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If you want to take your tree-planting hobby beyond your outdoor space, here are a few great ways to do it:

• Encourage your neighbors to participate in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, which has a four-step framework that helps communities grow and maintain their own tree cover.

• Support businesses that plant trees. 

• Lobby your local government to plant more trees around your community.

• Donate to a tree-planting charity.

It is possible to DIY complete hardscaping projects, but in most cases, hiring a professional is best to get the job done correctly. Hardscaping—including installing patios, decks, retaining walls, walkways, and water features—is challenging and time-consuming, so the money you spend on a professional is typically worth it. Not only will the quality be better, but you could avoid problems that come along with a lack of hardscaping experience, like drainage issues that can lead to costly foundation damage and leaks in your home.

While both fall and spring are suitable times of the year for planting trees, fall is typically the better option. Soil stays warm long enough to allow tree roots to establish in fall before they go dormant, while spring might give way to intense summer heat before spring-planted trees have time to grow strong roots.

When planting, it's best to leave several feet between a house and a juniper bush. Many juniper varieties will become quite bushy and require space to grow. Juniper branches that come into contact with siding can damage the home's exterior over time. Also, some juniper bushes have aggressive roots that can put pressure on a home's foundation or basement walls.