What Work Can You Do Yourself?

The work you do yourself will depend on your ability and skills - and also your time. While you may have the ability to do a specific job, if you are also in full-time employment, it may be difficult for you to find the time and energy to complete it. There is often a great deal more work in gardening projects than first meets the eye, and you don’t want to be slaving from dawn to dusk every weekend.

If there is a professional on the job, you may still be able to save by offering to help on the weekends. But if you know nothing about it, then it would be wise to let the pro do all the work, while you simply enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Another thing to consider is your state of health. If you are not used to hard physical work, suddenly engaging in it maybe a recipe for pulled muscles or a bad back. Ease into it slowly if you do any at all and be sure to warm up before you start and warm down at the end of the day just as an athlete in training does to prevent injury. Strained and torn muscles take a long time to heal and the risk may not be worth it.

Small projects with a minimum of lifting are ideal for the homeowner to tackle. You can do those tasks that require heavy work but not much professional knowledge like digging the garden beds if you really want to and are fit enough. You could do an easy DIY project that comes with instructions, provided you can understand them and are proficient in the use of the tools required. Many people get into strife with their projects because they don’t bother to read the instructions.

If you are good at reading and following instructions, you may be able to do any number of smaller tasks like putting a steel archway together and even cementing it in. You could possibly stack a dry stonewall, build a simple trellis or put up a bamboo fence. You could even be a dab hand at larger cementing jobs. But don’t forget that much of the work - such as the foundations - in smaller projects is unseen. It may take longer and be harder than you first thought. If so, don’t be too proud to seek help; it could save both your budget and muscles from strain.

So to sum up, the homeowner should stick to the easy, light jobs that don’t require expert knowledge he does not have.

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