Do-it-yourself landscaping. Do I dare?

[Oxford]

I bought a home in San Marcos in September on a half acre. The yard was trashed but it has a lot of great hardscape and a pool. How hard is it to do the landscaping myself instead of hiring a contractor to design and install it?

My plan is to design it using an aerial site map and consulting with local nurseries for low-water plant selection and general ideas. Then make my list of plants and have them delivered for installation.

There are plenty of Mexican men with trucks who speak english I have met at HomeDepot who work for $10 an hour. I could have them dig the holes and plant and help modify the installed irrigation. I do want some grass so I would have a sod company install that last.

So what am I missing here? Anyone go this route? Is it worth it to do it yourself?

ox
…wanting to grow in many directions

::here is my property before I bought it[img_assist|nid=12591|title=home|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=439|height=400]::

[Aecetia]

You can do it, but you need to be there to supervise. You can also check with Walter Andersen nursery and see if they will draw up a design for you for free if you buy their plants. Warning, their plants are expensive. I think the key is you being there and how much English the crew speaks, so they actually do what you want them to.

I would also make sure the part you want the sod on is fully prepped and that you get the weeds out first. We have had good results using Preen, but you should talk to the sod installer. I like it better than round up because it allows planting. It is a pre-emergent plant killer that will not harm the existing plants you want to grow. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[Aecetia]

You can do it, but you need to be there to supervise. You can also check with Walter Andersen nursery and see if they will draw up a design for you for free if you buy their plants. Warning, their plants are expensive. I think the key is you being there and how much English the crew speaks, so they actually do what you want them to.

I would also make sure the part you want the sod on is fully prepped and that you get the weeds out first. We have had good results using Preen, but you should talk to the sod installer. I like it better than round up because it allows planting. It is a pre-emergent plant killer that will not harm the existing plants you want to grow. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[Aecetia]

You can do it, but you need to be there to supervise. You can also check with Walter Andersen nursery and see if they will draw up a design for you for free if you buy their plants. Warning, their plants are expensive. I think the key is you being there and how much English the crew speaks, so they actually do what you want them to.

I would also make sure the part you want the sod on is fully prepped and that you get the weeds out first. We have had good results using Preen, but you should talk to the sod installer. I like it better than round up because it allows planting. It is a pre-emergent plant killer that will not harm the existing plants you want to grow. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[Aecetia]

You can do it, but you need to be there to supervise. You can also check with Walter Andersen nursery and see if they will draw up a design for you for free if you buy their plants. Warning, their plants are expensive. I think the key is you being there and how much English the crew speaks, so they actually do what you want them to.

I would also make sure the part you want the sod on is fully prepped and that you get the weeds out first. We have had good results using Preen, but you should talk to the sod installer. I like it better than round up because it allows planting. It is a pre-emergent plant killer that will not harm the existing plants you want to grow. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[Aecetia]

You can do it, but you need to be there to supervise. You can also check with Walter Andersen nursery and see if they will draw up a design for you for free if you buy their plants. Warning, their plants are expensive. I think the key is you being there and how much English the crew speaks, so they actually do what you want them to.

I would also make sure the part you want the sod on is fully prepped and that you get the weeds out first. We have had good results using Preen, but you should talk to the sod installer. I like it better than round up because it allows planting. It is a pre-emergent plant killer that will not harm the existing plants you want to grow. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

[zk]

I’ve bought two new homes and I did the yards myself, with some help from day laborers. No major problems. I concur that you have to be there to supervise.

I went to Home Depot with a scale drawing of the areas I wanted grass on, and they came up with a plan for where to put sprinklers (for free). That was nice. I went with their plan and it worked well.

Was it worth it? It was for me. Depends on your priorities, though, I guess.

Nice looking yard. Good luck!

[zk]

I’ve bought two new homes and I did the yards myself, with some help from day laborers. No major problems. I concur that you have to be there to supervise.

I went to Home Depot with a scale drawing of the areas I wanted grass on, and they came up with a plan for where to put sprinklers (for free). That was nice. I went with their plan and it worked well.

Was it worth it? It was for me. Depends on your priorities, though, I guess.

Nice looking yard. Good luck!

[zk]

I’ve bought two new homes and I did the yards myself, with some help from day laborers. No major problems. I concur that you have to be there to supervise.

I went to Home Depot with a scale drawing of the areas I wanted grass on, and they came up with a plan for where to put sprinklers (for free). That was nice. I went with their plan and it worked well.

Was it worth it? It was for me. Depends on your priorities, though, I guess.

Nice looking yard. Good luck!

[zk]

I’ve bought two new homes and I did the yards myself, with some help from day laborers. No major problems. I concur that you have to be there to supervise.

I went to Home Depot with a scale drawing of the areas I wanted grass on, and they came up with a plan for where to put sprinklers (for free). That was nice. I went with their plan and it worked well.

Was it worth it? It was for me. Depends on your priorities, though, I guess.

Nice looking yard. Good luck!

[zk]

I’ve bought two new homes and I did the yards myself, with some help from day laborers. No major problems. I concur that you have to be there to supervise.

I went to Home Depot with a scale drawing of the areas I wanted grass on, and they came up with a plan for where to put sprinklers (for free). That was nice. I went with their plan and it worked well.

Was it worth it? It was for me. Depends on your priorities, though, I guess.

Nice looking yard. Good luck!

[patb]

instead of sprinklers can you add a water retention
system?

Dig some trenches and swales, fill with compost and
micro drains and then drought tolerant plants
plus add some rain barrels, it’s a huge impact.

[patb]

instead of sprinklers can you add a water retention
system?

Dig some trenches and swales, fill with compost and
micro drains and then drought tolerant plants
plus add some rain barrels, it’s a huge impact.

[patb]

instead of sprinklers can you add a water retention
system?

Dig some trenches and swales, fill with compost and
micro drains and then drought tolerant plants
plus add some rain barrels, it’s a huge impact.

[patb]

instead of sprinklers can you add a water retention
system?

Dig some trenches and swales, fill with compost and
micro drains and then drought tolerant plants
plus add some rain barrels, it’s a huge impact.

[Author]

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