Читать книгу Landscaping For Dummies - Lance Walheim - Страница 66

List the supplies you want to use in each section of the project and calculate how much you need, making sure you’re as specific as possible.

You may be in the market for anything from landscape fabric to mulch and topsoil to gravel, but you have to know a bit more about your needs or wishes. Refer to the measurements you took.

To calculate, start by making a rough sketch of the dimensions of a specific project, such as a flowerbed. Length and width are definitely always required. How deep do you want to lay down mulch and topsoil, 4 inches? 6 inches? (10.1 cm? 15.2 cm?) Multiply these three numbers together to get the desired volume. You’ll want to convert the resulting number to cubic yards because that’s how these materials are typically sold.

As for other supplies, more simple math may be needed. Take landscape fabric, for example. Will you buy one large piece, or (perhaps unwieldy) roll and then cut it into sections? Consider also how thick you want that landscape fabric to be. It comes in different weights; heavier ones are, of course, more expensive.

Don’t stop at “I need gravel.” After you determine the volume needed, realize that gravel comes in different-size stones (the grades are numbered), which can affect how much you ultimately purchase. You may need a reconnaissance visit to the supplier to view the various options and help you make up your mind.

Order a bit more than you think you’ll need (you can save or store any excess). Your salesperson can assist you. Most suppliers and contractors recommend +10 percent extra.