Help You Prepare for Landscape Construction

To help your outdoor renovation project go smoothly, follow these tips from landscaping experts: Landscape renovations take time. It’s also messy and often uncomfortable. Taking certain steps at the beginning can make everything a little easier for you and your crew. Knowing what to expect as things progress also helps you understand the process. To help you get started, we asked the landscaping experts at RDKLandscaping for tips on how to prepare your landscape for construction.

Cleaning

Before you begin demolition, look around and see if there are any items in your yard that you won’t use after renovation. If it’s still in good condition, you can recycle it, donate it, or sell it. Nurseries usually bring larger seedling pots.

Ambitious and experienced gardeners may want to dig up healthy plants that are not included in the new design and offer them to other gardeners.

Find a landscaping company near you RDKLandscaping

Organize things

Keep any items you want to keep while you work, especially those of personal value, in a safe place. Also, move potted plants to prevent damage. Your team members will be less stressed while working, and your team won’t have to worry about things getting damaged.

If you do not have space to store them or have large items that are difficult to store separately, please let the staff know and we will prepare additional items. You can move items from one place to another while you’re working, says landscape designer of RDKLandscaping in Buffalo NY USA.

Safety plan

Landscape designer of Buffalo NY USA in RDKLandscaping, says your yard will become a construction site, although it will still be a private residence. You have to follow safety and health protocols and you can’t use your yard for everything. Think about how your daily life affects you and make a plan to overcome your limitations. It could be as simple as using a side entrance or taking a trip to a nearby park so the kids can play.

Pets and construction sites are not a good combination. No matter how careful flight attendants are, there may be small objects that dogs, cats, and other pets can get into. Additionally, work in progress may be unintentionally corrupted. Decide in advance how you will protect animals during ongoing work.

Designation of staging area

A variety of materials, including pipes, lumber, plants, and turf, are often delivered to the site prior to installation. Work with your crew to select a location to store these materials that will not cause a disruption to you or the crew.

Point out the unexpected

Crews will have access to main plumbing, electrical and sewer lines, but please let us know about any additions you or others may have made. This may include telephone lines, electric lines, additional plumbing for water or natural gas, cable lines, and other elements. If you know where this is, mark it. If not, let your contractor know. Notifications tell us where things are, especially things on the ground that we can’t see.

Think carefully about sustainability

A landscape designer in New York City, says every landscaping project has the potential to address broader environmental issues for the better. Ask your crew about sustainable practices, from recycling materials to incorporating plant species appropriate for your climate. It is the responsibility of landscape designers to look for opportunities to introduce beneficial plant species and sustainability into new landscaping projects.

Plan a kickoff meeting and identify key contacts

Most contractors will hold a preliminary meeting with you to review the plans. However, if there is no set schedule, please let us know. At the first meeting, I plan the layout and review the scope of work to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s important to enter a relationship with complete transparency and understand everyone’s expectations.

Have the name and phone number of someone to contact if you have questions. He or she can let you know how things are going and what problems are occurring. You need to provide daily updates on who is in the field, when they are there, and why.

Understand the timeline

Installing landscaping takes time, and much of the work may not be readily apparent at first. The first step is to obtain permits and approvals, which the contractor will handle. Other items may also need to be evaluated. Engineers are needed to build large elements such as pergolas and shade structures. He added that the team would also need to assess the structural integrity of existing elements and issues such as drainage and waterproofing.

Once demolition is complete, there is a typical installation sequence. Foundations and foundations of structural elements are one of the first projects, along with utility excavations. Next, add hardscape, including structures, paths, and paving. If you’re adding an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, or permanent fire pit, adding a pool, or installing features like overhead lights or fans are also part of this step.

Once your hardscape is complete, it’s time to plant. Build garden beds, plant plants, and add details such as low-voltage lighting, drainage systems, and mulch. This step also includes leveling the lawn, fixing drainage issues, and installing a sprinkler system. Landscape designer added that the landscaping will be given a final cleanup and turf installed.

Delay factors
Every contractor wants to stick to schedule, but delays can happen. Weather is always a factor and bad weather can cause delays. Inspections may take longer than expected, especially as landscaping projects become more popular.

Another problem may be material procurement. Economists expect global supply chain demand to be high through 2024, so that needs to be taken into consideration.

Additional project delays to plan for include subcontractor scheduling conflicts and unforeseen existing conditions that must be resolved before the project can continue. Most medium to large projects inevitably include unexpected items. Any change, regardless of the reason, may cause some delays, but all experts agree that this should be spelled out in the contract up front.

Have a maintenance plan

Congratulations! You survived a complicated landscaping project and are ready to enjoy your new garden. However, before approving, the contractor is required to carry out a final inspection followed by a final walk-through.

You should also ask what to expect going forward. Landscape architect says your contractor should provide an aftercare plan for your landscaping, including both planting and hardscape. Landscape designer adds that the landscape is not necessarily finished. To ensure long-term viability, you should expect monthly and seasonal maintenance, especially to prepare for winter. With all of this in mind, it’s time to enjoy your new yard.