In an effort to save money on home improvement projects, many area homeowners are opting to take on their own landscaping work. While
some projects are perfect for the do-it-yourselfer, there are some  that are better left to the professionals.

Landscape Design
You see your landscape every day and know that there is something wrong, but
may not know how to address it. Certain landscape challenges, like privacy
screening, correcting drainage issues, and tree selection can be costly to fix
if done incorrectly. That’s where a landscape designer comes in. A designer
will look at your property as a whole, not only addressing problem areas, but
also coming up with a plan for enhancing your entire space to be functional and
beautiful. A designer can meet with you to discuss the goals for your property
(do you need more room for entertaining? A vegetable garden? More privacy?),
your likes and dislikes, and any other concerns. There are often many different
elements and factors that come into play when creating a new landscape, and
designers can help facilitate all the planning effectively. Once you have a
landscape plan, you can have it built in stages as your time and budget allow.

Bottom line: Call a professional

Hardscaping
Many homeowners start a hardscaping job thinking it will be a simple weekend
project and quickly learn it is more than they can handle. Most hardscaping
jobs (like patios, walks, and retaining walls) require steps that will help the
project withstand our area’s freeze and thaw cycle, and equipment that a
typical homeowner might not have available or the training to use. A landscape
designer works directly with a professional installation crew to make sure that
all of the elements from the design plan are carried out. The designer is
available throughout the entire process to answer questions from the homeowner
and installation crew to avoid costly errors and second guessing.

Bottom line: Call a professional

Planting
Now here is a project, that with a little research, you can do yourself and
save money. Learn the best methods for planting your perennials, shrubs and
trees and you won’t have to pay someone else to do it.  Your designer can plan where each plant will go, order the plants to be delivered to your home, and even place them in your landscape and offer planting advice. All you need is the time and muscles to get the plants in the ground. A word of caution – call a professional landscape company if you have plant material that is too big for you to move safely.

Bottom line: Do it yourself

Maintenance
You can save money on landscaping by performing routine maintenance tasks
yourself, such as mowing, watering, weeding, and pruning. Again, it requires a
little research to learn the proper method for caring for different types of
plants. Your landscape designer can provide you with a maintenance plan for the
plants in your landscape. Just leave the big jobs, like pruning tall trees, to
the professionals.

Bottom line: Do it yourself

There are ways to save money when it comes to your landscape. You just need to know when to drop your tools and call a professional.

Tina Koral is a landscape designer and owner of Tina Koral Gardens. She lives in Glen Ellyn with her husband and two children. For more information, visit www.tinakoralgardens.com.