The best landscaping in the world doesn't happen by chance. Amazing gardens with flowers, beautiful architecture with hardscape and trees. It happens by those who invest themselves in the practice of landscape design. If you want to improve your own landscaping on your property the best thing to do is to never stop learning. If you are able to learn from the best (others who have gone before you), then you will improve your skills at a faster pace. Each landscaping job you do should leave you with more knowledge about plants and soil and their surroundings. How they interact with each other in relation to their surroundings is a fundamental part of designing a landscape. It's one thing to be able to plant and grow, but where to plant and what to grow in relation to what is around it is the top skill of all. So how do we go about learning from other landscapers who have gone before us? One way is reading their knowledge they recorded for us to find. I hope these landscape articles are able to help you become the landscaper you wish to be. Learn from them, and you will see your skills grow just like your plants. While we are here, let me share with you the process I take through every landscape job. The first thing I do before starting a landscape job, whether it is a personal job in a residential location, or a client's project on their property, is develop a plan. A proper plan can make the world of a difference when starting a project. Do the extra work to complete your plan by designing your project on paper. Include all the materials you think you might need. With a proper estimate you should be able to approximate a budget for your project. See if your materials are even available in your area from a local landscape supply company. Once you have your whole plan in place then you have a proper foundation to start your project. Make sure the steps you take to complete your process are in the proper order so you don't have to do any extra work. Having to back track your work is never a good situation to be in. Complete your project using your best materials in the most important area first and then work your way out from there. This will make sure you don't end up with your best quality materials un-used. Finish your project to completion. Nobody likes a project that isn't finished. Do the final touches by going above and beyond at the end. Always finish your project with cleaning up every last bit of extra material you have. Hopefully this quick over view of the process I take during landscape jobs get you inspired to go out and finish your next project.