Individuals value art, from literary arts to visual arts and everything in between. What'll you do if you're given an opportunity to have an art exclusively created for you? This is not a mere painting that'll be displayed in the receiving area nor a production number where singing and dancing will be present. No, this is much bigger, much better. With this opportunity, you'll be able to make a production with Nature as your canvas. I'm talking about landscape design and construction. Be it California landscaping or NJ landscape construction, wherever you are, contouring your surroundings will certainly make an artist out of you.

Like every artist, you need to have the right skills and the appropriate equipment. Let's start with the skills. This term may connote your own skills or aided by professionals. Let's face it, landscaping may prove to be harder than one expects. You cannot just begin digging aimlessly. You'll end up with a moon-like surface as a yard. For the DIY junkies, said project may be hard but same can be done. First the basics must be identified like the soil type, the ideal plants that may be planted in a specific area/season and the time frame where everything must be completely achieved. Basic carpentry is a requirement too. These essentials may break or make your project.

I already mentioned this a while ago---the skill of a professional. One may have the perfect plan but without the right help (assistance from an expert, tools and alike), the plan will just remain something that is lodged in your head or some scribble in a piece of paper. Or one may hire a landscape contractor. There are a lot of NJ or California landscaping companies, however, not everyone will provide superior service. One must know how to screen contractors. Use your resources wisely. Ask around, lurk in the web, utilize the phone directory. These are only a few. Information will be disseminated, but you must separate the fact from the fiction. Do a little detective work. Call the contractor. Remember three words---licensed, bonded and insured. The company must have documents readily available to support their claim. If they cannot furnish you with the same, go to the next company. Don't waste your time dealing with an establishment that lacks proper documentation. To be honest, there are only a few companies that provide quality landscaping design California or NJ residents opt for.

As for the tools, this would depend on the project that you'll be doing. If a project be divided into parts, I am confident that a huge chunk will be allotted to manual labor. From patios to the lightings---if these will be installed one must know where to strategically place the same. I'll touch the topic on installing patios briefly. Ok? Ok. Supplies: concrete compound, caulking compound (to fill the gaps between blocks), patio blocks, gravel-these are a few. Materials: shovel (of course), drill, carpenter's level and square, tape measure, hammer, saw and alike. Attitude: a lot of patience. If you have yet to use or even hear these words, I strongly suggest that you hire an NJ or a California home landscaping contractor. (Actually you can hire any contractor within your vicinity. I just used CA and NJ due to familiarity.) Lighting adds curb appeal. Installing such requires one to have basic knowledge on electrical wiring. Four words, low voltage lighting system. This is not only for illumination but this will also serve as added security. This one is included in the landscape lighting design that was prepared by my contractor. I'll stop here for I dare not touch the topic on wiring because I, myself, know little about this.

To wrap it up, landscaping design and construction may be done with or without the help of an expert. Though I have to reiterate that basic knowledge is required for one to be able to pull it off. Carpentry and electrical wiring, you'll need these both if you want to DIY. But for those who can afford professionals' fee, they have the option to hire a field expert---an assistant, an extra hand to help them mold the ideal scenery, a scenery worthy to be classified as art.