Landscaping your property might seem like an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. With proper planning and some advice from a local expert, there are many projects a homeowner can tackle himself or herself.
"You need to have a plan of what you think you want out of your landscape," said Gary Rackers, owner of Green Leaf Nursery Landscape Center. "I tell my clients to pick a quarter of their yard and to tell me what they want there. Then, they can move on to the next quarter until they have a plan for the whole space."
Alice Longfellow, owner of Longfellow's Garden Center, also prefers having a plan as opposed to haphazard design, which can lead to additional costs and a garden that isn't visually appealing.
"People are increasingly using the computer program because it is easier than putting it on paper, and you can quickly see what a lot of different options will look like in your actual yard," said Cindy Crecelius, owner and operator of Gardens To Go.