Basic Landscape Design Tips (1st 5 of 10)

The cold snap has finally released its icy grip on us (for a few days, anyway) and the mailbox is full of nursery catalogues. It can't be long 'til spring and now is the perfect time to plan.


Want a landscape that will have the neighbors green with envy?


1st. Have a plan.


Landscaping is like any other home improvement, it can be fairly simple or extremely complex, and the cost can run the gamut.
The single biggest mistake you can make is to start a landscape project without any clear plan.
A good landscape design will reward the time invested with an efficient use of your resources.


We all want the best bang for our buck, so make the investment at the start and stick to the plan unless their is some truly compelling reason to change.


Give some thought to your home's appearance, existing landscape features and any views (good or bad, we all have them) that may need accenting or screening.


Think about what you need in your yard: Maybe you like to cook, so space for gourmet veggies and herbs are a must (kitchen garden!), or perhaps the children are at the age where the sand box and swing set are obsolete, but the patio needs to accommodate your family of 4 plus another 6 dinner guests and a fire pit would really help you get the most out of your yard by extending the season.


Plan before you start digging so you're not making big changes half way into the project. You'll wind up with a much more functional finished product and keep your sanity.



2nd. Design plantings based on your site conditions.
Pick the right plants and the maintenance is almost nothing.
The wrong plant will either be toast in a very short time (or worse still just look bad for years) or will require an outrageous amount of upkeep over it's lifespan.
Ok, so most gardens just kind of happen. You go to the local big box store and buy 'this cute little tree' in a container size that you can handle with relative ease, put it in the back of your urban chariot and take it home. (Over the course of a summer you can wind up with a whole collection this way.)


When you get back to the nest, you start looking around at all the possible spots for your newly acquired friend, and start positioning it to see how it will look in various locations.
Ever stop to consider your little green pets feelings on the subject?
You see, plants are very much like pets.
They have specific needs in order to thrive in their new environment.
They need the right amount of light or shade, the proper moisture and good drainage.
Proper air circulation is very important for some plants, others demand winter protection.



Then, there's the tree that ate the front door.
It wasn't because the tree was hungry, except maybe for more space.
No, someone brought this cute little tree home from the garden center and thought it looked best about 3' from the front door and 3' out from the foundation.
5 years later you need a machete to get in the front door.




Other considerations might be erosion control (who wants to mow a steep slope when ground cover would look better and be less maintenance?) and pest resistance.


3rd. Design for function.
The patio needs to be large enough for your family and an average number of guests, and it may look great 30 feet from the house, but that's really far from the kitchen.


You may need to think about an outdoor kitchen to make it really work, or a second patio area closer to the house. Entry walkways need to be wide enough for two people walking abreast, side paths/gangways wide enough for a single person.


A thoughtfully place stepping stone can make all the difference in a landscape design, as can a badly placed rose bush (can't tell you how many times I've been snagged!)



4th. Mulch your plants!
All of them. If you have any doubts as to the importance of mulching correctly please read my previous posting on the subject.
2 to 3 inches of organic material covering the soil around your plants will make their lives so much happier; it moderates soil temperature and moisture, improves soil texture and adds nutrients. If your plants are healthy they'll look better and that is what this is all about.


From a purely aesthetic point of view, mulch gives the planting beds a finished, uniform, 'tying it all together' natural look. (and PLEASE skip the dyed red stuff they use at McD's and BK, it hurts my eyes to even look at it!)



5th. Get two landscapes for the price of one!
You heard me right folks, you buy one landscape you get a second one for (almost) free today.


How you ask? - well I'm goin' to tell you.


Lighting. You put landscape lights in and it's like a whole different house at night.


Why, the first time you see your landscape lit up at night you may not even recognize the place.


Gives the home a whole new elegance, drama and style you can't get any other way.


Works like a charm for water features too.


Pools, ponds, water falls, water fountains, even bird baths look completely different and mysteriously beautiful when illuminated!



Properly designed landscape lighting will accent your plants and the architectural features of your home, improve the safety and security of your property and extend the enjoyment of your landscape into the evening.


Ron Levinson
Basic Landscape
mailto:LandscapeRon@BasicLandscapes.com
http://www.basiclandscapes.com/

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