Landscaping: Does Your Yard Need It?

Landscaping is more than just planting flowers in your front yard and having a flower garden in your backyard. Landscaping enhances an area such as your garden, your front yard, your backyard, your deck, and your pool area.

Your landscaping design should take into consideration your lifestyle and tastes and those of your family. Do you and/or your family relax in your backyard? Do you entertain in that area?

Think about your front yard. When you look out your living room window or open your front door, does the yard appeal to you? Is it warm and welcoming?

When you think about how your yard could be enhanced, look at it in the same way as you would the interior of your house. You take care in the coordination of colors, form, textures, and style when you decorate each room. The same consideration should be given to the outside of your home. Your front yard is a welcoming place for your guests and can be set up as an outdoor room. Your backyard is a relaxing area for the family to gather to relax, play games, or have meals. It is an outdoor room which is an extension of your home.

You should feel as good when you are outside as you do when you are inside. To achieve that feeling of warmth and comfort, you have to pay attention to details and plan your landscaping design.

Landscaping is a big project which consumes time and energy. You can do it yourself if you have the time or energy to do the work. If you do not have the time or if you can not do the work, you can hire a landscape architect to design your yard for you.

Landscaping your yard will not only give you the beautiful outdoor space you desire, it will make your yard the envy of the neighborhood.

Collect Landscape Ideas

If you have decided that your home needs landscaping, you should start collecting ideas. You can do this by walking through your neighborhood and looking at the landscape of other homes. Make a note of what appeals to you.

  • Look at the trees and how they are arranged in the yard.
  • Are there flowers around the trees? Does this appeal to you?
  • Are there bushes or shrubs under the windows or along the fence line?
  • Is there a pathway to the front door? What material is used for the walkway?

Ask your neighbor about their backyard. If their front yard is landscaped, they may have landscaped the back. Or, maybe you have been invited to a barbecue at their home which was held in the backyard. Make a note of how the yard was landscaped.

If you like the idea of flowers in a circle around your trees, find out which flowers grow in shaded areas. Some people like to have bushes or shrubs in their landscape design. Remember that these have to be pruned at certain times of the year so they do not become overgrown and shapely.

If you are a serious gardener, you will already be aware of the climate in your area and know what types of plants, flowers, trees, and bushes will grow during the various seasons. When you landscape your yard, you want its beauty to shine no matter the season.

While collecting ideas and making notes, you may want to look through magazines and books to get ideas. Another way of collecting ideas for landscaping your property is to search the Internet. Many of the home improvement shows have web sites and they feature landscaped yards. You can also spend some time watching a home improvement show on television which features landscaping. You will see some of the problems encountered in various types of yards. One of them may be similar to your own. This will also help you to decide if you need to ask the advice of a professional landscape architect.

Decorative Ideas – Water Garden Fountains

It is very important to have a good time in your own home, in your own courtyard, and in your own garden. This is why people think of decorating the environment they spend their time in the best way possible.

These days when it comes to garden decorating, more and more people go for water garden fountains. They build up little water and green corners of paradise in order to relax on a quiet Sunday or a warm night. They want their home and the surrounding landscape to match.

If we think about fountains, the history of fountains starts in ancient times in the Middle East. Diagrams on tombs showed that such fountains were used in homes. The first designs were given a Persian touch. This is where the idea of an enclosure came, inducing the idea of heaven. With the Romans, water features were accompanied by the idea of public baths, both aspects the Romans really cared for.

When it comes to natural fountains and their impact on people it is based on their perceptions and it is understandable. The human body is 75% water and water covers about 2/3 of the earth’s surface. Also, water as a symbol can be found in all arts and mythologies, which brings it closer to its decorative purpose. Of course, we cannot forget the trade functions it has and its political and economic influences.

Having your own water garden fountain is not such a difficult thing to do and more and more interesting designs are conceived every day. It only takes some money, creativity and one or more licensed plumbers and you are on the right track. For example, you can create a water garden fountain centered on a glazed ceramic planter. This can be quite a spectacular water fountain. You can create this type of fountain inexpensively, but there are also a number of more complex designs and projects, which will bring the cost up.

Creativity requires not only the design but how the pipes are laid out. One example is a fountain which has a central pipe for the plumbing and pipes on the side which are decorative. One of the most recommended systems is PEX plumbing. PEX is perfect for water plumbing because it is flexible, resistant to both low and high temperatures and to the different chemicals in the plumbing environment. Also, these systems don’t have a large number of joints and are quite cheap to install.

Installing your own water fountain is not difficult, depending on the design and parts. If you envision a complex design for your water garden fountain, it is worth the effort and expense. A water garden fountain adds class to your outdoor space and provides a serene and comfortable atmosphere. 

How to Choose a Landscape Contractor

Your backyard needs a lot of work. You do not have the time to do it yourself and you have decided to hire a landscape contractor. You want to choose a company that is reliable and trustworthy and has experience in various types of landscaping. If there is a yard in your neighborhood you admire which was created by a landscape contractor, ask your neighbor for a reference.

You can also find landscape contractors in your Yellow Pages and on the Internet. You should find out how long the contractor has been in business. You also want to know the size of the company. If you have a large project and a time schedule, you want to make sure it can be completed on time. If the landscape contractor has a small company, you want to know how many jobs they are currently working on and how many are waiting.

A small landscape contractor can do as a good a job as a large one if they have the experience. There may be a problem if you have a project timeline and the small company does not have enough workers to start your job or work on it on a daily basis to meet your timeline.

Most landscape contractors will offer a free estimate for your job. This gives you an opportunity to meet them and ask them questions. You may be able to get them to show you some of their previous work. Some will have a portfolio of pictures of the work they have done.

If you have particular problem areas in your yard such as drainage or too little shade, make a list and ask the contractor how those can be handled. You should also let them know if there are structures you want to add to your yard such as a patio. If they can not do the work themselves, they usually have a subcontractor they work with to do masonry or carpentry work. You can specify the amount you want to spend and ask what can be done within those budget limitations.

Once you have selected your landscape contractor, they will create a design for your yard. You can include both your front yard and your backyard. You can also ask for separate estimates for each. Your budget may only allow you to do one yard at a time.

Landscape contractors are usually landscape architects. They have experience in creating beautiful yards using color and texture. They can make hills and slopes flow naturally as a part of your yard.

If you do not have the time or the energy to landscape your yard, find a good landscape contractor and you will not regret it. Note of caution: There are always budget overruns on large projects so keep your budget in mind when reviewing the design and making purchases.

Enjoy your new yard!

Using Stones in your Landscape

When you design the landscape for your yard, you want it to look natural and to be ascetically pleasing. Layering the landscape in your yard will give it this beauty. One way to achieve this is through the use of stone in your landscape. In this article, when I use the word stone I am including rocks and boulders, natural or man-made.

Landscaping stones give your yard depth. The stones can be used to accent a portion of your yard. You can also plant flowers around these stones to add color. Landscaping stones also come in various colors. The natural ones are warm beiges with hints of red and sometimes yellow. Man-made stones come in various colors. Colored stones in winter can make your yard feel warm.

Landscaping stones come in various shapes and sizes. You will want to choose ones that provide the best accent and decorative element for the look you are trying to achieve. You may use different sizes in different areas of your yard.

Natural rocks add depth and texture to your landscape design. They should be added to your yard so they look natural and not placed. Just as with the flowers you plant in your garden areas, you want the stones and rocks you use to create balance and symmetry in your yard.

To create a natural and interesting effect, you should consider digging a hole where the stone will be placed. This will not look as if it was just dumped in that area.

Landscaping stones can make an area look natural and inviting. Planting flowers or a ground cover around them will make them look as if they were meant to be there.

Landscaping Guide: Using Software Programs

You have great ideas for your landscape design. In your mind’s eye, you can see how your plan will enhance the beauty of your property. But, are you really sure?

If you want to visually see the ideas you have, you may want to buy landscape software. You may know what plants, flowers, or trees and other decorative elements you want to use. How will they look when you put them in place? Will you be satisfied with the desired effect?

There are many landscape software programs on the market. They range in price from free to thousands of dollars. The software programs differ in the functions they offer. Some allow you to create a design based on climate factors in your area. Some are limited to simple designs and you may not be able to create the visual image you are looking for.

The more expensive software packages are for professional landscape architects. They offer more functions and will show you your exact design and how your property will look.

There is a learning curve with this type of software. The software comes with instructions and may be easy to use, but you still will have to take the time to select, size, and plant the items on your list. Most of the software programs, even the inexpensive ones, feature three-dimensional viewing. This allows you to rotate the view so you can see how your design will look from different angles. There may also be an overhead view so that you can see how your colors will look together.

Software programs for the construction of outdoor decks and patios may also feature what you need for landscaping. These will include plans for plumbing and electrical work. So, if your landscape project includes adding an outdoor room, you may want to consider this type of software.

You should try to get a demo of the software before you purchase it. You can try out the program to see if the results are what you need to help you with your project. The graphics included in the program should be easy to see and be clear. You should try to make sure the graphics are in color so you can see what your final design will look like in full color. Getting a demo version of the various programs you have on your list will allow you to compare the features of each along with the price.

If you can not find a software program that meets your needs and is within your budget, you may want to use a drawing program that came with your computer.

Whether you use a software program to design your garden, or you do it by hand, or if you use a drawing program that came with your computer, the idea is to try to get the best visual for the design you have in mind.

Basic Landscape Designs

When you look out your front door or your back door and see that the view is not the one you desire, you may decide to embark on a landscaping project. Landscaping projects can be time consuming and will take a lot of energy.

There are basically six types of landscape designs you can consider.

Formal: A formal landscape design uses a lot of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Plants are positioned in an orderly arrangement. In this style of landscaped garden, the plants are arranged close together and are pruned periodically so they can remain orderly.

Informal:  An informal garden has plants arranged randomly. Beds have curved edges instead of straight lines. This kind of landscaping is good for cottages.

English Garden: The architecture and the garden harmonize with the style of the home.

Formal/Informal Garden: Plants are arranged to resemble the English Garden style but there are no formal borders. There is usually a brick walkway, which is formal, and leads to the rear with a circle of plants.

Oriental: The Oriental Garden is usually found in small backyards. The landscape elements are usually rocks, evergreens, and water. There are a wide variety of plants that can be used to create this style.

Woodland: This type of landscape design fits a house with sloping grounds and has a woodland area in the backyard.

Before you decide on a landscape design, spend some time thinking about exactly how you want your landscaped property to look. Walk around your property. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you want to add play areas for your children?
  • Do you plan to add an outdoor room such as a deck or patio?
  • Will you be doing a lot of entertaining?
  • Do you plan to add a fishpond or other water feature?
  • Do you plan to add a swimming pool or Jacuzzi?
  • What is the style of your home?
  • Do you want your home to be formal, informal, or cozy?
  • Do you want the interior of your home to blend with the outside of your home? For example, if your interior furnishings are Asian, you may want the same look and feel for the outside of your home.

You should also consider whether you want to hire a professional landscape architect to design your plan. This will be an up-front cost for you. If you have sloping areas in your yard or a woodland area, consulting a professional may save you money. If there are no problems with your property, you can design the space yourself using plans found on the Internet, magazines, or in landscape books.

The style of your home is a big consideration in the design of your landscape. Also you should take into consideration your lifestyle. If you are going to tend your plants, flowers, and trees and you spend a lot time away from home, you will want to make sure that your design is easy to care for.

You want to have the best landscape design for your property. If that means hiring a professional, you should do so. If you can create the design and intend to take care of your newly landscaped area, you should create a design that will make it easy for you to maintain.