If you have an interest in improving the landscaping that surrounds your home but you are at a loss for knowing just where to start, then you can easily find numerous inspiring examples. It could be as simple as driving around a neighborhood you like and stopping to take a picture of a landscape design that appeals to you. You might even knock on the door and see if the owners will tell you if they used professional or did it themselves.
You can also get many ideas from the numerous books and magazines that are published on the topic of landscapes and design. And, these days there are many resources available online for designing and embellishing the landscape around your home. Many of these websites even offer sample landscape design plans, pictures of various ideas, tips from the experts for do-it-yourselfers, and contact information for professional landscape designers in your area.
Sun decks and garden patios are popular elements featured in landscaping plans. They are very popular because they not only create a wonderful focal point for a landscape design, but they provide additional space and functionality to the home.
Patios and decks give you a wonderful place to host family gatherings and other types of entertainment. At the same time, a small patio can be added to a special garden area to create a place to get away to relax and be refreshed by the beauty of the natural surroundings. Adding decks and patios, or making improvements to existing ones, is also a great way to add value to your home and increase your equity.
More and more often, fountains are becoming features of home and garden landscaping. There are the traditional, multi-tiered fountains that are reminiscent of country estates and European villas and which can bring old world charm to your surroundings. There are also the more modern fountains that utilize unique rocks and stones or huge ceramic pots which are becoming very popular in some types of landscape architecture. Of course there are many other beautiful and creative styles available to meet any taste and style.
Rock gardens are becoming quite popular as well. These have the benefit of being very attractive, but they generally incorporate very few, if any, plants. This makes them very low maintenance as they require either no watering, or very little, virtually no weeding, and in general need almost no attention, except to sit back and admire how your rock garden adds to your overall landscape design.
Emulating an English cottage garden is another popular inspiration for many home and garden settings. Such gardens are particularly noted for their overall lack of a formal plan. There is very little rigidity in design with English cottage gardens because the whole concept behind them is to let the plants "just grow" and develop in a more natural, or organic, way. These gardens have a certain special charm to them and often make people feel more relaxed and embraced by nature.
Lush green lawns are probably the most common and largest element of the majority of landscaping design plans. A beautiful lawn is popular because it gives the homeowners a place where the family can enjoy many different activities. Lawns are also one of the easiest of landscape elements to take care of and they stay beautiful for many years with simple maintenance routines.
No building is complete without some grass, a few plants and some shrubbery to help enhance the quality of the building. The enhanced curb appeal as well as the added value can make the final difference when selling a home or adding to the over all value of the house. Any small amounts help and you don't have to always use a professional to complete the landscaping for you. There is no downside to get some advice from professionals or some knowledge prior to you beginning tearing up your front yard. A few trees, some nice green grass and you will have it down pat before you know it. Who knows? Maybe you will consider it as a career that you might be interested in following. The following are some of the frequently asked question people have for landscaping so that you can have an idea of how landscaping is done and how it can be easier than you might think.
What is landscaping?
Landscaping is any alteration to the land. It can be through a variety of means. It might be through the use of plant life. It could be through the use of fauna. There are different methods of landscaping and the kinds of landscaping used many times are dependent on what type of climate the area is located. Landscaping also refers to natural structures and manmade structures such as terraces, decks, platforms and seating areas. Ponds and waterfalls can be natural or manmade depending on the terrain. So that you can save money numerous people choose to take advantage of as many of the natural features of the area as possible.
If I decide to landscape my home myself, what are some designs and ideas to help me?
There are numerous software programs that are on the market at present that can assist you design your own landscape. You will have to input the shape of your yard and then pick from the kind of terrain and environmental condition you live in. The software can provide you with the recommended plants as well as shrubbery that is best suited for your yard. If you wish to have manmade terrains or structures, you will want to consult a carpenter for ideas or a do-it-yourself website on the internet for instructions.
How do I decide which type to plant?
The kind of plant you select will depend on your environmental condition and how much you want to water. It will also depend on how much sun your yard gets throughout the day. Some plants thrive in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who live in areas that are prone to drought, they should consider planting plants that are hardy which require small amounts of water and actually help to maintain the soil from erosion. Many individuals elect to have rock gardens as well as cactus if they happen to live in desert climates.
When is the ideal planting season?
The ideal planting season depends on what type of plant you wish to grow. The best time to plany bulbs is in the fall so that they have the necessary time to root within the soil. Other plants are best suited to planting during the spring months. There are some plants will not produce flowers or fruits for one or two seasons later so you need to prepare for this. Trees will need to go through several years before they become big enough to provide adequate shade or to create fruit.
Will it increase the value and curb appeal of my home?
A well designed and a great looking lawn can provide excellent curb appeal as well as higher value to your home. It will make the features of your home stand out and if you are looking to sell your home, it is one of the first details that potential buyers will notice. There is nothing quite like a well manicured lawn and carefully trimmed hedges that add immense immediate value to a property.
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