Landscaping - Gardening - Lawn Care

13. Squeezed Pathways
A sliver of a garden trail may not be a problem if you're a deer. But for most people, a path should be wide enough for two people to walk together (at least 3 feet wide). Allow extra space for plants to spill over the sides. It's OK that some paths fit only one person at a time, but also include paths wide enough for a group or with enough space to set a bench along the side.

14. Treacherous Passage
Keep a klutz in mind as you plan a path. Loose materials can be hard to navigate, and paths that blend materials, such as mulch and uneven stepping-stones, can trip people. Paths with dips and bumps can also catch a toe. If you include steps, have at least two so they won't be overlooked.

15. Sunny Optimism
Sure, your garden is sunny now, but once the trellis is built, the garden shed goes up, and the trees get bigger, will you still have sunshine where you want it? That sunny wildflower patch you envision beside the back fence won't survive if you plant trees there. You can move some plants later, of course, but the changing shade pattern will affect your basic layout.

16. Isolated Veggies
It's OK to have a separate vegetable garden, but it's not essential. A vegetable garden integrated with flowers or disguised as another flowing border garden can be just as fruitful and more aesthetic than a rectangular plot plunked in the middle of a lawn.

Goof-Ups with Plants

17. Forgetting That Plants Get Bigger
Take into account the full-grown sizes of plants when you plant them; don't worry if the garden bed looks skimpy today. Considering ultimate sizes is especially important with trees and shrubs, which may overgrow a window, power line, or view.

18. Impulse Buying
Loading up at the local nursery may be quick and easy -- and you may also get some nice-quality plants that work in your region -- but it may not be what you really need to make your landscape work. Shop mail-order catalogs and study garden books to find the special plants that will really fit your plan.

19. All Sizzle, No Steak
It's something no one wants to hear when envisioning lush flower beds, romantic retreats, and awesome garden parties. But make sure you take care of the basics -- soil and drainage -- before you load up on the fun stuff.

20. Shotgun Color
Many beginners scatter individual plants so much that the colors hold no landscape power. Instead, cluster several of the same variety together, often three to five plants. If nearby plants will bloom at the same time, check the plant tag or a plant reference to make sure the colors will either complement or contrast, rather than clash.

Better Homes and Gardens

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