A well-designed landscape can add value to your home and increase the resale value of your property. It can also improve the health and well-being of your family by promoting outdoor activity and providing relaxation.
A focal point in your landscape draws people’s attention and provides a sense of direction. Consider using a variety of shapes and textures to create visual interest. For professional help, contact Y&L Landscaping.
1. Design
Whether the goal is to create an environment that makes the outdoors more appealing and livable or one that adds value to your property, a well-designed landscape can provide many benefits. Spending time in a beautiful garden or yard can help lower stress levels and stimulate the production of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. A well-designed landscape can also save energy and reduce water costs by planting trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns that are drought tolerant.
The most important aspect of landscape design is creating a harmonious composition with the elements of balance, rhythm, unity and proportion. This includes the use of color, texture and line. A balanced composition is achieved when the individual parts or features of a landscape are unified in their character by a common theme or design style. For example, a garden can be unified by using repetition of plant forms or shapes, focal points, contrasting textures or colors or the use of lines that form arcs and tangents.
Another aspect of landscape design is creating a sense of scale. It’s important that the landscape is in proportion to the size of the house and other structures on the property. The scale of the landscape is determined by the relative sizes of different elements, such as plants, trees, buildings and other structures, as well as the surrounding landforms and the terrain’s shape and elevation.
A good place to start when designing a landscape is by studying the ones that already exist. Take a drive around your neighborhood and observe the way different landscapes are designed and planted. Visit public parks and gardens to see how the designers used the elements of balance, rhythm, unity and harmony to enhance the experience for visitors. You can also scan websites of local landscaping companies or download free landscape design apps on your phone to learn more about the design styles that appeal to you. Once you’ve identified a style, you can begin to plan your own backyard landscape. Whether your goal is to create an outdoor space that complements your home or one that provides a relaxing retreat, a professionally designed landscape can make all the difference.
2. Plants
The plants in your landscape create the color, texture and form that give it character. They also provide the food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. Trees anchor the top layer of your garden, offering shade and structure. Planting a variety of trees, both evergreens (those that retain needles or leaves year-round) and deciduous ones, gives your garden visual interest through all four seasons.
Ground covers, shrubs and perennial flowers add interest to the middle and lower layers of your garden. They offer color and texture that complement or contrast with the tall canopy trees. When planting, consider the size each plant will be at full maturity to prevent overcrowding.
Shrubs fill the gap between the trees and ground cover, providing berries for birds and flowering foliage or bark to attract pollinators. Vary their heights and blooming periods to maintain seasonal interest.
A xeriscape is an attractive and low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns, which require more watering and mowing. Xeriscapes use ground covers, ornamental grasses, shrubs and low-maintenance perennials, which require less water than turfgrasses and require fewer pesticides.
Hardscape elements such as rocks, stones and pavers are important in defining the landscape. They can be used as focal points, retaining walls or borders. They can also help with drainage and filtration in wet areas.
Water features are another popular landscaping feature. They are visually appealing and emit soothing sounds. They can be created with a DIY approach, using pre-formed rigid plastic liners, durable pumps and flexible tubing.
Landscaping is a personal art. It should reflect your taste, the climate and soil conditions of your area and the way you use your yard. Although it’s tempting to copy ideas from magazines or your neighbors, the end result will be more satisfying if you make it your own. Getting to know your landscape, visiting it at different times of the day and in various weather conditions will help you develop a design that is unique to your property. This will ensure you enjoy your landscaping for years to come.
3. Water
A water feature is an attractive focal point that adds movement to your landscape. It can also be a relaxing way to unwind after a long day. Water features range from small bubbler fountains to large ponds and waterfalls. The soothing sound of water is also great for masking unwanted noise. The beauty of a waterfall or fountain is that it can be as simple or elaborate as you like. It’s important to take into account how much space you have and what maintenance your lifestyle can handle before designing your water feature.
The calming sight and sound of flowing water relaxes the mind and body. It’s no wonder that people are drawn to natural settings. In fact, spending time in nature increases endorphins — the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals – by triggering brain activity associated with pleasure and happiness.
Whether it’s an outdoor fountain, a bubbling garden or a tiered backyard pond, a well-designed water element can be the perfect finishing touch to any landscape.
Water is essential for life. However, too much of it can be detrimental. Landscaping can help preserve water resources by reducing runoff and erosion. For example, planting trees reduces erosion by holding soil together with their roots and preventing the flow of excess water into streams, rivers and lakes.
In addition, xeriscape landscaping utilizes plants that are adapted to dry conditions, which reduces the need for irrigation and saves on water bills. Landscaping can also be used to create windbreaks around homes and businesses, which can reduce energy costs by up to 35% during hot summer months.
A beautiful landscape can enhance the value of your property, and it may even encourage you to spend more time outdoors. In addition, a well-maintained, landscaped yard can provide a wide array of benefits for the environment and your health.
4. Maintenance
Landscapes aren’t self-sustaining, and they require regular care to keep them looking their best. Hiring a professional landscaper to handle your property’s maintenance tasks ensures you get the look you want and the benefits that come with it.
A well-groomed yard is the first impression a potential homebuyer has of your house, and it can increase resale value by up to 12%. It can also help lower energy costs, filter pollutants from the air, and even reduce soil erosion.
Landscaping involves the creation of outdoor spaces using plant material, hardscaping materials, water features and other decorative items to improve a site’s aesthetic appeal and function. This includes installing structures like walkways, patios, decks, and retaining walls, as well as performing regular lawn care and plant health maintenance services like mowing, edging, trimming, mulching, weed control, fertilization, and pest management.
Some aspects of landscape maintenance are done on a seasonal basis, while others are performed on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the needs of your specific property and climate conditions. Seasonal landscaping tasks include mowing, pruning, planting, and adjusting irrigation systems. More in-depth annual maintenance tasks might include soil testing, mulching, hedging and pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and bed cleanup.
It’s important to note that not every landscaping service is equally knowledgeable about horticultural best practices. For example, if you’ve ever watched an employee use hedge shears to sculpt shrubs into grotesque geometric shapes that nature never intended, it’s time to find a new landscaping company. This mutilating technique not only wastes money on pruners but can also lead to stress on the plants that makes them more susceptible to disease and insect infestation.
Aside from improving the appearance of your home, landscaping can offer environmental and health benefits. For instance, trees and other plants help prevent soil erosion, increase oxygen levels in the air, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and provide a natural cooling effect in urban areas.
Additionally, trees, shrubs, and grasses in residential landscapes can reduce utility bills by up to 35% by reducing air conditioning use and decreasing heating costs. Strategically planted windbreak trees and shrubs can also help reduce energy bills by up to 25%.