Are you tired of closing the drapes because looking at your yard depresses you? While many people give up on their landscaping and just pray it fixes itself, that strategy tends to fail. Instead, pick up your trowel and get ready to renovate your yard with a few simple ideas like those you’ll find below.
When planning a landscaping project, concentrate on native plants. When you are landscaping your garden, try to use shrubs, flowers and tress that are in your local neighborhood. These plants will be ready to grow in your particular climate, whether you have hard soil, less rain or extreme weather fluctuations.
When planning a landscaping project for your home, be sure that you try to completely estimate all of the costs involved. This is critical. Not only do you want to make sure that you are not stuck on a project that you cannot finish, but you also will be able to plan out what materials you need before going to the store.
Do not settle for a cheap design such as a patio or a deck if you are not going to use it. It might be worth it to pay a professional designer to help you create the kind of space and design you will use and enjoy throughout different seasons.
Think about whether or not you need to have a design for your project. It might cost less money to create a deck that is in a rectangular shape, but if you do not like the end result, you probably won’t use the space. Spending a bit of money to hire a designer could help you get exactly what you want.
Add some paving stones to your landscaping project, to create walkways. This can help to keep people off of your lawn, and it adds beauty to your property. You can line the walkways with some native flowers, to increase the beauty, and further enhance the appearance of your entire property.
Try to make sure that the height of your lawn is always between 2 and a half to 3 inches. Having your grass at this height will help protect it from sun and heat damage. Also, at this height, moisture will not evaporate as much as it would if it were taller.
As you mow, let some of the grass clippings stay wherever they fell. As the clippings decompose, they provide your lawn with nutrients, which means that you can apply less fertilizer.
Plant with an eye towards keeping your landscape beautiful all year round. Use plants that are showy at different times of year, such as spring bulbs, summer flowers, and trees with fall and winter color. Learning more about the different plants available is what makes a beautiful year-round display possible.
When planning out your landscape design, carefully consider the colors of the flowers, trees and grasses that you intend to use. You may discover that limiting your palette to only one or two colors has the greatest visual impact. Choosing too many contrasting colors may make your landscaping appear disheveled and wild.
If your landscape includes a waterfall or pond, it is important you surround these areas with decorative stones and flowers that will not cover up the design of your structure. Make sure that any water items you have are complimented nicely so that it doesn’t take away from their natural appeal.
In order to create a successful landscape design, it is necessary to assess the different zones of sunlight in your yard. By understanding which areas receive full, partial or no sun during the day, you will be able to select the plants most likely to thrive in your specific outdoor space.
If you live in an arid region with minimal rainfall, consider xeriscaping as an alternative to traditional landscaping. Xeriscaping relies on hardy desert plants for color and interest and replaces water-hungry grass lawns with attractive rock beds. A well-designed xeriscape can not only add visual distinction to your home, it can also save you a great deal on your water bill.
When planning your landscape, make sure every plant has enough room to grow. When you buy your plants, find out how much they are going to grow. And even if you keep trimming your plants, remember that their root system will expand under the ground. Ask for advice when you buy a plant.
Create a winding walkway or a perfect patio using large paving stones. Set them in the ground so their tops are flush with the soil, and allow the grass to spring up between them for a simple, minimalist look that you can mow right over. Pavers are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, so you can mix and match them as you please.
If you considered necessary, talk to a professional. If you have very ambitious plans but not a lot of experience, it is worth hiring the services of a landscape gardener. While it may be a little costly, it could save you money in the long run, in terms of correct plant selection and design.
Landscape design software is an excellent tool for anyone who needs visual aids to get a true idea of what works best. These programs allow you to enter measurements and maps that reflect your working space. This allows you to plan the boundaries of flowerbeds, visualize spacing and choose the optimal layout for your project.
Now that you know how others are fixing their yard dilemmas, you’ll be ready to tackle your own in no time at all. It just takes a few simple steps to really fix the problems and create new, better-looking elements, so that you can look out the window and smile at every day. Be sure that you make time today so that you can enjoy your yard tomorrow.
