Get matched with top landscapers in Kingston, IL

Yes, you can landscape in the rain, but you should take some precautions to keep yourself and your tools safe. Avoid using electric landscaping tools during rainfall, and don’t mow, thatch, aerate, or rake in the rain, as your tools can more easily tear out roots in the loose soil. Be careful when working on wet grass, and take your time to avoid slipping. Avoid putting in new plants before a particularly bad storm, as heavy rain and strong winds can damage or uproot plants that aren’t yet established.

Unless it only rains once in a blue moon where you live, you’re going to want water-loving plants in your garden bed or pot. A few ideas for plants that aren’t super fast-growing (meaning they’re good in pots or near foundations) and can handle a lot of standing water include: 

• Acorus (Sweet flag)

• Colocasia esculenta (Taro or elephant ear): In many climates, these are annuals, making them less desirable because you need to adjust the chain again after each replant.

• Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf horsetail rush): non-dwarf varieties of horsetail are fast growers and can take over quickly.

• Juncus effusus (Curly rush)

• Osmunda regalis (Royal fern): Royal fern can grow quickly but can also handle being crowded, making them good container plants.

The primary disadvantages of xeriscaping are the high upfront cost and the significant labor required to establish it. A xeriscaping project can cost between $3,000 and $24,000 on average. Additionally, the resulting landscape will have less of a traditional green appearance, which may not appeal to everyone's personal taste and could potentially narrow your pool of buyers if you decide to sell your home. However, despite these initial drawbacks, the long-term benefits include saving water, time, and money on lawn maintenance.

Buying plants from a nursery is one thing, but ensuring that they are properly planted is another. While you might not need to hire a landscaper for every plant that you buy from a nursery, it’s a great idea to have their expertise and experience to plant larger items, like burlapped trees or specialty plants like rose bushes. Even better, before making a trip to a nursery to buy new plants, consult a local landscaper to test your soil for pH levels, soil texture, and phosphorus and potassium levels to help determine the best plants for your area.