The Importance of Landscape Design

Landscape design involves more than just making a yard "pretty." While we do take great pains to make a landscape project look attractive, that is just barely scratching the surface.

The layout of your lawn must take into consideration many factors. One of those is, of course, visual composition: what plants go where, what colors to use, etc. Another is drainage. Your home's site is designed so that rainwater is shuttled away from your house and into the area's gutter or sewer system, so that your home doesn't get flooded. Attention must be given to placement of elements so that this flow isn't disrupted. At the same time, elements need to be placed you you aren't losing water from your irrigation system to runoff.

You must also ensure you aren't blocking access to water, gas, phone or electrical lines, and that root systems won't interfere with these in the future. And finally, it helps to understand traffic patterns when laying down hardscapes or other elements that could either facilitate or disrupt access to different areas of the yard (if say there is a pool or storage shed, maybe even a playhouse for the kids).

Landscape Design encompasses all of these concerns and more to ensure that your landscaping is not only attractive and enjoyable, but works with the overall design of your home and it's site.

3 Reasons to Add Islands to Your Landscaping Mix

Islands are a fast, easy way to add that extra touch to your lawn. And they're not only decorative, but have practical value as well. Here are a few reasons why you should consider creating islands in your landscape design.

1. An Island is a distinctive element that adds visual interest.
Islands break up the monotony of an endless green plain that most lawns entail. They create focal points that give the eye something to hone in on, and make your yard a more interesting subject to look at.

2. An Island provides a place to add color to your yard.
An island is the perfect backdrop for planting beds of colorful flowers, or other bright, attention-getting plants, in an arrangement that is more intriguing than simply planting a bed on the border of your yard, or up against the house, so your yard looks more like a natural feature of the land, and not quite so contrived.

3. You don't mow an island
Simply put, creating islands reduces the amount of lawn you have to maintain. You can just as easily choose not to plant flowers, and simply fill the island with stone, bark or mulch, and you won't even need to water the area, much less mow, fertilize or otherwise care for it.

A River Runs Through It: Increasing the Value and Enjoyment of Your Home With a Custom Water Feature

There is one thing you can do right now that will turn even the most well-manicured lawn into a unique, eye-catching masterpiece: install a water feature, such as a pond or waterfall. Here are a few reasons to consider it.

Character
There just aren't that many homes out there with their own waterfalls, ponds or private streams running through them. If you were to try and sell your home, especially in today's market, you need every advantage you can get, and a water feature is a great way to ensure your home makes a lasting impression.

Water Conservation
Aside from the water it takes to fill it initially, a custom water feature is entirely self-contained, requiring no outside water source. A filtration pump recycles the same water over and over, so that the water runs freely, even under the tightest water restrictions.

Aesthetics & Natural beauty
A well-installed waterfall or pond blends in seamlessly with the rest of your landscaping, and looks like a natural part of the surroundings even under close scrutiny. Plus, the sound of bubbling water makes for a relaxing soundtrack to time spent in the yard.

Less yard to maintain.
And speaking of spending time in the yard, the more area dedicated to the water feature, the less lawn there is to take care of. To really take advantage of this, you can increase the square footage occupied by creating beds of natural looking foliage to enhance the natural feel of the water feature (and reduce the amount of grass you need to cut, water and fertilize).

There are many benefits to including a pond or waterfall in your landscaping plan---or even installing one after the fact. From creating a serene environment for your own enjoyment to increasing the value of your home, it's an investment that will enhance your home several times over.

Eat Your Heart Out: The benefits of your own home garden

A well-landscaped yard can increase the value of your home and be a source of pride to homeowners. But your yard's value doesn't have to be strictly ornamental. You can put it to work to help make a happier, healthier family, and save you some money at the same time, with a well-tended garden.

Gardening has many benefits, not the least of which is free food. As gas prices rise, so do the prices of fresh produce at the supermarket. Having your own fruit, vegetables and herbs right in your own back yard is not only convenient, but can end up saving you a lot of money.

Gardening also has another benefit in composting. Composting lets you make use of grass clippings, food waste & leftovers and even the remnants of last year's garden to create your own nutrient-rich fertilizer.

And, of course, whatever square footage is designated for your garden is square footage you don't have to mow. And the maintenance you do have to do, like watering and weeding, more than pays for itself come harvest time.

Finally, there are the health considerations. Nutritious, healthy food, being the first and foremost. You know where it comes from and what, if any, chemicals are used on it. Many people swear food from their own gardens tastes better, possibly because it doesn't come from land that had been over-farmed and depleted of nutrients.

And the act of gardening itself has been shown to have both strength-training and endurance building exercise benefits. Digging, squatting, walking, carrying...gardening is very much an active process.

So the next time you look at your yard, maybe start thinking about the best place for YOUR garden, and how you can put your yard to work for you.

Link: A follow up on the subject of mulching

Check out this link about mulching:
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1604.htm

Mulch Ado About Nothing: 6 Reasons to Maintain Ground Cover Year Round

Choosing the right ground cover can make the difference between a "nice" yard and one that makes you sit up and say "Wow!" The right mulch can keep your lawn healthy, protect against the elements and provide a little visual polish to any landscaping. Here are six benefits of paying attention to your ground cover:

1. Conserve Moisture
Mulch fills in and covers the exposed soil areas of your yard, where you lose most water to evaporation. By holding the moisture in, you save money by reducing the need to water as frequently.

2. Control Weeds
Weeds are tenacious once they sprout, mixing in with the root systems of your bedded plants, making them nearly impossible to eradicate. Your best bet at controlling them is to rob them of the sunlight they need to grow those first few crucial inches. A nice, thick, healthy layer of mulch will do just that, keeping your beds and the bases of your trees clean and clear.

3. Reduce Erosion
Those exposed areas where you lose a lot of moisture are also the places where erosion first sets in, chipping away at your lawn and beds inch by inch. Keeping them covered acts to hold the soil in place and dissipates rainwater so it doesn't form gullies in the middle of your well-manicured lawn.

4. Keep roots cool
When you go outside in the spring and summer, you know that it's a good idea to wear sunscreen, right? Ground cover serves the same purpose, shielding root systems from excessive heat that can send them into crisis mode, and keeping them calm and cool.

5. Winter Protection
And the same thing that keeps them cool in the summer will keep them warm in the winter, protecting the roots from the cold, even when it snows or ices over. And good, thick mulch produces head as it decomposes, providing an extra layer of protection in frigid temperatures.

6. Aesthetic Touch
Finally, the right ground cover keeps exposed earth out of sight, and provides a unifying accent that ties your whole yard together, similar to the trim on your home's exterior. And you can actually get ground cover elements tailored to fit the feel of your home's exterior.

So keep an eye on your mulch, and make sure you replace it when it starts looking worn, thin or uneven. It will pay off with a happy, healthy lawn you'll be proud of.

The Value of a Healthy Lawn is More than Just Aesthetic

A well-kept, healthy lawn is something to be proud of, especially in drought conditions. But a recent Michigan State University study estimates that good landscaping adds 5 to 11 percent to a home’s value. Other studies place that figure as high as 20 percent, making maintenance of your existing landscapes during a drought even more critical.

A thorough water audit can help you identify simple ways to keep your yard lush and green, even under the harshest conditions, like tweaking your irrigation schedule and installing root irrigation systems to reduce water-loss to evaporation. Rainwater harvesting, water features and even hardscaping are other options that can increase your lawn’s appeal and your home’s value.