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When you start a landscaping project, be it a few small changes or a larger redesign, it can be really easy to get carried away with the aesthetic side of the new plans. And the thing is, if you're too busy focusing on what the end design will look like, chances are you'll be missing a few important aspects that can cause the entire project to fail instantly.

Before you get stuck into designing your new landscaping, let's take a look at some mistakes you want to avoid.

Ignoring How Water Will Drain

One of the most overlooked aspects of landscaping is how water will drain in the space.  What will happen to the water when it rains? Do you have an appropriate channel for it to drain into, or are you likely to end up with stagnant water? It's not the most glamorous decision you need to make in respect to your landscaping choices, but it's one of the most important. And if you mess it up, it will come back to cause you problems down the line.

The last thing you need is for water to drain towards your property or a fence, for example. And if you are installing large paved areas, drainage is essential. You can add a drainage channel alongside hard surfaces to help carry the water away so it doesn't pool. Remember to think about drainage early on in your plans. So you know that once the work starts and the project is completed, you don't have any ongoing issues.

Choosing Plants Without Checking Soil or Sunlight

If you're planning on having a thriving garden alive with plants and flowers, then you need to check the sunlight you get in your yard and the type of soil you have. Because if you're getting plants that need copious amounts of sunlight and you plant them in a space that doesn't move much out of the shade, you're only wasting your time and money.

Before you decide on your plants of choice, take the time to understand the soil you have and which parts of your yard get the most sun so you can choose what you plant accordingly.

Skipping Proper Edging Between Lawns and Beds

If you don't have a clear and defined edge between your lawn and hard surfaces, then you're going to experience grass creeping into the beds and soil that will spread over the lawn with time. When you're designing your different areas and putting plans in place, make sure you address how you're going to separate and define the space.

Edging can come in many forms. It can be a simple cut edge, a strip of block or stone, or it can be a more permanent edging material that helps you to keep these spaces separate and avoid them blending into each other.

Using the Wrong Materials for Patios and Pathways

Not all paving or pathway materials are suited to every situation or design. Some materials can become slippery when wet, meaning that if you live in an area that experiences high amounts of rainfall, this can be dangerous and limit how often you can use the space.

Other materials can become damaged in certain climates and will need more upkeep than you might realise. For example, if you live in a coastal area, untreated metals can deteriorate due to the salt air and might need repairing or replacing frequently to keep them in a usable condition or keep rust at bay.

Take the time to consider the environment you live in and select your materials based on this, so you don't end up having to replace things too soon.

Forgetting to Plan for Maintenance Access

Your garden might look amazing once it's finished, but what about a few weeks down the line when you need to do some simple maintenance or upkeep to keep it looking good? If there is no way to access parts of the outdoor space, then this makes life so much harder and creates more obstacles for you.

You need to factor in maintenance routes into your design so you can easily reach all parts of the yard once the project is completed.

Think about how the space will be used and what activities will be performed before you commit to a layout and definitive plan. Look at what space you need to move around, how you will get furniture in and out of storage, for example, how you will tend to flower beds? Then build these considerations into the final design.

Placing Trees Too Close to the House or Drains

Trees can be the perfect addition to any garden. But only if you plant them correctly. You need to position new trees for their mature size, not the size they are when you place them; this means you are accommodating the tree's future size and factoring in root growth.

Roots can grow much further than most people realize, and if you're planting too close to buildings or fences, for example, you can expect roots to cause significant damage a few years down the line.

You also need to be aware of the branches and canopy, as they can impact parts of your house, such as the roof, gutters, and windows. Research the eventual height and size of the trees you're considering so you can plant them appropriately.

Mixing Too Many Styles and Materials

It's really common to pick ideas up from all the great landscaping designs you've seen. However, mixing too many can detract from the look you're trying to achieve.

Ideally, you want to stick to three different types of hard materials, i.e., wood, concrete and metal. Less is more here. Try to avoid using too many different styles of pavers, and think about the design as a whole, not just smaller sections that you are changing. Because if you have too much going on, it can feel disjointed, and this is something you want to avoid.

Instead, narrow it down to a few different styles you like and use a limited palette to pull everything together, regardless of the different functions of the yard.