

8) Your tools are never handy

The surest way to get little done in the garden is to realize you need a tool -- only to find that you can't find it! If you don't have enough storage space, chances are your tools will all be jammed into one small area (perhaps a corner of the garage), making it tough to keep the area accessible and the tools organized. What you need is a storage shed. The longer you put off getting adequate storage, the longer you'll be disorganized -- and the further you'll fall behind in your garden work.

9) Don’t forget functionality

When one thinks about home landscape design, it is aesthetic considerations that immediately come to mind. Functionality, however, takes precedence over aesthetics. There is no reason you shouldn't be able to have both; but when push comes to shove, one needs to be more concerned that a home landscape design is safe, convenient and usable.