Top 5 Landscaping Mistakes Homeowners Make

A beautiful landscape says a lot about your home, and if you live in Clinton, Madison, Guilford, or along the Connecticut shoreline, you know how important curb appeal can be. At Shoreline Landscape Co, we’ve served the community since 1960, and we’ve seen how a few common landscaping mistakes can cost homeowners both time and money. The great news? These issues are easy to avoid with a little planning and local know-how. Let’s walk through the top mistakes we see and how you can sidestep them for a healthy, attractive yard all year long.

1. Planting Without Considering Mature Plant Size

It’s tempting to buy smaller plants that look perfect for a spot, but five years from now, those same plants could block your windows or crowd your walkways. We see this all the time: homeowners plant too close to the house or pack in too many shrubs, not realizing how much they’ll grow.

How to avoid it:
Always look up the mature height and width before planting. Draw a rough plan for your space, and give each plant enough room to reach full size. For entryways, use low-growing shrubs. Place larger trees and shrubs further out, where they have space to spread without blocking views or pathways.

2. Ignoring Connecticut’s Unique Soil and Climate

Many homeowners pick plants for their looks, not realizing that our New England climate, including cold winters, salty air, and clay soil, won’t suit every flower or shrub. It’s common to want tropical plants or ones seen further south, but these often don’t survive the winter or the salty breezes of the shoreline.

How to avoid it:
Start by testing your soil to figure out its pH and drainage. Amending with compost helps most local soils. Pick plants made for our USDA Hardiness Zones (6b-7a), and choose native species like mountain laurel, eastern redbud, and sugar maple. These thrive here and require less maintenance.

3. Poor Water Management and Drainage

Standing water, erosion, or brown patches from drought usually signal poor drainage or watering habits. If your property isn’t graded properly, water can pool around your foundation, risking costly damage. We often see irrigation as an afterthought, when it should be planned from the start.

How to avoid it:
Be sure your yard slopes away from your home. We often add French drains, rain gardens, or swales to direct water where it belongs. Group plants by how much water they need so you’re not over- or under-watering certain areas. Drip irrigation works well for planting beds, while sprinklers cover large lawns.

4. Designing Without Considering Maintenance

It’s easy to get carried away with elaborate beds and new features, but more landscaping means more work. Annual flowerbeds, formal hedges, and water features can all be beautiful, but they also need regular care. Some homeowners find themselves overwhelmed by the upkeep a year or two down the road.

How to avoid it:
Design with your lifestyle in mind. Opt for perennials and ornamental grasses; these offer year-round beauty and only need occasional trimming. Group high-maintenance plants in accessible, small areas rather than spreading them throughout the yard. If you want a low-maintenance yard, we can recommend native shrubs and groundcovers that thrive here with less attention.

5. Overlooking Year-Round Appeal

Most people focus on spring and summer blooms, forgetting that the yard is visible all year. Bare gardens and empty beds are common problems in fall and winter. We often recommend designs that give you something interesting to look at in every season.

How to avoid it:
Mix in evergreen shrubs for winter color and structure. Choose plants like dogwoods or ornamental grasses for interesting stems or seed heads. Plan for staggered blooms by including bulbs and perennials that flower in different seasons. Don’t forget trees and shrubs with autumn color, like burning bush and oakleaf hydrangea, for stunning fall displays.

Let’s Help You Get It Right

Avoiding these common mistakes makes a big difference in the look and health of your landscape. At Shoreline Landscape Co, we’ve guided hundreds of homeowners in Clinton, Madison, Guilford, and nearby shoreline communities to lovely gardens that stand the test of time.

Our experience means we know what thrives here, and what doesn’t. We’ll help you choose the right plants, design for long-lasting beauty, and install features that match your maintenance preferences. Whether you want a fresh start or a simple update, our team is here to create a yard you can enjoy year-round. Ready for a landscape that works for your home and schedule? Give us a call at (860) 552-6522 or email susan.shoreline@gmail.com for a quote or consultation. Let’s make your outdoor space stand out for all the right reasons!