Friday, November 28, 2008

Using Design Landscaping Helps To Enhance Homes, and Increases Value

Landscaping Ideas and Tips : Adding Mosaic Stone Interest Pieces to your Landscape Design

When people arrive at your home, it is almost always the design landscaping that surrounds your home and defines your garden areas that give people the first impression of your property. The landscape design that you use is one of the most important factors is determining how your visitors will feel when they arrive at your residence. In addition, the landscaping around your home will also have a considerable impact on the overall value of your house and property.

There are many ways that you can improve the landscaping around your home. Some people worry that to improve their landscape design properly, they need to hire landscape architects or landscape contractors. This can be wonderful if you can afford it, but many people very successfully undertake the landscaping design for their homes on their own.

If you would rather do your design landscaping yourself rather than hiring a professional, then the first step is to learn the basics of landscape design. Good design is actually quite simple if you know and follow the four following principles. Combine these landscaping principles with your own tastes and preferences and you will quickly be able to create a plan for your home and garden exteriors that will be a reflection of you.

The first element of landscaping is the concept of balance. If you concentrate most of your new plants in one area, then the rest of your garden landscaping area will look rather neglected. Distribute the plants around the yard or the garden at least somewhat evenly and with a sense of flow. This will help draw the eye though the entire landscape design and engage your visitors.

The second aspect of great landscaping is proportion. The idea here is to make sure that any landscape design feature you choose fits in appropriately, in terms of size, to the surrounding areas, fixtures and structures. Trying to wedge an huge gazebo into a tiny back yard will end up looking almost comical, and will not provide a great effect. At the same time, if you have an enormous front lawn, then you will need to add larger elements in plantings or features that will be noticed and not overwhelmed.

Transition is the third principle you need to know for your landscaping project and is closely related to proportion. Even though your landscape design can include flowers, plants, large shrubs, bushes and even trees, the way to make them really work together in a beautiful way is with the use of transition. It is the smooth flow from one type and size of plant to another. You want to lead the eye from delicate plants to larger ones with some in-between sizes. Color transitions can also be a very effective aspect of your overall landscaping design plan.

The last of the four concepts of landscaping is unity and it is the ultimate sense that you are trying to express with your design. All of the choices that you make in how you balance, proportion, and transition the various colors, sizes and textures of your landscape elements should be governed by a unifying theme. This is what brings the landscape design together to work in harmony and create a spectacular home and garden.

One thing that can make design landscaping easy and also cohesive is to decide on a theme and then be sure to stay true to that theme. Having an idea can help make decisions easier when it comes time to add plants, furnishings, or accent pieces to your landscape.

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 decide it as a line of work that you may 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?

Any type of alteration of the land is known as Landscaping. It can be through a variety of means. It could be through the utilization of flora. It may be through the use of fauna. There are different techniques of landscaping and the forms of landscaping used often are dependent on what kind of environmental condition 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 characteristics of the area as possible.

What is the difference between annuals and perennials?

Both are, certainly, plants but the variation is in the time span in which they last and how frequently you are required to replant them. Annuals must be replanted every year. Some examples of annuals are any kind of vegetable, sunflowers and flowers such as violets. Perennials are plants that will regenerate themselves. They include trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and also include roses as well as other hardy plants that go dormant during the winter months. Most ornamental grasses are thought to be perennials.

How do I decide which type to plant?

The type of plant you select will be dependent on your climate and how much you want to water. It will also be dependent on the amount of sun that your gets throughout the day. Some plants flourush in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who reside in drought prone areas, they should consider planting hardy plants that need small amounts of water and really help preserve the soil from erosion. Numerous people elect to have rock gardens and cactus if they happen to live in desert environments.

When is the ideal planting season?

The ideal planting season depends on what kind 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. Other types of plants are best suited to planting in the months of the spring. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits until one or two seasons later so you need to get ready for this. Trees will have to work through several years before they become big enough to give enough shade or produce fruit.

Will it increase the value and curb appeal of my home?

A great lawn can add tremendous curb appeal and value to your home. The overall effect is that it will make the features of your house stand out and if you have intentions of selling your home, one of the first details that possible buyers will see if the landscaping. There is nothing quite like a well manicured lawn and carefully trimmed hedges that add immense immediate value to a property.

To find out additional information Landscape Drainage also Landscape Patio Design and go to Landscaping Ideas

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