Question 1

What are the most common landscape problems homeowners face?

Accepted Answer

The most frequent issues include erosion on slopes, poor drainage, clay soil that kills plants, bare spots in shaded areas, and landscapes that require excessive watering. These problems often stem from working against natural site conditions rather than with them.

Question 2

How do I know if my landscape needs renovation or complete redesign?

Accepted Answer

Evaluate your existing mature plants, infrastructure, and underlying problems. If you have healthy established trees and functional hardscapes, renovation is often more cost-effective. Complete redesign becomes necessary when fundamental issues like major drainage problems or structural failures exist.

Question 3

Can clay soil be fixed, or should it be replaced entirely?

Accepted Answer

Clay soil can be successfully amended rather than replaced. The key is improving its structure through organic matter, proper drainage, and strategic plant selection. Clay actually holds nutrients well once you solve the drainage and compaction issues.

Question 4

What makes xeriscaping different from traditional landscaping?

Accepted Answer

Xeriscaping focuses on water-efficient design using drought-tolerant plants, strategic grouping by water needs, efficient irrigation, and natural rainfall capture. It creates beautiful, diverse landscapes that thrive with minimal water input while reducing maintenance and utility costs.

Question 5

When should I hire a professional landscaper versus doing it myself?

Accepted Answer

Call professionals for steep slopes, major drainage issues, irrigation system design, structural problems with retaining walls, and complex soil problems. DIY works well for plant selection, basic garden bed preparation, and routine maintenance tasks.

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