Many Philadelphia landscaping mistakes can be avoided, always do your research before planting flowers, trees, bushes, and ground cover.

1. Don't plant birch trees near your patio or pavement. Birch tree roots are very shallow and will ruin your walkway and make it dangerous for you to walk without falling. A great tree to plant anywhere is a dogwood. Dogwoods can be planted near water lines and septic tanks and will not invade them because they are relatively small.

Dogwoods are a widely planted tree nationwide because of the beautiful array of flowers loaded with life and color sure to brighten up any space. They are adaptable to a variety of soils and growing conditions, can tolerate long periods of no rain and have very little issues with pests or disease.

This low maintenance tree blooms every year and comes in a variety of colors to choose from (red, white and pink). These are great for adding color to your landscape and perfect for small spaces.

2. Always avoid planting trees and bushes too close to your house and foundation, if you do you'll be sorry later. Most tress will grow into the foundation and allow a perfect tunnel for termites to invade your home.

Issues with trees scraping windows and siding, falling limbs and overhanging limbs making it difficult to care for your gutters can also be problematic. You may also end up with unwanted guests, such as squirrels, wreaking additional havoc if they find a way into your home.

In addition, intense pressure on the foundation can lead ground level walls to warp and weaken. If the roots manage to grow underneath the foundation, this may cause uneven settlement cracks. The result of this may be sticking doors and windows as well as structural cracks.

Rule of thumb; plant large to medium size trees 30-50 feet from home and small flowering trees and fruit trees 8 feet away.

3. When planting a ground cover chose one that isn't a prolific seeder. As with most ground covers they produce underground shoots and will overtake any garden and are hard to get rid of. Since they will grow very deep they can even survive under boulders.

Also make sure that weeds are properly controlled before planting ground cover. The weeds will compete for water and nutrients and will reduce the attractiveness of the ground cover as well.

Check with your local nursery to identify plants that thrive in your particular soil and climate. Low growing perennial plants and shrubs may replace high maintenance lawns, particularly slopes or rough ground.

Keep in mind to plant taller varieties of ground cover in the background with lower growing types in the foreground.

Also, Make sure to space the plants properly so that space between them is close to their maximum width. Again, ask your nursery or reference books to find out. You can plant low growing annuals in the spaces in between your permanent ground cover to temporally fill in the spaces.

A low maintenance alternative to grass, ground cover can transform bare or dull parts of your lawn into a beautiful show area.

These three simple tips can save you major headaches and expense, so it pays to do your homework before landscaping in Philadelphia.