This all depends on your capabilities. Is it possible for someone to do it on their own and plant items yes. however professionals are professionals for a reason and could understand curb appeal better than the owner looking for help.
Location, cost, and landscape. Then you have to figure out wether you will be building this yourself or if you want to hire someone to do it for you. When all is said and done it will be worth it in the end.
I would not have bought the cheap patio set because there are often many deals on patio sets at home and garden stores around you. You should go check them out.
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First you should try doing search about patio offset umbrellas. Then should have a better idea the definition and what you will be looking for. Also talk to people around you, family friends or coworkers.
Red is a bold color that few know how to properly display. A red patio umbrella should be the focus of the patio. Red can be placed in the accessories of a patio; however, there should not be competition for attention from the other large elements. The color scheme of the rest of the patio should be relatively calm, with the red patio umbrella grabbing all attention.
What kind of patio you are installing, stone patio, or concrete patio. If you prefer to to hire someone to do it for you, yes you can go the Angie's list they probably will do a better job for you.
A patio cannot be built around a full grown maple tree because the tree might fall on the patio. And also the roots might grow inwards of the patio.
You can go to your local home depot store, they should have tons of magazines and books and even someone in that area would help you out with any questions regarding deck and patio ideas.
A review site of landscaping softwares suggests Realtime Landscaping Plus, Landscape Deck & Patio and Home & Landscape design as the top three on the list.
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A good place to start for inspiration would be companies like Everest or Simply Paving as their websites have wonderful images and inspiration. Also, a website called The Landscape Design Site (http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/patio/) is great! Check it out.