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If you aren’t quite ready to do a total overhaul of your property but are looking to do more than the basics, a variety of approaches to gardening and landscaping are available. Mid-level projects go a step beyond basic maintenance and yard clean-up, and may even permanently enhance the property. Medium-size projects — like refurbishing plant beds, doing some plantings, and trimming shrubs and hedges — require a bit more skill than mowing and other maintenance basics. Motivated do-it-yourselfers may successfully tackle such tasks.
Gardeners in hilly areas may face challenges when they try to landscape their front lawns and other areas that are not level. Young and small plants can literally wash away during heavy rains or irrigation, causing erosion. The goal of landscaping hilly front lawns should be to stabilize the soil, as well as to plant trees and other plants that help to bind the soil with their roots.
You rely on the stately oak in your yard to provide beautiful foliage in the fall. Squirrels and other creatures rely on its acorns for nourishment, and its broad leaves provide shade for all from the scorching summer sun. Enhance your oak tree's beauty with carefully placed lighting and transform it from the mere holder of a tire swing to a focal point in your yard.
Bamboo is an elegant, graceful plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions. Unfortunately, bamboo has a bad reputation, which is often deserved. A running bamboo plant spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes, eventually overtaking everything in its path. Clumping bamboo is a different type of bamboo. It grows from short rhizomes and expands slowly. Clumping bamboo's tendency to behave and remain where it's planted makes it a useful plant in many different landscape scenarios.
Generations ago, an outdoor fireplace allowed you to cook meals without adding heat to the inside of the house in summer. Today, outdoor fireplaces are mainly a leisure luxury item in back yards. They are a focal point and an area to congregate during social events when the outside temperatures are chilly or brisk. A roaring fire adds much to a fall or winter event for ambience, even if no one is huddled near it to stay warm.
Adding landscaping between a fence and driveway brings beauty to the area. Whether you have a small or large area to work with, a few options are available to incorporate color and design. Aside from the beauty, carefully designed landscapes can also increase the value of your home. Select a few landscaping ideas that fit your taste and the style of your home.
Landscaping a high, sloping berm challenges even experienced gardeners. Not only do these sites tend to have their own microclimates -- created by shaded northern or eastern exposures or sunny, hot southern or western exposures -- slopes are physically difficult to maintain and often experience erosion. Choosing appropriate landscaping plants for slopes decreases maintenance, reduces erosion and creates less physical strain for the gardeners charged with caring for the landscape. Select plants that thrive in your region’s U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone.
Ivy spreads by sending out trailing vines. The vines have suckers that root in soil or grasp and climb up trellises, trees and buildings. Most ivy varieties prefer moist, shady locations so they can provide a suitable groundcover on shaded hillsides. The plants quickly cover the hill, which helps minimize erosion because the roots hold the soil in place on the slope. Ivies are evergreen vines, so they remain attractive regardless of the season.
It's not always possible to maintain a beautiful lawn. Grass not only requires regular watering but plenty of sunlight. Tall leafy trees can make a lawn difficult to keep lush and green. Thinning the branches or removing some of the trees completely may remedy a sparse yard. However, there are alternatives to grass when planting in the shade. Several varieties of foliage don't require constant sunshine, yet are as lush and attractive as a traditional lawn.
When you approach your home after work, errands or being away on holiday, you'll appreciate the welcome found in a carefully designed landscape. Beauty can be simple or elegant and will depend on your own preferences -- whether you want beds of colorful flowers or a patchwork lawn. The U-shaped driveway offers many opportunities, so consider the overall effect and how to blend it with the remainder of your yard.
Pouring your own concrete landscaping borders makes sense if you want an unusual color or unique design or texture. Making your own landscaping borders may even make sense financially, particularly if you have a very small yard or want to border a small area only. A variety of commercial molds are available to create garden borders, stepping stones and pavers that feature artistic embossed designs. Adventuresome do-it-yourselfers might experiment with silicone or resin mixtures to design sophisticated concrete molds. But almost anyone can make a simple border mold from pieces of scrap wood and screws.
Succulents provide gardens and yards with contrast in aesthetics since they have different appearances than other types of plants and require minimal maintenance. Succulent plants store water in their fleshy leaves, making them adaptable to dry and hot environments. Some succulents are less than 2 to 3 feet, allowing gardeners to place them in small side yards. Make sure the side yard has good soil drainage and access to full sun exposure.
If you're ready to give the side or main entrance of your home or business a makeover, there are many landscaping ideas from which you can draw inspiration. Landscaping the area around the front or side entrances will make them inviting while projecting a little bit of your personal style to your neighbors and other onlookers.
A large backyard garden can slowly grow out of control, producing an unappealing appearance. Some gardening enthusiasts divide spaces within a garden by constructing small fences, such as picket wood. However, small fences may not appeal to all gardeners. Border hedges offer a natural barrier between gardening areas, generating a natural appearance for the overall landscape.
Large square front yards provide plenty of flexibility and space to showcase rows of trees, blooming flowers and ornamental hedges. The large square shape frames the house and provides a traditional, panoramic view of your plants as you walk up to your front door. You can work with the outer square shape of the yard or create additional dimensions within a square yard.
Tree roots are structured to take advantage of water and nutrient availability and provide anchorage for the tree. Typically, most of any tree's roots, which can extend several feet beyond the tree's canopy, are within several inches to 2 feet underground. This shallow, widespread structure of tree roots requires careful landscaping under trees to avoid interfering with the roots' function and to preserve the health of the tree.
Some property owners are content with a lush carpet of lawn covering every square inch of the lot. While not visually interesting or biologically diverse, it's a viable landscaping option. At the property line, where a corner section of lawn forms, various utility boxes, poles or unpleasant views to adjacent properties may arise. Adding visual interest to a corner lot of the lawn can block ugly views as well as frame pleasant ones, such as to a nearby lake or distant mountain range.
With a little planning and minimum tools, you can build a simple desk yourself at a low cost. The desktop can be made from various materials, such as doors, tabletops or plywood. Consider what you will be using the desk for when deciding on materials to support the desktop. Stair posts can make decorative legs, and filing cabinets or bookshelves can add functionality to the desk while saving space.
Erecting a fence provides an instant enclosure or boundary marker on a property, unlike planting a hedge and waiting for it to grow in. Depending on budget, fence style or material, the fence may look stark and visually hard standing alone in the yard. Designing a small planting strip in front of the fence softens the vertical lines of the fence, and may help tie in the house or yard -- from a landscape design standpoint -- to the fence.
Metal gazebos provide you with a freestanding structure in which you can relax or entertain guests. Such gazebos are simple to erect if you purchase one in the form of a kit. By using welding or carpentry skill, or creativity, you can create a personalized metal gazebo to help complete the look of your outdoor living space.
Most backyards are fairly predictable, with a few pieces of lawn furniture, a barbecue and maybe a jungle gym holding court. However, if you have always dreamed of something more, the world is your oyster as far as the backyard goes. Part with convention and go for something one-of-a-kind, whether it's functional, nice to look at or guaranteed to bring on the good times.
Azaleas showcase a cascade of soft pink, ruby red, deep orange, creamy white, shades of lavender and bicolors throughout gardens and front yard walkways. These flowers open up to reveal large, exotic-looking blooms with thick green, yellow or red stamens, shooting out from the center. Choose azaleas if you want a landscape that embraces color and distinctive-looking blossoms.
Electric transformer boxes, while unattractive, typically replace overhead wires, which are equally unattractive. This is probably of little solace to the homeowner with a box on his front lawn. Many creative methods exist to hide the electric box but some may be against power company regulations. Some companies do not allow the construction of a permanent structure over or around the electric box; others allow this but only if enough room exists for workers to gain access and move around within. To be safe, use either latticework-type structures that allow air to circulate or landscape ornamentals to hide the box.
Creating and cultivating an attractively landscaped lawn often requires a significant investment of both time and money. In order to cut costs, you should avoid doing unnecessary work on your lawn and evaluate the needs of each project accordingly. Lawn reseeding is done when a lawn is becoming bare or not growing well. If your lawn is healthy, there is no real reason to reseed it just because you are adding landscaping.
Contemporary homes showcase modern-style architecture and decorative landscapes that blend in well with other homes throughout a neighborhood. These homes have a clean look, without too much clutter. Large windows, neutral colors, basic square and rectangular shapes and clean lines are just a few features you might note in a contemporary home. Modern homes also have landscapes that feature well-trimmed native plants, ornamental trees, flowers, green lawns and shaped shrubs. With the right materials, you can easily create a simple, clean landscape with a few details that will make your home stand out.
Lawns and gardeners often have a love-hate relationship. While lawns provide an open space and create uniformity throughout a neighborhood, they may seem like a waste of valuable growing space on a small residential lot. More and more, people are converting their front yards, in whole or in part, to vegetable gardens. When converting a lawn into a garden, care must be taken to ensure that the changes will continue to be compatible with the neighborhood aesthetic.
Landscaping a sloped north-facing yard presents several challenges. A north-facing yard typically gets more shade than a yard that faces south. Soil warms up later in the spring and typically stays cooler through the summer, so you must choose hardy plants that tolerate cool temperatures and shade. In addition, you have to consider how to handle the slope. The best way to do this is to build one or more retaining walls, which will help you create planting beds and hold the soil in place.
Having a sloped front or backyard can often cause a gardener to wince. Problems with drainage, erosion and the slant of the slope itself are just a few of the concerns that come with this type of yard. Look to different types of landscaping to solve the dilemma while taking a lesson from nature itself. Creating tiers, either formal or natural looking, can be both a home owner and gardener's dream as it opens the way to all manner of garden possibilities.
Large homes featuring bay windows can be found in urban settings or atop country hillsides. Regardless of the home's location, a bay window offers a broad sweep of the world beyond it. Choosing how to landscape to enhance or block views doesn't have to be daunting. Experiment with design options ranging from minimalist to ultra formal.
Blue junipers come in a wide array of styles and sizes, making it possible for you to use a variety of blue junipers throughout your landscape. Blue junipers are tough plants capable of thriving under a variety of adverse conditions once established. Choose a site in full sun with well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Know the mature size of the blue juniper you select. These plants do not respond well to pruning. Plant them in an area where they have adequate room to thrive.
Mulch, stones and large rocks placed along the edges of a driveway can soften the look of the landscape. You may use single mulch types or a combination to create a variety of looks to coordinate with your home’s exterior. Mulches come in a variety of colors and textures that will complement the appearance of your landscape.
Bay windows are octagonal shaped and first became popular in architectural designs during Victorian times, according to the University of Vermont. Through landscaping, you can draw the eye’s attention to the main focal point, which is the window. Consider the remainder of the front yard’s landscape design when selecting plant types. Connect the front landscape together by continuing a similar theme in the bed surrounding the bay window.
A muddy lawn is often a result of clay in the soil. Clay prevents water from draining, creating pools of standing water. If it takes more than four hours for your soil to drain after a 15-minute rainfall, then you probably have a significant amount of clay in your soil and it should be amended. The other common cause for poor drainage is a severe compacting of the soil. This is usually found in areas where heavy machinery has recently been present. New construction often falls victim to this type of drainage problem.
One of the keys to having well manicured landscaping is paying as much attention to the structures and surfaces in your yard as you do to your plants. Yard brick in a retaining wall, garden wall, planter or walkway can break down from exposure to plant roots, ice and water. However, you can reface yard brick in a number of ways based on the look you want to achieve.
Using the right kinds of natural and artificial accents can turn a small front lawn from plain to attractive without appearing uncluttered. Even if it is small, you can decorate your front lawn so it looks attractive from the street and welcomes guests to the main door. Although decorating small spaces presents issues of overcrowding, a few tips and tricks can help you perk up the front lawn and make it appear airy and expansive.
With the right landscaping, you can turn a boring backyard into an outdoor living space that you enjoy. Transforming your backyard’s landscape can help increase the value of your home and provide a good place to entertain guests when the weather is right. Before you begin a backyard landscaping project, make a plan.
Mud in your yard is not only unattractive, but it makes a mess if it is tracked in the house. You're likely to have mud in your landscape if you have standing water, bare dirt and soil susceptible to erosion. You can reduce mud in your landscape by improving drainage and covering bare soil with plants or mulch.
If you work hard to create a thriving, attractive landscape, it can feel especially frustrating when insects damage your plants or make it miserable to spend time outside. Before you reach for harsh, side-effect-laden chemical pesticides, try bug-repellent plants in your borders. Whether through toxic chemicals or strong scents, certain plant species deter pests, while other species attract pests away from more valuable plants. Fill your borders with these resistant or repellant species for safe and attractive pest control.
Having a patch of gravel in your yard with benches or chairs placed on it can provide instant seating around your home and encourage garden guests to relax together or spend quiet time alone. Through careful landscaping, you can take the drab, open area currently on your gravel and transform it into the kind of garden nook you’d like to sit in. Before you can begin planting, you’ll need to consider the types of plants and accessories you want in the area and the overall look you’re going for.
While landscaping a small backyard is a challenge in and of itself, throwing a pool in the mix adds a major extra consideration -- but looking at the pool as a source of inspiration rather than design difficulty may help you create landscaping you love. Whether your small, pool-enhanced backyard is located in Los Angeles or the Vermont backcountry, choose colors, plants and accent pieces that create a nurturing, luxurious backyard oasis.
Dark rock includes any style of music that touches on dark themes and has loud, heavy beats. Several types of music fall under the category of dark rock: heavy metal, Goth and punk rock. The fashion choices of the fans vary with each musical style, but are all considered dark rock. Heavy metal fashions have more of a biker vibe, while punk has its roots in British rebellion, and Goth styles hark back to Victorian vampire lore.
In the United States, craftsman bungalows were extremely popular during the first half of the 20th century. Craftsman bungalows are characterized as rather small homes with an emphasis on developing a harmonious relationship between the home and its natural surroundings. The landscape of bungalow homes follows a similar philosophy of harmonizing the man-made structure of the home with its natural surroundings by incorporating plants native to the home's geographic location. Harmony aside, other considerations when landscaping a home involve the shape of the land, budget and personal lifestyle.
A typical colonial home is typically two stories with a sloping roof and a centered front entrance that is bordered by windows on both stories. A combination of tall, narrow plantings at the corners and doorways plus lower shrubs or flower beds in the front will allow you to feature the home's height while keeping the front windows clear of greenery interference. Plan for four-season visual interest, including dwarf flowering trees such as dogwoods or redbuds.
Pea stone, often called pea gravel, is one of the more common kinds of decorative gravel found on driveways or walkways. It is made up of small, smooth pebbles, usually about 1/2 inch in diameter, that come in multiple colors. Pea gravel gets its shape and color by being formed for years in rivers and streams. The minerals in the streams change the gravel's color and the friction of being rolled along by the water makes the gravel smooth. When you decide to put pea gravel in your driveway, there are some design ideas you should consider.
Block walls are a common feature on many homes. Whether they're part of the house structure, a retaining wall or a privacy element, how you landscape in front of them depends on whether you want to hide them or make them a landscape feature. There are several ways to do both.
Building with stone takes a strong back and a lot of patience, but the material rewards the determined builder with structures that are both beautiful and durable. In an age when many things are made cheaply and don't last long, stone is a reminder that well-built structures of natural materials can outlast their makers.
Concrete borders in landscaping are advantageous because concrete can be poured into any shape to accommodate your design. That's why a round concrete landscaping border is a good way to segment your landscape features and add a clean look to your gardens and lawn. But when you use concrete, be aware of the many ways that you can manipulate it to create even more unique landscaping features.
Homeowners who want to cover outdoor landscapes and perform little or no maintenance after the installation may find the perfect option in artificial grass. This option is affordable for people who want to fore-go the hassles of regular watering and fertilizer applications as well as the expenses for these resources. Ensure that your choice of artificial grass and your grading and drainage plans comply with local building codes.
You can't use the same landscape design for a ranch-style house that you'd use for a colonial or a Victorian. By the same token, an L-shaped ranch house presents different possibilities than a basic ranch. To make your yard look as good as possible, select plantings that complement any built structures, including outbuildings as well as your ranch home itself.
Whether you don’t have time to take care of a garden or require plants for a dry area, gardeners have many choices in drought-tolerant plants. Species tolerant to the dry conditions include those that flower, as well as short and taller growing varieties. Creating a xeriscape with hardy plants is relatively basic. Drought-tolerant gardens require less maintenance and conserve water.
