While some travel budgets are being converted this year to renovation budgets, others are considering giving their yard a makeover, in order to create an outdoor oasis at home.

Jodie Mantei, Prairie Sky Coop's Home Centre Division Manager, said some people may be DIY savvy, whether through experience or having just loaded up this past 13 months on landscaping shows, many people don't know where to begin.

"We've got a yard full of landscaping blocks, and patio stones, and different styles of fire pits you can put in your back yard. The options are endless, but once we start showing you stuff, it's going to jump out, and you're going to get a feel for what you're interested in pretty quickly," he said.

If you've been looking forward to making some landscaping changes to your property this year, and you're less experienced, maybe you've been wondering if you should bother with things like landscaping fabric, or fancy allan blocks.

There's one key, he said, to making sure you don't waste your precious time, energy, or your money. Mantei said it's best to do your research, and don't be afraid to pick the brains of he and his staff at the Home Centre, to ensure you do it right the first time.

"It's never really a good idea to cut corners when you start out, it's best to do your research or talk to somebody who can help you get started and pointed in the right direction, so that you don't miss a crucial step that you're going to have to go back and correct later and redo some of your work."

"It ends up costing you more money in the end if you don't just do it right in the first place."

Mantei said it's always best to start with the basics, and let it grow from there into what best suits your yard.

"Start with the lawn edging, to the landscaping, maybe underground sprinklers, and, the next thing you know, you're maybe planning out some raised beds with stacked stone around, or you're building a fancy fire pit in the back yard, spreading rubber mulch," he described.

Whatever your plans are, the aces are in their places, and there is no shortage of opportunity to learn more about making your yard a vacation spot of your very own.