It's never too soon to start planning your spring and summer landscaping projects. By starting early, your yard has a jump start on the growing season. Visit a landscape material supply center to get some ideas and check on the prices of materials you want to buy. Here are some materials you might need.

Mulch

No matter what type of landscaping you do, you'll probably need mulch if plants are involved. You can ring mulch around trees or fill the ground between foundation plants. Mulch is attractive as well as beneficial for holding moisture in the soil and blocking weeds.

There are several options in mulch, so choose a type that matches your landscape design. You might want wood chips, shredded wood, or rocks. All of these options come in a variety of colors so you can find mulch that complements your home or your plants.

Rocks

Rocks are also important for landscaping since they have a lot of uses. They can be decorative as mulch or they can be useful as large stepping stones. You can use rocks to create a dry creek on your property or to use as ground cover if you want to cut down on the amount of yard you have to mow.

Rocks can be difficult and unhandy to transport, so you may want to buy them in bulk and have them delivered by the landscape material supply store. Some stores even have hoppers you can rent that hold the rocks and dispense them into a wheelbarrow so you don't have to do a lot of bending and shoveling to move the rocks around your property.

Plants

Some landscape material supply companies also sell plants. You can pick up ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, and other plants for your property. An associate at the supply store may even help you choose appropriate plants for your yard depending on how much time you have to care for the plants. The store may even deliver the plants so you don't have to worry about getting dirt in your car.

Dirt

If you'll be putting in beds around your foundation or on other parts of your property, you'll probably need dirt. A landscape material supply store sells different types of dirt including topsoil, potting soil, and fill dirt so you can find exactly what you need for your project. If you don't need very much soil, you can buy it in bags. If you need a lot of soil, make it easy on yourself and buy it in bulk, and have the soil delivered to your driveway.