Incorporating Rocks and Boulders Into Your Landscape
By · CommentsThere are many ways to create a spectacular and eye catching home exterior landscape, but it is hard to beat the incorporation of boulders for sheer dramatic effect and eye appeal. Properly placed rocks and boulders can turn an ordinary landscape into a stunning showcase, and many homeowners and business owners have begun to incorporate this unique and stylish landscape design idea.
Some advance planning is required, of course, in order to make the most of landscaping with boulders Perhaps the most important thing is to carefully plan just where the boulders will be placed. After all, you don”t want to end up moving that heavy boulder more than once!
A good practice is to make a large boulder the focal point of the front yard. Boulders with irregular shapes, unique colors or interesting textures work best. Most nurseries and garden centers will have a variety of boulders and rocks to choose from, so be sure to shop carefully.
After the boulder has found its home in your front yard, it is time to plan a garden area that will surround the boulder. The boulder garden can be as large or small as you want, but it is a good idea to make it an irregular shape, and to place bends and curves into the design. Try to use the natural shape of the boulder as your guide when creating your garden, and incorporate colorful mulches, pebbles and stones as well to provide a unique and interesting look. Edging the perimeter of the garden with smaller stones will help to keep everything safely in place as well.
Additional beauty and drama can be added to the boulder garden by adding a walkway or garden path. Using paving stones or rocks to create such a pathway will provide a seamless look and a wonderful compliment to the boulder. A winding path often works best, especially with an odd shaped boulder and a well shaped garden.
How to find the Best Roses for Your Landscape
By · CommentsEver since the earliest days of gardening, roses have been beloved among all other flowers. Roses have long been the kings of the garden, and they are still a wonderful way to enhance and beautify any landscape. Landscaping with roses is one of the most wonderful ways to make the exterior of the home shine, and there are colors and varieties of roses suitable for virtually any taste.
There are many different kinds of landscape roses, and these wonderful flowers look great virtually anywhere in the garden or the landscape. These landscape roses are easy to find, and they are available at virtually any garden center or nursery. The hardest part of landscaping with roses may be choosing only one or two varieties from the vast selection you find.
When we think about landscape roses there are several varieties that come to mind. One of the most enduringly popular varieties of landscape roses are the tall tea roses These tall tea roses are perfect for decorating an archway or a trellis, and they are the perfect choice for creating a romantic garden as well.
Climbing roses are also frequently used as landscape roses, and these unique and very practical roses can be trained to wind around fences, posts and other structures. They can even be trained to climb a favorite tree for a truly unique look.
Floribunda roses are another popular variety of landscape roses, and these roses are capable of producing long lasting color in the garden. In addition these great roses enjoy a lengthy lifespan, and they come in a wide variety of colors as well.
For landscapes that already include lots of taller plants, China roses are the perfect choice. China roses are perfect for planting in front of other plants in the garden, and they look wonderful as accents to trees, shrubs and bushes as well.
Partitioning Your Front and Back Yards
By · CommentsFor many homeowners, the front and back yards provide completely different environments If you are an avid gardener or landscapes the front of your home provides a natural showcase for your gifts. The back yard, on the other hand, is where your family lives and plays in the long, hot days of summer. If the back yard and front yard serve such different purposes, it makes sense ?both design-wise, and from a practical perspective 뾲o create a barrier between those two worlds
Protect Your Privacy
Drive by your home and look into the back yard. Assess how much of the back yard can be seen from the road, and use that information in your planning. If your back yard is highly visible to those passing by, consider installing a high fence to preserve your privacy and that of your family. If the back of the home is largely shielded from the road, a row of hedges might be all the barrier you need.
If you are looking for privacy, a fence between 8 and 10 feet high is a smart move. Wood or white FVC is a good choice for a privacy fence. Split rail wood is a good choice for decorative fencing, while a chain link fence is a good choice for keeping your dog confined to the front of back yard.
Sketch Out Your Upgrade Ideas
Sketch out what you want your front and back yard to look like, and where you want the partition point to be. Include any existing structures and landscape features, including swimming pools, gazebos and patios, in your sketch. If you have a pool in your back yard, you could use that as a demarcation point between the front and back yard. You can extend the required fencing around the pool to the rest of the back yard, creating a private area for swimming and relaxation.
You can use the sketch as a starting point when you start shopping for the materials you need. For instance, you can use your sketch to determine how large an area you need to enclose, making it easier to shop for fencing and other materials.
Make the Most of Your Existing Landscape
Check the natural barriers you already have in place, and think about how those natural barriers can be used to separate the front yard from the back. If you have a row of bushes or hedges growing across part of the front yard, consider planting additional bushes and shrubs to create a natural wall.
If privacy is your goal, look for species of shrubs and bushes that grow to six feet or higher. Choosing fast growing varieties will help you create your natural barrier more quickly. Some of the best species of shrubs and bush for this purpose include holly, azalea and yews
If you do need to augment the natural barriers in your landscape, you can do so with a variety of effective and attractive fencing options. Just contact a local fencing company and ask them to install a fence to separate the back yard from the front. Use swinging gates to allow easy access and movement from one part of the home’s exterior to the other.
How to Enjoy a Lush Green Lawn All Year Long
By · CommentsIf you want your lawn to be the envy of the neighborhood it is important to plan properly. A great lawn does not just happen – a great lawn is the end result of many different decisions. Making the right decisions every step of the way can mean the difference between a lush green lawn and a spotty brown one. Following the tips outlined below can help you enjoy a beautiful and healthy lawn all year long.
Choose a type of grass that is well suited to your part of the country. Many homeowners make the mistake of planting grasses which are not suited for the local environment, causing all kinds of problems down the road. From lawns that do not grow properly to the need for constant maintenance and extra watering, unsuitable grasses can cause all sorts of headaches. By choosing grass varieties that are suited to the local environment you can virtually eliminate maintenance issues while reducing the need for extra water and constant fertilization.
If you live in a dry climate it is a good idea to consider drought resistant varieties of grasses These varieties are designed to grow with very little water, and choosing a drought resistant grass will greatly reduce the need for extra watering. Choosing drought resistant varieties of grasses is also important if your part of the country is prone to water shortages and restrictions on water usage.
