A Beginner’s Guide to DIY Landscaping

DIY landscaping can be both exciting and rewarding. At RF Paving, we understand the importance of creating an outdoor space that feels like an extension of your home. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through beginner gardening tips and easy landscaping ideas for your backyard, ensuring your garden is as tailored to your style as the rest of the house. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or simply looking to refresh your outdoor space, transforming your garden into your personal paradise is always a project worth undertaking.

Get Inspired

There’s no point starting without an idea of what you want. Gather together some garden design ideas and inspiration to give your new landscaping adventure some direction. Are you drawn to an English cottage-style garden, a warm-toned Mediterranean garden or a Japanese-style zen garden? Our paving inspiration page could be a great source of ideas, or why not head to Pinterest? 

Start Small and Dream Big

When it comes to beginner gardening, starting small is key. Tackling a vast garden all at once can be overwhelming, so begin with a manageable area. Focus on a specific corner of your garden and plan your design around it. This allows you to gradually expand your project as your confidence and expertise grow.

For example, begin with a relaxation nook. Incorporate seating like a bench and some hanging planters. Or start with a single flowerbed and choose some low-maintenance plants for your first cluster.  

The Best Beginner Gardening Plants

Selecting the right plants is essential for a thriving garden. Opt for robust and easy-to-care-for plants such as lavender, marigolds, or geraniums. These plants are not only visually appealing but also require minimal upkeep, making them perfect for beginner gardeners. They can add a splash of colour to your garden and are ideal for easy DIY gardening projects.

Incorporate Easy Landscaping Ideas

For those seeking easy landscaping ideas for the backyard, consider adding a simple garden path or a raised flower bed. These features can enhance the flow of your garden, creating a more cohesive space. 

Our low-maintenance natural stone pavers are perfect for a path, offering both durability and style. Try our stepping stones for a touch of whimsy. These don’t need to be laid in a neat, straight line, making things much easier. Our guide to laying stepping stones can help. 

Railway sleepers are perfect for raised garden beds. They allow for easier drainage and elevate flowers away from pests, reducing the amount of pest-proofing and drainage installation you’ll need to do. However, remember that plants in containers need to be watered more frequently than those directly in the ground. 

DIY vs. Professional Help: Know the Difference

Understanding what you can achieve through DIY and when to call in the professionals is crucial. Simple tasks like planting flowers and maintaining your garden can be a delightful DIY project. However, for more complex tasks like laying paving stones for a patio or building structures like decking, professional help might be needed to ensure a quality finish. 

At RF Paving, we have a list of trusted landscapers to help you with anything from paving a driveway to installing drainage. 

Choosing Easy Upkeep Landscaping Materials

Gardening and landscaping is an ongoing labour of love, and lots of maintenance and care is required after the initial installation and planting. To make life easier, choosing low-maintenance materials, like natural stone and porcelain, reduces the amount of upkeep required. For more tips, we have a blog dedicated to easy, low-maintenance garden ideas. 

How to Maintain a Garden

When you’ve put so much work and effort into creating a gorgeous garden space, you’ll obviously want to keep it looking wonderful.  

For plant care, this means ensuring your plants are properly watered, pruned and pampered. This includes watering every evening during the dry days of summer, pruning and trimming back plants in spring, and removing ‘dead heads’ whenever you spot them. 

For your lawn, give it a mow every two weeks during spring and autumn, increasing to weekly in summer. In winter, you can take a break. 

Maintaining your paved garden path or patio is essential for preserving its beauty. Regular paving cleaning helps prevent the build-up of dirt and algae, ensuring your space remains inviting. Our range of cleaning supplies at RF Paving is designed to keep your paving looking pristine, with products that are both effective and easy to use. We have a paving, patio and driveway maintenance guide to give you further tips on keeping things in order. 

By starting small, choosing easy plants, and knowing when to seek professional help, you can create a garden that enhances your outdoor living experience. At RF Paving, we’re committed to helping you achieve the garden of your dreams with our range of high-quality products and expert advice.

For more beginner gardening tips and expert advice, explore our blog or contact us today. Let RF Paving be your trusted partner in transforming your outdoor space into the garden of your dreams.