With its vast landscape boasting rose-colored deserts and snow-covered mountains, New Mexico is truly the Land of Enchantment. Surrounded by Nature's beauty, it is but proper that New Mexico landscaping be done by someone who understands the contour of the land and dares not deface the inherent magnificence that is our environment.

In the preceding paragraph, I've mentioned landscaping; this'll be the topic at hand. For me, landscaping is a form of art---one that reflects your personality and your passion. From trees to shrubs to concrete structures, these items when positioned correctly will certainly transform your outdoor space into a work of art.

Landscaping Tips:

Garden. This will depend on the type of garden you'll be putting together. There's the flower, vegetable, herb, even rock garden. Positioning, this is the key. It's a misconception that nothing grows in shade. There are flowers that thrive in said area like Violets, Hardy Begonia and Primrose. For vegetables, leafy greens like lettuce will grow even without much sunlight. So do herbs like sage, dill, mint and thyme.

If you have limited space, you may try these alternatives. Containers. You can always use containers to plant your produce and flora. Ceramic pots, plastic wastebaskets, planter boxes and bushel baskets can be utilized as a vessel. These may be placed by the doorstep, patio or windowsill. Don't forget to create proper drainage---this is important. Inter planting. You need not plant your flowers, vegetables and herbs separately. However, when doing such, make sure that you know the growing behavior of the plants. Try to arrange them accordingly---small=front, medium=middle, so on and so forth. Another issue would be the spacing. Plants and shrubs need air---they need to breathe, so don't suffocate them by overcrowding the same. Remember, they have intimacy issues so don't plant them too close to each other.

Lighting. This creates drama. And sometimes, it's the light that elevates something beautiful to something awe inspiring. Lighting exists not only for visibility but security as well. Picture this: After spending thousands of dollars for a landscaping in New Mexico, it is depressing to see it vanish in the night---clearly this must be addressed.

Concrete Structures. Patios, water fountains and paved walkways. These are not mere accents; these may possibly be the focal point of your landscape project. Imagine this: being guided by the steppingstone path and the sound of flowing water, you make your way to the middle of the garden. There you are greeted by a patio facing the water fountain brilliantly bedecked with Nature's bounty. Wow.

Who'll Do the Project. More often than not, it is the cost that dictates whether one will go for DIY or hire an NM landscaping contractor. Let's start with the former. With DIY, all you need is basic carpentry and electrical know-how to be able to pull this off. You can use the Internet to look for tips and ideas on how to go about the project. Not much cost here, though sufficient knowledge is needed. This I will reiterate. Sufficient knowledge is needed. Bear in mind that little knowledge is dangerous. Then there's getting a contractor. If you're going to hire one, make certain that he is a licensed contractor. Don't be afraid to ask questions or look into pertinent documents. Don't be impulsive when hiring a contractor. Do a little research. Think it through. Get referrals from relatives and neighbors. Consult the BBB.

All you have to do is to retain these information. The tips, though few, will hopefully take you a couple of steps closer to landscaping New Mexico with your art.