Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozzello
Attn. Owners of newly constructed homes! STOP the CRAZY!
Stop putting rocks around your "stock" landscape.
Stop trying to keep a bunch of those shrubs, as most are small trees and planted too close together and too close to your home.
80% of the homeowners having landscaping done to a new home, will be calling another landscaper in 2-5 years to "fix" it. Good designs will actually IMPROVE for a minimum of 7 years.
All that gravel you are putting in to stop weeds, doesn't, and creates hard to clean messes when you have to start trimming all those shrubs you mistakenly kept. AND, the gravel makes the re-do cost more.
If you found your landscaper because they knocked on your door, they aren't the real deal. But neither are some of those big outfits with huge advertising and huge retail nurseries that send SALESPEOPLE calling themselves designers to wow you.
HINT: if they want you to come pick out what plants you want, and you aren't educated in the field, you have the wrong landscaper.
Just because all your neighbors are rushing to get an upgraded landscape, don't just jump in. WAIT and WATCH. look at stuff at least 3 years old (or even 10+ years if you're smart) from the landscaper you are thinking of dealing with.
With that 80% chance of having a poor job done, even at 3 or 4 estimates, good chance you haven't found a good designer/installer with a real education and the integrity to give you the lasting landscape, instead of the "job security" landscape.
Good luck all.
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Gravel stops 80% of the weeds and weed killer stops the rest. To me rocks or gravel beats grass for looks in Florida, where the grass is functionally harsh and not particularly good looking. Also, rocks don't need watering or cutting. A person should be careful about what shrubs and small trees they plant, and where they plant them. Planting trees too close to the house can be a problem. But, they can be cut down if under 4 in in diameter. Viburnums grow fast, but need spraying for insects. Podocarpus (plumb pine) grows slowly, but is very healthy. Both make good wind breakers.