Sarasota landscaping? It doesn't take either a green thumb or a PHD in botany to landscape your Sarasota home to the delight of you, your family, and your neighbors. A little pre-planning and preparation is all it takes. It also helps to know a little about yourself. Do you love your time gardening...? Or do you want to have the yard planted and be done? While you mull that question over, you can do a little ground work. What kind of soil will you be planting in? The county extension will test soil samples for you. It's a good idea to take samples from every place you plan to plant, as they can all be different, and affect the plants you place there. Are you on the waterfront? Waterfront yards require a little more planning and care, to keep any runoff from affecting the biosphere of the waterway. Neither fertilizer nor pesticides can be used within 10 feet of the waterfront, so plan accordingly.

Look at your yard. This is a good time to call and find out where any underground wires and pipes are located. Make a diagram of your property, including those underground utilities as well as any existing features, such as irrigation pipes or powerlines. Use graph paper and a copy of your property survey to draw up a plan. Decide which full-grown trees and plants should remain. If they suit their space, and are a long-lived variety, such as a live oak, consider leaving them and designing around them. Keep in mind that in Sarasota, permits are needed to remove grown trees, and trees of a certain size are protected.

Next, see where you'd like to place young trees. It's never a good idea to plant a tree where it will grow to contact a power-line or utility wire. When choosing what shrubs or flowers to plant, look first for plants that will thrive in the chosen area. Sun-hardy plants for sunny areas, shade loving plants where your yard is naturally shady. Consider incorporating native Florida plants as much as possible. And now is a good time to prepare for the complete removal of any invasive plant species.

It's always a good idea to choose drought-resistant plants for Sarasota landscaping and to plan any irrigation system to have minimal usage. When choosing flowering plants, coordinating bloom colors can make choices easy, as variances in one or two colors easily please the eyes. Wildlife attracting varieties can draw wildlife to your yard, adding another dimension to your environment. Plants are beautiful, but plants surrounded by native birds and butterflies are only more so. A pond is a wonderful addition to your yard if you have the space and a low-lying area. When your plans are done, it's time to plant! And in no time, your Sarasota yard will be both your haven and a welcome addition to your neighborhood, the environment and Sarasota landscaping.