Is DIY Landscaping A Better Choice?

Your landscaping is intrinsic to your home's value and curb appeal. It's critical not just to the visual aesthetics of your house but also to its functionality. When done poorly, landscaping can be an embarrassment. It can devalue your home, lessen your enjoyment of outdoor spaces, and even become a safety hazard. And yet, unlike other critical aspects of home improvement, which we entrust to professionals like paving, painting, plumbing, and electrical work, we are often tempted to undertake DIY landscaping projects ourselves. Please don't do it. DIY landscaping is a big DON'T.

Why DIY Landscaping Is A Bad Idea

Unless you are skilled at landscape design, DIY is a terrible idea. The results you'll achieve are most likely to be subpar in multiple ways, and we've seen those particular homes around the neighborhood, haven't we? You can always tell. A professionally designed landscape looks more cohesive and put together. A big part of the problem is that a lot can go sideways when you try to do it yourself. You might see something you love, but duplicating it outside of your window can be much more difficult than expected. Professional landscaping assistance is the better option.

You Don't Have Professional Design Skills

You might have a great eye for detail, but landscaping involves much more than visuals. The elements are at play, and your landscape needs to work in balance with those elements. Thus, it is unlikely that you'll achieve the look you want. A pro, on the other hand, can adeptly incorporate your ideas and make them work.

You Don't Understand The Materials 

If you don't know what you're doing, selecting unsuitable materials for your project is easy. Some materials don't work well with others or in specific environments. If you don't know how certain materials need to be handled, they may not completely complement your home or work. A professional can help you choose the most appropriate options for your home.

You Haven't Got The Right Tools 

Landscaping typically requires a wide range of special equipment most homeowners do not have. Using the wrong tools won't work; you could break something or suffer an injury when you try to and use the wrong tool you do have. Or you may need to repeatedly run to the store to buy something you didn't expect. Dig up your landscape yourself, and rest assured, you'll also be digging into your wallet. DIY costs more than you think, and there are no surprises with a pro. They have the right tools and equipment, and you'll know your costs upfront.

You Don't Have A Complete Plan

Most DIY landscapers add elements indiscriminately and without proper advanced planning. As a result, critical things like grading, ground prep, and drainage requirements go unattended, and the final result can also look mismatched.

Oops—You Didn't Get The Permits

Many changes that people make to their landscape require permits. Your local government won't pass up an opportunity to make a buck or fine you if you neglect to fill out and file the proper paperwork. And most of the time, they won't just fine you; they'll order you to remove it. But when you work with a licensed professional, they take care of all those details for you and ensure all work is up to code.

You Don't Have Enough Time

Doing it yourself rarely goes as quickly as you think. Most projects can go very long without professional help. If you don't have the time, your project could drag on or remain unfinished.

You'll Mess It Up

Installing hardscaping and softscaping components can be a complicated process requiring skill and experience. DIY attempts are rarely free of mistakes; sometimes, those mistakes can be very costly. You may have to redo or replace something repeatedly and eventually pay a professional to undo the damage. Amateur installation work can also lead to accidents, and if you accidentally injure someone, the probability of your homeowner's insurance helping you out is close to nil.

How NOT To Mess  It Up

For the above reasons and more, we hope we've convinced you to put aside your DIY ambitions and entrust your landscape to Ohio's most reliable landscape professionals, Fullscapes. We've been serving our community for over 40 years, and we have the tools, techniques, and talented team of professionals to bring your landscape to life the way you envision. Contact us today for an estimate.