Front Yard Landscaping

You generate ideas for landscaping you first need to clearly define what you are trying to accomplish.  It’s easier to do this if you lay it out on paper first so that you can visualize what you are trying to do and what the layout will and will not allow.

Once you have it laid out on paper mentally divide the plan into different sections that you can take one at a time and come up with ideas for landscaping solutions for each piece one at a time.  This process of breaking it down into small pieces will make the project seem less daunting and will allow your mind to open to new ideas and new possibilities.

Spell out, in words, what you want to have happen in each separate area.  If you are trying to create a shade area or a border or come up with ideas for landscaping pathways or anything else, write it out clearly so you can clarify it in your own head.

Brainstorming Ideas for Landscaping

Next, get together with some friends for family and work together to generate ideas for landscaping solutions to your property.  By getting together with other people to come up with ideas for landscaping solutions you can stimulate thoughts and impressions that you never would have come up with on your own.  Make this a free for all ideas session with no editing and no criticism so that everyone fees free to think and speak without embarrassment.  Write down all of the ideas for landscaping solutions that you can come up with.

Once you are done with your brainstorming session, take some time to let the landscaping ideas you have come up with stew in your subconscious mind.   Often we come up with our best ideas for landscaping when we are not even thinking about landscaping.  The subconscious mind is always at work and has an uncanny way of putting different thoughts together to come up with new solutions.   By giving your ideas for landscaping time to percolate you will open up your subconscious to many new alternatives.

Finally, keep a pocket size notebook with you at all times to record your ideas for landscaping projects.  You never know when a new idea will hit you and you will most likely forget all about it if you don’t write is down immediately.  Don’t be lazy on this one or you will lose some of your best ideas for landscaping projects and solutions.

Check out our other posts to come up with more ideas for landscaping.

Technorati Tags: Front Yard Landscaping, ideas for landscaping

When is comes to small landscaping areas you have to plan a bit more carefully then when working with large areas.  When space is limited you have to make each square foot count and small landscaping areas are no exception. 

Think On Different Levels

When landscaping a small area, think not only horizontally, but also vertically.  You may not be able to go out, but you may be able to go up using an arbor, or hanging plants or raised beds to get different levels working visually and functionally.

You can also use containers to achieve different levels, with the added benefit that they can easily be moved around if necessary to accommodate your use of the area.  Containers are available in many shapes and sizes from very small to very large.

Coloring Small Landscaping Areas

Color can actually make your small landscaping area look larger than it really is.  By using colors that are in the cooler spectrum (like blues and purples) you can actually make an area look bigger.  There are many plants that you can use to get these colors.  Then use the hotter colors for accent.

Small Landscaping Plants

There are many dwarf varieties of landscape plants that look just like their larger cousins, but take up less space.  By using varieties that are specifically designed to grow smaller or slower you can get the affect of a large plant without taking up a lot of space.

Small Water Features

Just because you have a small landscaping area doesn’t mean you have to give up on having a pond or waterfall.  It just means it is going to have to be moderate in size and frankly that means it will require less maintenance and will cost less.  There are fountains and ponds available in many different sizes so try to find one that is proportional to your landscaping area.

Make Use of Lost Areas

With a small landscaping area to work with you need to make the most of every inch.  In most yards there are lost areas such as corners or sloped areas that generally get ignored or covered up.  Instead, make the most of these area by adding features that will enhance them or by changing the terrain to make it more useable.  You could terrace a sloped area to make it more usable or put a small waterfall in a corner to make the most of the available space.

When it comes to designing small landscaping areas the only real limit is your imagination.  You can do many of the things you can in a big yard; you just have to do it a little more creatively.

Visit our other posts to learn more about working with small landscaping.

Technorati Tags: Front Yard Landscaping, Small Landscaping

When landscaping gardens, there is no element that is more important then the soil. Soil quality in landscape gardens tends to vary greatly not only from area to area, but even in the garden itself, so it is important to focus on the conditions in your specific landscaping garden.

Categories of Soil in Landscaping Gardens

In general, soils can be classified in three main categories; Sand, Silt and Clay.  The soil that is ideal for landscape gardening is made up of all three, and is often called loam or loamy soil.  There has to be the right mixture of each for the best quality garden soil.  Soils that have too much clay will not drain well and will stay too wet.  Soils that are too sandy will drain to quickly and will tend to dry out too quickly.  

All good landscaping garden soils are also held together by humus.  Humus is an organic material that acts as a binding agent in holding the soil together.  Humus helps the landscaping gardens soil in many ways including:  

- Holding in water

- Absorbing sunlight

- Freeing up compounds that are beneficial to plants

- Adds nutrients to the landscape garden soil

- Improves the landscaping gardens soil texture

 
Humus can be added to the soil in organic fertilizers like manure or compost.  These organic fertilizers provide the landscaping gardens soil with the three main elements that are necessary for good soil, namely: bacterial life, water and nutrients.  If you have these you will have the basis for good landscaping gardens

Technorati Tags: Front Yard Landscaping, landscaping gardens, Outdoor Landscaping

Many features are involved in making your front yard landscape not only functional but attractive as well.  Included below are the primary features you will want to consider in your front yard landscape design.

For the most attractive and beneficial use of your front yard landscape, you will want to include most of the features outlined below. Essentials, such as a good lawn, thriving shade trees, paths and walks are often taken for granted, yet they are usually the most difficult to acquire, and may end up absorbing a major part of your initial effort, as well as your landscaping budget.

On the other hand, a project such as an outdoor living room, cooking and entertaining facilities, may have been overlooked in the past because it sounded too difficult to accomplish.  Yet these seemingly difficult features can add a great deal to your enjoyment and may, depending on what type you choose, be obtained with relatively little effort and cost!

Primary Front Yard Landscape Features

Trees – Perhaps if any one landscape feature can be singled out as basic to a successful front yard landscape, it is the presence of fine trees.  The unfortunate trend of developers cutting down trees in a wholesale manner, and the increased use of treeless fields for new building, has focused attention on the property owner who usually must begin with nothing when it comes to trees. Architects agree that a single shade tree, even of medium height, can make a tremendous difference in the comfort and livability of a house.

A Good Healthy Lawn – A basic requirement for attractive and enjoyable grounds is a good lawn. When planting a tree you do so realizing that you are planting for years to come, even for future generations.  Few people realize, however, that fine lawns must be planted in the same spirit.

Flowers – You will want flowers for cutting, as well as flowers for contributing cheerfulness and charm to your front landscape. The aim of the successful gardener is to have a regular succession of flowers from early spring to late fall.  You can plan from the start to have perennials which bloom at different seasons. 

Foundation Planting – The special planting which is set close to the house is called foundation planting and has great importance since it can improve and enhance the proportions of your house, as well as relate the house to the grounds.

Service Area – You may need a service area near the front of the home. Try to plan the service area out of sight yet close enough to the front so that it is convenient.

Paths and Walks – Planning your driveway and front yard walks, so that they take up a minimum amount of room and yet provide a strong enough surface for the traffic they will bear, calls for careful thinking.

Check out our other posts for more information on how to design a front yard landscape.

Technorati Tags: Front Landscaping, front yard landscape, Front Yard Landscaping

Service Areas in Your Backyard Landscape

If planned properly, having a service area in your backyard landscape for sheds, storage, propagation and other conveniences can add a lot of functional utility to your backyard landscape.  It is usually best to design your backyard landscape so that your drying yard and service area are out of sight yet close enough to the house to be convenient. 

You can screen these backyard landscape areas with shrubbery or fences to help keep them out of sight.

Suggested Backyard Landscape Service Areas

For serious gardeners the service area should include propagating beds, cold-frames, a tool shed or storage locker and your compost pit if you have one.  Hotbeds and cold-frames should be located in a spot where they will be protected from north and northwest winds.

Be careful not to place your cold-frame in a damp part of the backyard unless you have first drained it thoroughly with drain tile.

A vegetable garden can be a source of great enjoyment and a great backyard feature.

If you want, it can be located out of sight in a corner, or screened with shrubbery, because of the seasons when there is nothing growing in it.  On the other hand, it can be add a real decorative touch to the overall backyard landscape design, particularly if there are grass walks and attractive flowers around it.

Check out our other posts to learn more about planning and creating your backyard landscape.

Technorati Tags: back yard landscape, Backyard Landscape, backyard landscaping

Steps you can take to Generate Ideas For Your Outdoor Landscaping Projects

1. Clearly Define the Outdoor Landscaping Problem

Take some draft paper and draw a plan of your property or the specific part of your outdoor landscaping you are trying to design.  Mentally divide each part of the  landscape into separate pieces that you can deal with one at a time.  Write down what you want to accomplish in each of these individual areas and how you intend to use them. (i.e. for color, borders, walkways, shade, etc.)

2. Brainstorm Outdoor Landscaping Ideas with Others

There is tremendous power in getting several brains together working on the same challenge.  Your outdoor landscaping is no exception.  Get your friends and family together and go over your list.  Write down as many different ideas as possible in relation to the objectives you outlined for each area.  Don’t worry about how you will do things or anything like that.  Just focus on idea generation without editing.   Encourage everyone to think creatively and avoid being critical of any ideas.  If someone becomes critical of any ideas it will stifle everyone else’s creativity.

3. Daydream!!!  Let Your Creative Subconscious Work For You

Whether awake or asleep, your sub-conscious mind continues to work for you around the clock.  While you are traveling, sleeping, or doing routine chores, feel free to let your mind wander.  Take a break and sleep on it. You may be surprised at how successful switching off your conscious brain can be.

4. Your Outdoor Landscaping Ideas Notebook

Carry a pen with a pocket size pad of paper everywhere you go and capture every idea that you think of.  Don’t tell yourself you’ll write it down later.  Chances are slim that you will remember to do it.  Many of your ideas will be great. Capture them, preserve them, and then apply them to your outdoor landscaping.

Here is another resource for generation Ideas for Outdoor Landscaping

Technorati Tags: Front Yard Landscaping, Outdoor Landscaping

There are many features involved in making your front landscaping not only functional but attractive as well.  Included below are the primary features you will want to consider in the planning and design of your front landscaping
 
For the most attractive and beneficial use of your front landscaping grounds, you will want to include most of the features outlined below in your plans. Such vital essentials as a good lawn, paths, walks and thriving shade trees, are often taken for granted, yet they are usually the most difficult to acquire, and may end up absorbing a major part of your initial effort, as well as your front landscaping
budget. 

On the other hand, a front landscaping project such as an outdoor living room, cooking and entertaining facilities, may have been overlooked in the past because it sounded too difficult to achieve.  And yet these seemingly difficult features can add  a great deal to your enjoyment and may, depending on what type you choose, be obtained with relatively little effort and cost!
 
Front Landscaping Essentials

Trees—For Shade and Beauty – Perhaps if any one feature can be singled out as basic to successful landscaping, it is the presence of fine trees.  The unfortunate trend of developers cutting down trees in a wholesale manner, and the increased use of treeless fields for new building, has focused attention on the property owner who usually must begin with nothing when it comes to trees. Architects agree that a single shade tree, even of medium height, can make a tremendous difference in the comfort and livability of your front landscaping.

A Good Lawn – A basic requirement for attractive and enjoyable front landscaping is a good lawn. When planting a tree you do so realizing that you are planting for years to come, even for future generations. Few realize, however, that fine lawns must be planted in the same spirit.

Flowers – You will want flowers for cutting, as well as flowers for contributing cheerfulness and charm to your front landscaping. The aim of the successful gardener is to have a regular succession of flowers from early spring to late fall.  You can plan from the start to have perennials which bloom at different seasons, (for example, iris, which reaches the peak of its bloom just as the peony season begins). 

Foundation Planting – The special planting which is set close to the house is called foundation planting and has great importance to front landscaping since it can improve and enhance the proportions of your house, as well as relate the house to the grounds.

Outdoor Living Room – One way to extend your house is to use your outdoor space to full advantage. And many homeowners make rooms look larger by visually extending them into the lawn or garden.

Service Area – Plan to have your service area out of sight of the front landscaping yet close enough so that it is convenient. 

Paths and Walks – Planning your front landscaping driveway and walks, so that they take up a minimum amount of room and yet provide a strong enough surface for the traffic they will bear, calls for careful thinking.

Garden Pools and Fountains – Water, in almost any form, enriches your front landscaping and delights the senses.

Check out some of our other posts to learn more about front landscaping.

Technorati Tags: Front Landscaping, Front Yard Landscaping