Mistake: People often make the mistake of putting too many decorative items in their front yard, which can be a distraction from the beauty of the natural landscape.
Solution: Before setting out that lawn ornament, ask yourself why are you putting it there and how it fits the context of your overall design and plant materials. Stick with one crisp choice, even if it is a little silly. One little whimsical statement goes a lot further than 10.
Forgetting to Recycle
Mistake: Yard projects tend to produce a good amount of waste, which most people don't realize when they set out to do the work.
Solution: Instead of tossing out the branches, clippings and other debris, dispose of them in an eco-friendly way. Rent a shredder and turn them into mulch, and put lawn clippings back on the lawn — they are both great fertilizers. Another idea is to create a compost pile. Compost containers have gotten more attractive. Some almost disappear into the landscape.
Planting in the Wrong Place
Mistake: Improper plant placement is another common mistake. People often do not take into consideration the proper sunlight and exposure for their plants.
Solution: Be sure to pay attention to the little tag that you get when you buy the plant and check Plant Finder for plant requirements. When it comes to planting trees, you need to remember how big they could get and how much space they are going to need. Also think about focal points — choose something that's going to look good year-round.
Planting Too Deeply
Mistake: One of the quickest ways to kill a tree is to plant it too deeply. Some folks figure the more soil they can put around it, the better. But doing so can actually choke the tree to death because there is no air allowed to go to the root system. Going too deep can also encourage root rot.
Solution: Avoid these scenarios by looking at the main stem, where the largest branch is and then where all of the tentacles come out. That's the root ball, and that's what you want to meet, right along the surface. A good rule of thumb with plants is to dig to the actual height of the container in which it came.
Cutting Grass Too Short
Mistake: It's a common myth that cutting the grass shorter means you have to mow it less. That's actually not the case, and you can do more harm than good. If you scalp the lawn, it could result in a bare patch, which could make it too inviting for insects and/or susceptible to disease.
Solution: The key is to cut the lawn different lengths throughout the year. During the summer, the lawn needs a little more shade, so let the blades grow just a little bit more. That way the water doesn't evaporate so quickly. During the winter, cut it a little bit shorter so that the sunlight can actually get into the soil.
Forgetting the View From Your Window
Mistake: It may seem like common sense to think about the view from inside the house, but a lot of people forget it. Keep in mind what it looks like from all angles.
Solution: Place your containers where you want them, and then go inside and look through every major window to see what they'll look like before you plant. It should be like a painting. When you look out, you should see the glass framed with beautiful trees and foliage.
Using the Wrong-Size Pots
Mistake: If you put a plant in a pot that is too large, it can shift, sink down into the soil, get too much water or dry out too fast.
Solution: Remember that you are going to have to re-pot it, eventually. It's easy to tell when that's necessary because little roots begin to stick out at the bottom. A word of caution related to re-potting: Be sure to give a plant plenty of time get acclimated to its new pot before re-potting again.