Many homeowners are looking forward to the end of winter. Spring means gardening and lawn care, and some adventurous folks will be planning major landscaping projects. So, where do you begin?

Any home improvement project, major or minor, must be well-planned in order to be well executed. Visualizing landscaping results is great, but you must follow steps to make sure you don’t waste time, money, and energy with a poorly planned project.

Before starting the project, decide whether you need to hire a professional or whether you have the necessary skills to get the job done yourself. Unlike projects such as house painting or installing exhaust fans, landscaping is akin to an art form. Planting a garden is DIY-friendly, but installing a walkway or pond or bridge (think Japanese gardens) or planting trees in just the right location might be better left to the professionals.

As you plan your landscaping project, factors like whether you have children or pets come into play. A pristine, untouchable style of landscaping may not work if young children and animals tend to roam about. A more functional landscape, one that won’t lose its aesthetic quality if children and animals “live” in it, may be a better choice.

Once you have a plan laid out and know how you want to proceed, check your city’s building codes and the deed to your house to find out what’s restricted or prohibited.

If you’re hiring a professional, he/she will likely have tools of their own. If it’s a DIY project, make sure you have the proper tools.