Simple Landscaping Tips Anyone Can Benefit From
The difference between a ho-hum yard and a stunning outdoor space, often boils down to good landscaping. However, there is much to learn and explore, prior to putting a shovel into the ground for the first time. Take the ideas and tips in this piece to heart, and you will soon be capable of designing an impressive exterior space for your home.
When investigating landscaping options for your property for the first time, consider what tasks you will need professionals to complete. Some specialized landscaping tasks require an arborist, landscape architect, or tree limber who can help you with specific landscaping tasks. Although this is more costly than doing it on your own, you have a better chance at a quality job.
Before purchasing or planting a given plant, ensure that you know its expected height and its growth rate. You may decide not to bother with that cute little shrub if you find out how quickly it can become an overgrown monster. Fast-growing plants may require more pruning and maintenance than you bargained for, so do your homework before you shop.
To get the most bang for your buck when purchasing plants for landscaping, look for pretty perennials. These varieties come back year after year, making them ideal for a low-maintenance landscape design. Irises, day lilies, tulips, pink dianthus, phlox and wild buckwheat are all great examples of flowering perennials that you can enjoy for multiple seasons.
Create a plan. Before you pick up a shovel, map everything out on paper. Your plan can range in complexity from a quick sketch to a highly detailed proposal. Be sure to include the features in your garden that you want to keep, and then make several copies of the plan. Use these copies to design a number of different options for your garden, including various types of beds and hard scape.
Before beginning a landscaping project, go to a home improvement or gardening store first to ensure you have the right equipment. Home Depot and other popular big box retailers not only carry everything you need, but also have knowledgeable staff who can provide advice and recommendations to help you on your next project.
When planning a landscaping project for your house, make sure that you are aware of the trending prices of different products. This is important to know, because you will find that some items vary greatly not only at different times of the year, but also, due to other factors, such as poor weather or natural disasters.
Use annuals to bring color to your project. Perennial flowers are wonderful but they have a short lifetime, usually only a few month. Fill your beds with annuals and they will stay colorful throughout the year. Use perennials to complement the color scheme you have already established with the annual flowers.
For anyone looking to begin a landscaping project, it is recommended you pick plants that have unique leaf textures. Sprinkling a few of these plants into your landscape can give you a dramatic and beautiful contrast. Be certain to plant them evenly in order to maximize their impact.
For flowers, or garden beds that you add to your landscape, go for a narrow approach. You will need to weed, and maintain these beds throughout the year. A thinner bed is easier to reach across, and requires less moving around. Remember, to keep them wide enough to prevent plants from overgrowing the boundaries of the bed too quickly.
Use walls and fences in your design. Select a nice fence that will go well with your design and paint it with a harmonious color. You can use walls to suspend plants or even to paint scenes of your creation. Your design will look more finished if you use your walls and fences.
Choose plants that will thrive in the planting environment. The best plants will be those that are native to the area. By using plants native to the area they will be properly adapted to the watering demands and temperatures. For example, if you live in a cooler climate and plant tropical plants, the plants will be harder to maintain, and it will be necessary to move those plants indoors in the winter.
At nighttime, if you want to show off your lawn, plants, and other aspects of your outdoor area, you may want to invest in landscape lighting. These lights can be placed above your walkway, your lawn, or sidewalk and they can be purchased at many home improvement stores in your area.
There is no substitute for good landscape design when it comes to creating a beautiful home. Because there is so much information available on the topic, it makes sense to spend the time necessary to find the ideas and concepts most relevant to your own specific needs. The guidance in this piece can be a perfect place to get started.