Landscaping

Q. Can you give new homeowners or landscaping novices a definition of landscaping?

A. Landscaping novices and buyers of new homes can profit from a practical, working definition of "landscaping." By definition, to be properly said to be "landscaping" a property, you must be making home improvements on that property's grounds -- either in a practical or in an aesthetic way. In an extended sense, everything on your property that stands outside of the home itself is part of a property's landscaping. Simply put, if you can see an object, then it is affecting the overall aesthetics of the grounds of a property -- i.e., its landscaping. A house and its landscaping should be harmonious with each other. Achieving such harmony is sometimes possible intuitively; but if you're more serious about complementing your house with your landscaping, you really need to take matters to the next level.

Q. Why bother landscaping a piece of real estate you've bought?

A. Those who have just become homeowners for the first time might want a good reason why they should bother landscaping that piece of real estate at all. If enhanced enjoyment of your property is insufficient incentive, consider this: landscaping enhancements can raise your real estate's value by at least fifteen percent!

Q. What would be the first landscaping issue that I should look into?

A. Your home is your best investment. Therefore, its safety is of paramount concern. If there are large old trees whose branches are looming ominously over the roof of your home, you may have a significant hazard on your hands. To protect your home, you may have to Hire a Pro for Tree Limbing, because tree limbing can be a dangerous operation.

Q. Should I hire a professional landscape architect to work on my landscape?

A. Besides tree limbing, there are many other specialty tasks for which you may want to hire professionals. For instance, you may wish to hire an arborist to have a prize tree pruned properly. "Limbing" and "pruning" are entirely different operations. You may even want to have a landscape architect or landscape designer to re-do your entire landscape. Some projects demand such highly specialized skills that you have little choice but to hire professionals; for instance, installing driveways. Nonetheless, you can still make an informed decision before hiring someone by doing your homework. The decision of do-it-yourself versus hiring landscape architects and other professionals largely depends on your budget and personal tastes. Even many people who can afford to hire a landscape architect prefer to do the work themselves, because they find it relaxing, challenging and satisfying.