Recently, I decided that my home was in need of landscaping improvements in order to make it more inviting from the outside.
The problem was, I had no idea where to start.
As the child of an interior designer, I know quite a bit about decorating indoors.
However, outdoor designing is foreign territory for me.
I decided to start by looking for landscaping supplies.
There were several home improvement stores in my area that had a wide variety of such supplies.
I also looked at the selection of several online retailers.
This was good because the websites tended to give me more information about what the supplies could be used for.
After comparison-shopping with various retailers, I concluded that some of the most common landscaping supplies include the following items: soil, grasses, other plants, mulch, and stones.
Of course, soil is the basis for any landscaping project.
It would be impossible to plant anything without soil.
When you landscape, you can rely solely on the soil that is available in your yard, or you can buy special formulations to supplement what you have.
The three main soil types that occur naturally are clay, sand, and loam; loam is the most versatile and best for planting.
If your yard is predominantly clay or sand, it is best to add store-bought materials to make it more conducive to supporting plant life.
After you have determined and adjusted your soil type, you are ready to plant.
Many landscapers suggest that you choose plants that are native to your area.
These will usually thrive and require less maintenance than other plants.
I can attest to the truth of this recommendation; there was a particular flower I was enthralled with that was not native to my area, and I decided to plant it anyway.
It has already proven to require a great deal more work and care than the other plants I chose, all of which were native to my part of the country.
Of course, it is ultimately up to you what you choose to plant in your yard.
After planting, you will want to consider adding mulch.
Mulch helps reduce the amount of work you have to do by controlling weed growth.
It also helps repel insects, retain water, and control temperature, among other useful purposes.
In addition to adding plant life to your yard, you may want to add stone and other decorative items.
If you are laying down a stone path, you may even need to do it before you do any planting; I would recommend consulting a landscaper with the details of your specific project.