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Landscaping Tips for Beginners - Landscape Design 101

What is Landscaping? Find Out in My Introduction to Landscaping

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bluebeard: drought tolerant shrub

Bluebeard (photo) will survive in a dry, sunny site, where some other plants would "cook." Proper site selection is one of the most important elements of landscaping to master.

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden

Q.--
I know "landscaping" refers to plants, fences and the like. But is there a core idea behind landscaping and landscape design?

Q.--
I just became a homeowner for the first time. Is there a good reason why I should bother with landscaping at all?

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

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Should I hire a professional to work on my landscaping and, if so, how do I go about hiring a professional, such as a landscape designer?

Q.--
I've decided to do my own landscaping work. How do I begin planning my project?

Q.--
I like a lot of different plants, but as a beginner, I'm not sure how to group them. Aesthetic considerations aside, is there a rule of thumb for grouping plant A with plant B, rather than having it grow next to plant C?

Q.--
I don't want to sever any underground utility cables when digging. Isn't there some sort of "Dig Safe" phone number that I can call?

Q.--
What factors influence site selection for landscape plants?

Q.--
I don't have a lot of time for maintenance, so I'm going to plant perennials rather than annuals. After all, they come up every year, right? Is this a sound strategy for beginners?

Q.--
I live in an area where it gets really hot, meaning I have to irrigate profusely if I don't want to lose my lawn and all my plants to drought. Could I save money in the long run by having a water well dug?

Q.--
I have big trees in my front yard, and no plant will grow under them. Can you suggest a way to plant under trees?

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