Landscaping Design Tips

Landscaping Tips

A beautiful yard is a treat to the eyes. Remember the four seasons and plant so each season has its own special design. Plants should have their own space in your yard.

• The front yard will look bigger if you plant flower beds on a diagonal from the far corner of the house.

• If you plant trees in front of the picture window your yard will look shortened.

• If there are large areas full of mature junipers, you can do topiary work on them and leave a decorative border.

• By planting broad-leaf evergreens and perennial beds, you will have all season decorative garden.

• Plant bright colored plants near your home and soft colored plants at a distance so there will be depth in the yard.

• Do not plant trees with huge root systems close to the house as it can cause a lot of damage to your home.

• Make sure you keep your lawn well fertilized and use moss killer.

Source: My family landscaped for 20 years.

By Bev from Chilliwack

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Finding Your Garden Design Style

Just like each gardener has his or her own personal design style, so does every garden. Some are prim and proper, while others are carefree and bohemian. Some have an energy that is soothing and calm. Others are bold and intense. When designing your garden, understanding your personal style can help you figure out what kind of garden will feel best to you. Here are some of the most common garden styles.

Cottage Gardens

If you're a freedom-loving romantic, than an informal garden where the plants take center stage and "anything goes" might be just your style. The traditional cottage garden features a wonderful mixture of "old-fashioned" plants that seem to spill out haphazardly in all directions. The plants are spaced closely together and allowed to self-seed to their heart's content and fill in the gaps.

One advantage to this type of garden is that closely spaced plants shade nearby soil and suppress the growth of weeds. Another is that heirloom varieties of plants, having survived virtually unchanged since being grown by our ancestors, remain resistant to bad weather, pests, and disease. These old-fashioned flowers are often highly fragrant, a trait that has been all but discarded by modern plant breeders in exchange for larger blooms.

Formal Gardens

If precision and order appeal to your sensibilities, a formal garden may be a good choice. Formal gardens tend to be neat and highly organized. The overall plan is based on symmetry, balance, and the use of repetitive patterns.

Design elements include well-defined pathways, geometric shapes, straight lines, and carefully positioned plants. Hedges, statuary, and large fountains are featured prominently, while the plants are often chosen more for their architectural qualities than their flower power. Formal gardens need constant care to maintain their tidy appearance.

Informal Gardens

Casual, comfortable, and low key are good ways to describe the design aesthetic of informal gardens. These gardens are versatile and flexible - and like the gardeners who tend to them, an ever-changing work in progress. Unlike the geometry and symmetry of formal gardens, informal gardens feature organic shapes, curved lines, and free-flowing beds consisting of a mix of native and exotic (non-native) trees, shrubs, and plants.

Design elements are arranged in irregular patterns throughout the space, and because they are largely a matter of personal taste, can be an eclectic mix of both modern and traditional design (with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure).

Modern Gardens

Modern gardens can be formal or informal in style, but they tend to minimalist in proportion. They typically feature simple, clean lines, stark geometric shapes (think grids, spheres and cylinders), and abstract forms. Planters, paths and focal points are created using contemporary building materials like concrete, steel, wire, and glass. Bold contrasts of color and texture are created through mass plantings of ornamental grasses, and relay heavily on architectural plants like bamboo, agave, and juniper.

Native Gardens

A native garden features species of wildflowers, trees, and plants that are native (or at least naturalized) to the region. Because native species are well-adapted to local growing conditions, they tend to require very little care. This is the perfect design style for the gardener who appreciates an informal, natural-looking landscape without the fuss of high-maintenance plants. The use of natural materials and organic growing methods is paramount to this style of gardening. The overall design is intended to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and provide food and shelter for native species of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Zen Gardens

Balance and harmony are the predominant features of a Zen Garden. All of the elements of the design should work together to create an overall sense of peace and serenity. Zen gardens may be formal or informal in style, but all contain Asian inspired design elements such as bridges, lanterns, and spiritual statuary.

A water element is another important feature of this garden style. It can be represented by a dry stream bed, a tumbling waterfall, a small fountain, or a large water feature such as a Koi Pond. Common building materials used to create Zen gardens include moss, river rocks, sand, and structures made from cast concrete, carved stone, or bamboo.

A few carefully selected trees or shrubs usually take the visual lead, based on their color, texture, and form. For example, the blossoms of azaleas and cherry trees make for striking specimens in the spring. The red leaves of the Japanese maple provide striking color in the fall. Supporting plants typically include hosta, irises, and a variety of ornamental grasses. The simplicity of this style of garden call out for meditation and quiet contemplation.

By Ellen Brown

Planning and Design Tips for Patios

Patios are becoming essential elements for todays backyards. Here are some design tips for creating the perfect outdoor space to use for summer dining and entertaining.

Choosing a Location

When choosing a location for your patio, its wise to consider several factors. Among the most important of them is how you will be using the space. Most patios are located as close to the house as possible and are used as an outdoor extension of indoor space. This makes the patio convenient to power sources for lights and other equipment necessary for entertaining.

Exposure - Another factor to consider is exposure to sun and wind. A warm, sheltered patio will offer you use both earlier and later in the season. If your desired site is exposed to wind, you can provide shelter (and privacy) by planting tall shrubs around the edges of your patio, or erecting trellises or panels made of lattice and covering them with quick-growing vines. A pergola roof will help screen out too much sun, but think twice before locating your patio under large trees. Not only will they cast a lot of shade, but trees continue to drip long after it rains, falling leaves are messy, and the roots may eventually heave and dislodge paved surfaces.

Determining size - The size of your patio should be in proportion to the rest of your landscapetoo small and it may look trivial; too large it will overpower the entire yard. A general rule is to allow approximately 3 x 3 feet per person, plus any additional space needed for a barbeque, potted plants, extra furniture, a fireplace, water feature, etc.

Choosing Surface Materials

When choosing a surface material, consider wear and tear and whether or a material will be slippery when its wet. The choices for materials are nearly endless and include such things as concrete, natural stone, tiles, bricks and pavers, composite decking and wooden planks. Concrete and stone pavers tend have an edge in terms of durability and maintenance, but they are more difficult to install and have a greater up-front cost than wood.

Simple is best - Use restraint when selecting surface materials for the patio. A single, natural colorperhaps with one or two accent colorswill look best. Too many colors may end up looking busy and distracting. Also keep in mind that artificially-colored pavers may weather and fade over time.

Smother weeds - If you decide to use wooden planks as your surface material, install a permeable landscape fabric underneath them first. This will offer additional protection against weeds, but without trapping moisture against the planks.

Grade for drainage - Make sure the grade of the patio slopes away from the house so that water can drain freely. A gradual slope of 1 inch for every 6 feet is usually sufficient.

Landscaping with Plants

Plant vertical layers - For the floor level, use containers and flower boxes. At eye level, use hanging baskets or pots set on tables. For additional height, train vines and climbing plants up a trellis or wall.

Keep walkways clear - Keep container plants out of high-traffic areas and away from doors and other access points where they may be tripped on or knocked over.

Minimize maintenance - Keep messy trees and shrubs as far away from your patio as possible. Certain fruits trees, like cherry, mulberry, and crabapple, can leave permanent stains on fabrics and hard surfaces when blossoms and fruits fall. Large trees can deposit needles and seed pods that constantly need to be swept up.

5 Steps to Creating A Landscaping Plan

Landscaping around your home can seem like a daunting project-especially if you're starting with a blank canvas. Whether you're building a new house, cleaning up after a storm, or planning a complete renovation of your existing landscape, sometimes the hardest is part about creating a plan is knowing where to start.

Step 1: Make an Idea List

Any large project is easy to accomplish if you take it one step at a time. The first step in creating a beautiful landscape is to develop a base plan. Start by putting pen to paper and jotting down a simple list of your preferred outdoor features. Have you always wanted a curved walkway, a gazebo, or BBQ pit? Do you want a pond, need a place for the kids to play, or need to fence in your yard for the dog? Do you hope to have a vegetable garden or plant fruit trees? Develop your list keeping in mind those ideas that can be accomplished now or your plans for the near future. A good rule of thumb is to start out simple (in both labor and maintenance) and progress as your time and budget allows.

Step 2: Create Your Base Plan

To create a base plan, you need to draw out your home and property features on a piece of paper. Features should include the placement of your house, your garage and driveway, property lines, overhead utilities, existing trees and plants, and any other important topographical features. Make sure you indicate directions, so you can consider sun exposure, wind patterns, etc. You can use plain paper or graphing paper, but don't worry about this being exactly to scale.

Step 3: Create Your Major Landscape Areas Diagram

Most home landscapes consist of three major sections: a public area, a private area, and a service area. The public area is usually the area in the front of the house that is visible from the street. Ideally, this part of your landscaping will blend seamlessly in with other homes in your neighborhood. The private area is your outdoor living area. This is where you and your family are likely to spend most of your time. The service area is usually located on the side or rear of your property. This may be near an alley where your garbage cans are stored or storage sheds are located. Areas may overlap or have multiple uses. To create this diagram, lay a piece of tracing paper on top of your Base Plan and draw an outline around your three major landscape areas.

Step 4: Create Your Final Plan

Don't think of this as your final Final Plan, but rather your Final Plan that is subject to change as your desires and budget change. Use a second piece of tracing paper to lay on top of your Base Plan and Landscape Area diagrams. On this piece of paper, draw desired elements from your Idea List in the appropriate areas. At this stage, you may want to play around with several layouts. You may also find that some of the elements from your Idea List may not work after all. As you experiment, consider convenience, maintenance, and accessibility.

Step 5: Executing Your Plan

Once you have your final plan, it is time to execute it. If you plan to add trees, remember that shade trees take longer to mature so it's best to plant them before you worry about shrubs and perennials. Next, consider your public area. An attractive walkway and foundation plantings consisting of shrubs and perennial plants will bring a warm and inviting feeling to the entry of your home.

More Tips:

• Framing your house with shade trees can also save you energy. Plant trees where they will be most effective in providing winter windbreaks and summer shade-usually the north or northeast (windbreak), or south or southwest (shade) corners of the house.
• Avoid planting trees directly in front of your house. Frame it with trees, don't hide it. Remember, the front door is the focal point of your public area.
• Factor in overhead power lines when planting trees or creating play areas for children.
• Screens, fences, or hedges are a wonderful way to keep less attractive areas like the service area hidden.
• Creating borders of plants will leave uninterrupted space in the lawn and make it easier to mow.
• Select trees and plants for year-round interest.
• Don't forget to plan for future occupants. Children, handicap accessibility and future property owners should all be taken into consideration.

By Ellen Brown

Landscape Design Tips

Formulating a landscape design plan can be an overwhelming prospect. The goal is to develop an attractive, cohesive plan that fits your needs, without overwhelming (or under-whelming) your home. Here are some tips for getting started, broken down into six easy steps.

Step 1: Inventory Your Site

The first rule of landscape design is to inventory what you have before trying to figure out to what to do with it. This requires careful observation and a methodical march around your property (notebook in hand) to get an overall lay of the land. While doing so, pay attention to the following:

• Locations of buildings and other structures.
• Locations of large trees and bushes.
• Views, including seasonal.
• Locations of the small, but important, details that you expect to remain fixed (fences, paths, planting beds, wells and septic systems).
• Site conditions-prevailing winds; sunny and shady spots.
• The site's topography, including ponds, slopes, uneven grades, and dry and damp areas.

If you've just moved into a new or neglected property, take it slow. Give yourself time to get acquainted with the existing landscape by living with it through all four seasons before taking action.

Step 2: Identify Potential Problems

As you inventory your site, keep track of potential problems. This could be anything from an excessively damp area, to a dying tree or an obstructed view. Now think about how features in the existing landscape tie together. In other words, which features "feel" good together? Which features don't seem to "fit'? What features are missing and what potential problems exists that may prevent you from adding them? Spend some time thinking about and gaining a thorough understanding of existing problems and how they might be solved.

Step 3: Decide What You Want

Part of your landscape design should satisfy your practical needs-a place to park the car, a path to get from here to there, protection from howling winds. The rest of your design needs to satisfy your aesthetics-pretty flowers, dramatic views, a welcoming space for entertaining. At this stage in the development of your plan, you need to sit down and decide what you want. Start by breaking your landscape down into three distinctive parts: public spaces (front yard, driveway), private spaces (patio, swimming pool), and utility spaces (garbage, electrical box, firewood). Now list what you want and need within each space. A good way to generate ideas is to look through books on landscape design. Do you want the look of a dramatic sprawling estate or would you prefer several small, manageable outdoor spaces? Your goal is to create a design that creates a smooth transition between the "built" and the "natural" by combining plants and structural elements.

Step 4: Look at the Whole Picture

As you start to loosely develop your plan, take a step back to make sure you haven't overlooked any large-scale features that might affect the design of the smaller areas. Try to separate the big problems from the little ones, and practical requirements from the aesthetic ones. For now, don't get hung up on small elements and minor details like what type of flower should go where, just focus on the basic overall plan. Continue to step back and reassess things as you go along. Expect this initial planning stage to take a while and remember to keep your plans flexible so they can change and evolve with along with your ideas.

Step 5: Develop Smaller Parts of the Whole

Once you've sorted out most of the big elements of your overall design, you can begin developing plans for smaller areas. The approach to this is the same, just on smaller scale-what do you have, what do you want, what are the problems and solutions. Most importantly, your decisions can now be informed by the overall plans for the rest of your property. An Easy Technique for Developing Your Design: Computer software and landscaping kits for do-it-yourselfers can usually be found in the garden section of bookstores, but a simpler (and often less expensive) way to develop your landscape design is to experiment with photos and transparent overlays. This technique works especially well for designing the large pieces of the landscape, such as border shapes and structures, rather than for laying out the details. To get started, take photos of the areas you plan to design and have 8 x 10 prints made (Black and white prints are easiest to work with). Shoot each area from several different vantage points. Buy a package of transparency paper (acetate sheets) and a few different dry-erase markers or colored grease pencils from a local office supply store. Tape a piece of acetate to the photo and start to sketch. Start with large-scale elements first, like walking paths and arbors, and then use another overlay to fill in the areas around them with trees and plants. Don't worry about making mistakes. You can always erase and start over. Once you get the hang of it, have fun and see what works for you!

Step 6: Take it in Stages

When it's time for the actual construction process to begin, one way to avoid overwhelming yourself is to take things in stages. If you're taking on large projects that require a lot of excavating, you'll save money if the contractor you hire can bring in all the heavy equipment only once. Otherwise, start with projects near the house first (or other areas you're likely to use often) and work your way out to the property edges.

By Ellen Brown