Determine the scope of your Project

In part 2 of this series we talked about determining the overall scope of your landscape project. In this post we will talk about the areas you’ll be working with.

Are you working on the back yard, front yard, side or driveway?

Maybe you plan to do them all. Each area should be considered individually with the exception of the overall look and feel of the entire property. In other words, backyards present challenges that may not be an issue in the front yard and vice versa. Most people like to have continuity throughout the property while some want to keep the front simple and go all out in the backyard. Most of your entertaining will most likely be in the backyard and so you will need to take into consideration the size of the area you are working with.

Don’t stray from your intended use.

If your main purpose for the backyard is for entertaining and relaxing, you will not want to jam it full of all the latest trends and compromise the space. Take the time to consider the layout of the area. If you’re techy, consider using a design program to help you better visualize and understand what the finished project should look like and how functional it will be. If you want to have people over, will they be crowded or will there be plenty of space for them to enjoy the company and surroundings? If you start to see a space issue, try repositioning your elements to see if they become more functional and efficient without taking away much needed space.

Make a list.

Flagstones photo credit to Neosnaps under cc 2.0

You will have more success if you start by making a list of all the elements you want to include in your project. Maybe you want to add a bubbling rock or a micro pond. Perhaps a few large armor stone in places. Whatever you decide, think of the installation and how easy or difficult it may be to install. For example, many houses recently built in newer neighbourhoods tend to be very close together. It may be difficult to move 1200lb armor stone from the front yard to the back if you are limited for space between the houses. This is where a qualified landscape contractor will have the tools and the know-how to assist.

Business in the front.

Now let’s take a look at the front yard. The most obvious advantage with the front yard is that most of the materials for any project end up in the front yard first. Although that is convenient because it is close to the work area, it can also be in the way if all the material shows up at the same time. The solution is scheduling! Make sure you schedule your material or equipment deliveries in the order you will need them.

- Excavation equipment and bin services are first so you can clear and prepare the area.

- Next would be the base material.

- Then your main materials like pavers or natural stone.

- Next is the finishing material such as Triple Mix soil and Mulch or decorative aggregate.

Are you taking on too much?

You will need to consider access to the areas you are working with, how capable you are to carry out the work yourself, the materials and how easily they are to install and the order in which you will be receiving the equipment and materials. One more tip to save you time and money is if you are going to do both the backyard as well as the front yard, make sure you plan to do the backyard first. The front yard will receive some damage depending on the weight and the amount of material you have delivered. Once the backyard is completed, any damage to the front yard will be repaired once you start work the front project.

Make sure you watch for Part 4 of this 6 part blog we will look at the grade of the property and how to properly set the grade to avoid future problems, like water damage, and make your project easier and more enjoyable.

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