Determine the scope of your Project

In the last post, we talked a bit about determining the scope of your project. That simply means the size of the project and where you are starting from. The three starting points are from a fresh start or from the dirt up, replacing an existing project with something new, or adding to or updating and existing project. Each has their own merits and short comings. Let’s take a more detailed look at each.

What is Your Canvas?

If you are starting from scratch, you have the advantage of a fresh canvas so to speak. Your project is only limited by your imagination. The biggest advantage is that you can pretty much do anything you’ve dreamed of. Some of the challenges however are things that you need to consider before you drop the shovel. You will want to check with your municipality to check for underground utilities, property lines, and any permits you may need. There is nothing worse than being ½ way through a project and being told you have to stop until permits are in order or you’ve gone over your property line. Do the research ahead of time to prevent such issues. If you are hiring a Professional Contractor, they should be aware of these considerations and inform you of what you will need to do and have ready before work begins.

The Best Way to Deal with Old Landscaping

If you are completely replacing an existing project, you need to consider how to remove and dispose of the old material safely, efficiently and most importantly, legally. Too often we hear of people dumping their refuse on the side of a road somewhere which besides being illegal, it really effects the environment. One way we suggest is to take pictures of the existing and post them on Kijiji or Craig’s List and let people know that it’s free as long as they pick it up. This helps people who want to fix up an area but don’t have a huge budget, and it saved you money from having to rent a bin or pay to have it hauled away.

Measure Before You Buy

Be sure to measure the entire area so you know what square footage you are dealing with. You will need this information for everything from laying out the area, to quotes on landscaping materials and labour. Many times we have folks come in to get quotes on materials such as interlock stone but they don’t even know the square footage they are working with. “It goes from your counter to your door” is one of the most common replies from people who don’t know the square footage. The more accurate the measurements, the more exact the quotes will be.

Get Inspired

Start browsing through magazines, websites, Pinterest, and Landscape contractor’s site to get ideas for your project. Go to your landscape supply dealers and pick up catalogues and brochures of ideas and materials that interest you. Play around with ideas and look for online trial software for landscape design. Part of determining the overall scope is to know what you want to achieve before you begin.

Make sure you watch for Part 3 where we will talk about the specific areas of your property and give you some more tips to make your project easier and more enjoyable.

If you have any questions about starting a landscaping project, contact us, or join our “Garden Club” for additional promotions and helpful information.