Hardscaping Mistakes That Will Drive Your Neighbors Crazy
Hardscaping mistakes happen all the time, and when they do it’s easy to see why people get frustrated. It can be tough enough to find a contractor who is affordable and dependable; but when you consider that your landscaper was late or never showed up in the first place, not completing your project correctly, or violating city codes with their design choices–you’ve got a recipe for disaster. The good news is that if you know what common mistakes are being made by homeowners around the country, you’ll have an easier time avoiding them yourself.
Bad lighting
It’s often assumed that landscaping lights are just decorative, but there is a right way to illuminate your yard at night. Make sure you have one light for every 10 feet of exterior hardscape or 15 feet of ground-to-sky exposure. That means if your patio measures 20 by 10 feet, then you’ll need eight exterior lights (two on each side and two more over the hot tub). We like solar-powered pathway lighting as well as those mysterious blue orbs that line sidewalks and paths; both offer great illumination without wiring. And don’t forget about where the water feature is! If the waterfall in your pool spouts straight up into the air, make sure it has its own set of floodlights at the base to illuminate rippling water.
Ineffective sphinx security
Okay, that’s not what you’d call it – but having a concrete statue of a lion or some kind of other creature in your yard is a great way to keep away vandals and burglars at night. And even if no one comes for your stuff, it can be nice to know there are nonhuman protectors on duty while you’re fast asleep! Just make sure you give them an unobstructed view of anyone who wants to enter your home. If someone could walk behind the Sphinx-like statue without being seen, then it doesn’t serve its purpose very well. Also, avoid putting statues too close together because criminals might use them for cover when sneaking up to the house.
Way too much jungle
You’ve worked hard to make your yard a paradise, and you don’t want it taken over by a bunch of hungry deer or a horde of other pests! That’s why it’s important that both trees and shrubs be well-maintained and only placed in perfect spots. If there are too many plants clustered together in one area, they can block sightlines for security lighting as well as provide concealment to potential intruders. We also wouldn’t recommend placing plants next to doors and windows where they could potentially shield someone from view while they attempt to break in. So if you’re going to let your yard get overrun with flora, at least give it a little elbow room.
The wrong rocks in the wrong place
Some landscaping projects just won’t work unless you’re aware of certain environmental factors. For instance, if you live in an area with high rainfall, then choosing plants that can tolerate lots of water is essential. Even something as simple as an elevated garden with only cacti and succulents would be doomed to fail because they’d never get enough sunlight due to the sheer amount of rain every day! It’s also important not to put heavy flat stones on hillsides because they could cause mudslides or make erosion worse; using flagstones instead of natural boulders helps minimize problems like this too.
enough sand in sandboxes
Did you know that a densely packed sandbox is a safety hazard? When the children in your family play with it, loose dirt can fall into their eyes and mouths – potentially causing them to choke on something as harmless as a bit of earth. That’s why we recommend keeping the top layer of dirt at least one inch deep. If landscaping coverage makes this hard to do, then consider placing fine mesh fencing around the sandbox to keep the soil from eroding. Or put some kind of decorative edging around it – even if it’s just a thin strip of paint – so kids don’t accidentally step inside its boundaries while they play.
Landscape lighting went wrong
We all know what proper landscape lighting looks like, but it’s harder to recognize when something is out of place. A perfect example is having lights that are too close together, since they might not provide sufficient illumination for every area in the yard. So if you’ve got a row of flaming torches along your walkway, but no lighting in your garden whatsoever, then consider relocating some of them or adding more overall so you can feel safe at night.
Poorly placed pond plants
If you’re going to create an artificial waterfall or pool with fish and other living things swimming around in it, be sure that all plants are firmly planted into the ground or positioned somewhere where they won’t get kicked out of the water. Otherwise, they’ll end up floating over to your neighbor’s yard and clog up their swimming pool. You don’t want to cause problems for your neighbors – especially since you’re the one who decided to place fish in a shared area!
Unattainable perfection is unappealing
This might seem like an odd point, but it’s still an important one: not every plant is meant for everyone’s yard or environment. For instance, if you live in a desert climate with harsh sunlight and scarce rainfall, then growing trees that need lots of water may be impossible – no matter how much time and effort you put into them! That’s why we recommend doing extensive research before planting anything that could potentially harm your yard with its requirements. Or, better yet, hire a professional landscaper to do it for you.
Uncontrollable trees
We all love the look of a majestic tree – especially if it provides ample shade to keep us cool during those summer months – but that doesn’t mean we appreciate them nearly as much when they start covering our house in leaves, blocking the view out our windows, or even falling over in strong winds! So be sure to cut any branches that are lower than 10 feet above the ground (to avoid making your yard more hazardous), and consider pruning your trees regularly before strong gusts make them hard to reach. Doing these simple things will ensure your yard isn’t ruined by foliage gone wild!