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Tips on Landscaping
Landscaping efforts can not only turn a mundane-looking yard into an impressive landscaping design but can also increase the property market value of the home, and beautify the neighborhood, as well. Professional landscape services can work magic for a yard but even so, motivated homeowners with modest do-it-yourself skills can effectively improve their yards.
To be practical, have a well formulated landscaping design plan before digging into the ground or purchasing plants. Know what it is you want to achieve. You will not only want to improve your yard's appearance but its functionality, as well.
To ensure home landscape design success, follow these tips:
- Decide what your unique needs and priorities are. Do you want to add a theme garden; perhaps a botanical garden, or a herb garden? Accentuate the front yard only, or incorporate a vegetable garden into your backyard landscaping design? Add a patio for relaxation and entertainment purposes; level-off the ground, or not?
- Take a critical look at your property and its curb appeal. Are there drainage or erosion problems to correct? Do you need more shade, or more sun? Or does plant growth require thinning because it is too dense?
- What elements already exist in the yard, such as trees and other plants, gardens, etc? What will be removed, what will be kept, what needs to be added?
- What about the size of your home? A small house will be overpowered by large trees and too many bushes; a large house will appear bare without them.
- Consider the style of your house. You will want your landscaping idea to compliment your style home. An adobe house, for instance would look great with a desert plant theme landscape. Not so with a colonial style home.
- What about your climate? Some plant varieties will thrive in certain zones, while others will not. Native garden plant varieties and the use of Canadian natural resource elements whenever possible is a good idea.
- How much sunlight does your yard get? Some plant varieties thrive best in full sun; some in full or partial shade. Variegated plant choices, for instance, will do best in shady areas of the yard.
What features in your yard do you want to highlight or use as focal points? For instance, rock formations, a stream, or a stand of trees. Also, what areas do you want downplayed or hidden such as telephone poles, trash receptacles, rocky soil, or an unsightly view of adjoining properties.
Other Considerations
Only after you've take into account all of the above are you ready to begin making formal plans. Before you start, however, consider incorporating one or more of the following into your landscaping design:
- If you like to spend time outside by yourself, as a family, or while entertaining friends - consider a patio landscape design. If not, what about adding a deck or recreation area into your backyard landscape plan? In the very least, you'll want to include shade for outside activities using trees, an awning, gazebo, or another source.
- Take a look around your neighborhood. What aspects of landscape design could you incorporate into your own?
- If your yard is open, you might want to incorporate some type of protective barrier into your plans. A fence, hedge, or clump of bushy shrubs offers protection from high winds and helps block noise made by traffic and neighbours while increasing privacy.
- When it comes to landscaping focal points - consider using bird baths, benches, sculptures, fountains, or other landscape art. Or what about a theme garden, such as a wildlife or butterfly garden?
- Consider landscape lighting when making plans; not only for the dramatic effect and aesthetic appeal, but also for increased home security.
From http://www.handycanadian.com/articles-landscaping.asp
June 9, 2009
