If you have just moved to a new home, or if you simply want to beautify the home you've been living in for a while, the thought of landscaping may be intimidating to you. It is a good idea to hire professionals to help you get started. The professionals will know what kind of plants will work best in your soil, and what plants to avoid. They will make the landscaping process of testing the soil, making a plan, researching plants, and then planting and caring for the plants, much easier and more likely to succeed than if you tried it on your own.

The first step to landscaping is testing the soil. The tests are to show the acidity or alkalinity (pH) and fertility of the soil. The pH results will be somewhere between 1.0 and 14.0. A reading of 7.0 is neutral. A reading above 7.0 is alkaline soil, and below 7.0 is acidic. But what do these numbers tell you about what to do?

You will have to research the types of plants that you want to see if they will survive in the soil type that you have. There may be a difference in pH from one part of your yard to another, so it is good to measure in each area that you'll want to plant. If they types of plants that you want aren't ideal for the soil type, you can alter the pH with some effort. After the pH is altered to what you need, you can begin planting in the areas that have been prepared.

It is a good idea to have a professional test the soil. It can be confusing if you try to do it on your own with a home test kit, but it is possible to do that. With the home kit, you will place some soil in a test tube and add a chemical to find the results. A professional, on the other hand, will place a meter in the ground to find the results immediately. It is so fast for them to do it that it won't be expensive at all. While they are there, you can ask them questions about what plants you can plant based on the results of their tests. Their tips for plotting and planning your garden can be very helpful. Pay attention!

About the Author

Thomas Fryd offers ideas for some back yard landscaping designs showing how homeowners with even small backyards can enjoy their part of nature. At www.Plant-Care.com you will find a growing library of plant and landscape topics for home owners and professionals alike.