Concrete Blocks & Desert Landscaping Ideas

Even the best-laid plans often go awry. Sometimes, planning alone doesn't cut it when it comes to translating landscaping ideas from the drawing board to the driveway walk.

Why do some landscaping ideas fail to live up to expectations and deliver the promised results, even after you've planned everything right down to the pruner and breathable muck shoes?

Nothing kills great landscaping ideas faster than shoddy implementation. Proper execution of landscaping ideas requires effective communication with the people you expect to work with and constant monitoring of the landscaping process.

From planning to planting: Implementing landscaping ideas successfully

Moreover, it is important to know how to handle unforeseen situations that may threaten to lay your landscaping ideas to waste.

Most importantly, it pays to start your project with landscaping ideas that are viable and resource-efficient.

Source your landscape ideas from the experts

It's so easy to fall into the trap of becoming too personal with your landscape ideas. In the same way that not everyone is born to win the lottery, not all your landscape ideas are practicable.

Since landscaping is not exactly a cheap or lazy investment, you would be saving yourself a lot of time, money, and trouble if you get objective landscape ideas from people who know their perennials and pergolas.

Look around and you will find that there is no dearth of accurate, reliable sources of landscape ideas. Start with books, magazines, and Websites.

These resources are chockfull of helpful landscape ideas for the eager do-it-yourselfer. There are also authoritative e-books that offer practical landscape ideas guaranteed to interest anyone from the novice to the professional landscaper.

You may also consult a professional landscape designer about your landscape ideas. If you do not want to cough up the dough for the landscape designer's fee, you can try coaxing the local nurseryman to part with a few of his well-kept landscape ideas.

Lastly, you may even chat up with your neighbor's real estate agent for any landscape ideas that would help raise the value of your property.

Strive for low-maintenance landscape ideas

In order to test whether your landscape ideas will successfully make the transition from paper to property, assess the viability of the intended outcome.

What good is a breathtaking landscape if it would cost you all of your fortune and free time to maintain it? Make the necessary amendments to your landscape ideas once you discover that they are unsustainable.

Inquire about water and energy-efficient landscape ideas from your local environmental protection authorities and environmental organizations.

Your landscape ideas will have a high chance of success if they are based on a policy of optimal resource use.

Communicate landscaping ideas effectively

When you told the landscape designer that you wanted a cloistered retreat where you could spend some private time away from the noise and pollution, you did not mean to have a densely wooded fortress built in your backyard, did you?

Failure to clearly communicate your landscaping ideas to the people who will work with you on your landscaping project could cause serious casualties.

Too often, homeowners leave the entire execution of their landscaping ideas to the designer or assume that their designer would know what to do with vague, ambiguous landscaping ideas.

To be executed successfully, landscaping ideas need to be stated in explicit and straightforward terms. Be firm about how you want the contractor to dig in your front yard.

Express your misgivings about installing a gargoyle fountain in the play area. Remember that as the property owner, you have the most to lose or gain from translating your landscaping ideas into reality.

Therefore, do not be coy about conveying your landscaping ideas to the people who will be doing part of the work.

When adapting landscape ideas into action, expect the unexpected

Sometimes, implementing landscape ideas is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

A sudden change in building ordinance, a sharp rise in materials prices, a disagreement with the contractor, or even an accident can easily derail your landscape ideas.

While many unforeseen events can be averted with conscientious planning, some things are simply beyond your control.

The key to the proper execution of landscape ideas is knowing how to deal with less-than-fortuitous occurrences.

Develop a workable contingency plan in the event that Murphy's law wreaks havoc on your landscape ideas.

Involve every person responsible for bringing your landscape ideas to life in the task of crafting solutions to possible quandaries.

Constantly monitor how your landscaping ideas are being implemented

When you look at your landscape-in-progress, does it resemble the landscape you have lovingly cultivated in your mind?

Checking in on the landscaping work regularly ensures that the final outcome will remain faithful to your landscaping ideas.

While you can expect the landscape designer or contractor to recommend landscaping ideas that may stray from your original plan, you can be sure that the completed work keeps most of your landscaping ideas intact and achieves the desired effect.

Will executing your landscaping ideas mean taking out another loan or excavating right up to autumn? Keeping an eye on the landscaping process will help you determine whether your landscaping ideas are pushing you over the budget or extending your timetable.