From adding too many ornamental decorations to your lawn to planting in the wrong places and watering too much or too little, there are numerous errors that you can unknowingly make when landscape that will create in a less vibrant yard, and most likely one that is visually unappealing and potentially financially costly too.

One common mistake that people make when landscaping is failing to landscape appropriately based on their unique conditions. If your property is rocky, for instance, you'll need to landscape accordingly with plants, trees, and flowers that are designed to grow in rocky conditions. The same principle applies to other environmental factors, like whether or not your yard gets more sun or shade. Planting for the right environment can potentially save significant amounts of money that are otherwise lost in re-planting after a failed first attempt. It also translates to a yard that looks healthy and vibrant rather than one that's filled with dead or suffering foliage.

Another problem frequently encountered in landscaping is failing to account for a yard that lies over a hill or is otherwise prone to erosion. If your topsoil frequently washes away or your favorite plants don't seem to be growing, the underlying cause could be due to erosion. If these situations sound familiar, try fixing the problem by building a retaining wall before putting down plants, shrubs, and trees.

Sometimes, you seem to have done everything right, including planning, mulching, and weeding. But stepping outside one day, you find your newly planted specimens picked apart and eaten down to the root. Deer are a problem in many parts of the country, and they can demolish a yard or garden in virtually no time at all. You can prevent this problem before it happens by planting deer-proof shrubs and plants, and even spraying them to provide extra protection against hungry pests.

Like most people, you probably think of spring and summer as the time to landscape and bring life to your yard, but you neglect fall and certainly winter. Fortunately, your nicely landscaped yard can continue throughout the year with a little bit of attention. In the fall, bring traditional fall colors to the yard by planting trees and shrubs like maple, smokebush, and dogwood. Maple trees are perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of fall, and a beautiful orange, yellow, or red-leaved tree in the yard will certainly attract attention. Smokebush, also called smoketree, can be used as a shrub or a small tree. Its leaves start out as a purple color in the summer and then turn to a stunning red-orange or yellow hue in the fall.

Similarly, the wintertime holds potential for an attractive property. Putting a symbolic holly tree in the yard, which will produce bright red berries, adds color and holiday cheer to your yard. Flowering quince is another good choice. It is a hardy tree that flowers through winter and can withstand the elements, including snow. Quince berries are a beautiful red color, and you can even plant multiple quince shrubs in a row to create a lovely natural fence or mark a property line.

Before heading out to landscape, make sure you have the right tools. Trying to do a task without the requisite equipment can cause physical and aesthetic damage to the property. It can also ruin the tools and pose a safety hazard for you.

Will My "Dead" Weeds Come Back after Winter?

Virtually anyone who enjoys gardening is concerned about weeds and how to permanently eliminate them from the landscape. Unfortunately, it is usually not possible to entirely eradicate weeds on a permanent basis, but maintaining a beautiful garden that is essentially weed free is certainly a realistic endeavor. A common question asked by many property owners is whether or not weeds will return year after year or if snow and frost kills them forever. To understand how weeds flourish and thrive, it is essential to learn a bit about their characteristics.

Germination Most plants that are considered weeds produce extraordinarily high numbers of seeds. One must merely glance at a dandelion head to see evidence of this fact. For this reason, just one plant going to seed can essentially populate your entire garden with undesirable botanical growth. This is because only a handful of the seeds must germinate to ensure a larger weed population the next year. However, because seeds need light to thrive and germinate, they are typically killed off in the winter when cold, cloudy weather sets in for several months.

Nevertheless, it is unlikely that your weed problem will end on a permanent basis just because winter has arrived. This is because weed seeds can survive underground for several years. Therefore, even though weeds that have broken through the ground's surface may die off during chilly weather, healthy seeds are still waiting just underneath the soil to reappear in the spring, bigger and stronger than ever.

Tilling the Soil Because weed seeds can live for several years underground, tilling soil can sometimes work against your weed control efforts. This is particularly true if the space on your property was infested with weeds for a long period before you created a garden of desirable plants. If the area has a large weed seed component, you may have a weed battle for several years, particularly in the spring.

Weeds are Resilient Additionally, many gardeners are unaware of the fact that weeds also rejuvenate in barren land. This is because they have the ability to bring up minerals from deep layers of the soil. Fortunately, this mechanism can have a positive effect on your flowers and vegetable plants, provided the weeds themselves are pulled and mulch is spread on the ground in between your chosen plants. However, staying on top of the weed problem from early spring throughout the growing season is the best way to ensure your garden does not become overrun with undesirable botanicals.

Professional Gardening Services If you find yourself with a weed problem you cannot seem to remedy, consider contacting a professional gardening service. Such companies have equipment and chemicals to destroy weeds and even prevent seeds from thriving underground. Fortunately, when the appropriate steps are taken, you can keep your garden and the surrounding area relatively weed free throughout all four seasons.