There are a variety of needs that may come up when you’re involved in any kind of lawn and garden or landscaping project, and one of these that’s relatively common is a need to measure a space. Whether to determine the proper amount of a given soil, to measure property boundaries or for any other related purpose, there are several reasons why you might need to measure your yard – and knowing how to do this is helpful in these scenarios.
At NPS Store, we’re here to offer a huge range of discount hardware and tools for clients around Layton, Orem, Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah – including those ideal for lawn and garden projects of any kind. Here are some basic tips on how to measure your yard for any need, including certain approaches that you may or may not choose to take depending on how detailed you want to get.
There are many scenarios where it’s possible to simply measure a yard without making any kind of map or sketch. However, depending on the size and complexity of the space that you’re measuring there may be advantages to creating some kind of sketch or diagram – especially if you want an accurate representation of the area’s features. In some cases, this might even be necessary in order to ensure that the measurements can be accurately taken – and in scenarios where any kind of boundary or other such features need to be identified, a sketch is often absolutely essential.
If you do decide to go with a sketch, the best way to start is by measuring out the borders of the area. This will give you an idea of how large or small your space actually is, as well as serve as a reference for any other measurements that need to be taken within the yard.
Before you can get started with measuring your yard, it’s important to make sure that you have the right tools. The most common and versatile tool for this purpose is a tape measure – as long as it’s long enough for the area in question. For smaller areas such as gardens or flower beds, a regular-sized tape measure should do just fine.
However, if you’re measuring a larger area such as an entire backyard, you may need to invest in a longer tape measure – preferably one that’s at least 150 feet long. It also helps to have someone with you when taking measurements in order to hold the ends of the tape measure securely.
In addition, it can be useful to have a hammer or any other marker handy in order to make sure that corner points can be found accurately. This is especially helpful when measuring large areas with lots of curves or corners, as it helps ensure that the measurements you take are correct.
Once you have the right tools and your map-making materials ready (if needed), you’ll be able to start taking measurements.
If you’re measuring a property line, then you’ll need to take into account any obstacles that may be in the way. This can include fencing or walls built by previous owners as well as vegetation, trees and other natural features.
The best approach here is to start at one corner of the boundary and move your way along it, marking each point with a hammer or stake. Make sure that you use the tape measure to accurately record the distance between each point and create a mental note of any obstacles along the way. Once you reach the end of your boundary, add up all the distances to get your total length – and if necessary use this figure to adjust for any obstacles that have been encountered.
In many cases, you may need to measure a smaller area such as a garden or flower bed. In this case, the basic approach is fairly simple – just start at one end of the space and measure out each side until you reach the other end. If there are any obstacles in the way that can’t be avoided, take them into account when recording your measurements.
There may be some cases where a compass is actually necessary for measuring. This can be the case when you need to measure an angle or direction, such as when marking out property boundaries that have curves in them.
In these scenarios, make sure to set up your compass at the start of your measurement and then use it to accurately trace out any angles or directions that you need to record. This will help ensure that your measurements are accurate and reliable.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that accuracy is key when it comes to measuring any yard or garden space – so make sure to double-check your work and use the right tools for the job in order to get the most reliable results possible. With the right knowledge and preparation, you’ll be able to accurately measure any space with ease.
For more on this, or to learn about our discount tools or any of our other discount warehouse products for clients in SLC, Layton, Orem and nearby areas of Utah, speak to our team at NPS Store today!
