When Good Intentions Go Bad
There’s something satisfying about taking on your landscaping projects yourself, and DIY landscaping can be immensely satisfying. From installing new mulch beds to planting shrubs along the sidewalk to trying to solve drainage issues near the patio, DIY landscaping has its appeal. Its popularity in communities like Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and Washington Township is clear evidence of that pride of ownership running high among their residents—no wonder homeowners opt for outdoor projects themselves!
Poor intentions don’t always translate to positive results, however. At Sinacori Landscaping, we see most issues caused by DIY jobs gone awry rather than neglect or negligence in these areas. Misjudging slopes or planting the wrong species might seem minor at first—until your garden beds flood with water, dead plants start dying off quickly, or you find your yard more work than it’s worth.
Macomb County’s diverse soil conditions and seasonal weather patterns can make projects more complicated than expected. If not addressed immediately, any misstep can lead to hours of cleanup, replanting, or wasted spending. Therefore, professional landscape design services go beyond looks—they focus on long-term performance for maximum effect.
This article details five of the most frequent DIY landscaping mistakes homeowners in Shelby, Macomb, and Washington Townships commit. Whether planning an ambitious DIY landscaping project yourself or trying a failed one without professional assistance the first time, this guide can help you avoid making expensive mistakes or know when it’s necessary to hire professional help to fix them properly.
Mistake #1: Poor Drainage Planning
Water can be one of the most destructive forces in any landscape, yet DIY homeowners often overlook it. In Macomb Township’s fast-growing areas with clay-heavy lots, drainage issues can emerge quickly if grading errors or improper routing of downspouts aren’t appropriately addressed, or downspouts don’t move away from foundations quickly enough. While it may be tempting to focus only on aesthetics while overlooking what lies underground, that is where problems begin!
Installing garden beds or patios without considering water flow is a common oversight among homeowners. They often trap water against their house or divert runoff to neighboring properties. Shelby Township boasts mature neighborhoods and newer developments with yards that hold onto even light rain for hours, as the slope was never addressed, or lawns settle unevenly over time.
Some homeowners attempt to solve drainage issues by digging shallow trenches or installing perforated pipes without an adequate discharge point. However, they can become ineffective or worsen existing conditions without sufficient pitch, gravel, or outlet. Washington Township properties near wooded areas often need proper drainage systems installed correctly, or erosion, soggy lawn edges, or foundation issues will arise. Improper installation could cost thousands to rectify!
Avoid burying downspout extensions directly into the ground without providing for a cleanout or a catch basin. Although this might look neat, doing this opens the floodgates for clogging and overflow during storms that lead to water pooling against your foundation or pooling right where your plants need it most.
Professional drainage solutions don’t just reduce standing water; they protect everything built upon it – from your lawn, flower beds and hardscapes to structural integrity of the home itself. A sound system works with nature instead of against it.
Before embarking on any DIY landscape project, evaluate how water moves across your property. If it pools, floods, or runs the wrong direction, consult with a drainage expert as soon as possible. Although drainage might not seem glamorous, it is an essential aspect of landscaping that must not be ignored!
Mistake #2: Wrong Plant, Wrong Place
One of the most costly DIY landscaping mistakes is selecting plants based on their appearance at a garden center. Homeowners in Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and Washington Township often fall prey to this trap by choosing vibrant blooms or fast-growing shrubs without considering essential considerations such as sun exposure, soil conditions, drainage, or long-term maintenance needs.
Just because a plant looks lovely in its pot doesn’t mean it will thrive in your yard. Michigan’s climate can be harsh, with harsh winters, wet springs, and dry spells in late summer. Without proper planning, your hydrangea planted in full sun could wither, or ornamental grass overtake your bed altogether. What began as an impulse buy can quickly turn into either dead spots or an overgrown mess!
Shelby Township residents typically face partial-shade front yards that don’t lend themselves well to full-sun perennials. At the same time, newer developments in Macomb Township tend to leave behind poor-quality topsoil as leftovers from construction, not providing the ideal foundation for delicate flowering plants. Washington Township owners with wooded lots must contend with deer browsing and root competition from mature trees, creating additional challenges.
Reducing spacing errors is another frequent mistake. It leads to overcrowded conditions that lead to disease, uneven growth patterns, and an unruly garden that’s difficult to prune without completely uprooting everything. Planting too closely together might look lush initially. Still, within months, these plants begin vying for air, light, and nutrients, leading to overcrowding, creating disease problems, and overgrown patches that become difficult or impossible to prune out without completely ripping out.
Invasiveness is added to the mix: Many homeowners unwittingly introduce aggressive species like English ivy or certain groundcovers, which spread rapidly throughout a bed, outcompeting other plants and necessitating ongoing maintenance. This problem is common throughout Macomb County and often requires professional intervention to reverse.
Understanding your property’s microclimate – sun, shade, moisture levels, wind exposure, and soil type – and selecting plants suited for that environment is the key to successful DIY landscaping projects. Native species or those adapted to Michigan’s four-season climate tend to perform best, providing aesthetic beauty with less effort or replacements needed over time.
Professional landscaping services, such as Sinacori, can ensure you create a sustainable planting plan. Doing so will save time and effort by getting something that looks great year after year, not just on its launch day.
Mistake #3: Skipping Soil Prep
Soil is the foundation of any planting bed, yet unfortunately, DIY landscapers often forget this step when making DIY landscape designs. When dealing with sandy, rocky, or uneven soil on larger lots in areas like Washington Township, planting without proper preparation results in weak roots, stunted growth, and underperforming plants, no matter how much money is spent at nurseries.
Macomb Township’s soil, particularly newer subdivisions, often consists of compacted clay left behind after construction. Without properly aerating or loosening this compacted clay layer, roots cannot penetrate deeply enough, water doesn’t drain off properly, and oxygen cannot reach the root zones. This leads to plants looking great initially but suddenly starting to fade or die off completely.
Even in Shelby Township, which boasts many homes with more established yards, soil quality can differ drastically between properties. Some areas may contain overly acidic conditions, while others lack the organic matter necessary to retain moisture and nutrients. Without testing or amending this soil first, planting into it would be like building your house without leveling its foundation; things won’t stand the test of time.
Many DIYers believe adding topsoil or compost will suffice as soil preparation, but that is untrue. Soil preparation requires an in-depth knowledge of what lies within the ground, from pH balance and drainage profile, to what will support strong plant growth over time. A soil test provides this invaluable insight.
Once your soil has been tested, the next step should be amending it with suitable materials—whether that’s compost, sand, peat, or another specialty mix. Breaking up compacted areas, mixing organic matter, and leveling beds before planting make a major, impactful statement about how resilient your landscape will remain against Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycles and summer heat waves.
Professional landscapers like Sinacori understand the significance of soil health for any successful landscape design project. That’s why every successful design begins underground—failing to prepare the ground before planting can only guarantee failure from day one.
Mistake #4: Mulch Mayhem
Mulch can be an easy and affordable way to enhance the appearance of any landscape, but when misused, it quickly turns into an issue rather than a solution. One of the most frequent DIY mistakes we encounter across Shelby Township, Macomb Township and Washington Township is what industry professionals refer to as “volcano mulching”, piling thick piles of mulch in cone shapes around trees or shrubs’ bases – even though this appears clean at first glance, trapping moisture against bark, encouraging rot and killing plants over time.
Over-mulching can also be a problem; more isn’t necessarily better! Homeowners who apply mulch year after year without removing the old layer create compacted beds, which suffocate plant roots, block water absorption, and cause nutritional deficiencies. They also become breeding grounds for mold spores and pests, particularly around home foundation areas.
As is often the case, selecting mulch can be challenging. Some DIYers resort to cheap dyed mulch that breaks down too quickly or attracts insects; other landscapers opt for rubber or stone mulch alternatives in areas that need organic material for plant health. Selecting the wrong type can disrupt the delicate balance your landscape requires to thrive.
Misplaced mulch is everywhere – spilling onto lawns, covering up edges, or being blown away in strong winds. In neighborhoods across Macomb and Washington Townships, it’s easy to spot beds where mulch was added without an exact strategy – professionally managed landscapes use mulch as a finishing touch, not as an emergency band-aid solution.
Solution? Apply mulch no deeper than 2-3 inches, keeping it at least several inches from plant stems or tree trunks. Use high-quality shredded hardwood or composted bark, which will nourish the soil over time as it decomposes into nutrients for plants to use as food. Do it correctly so your landscape performs optimally year after year. When done right, mulch looks good and improves landscape performance with each passing season!
Mistake #5: Ignoring Seasonal Maintenance
No matter how well-designed a landscape may be, it will unravel over time without regular maintenance. Homeowners in Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and Washington Township often devote both time and money to planting, mulching, and laying out, only to unravel over time through neglecting regular upkeep. DIY enthusiasm fades as seasons change, while nature doesn’t.
Springtime is a crucial period for growth and recovery, which requires your landscape to receive special care and attention. Neglecting spring cleanup could leave dead plant material, soggy debris, and compacted soil impeding healthy development. Fertilization, bed edging, and pruning should set the pace for the growing season; yet, too often, homeowners wait too long or forgo these steps altogether.
Summer requires constant vigilance. DIYers often underestimate how quickly weeds and moisture levels shift in Michigan heat, so without regular mowing, trimming, and spot treatments the yard that looked beautiful in May could soon turn into an overgrown mess by July – something especially true in Macomb Township where larger suburban lots require more time and care than expected from homeowners.
Fall is an essential time for landscape preparation in Michigan, from leaf accumulation and irrigation system malfunction to untrimmed shrubs that become overgrown due to neglect, leading to lawn suffocation, dead branches, and even pest issues in springtime. Washington Township homes with mature trees or deep beds should prioritize fall cleanup to avoid messy recovery processes in 2019.
Winter maintenance can be tricky. From ice damage and snow accumulation to drainage issues and woes, they all affect how well your landscape looks come springtime. A brief respite may be warranted during this season, but neglecting your yard during this period could completely undo all progress made during warmer seasons.
Sinacori Landscaping’s year-round landscaping services ensure your yard is healthy, tidy, and prepared to weather whatever Michigan throws its way, keeping curb appeal high!
Call in the Pros: Why Sinacori Fixes These Fails
DIY landscaping projects often start excitingly and with good intentions, but they quickly become stressful and overwhelming when things don’t go according to plan. That’s where Sinacori Landscaping comes in—with decades of experience serving homeowners across Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and Washington Township, our team at Sinacori has seen and fixed every imaginable landscaping mistake!
Sinacori can transform any yard – from soggy yards with inadequate drainage to failed plantings and overcrowded beds – from chaos into curb appeal. Their skilled crews know Michigan soil conditions, drainage patterns, seasonal challenges, and how best to approach each project with both beauty and functionality in mind – something most DIY efforts can’t match.
Many clients come to Sinacori after having tried and failed to repair their yard independently, hoping that our expertise can provide long-term solutions that add value to their home, improve daily life, and save them time. From fixing poorly designed beds or redesigning drainage systems to devising an effective maintenance plan that works, Sinacori guarantees results that last.
Professional landscaping goes beyond aesthetics: it offers peace of mind. At Sinacori, our team delivers exactly what is promised, so you don’t waste your time or energy guessing or redoing. All you must worry about is sitting back and enjoying your yard instead!
Sinacori Landscaping of Shelby, Macomb, and Washington Townships offers custom landscape solutions designed to last. Call (248) 651-5400 now for a consultation session! We specialize in correcting DIY projects and providing hassle-free custom solutions built specifically to last.