5 Unique Landscaping ideas that will catch your eye
1. Define The Space
Landscape plants define outdoor spaces by serving functional roles like shading, screening, filler and groundcover. They provide structure to the space in the same way that furniture does indoors. Remove existing plants as needed to eliminate visual chaos. For the best results, choose plants for your yard according to their mature dimensions, normally shown on the plant label.
Space plants so that they can grow to their full potential without pruning, then prune them as needed to maintain good plant health and a tidy appearance. Avoid overcrowding or installing foundation shrubs where they will grow to block windows. Maintain a crisp appearance with sharp natural edges along bedlines and wherever grass meets paved surfaces.
2. Curve The Lines
Builder landscaping at a new home is typically minimal, and usually follows the angular lines of the house. Unfortunately, this approach to landscaping often leaves a “factory installed” impression. Nature does not follow straight lines and neither should your landscape. Add curved bed lines and pathways to create a strong sense of natural permanence.
There are several ways to infuse subtle curved lines throughout the yard. A long S-shaped foundation bedline, a kidney-shaped island, a strategically placed flower bed at the corner of the driveway or an arcing stepping stone pathway from the driveway to the front door could be good places to start. When laying out curved lines, use a garden hose as a guide. When you’ve gotten the line just right with the hose, paint it with marking paint before cutting in the edge.
3. Plant Less
Getty
Another problem with planting lots of different things is that the individual impact is lost in the whole. The yard tends toward chaos. Gain more impact by planting in repeated groupings, limiting the color palette to two or three colors and using only five to seven dominant plant types in any view of the yard.
To use this strategy effectively, choose plants with complimentary forms and textures. Needle leaves, broad leaves and grassy leaves mix well together. Use evergreens to provide a backdrop for flowering plants and plants with strong fall colors. A beautiful landscape doesn’t require dozens of different kinds of plants.
4. Choose Multi-Purpose Plants
Garden books tout the benefits of this flower and that tree, and they’re all beautiful, so it’s easy to fall in love with them all. But time, money and landscape space are limited. It’s important to get the most from every dollar you spend in the yard. One way to do so is by selecting multi-purpose plants.
If the entrance of your townhome only has room for one small tree, find a tree that offers spring flowers, summer shade, intense autumn color and an attractive branch structure that will look great in winter. Privacy screening plants can offer scented flowers and wildlife benefits. Many fruit-bearing trees and shrubs offer other landscape benefits, like flowers, fall color and winter interest.
5. Frame The Lawn
We often think of grass as the place where kids and pets play. But a small, unused lawn space can take on an ornamental aspect when you convert it into a garden green. Framing is an effective way to define the space and keep these tiny patches of grass looking good. Simply plant a low hedge on all sides and keep it tightly groomed. A small, framed garden green is the perfect location for a garden sculpture or fountain.
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment