The 14 little mistakes that make your yard look messy

Before beginning landscaping, it is crucial to make a plan so that your garden does not turn out looking haphazard and jumbled. Divide your yard into three segments: public spaces such as your front yard and driveway, private spaces such as your patio and swimming pool, and utility spaces for things like sheds and garbage cans. Decide what should go where and do not stray from the plan as you landscape.

Follow these tips for planning the perfect garden. 

You want the natural and unnatural elements of your property to exist cohesively. Combine plants and structural elements by planting shrubs near the house’s foundation to mask the base, or maybe letting a climbing plant grow beautifully up a porch post. Pick flower colours that accentuate that of your home. Additionally, mind the architecture of your home when planting your garden. An ultramodern home, for example, might look better with traditional, formal beds than an unruly, naturalistic garden.

These are the secrets to a lovely garden according to landscape architects.

Trees that stand in isolation can look random and pointless. Tie trees together by planting a curved bed between them, either with shade-tolerant shrubs or spring-flowering bulbs. For a low-maintenance option, select spreading groundcover plants.

Though large, sprawling gardens are certainly enviable, committing to a garden you tire of caring for can lead it to fall into disorder and look messy. Make sure that you are realistic with your garden size and don’t allow it to become a looming project you are reluctant to take on.

When preparing to plant a flowerbed, stake the borders so that your end result matches what you had originally planned. Use stakes and a string, or fashion a curved bed with a garden hose.

Discover the 11 secrets garden centres won’t tell you.

In gardens that feature bodies of water, keep in mind that your trees can have an impact on aquatic systems. Choose trees that won’t shed profusely in autumn so that they do not litter the surface of your pond, and ensure the trees are planted far enough so they do not cast too much shade or their roots do not weaken pond walls.

Here are 19 things your landscaper won’t tell you for free. 

For formal ponds, brick edging can provide a clean-looking appearance, while natural ponds will be more visually appealing when edged in stone. Neglecting to provide edging can make the pond look bizarre and unfinished.

Learn more about building a pond.

Cutting your grass too short is called “scalping”, and can lead your lawn to look messy by weakening grass and creating space for weeds to sprout and grow. The ideal height for your lawn depends on your type of grass, but to err on the side of caution means cutting it higher.

Learn the 12 things you should never do to your lawn. 

Providing your lawn with too much fertiliser causes the roots to grow excessively and grass will need to be mowed more. This creates more work for you and your yard may take on an unkempt appearance between cuttings. Additionally, it is important to try and buy fertiliser formulated for your type of grass.

Make sure you’re not making these 4 common fertiliser blunders.

Mowing wet grass can cause clippings to form clumps that will smother the lawn, as well as clog up your mower blade. Wet grass is also very slippery, which makes mowing before your lawn has had a chance to dry a dangerous activity. Always wear durable shoes when mowing to further ensure your safety.

Find out all about mower maintenance.