Expert landscaping tips

Landscaping can be tricky. But here are a few of the most useful tips from landscaping experts.

• Before you buy a tree, look at the shade pattern it'll have when it's grown.
• You're going to start with this cute little tree, and it's going to look good when you plant it near the house, but once it grows up, it's going to cause problems with the roof and gutters.

• If you're mulching a big area, use a cheaper hardwood mulch for most of it, then top-dress it with cedar or cypress.
• You can also top-dress old, ratty-looking mulch — just sprinkle on a fresh 2.5 centimetre (1 inch) layer and it'll look brand new.
• This way you're not paying for mulch that you (and everyone else) won't even see.

• Rock mulch will reflect heat back into shrubs and heat up shallow roots, so it is not as good for the health of the plant.
• Shredded mulch holds moisture better and stays cooler.

• Plastic edging will go up and down hills as long as you spike it in well, but over time, straight lines will get a little wavy.
• Steel edging, on the other hand, will hold a good, straight edge, but it won't roll up hills well.
• Brick edging looks good, but grass will creep into the cracks, so brick edging involves a little more maintenance.

Keep these expert landscaping tips in mind to help you landscape like a pro. You can also search the Internet or go to your local library for more information on soils, plants, trees and growing conditions that are specific to your region.