Sources For A Good Landscape Design Idea

A good landscape design idea is a great way to start in designing the garden or the lawn. There are many different kinds of garden and lawn design that can suit any lay of the land. This is actually one of the more important aspects of a landscape design idea. The lay of the land should be changed as little as possible when thinking of a good landscape design idea. The choice of either a formal or rambling garden or lawn is up to the home owner but should complement the design of the house.

Magazines and Design Forums

One can get a good landscape design idea from various sources. The more credible of these sources are landscape magazines which advertise and advice how a certain are may be landscaped or designed to suit the home owner's preferences. The landscape design idea should be incorporated into the natural lay of the land to avoid big changes which will eventually affect the area in the long run.
Design forums in the internet often have advice and advertisements that may give the home owner a good landscape design idea. Many of these forums also offer good and sound advice regarding other aspects of landscape design. The same goes for getting a good pool landscaping idea, if the person intends to make a pool in his or her lawn or garden.

Tips for a Landscape Design Idea

As stated above, one important factor to consider when struck by a great landscape design idea is the lay is the land. Other things that need to be considered are the water and electric sources that are available for the area chose since the home owner might like to include a pool landscaping idea as well as landscape lighting to the overall landscape design.

Another thing that should be considered is the types of plants that you want to incorporate into your garden or lawn. Some plants grow too fast while others may not be compatible with one another. Any landscape design idea should have a concession to the design of the house as well.

Big plants that might not look so nice in a small garden or lawn should be avoided. Some houses look particularly well with borders made of bushes or small shrubs while others may need the bigger shrubs. In all, it is best to consider a lot of things before even starting to break apart your lawn or garden in favor of a landscape design idea that have no basis whatsoever.

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Landscape Design Software

When you first start landscaping all you really need is a pen and pencil to see your designs, but if you are a professional or have moved onto more advanced design then you need to consider buying some sort of design software. Software for landscape design will help you to see how your ideas will really work and whether you are making any mistakes in your design that need to be rectified.

You will be surprised at how many different types of software there are on the market. So what should you look for? Well one of the first things you need to think about is the price. While the more expensive packages might be more powerful, whether you need the extra features will come to how advanced you are in landscaping design.

The great thing about landscape design software is that it helps you to create a map of your garden so that you can see how it will look with your new landscape. This is a huge advantage as you can probably imagine as it means that you are able to take a lot of the guesswork out of designing your garden.

When you are buying software you should look for whether it provides a 2D or 3D view (or both) and how high quality the images are. Most packages will allow you to import pictures of your house so that you can get a computer representation of exactly what your house will look like from different angles. You should also look for landscaping software that has a large number of objects. Objects range from different kinds of plants to different accessories for a garden. The more objects in a package the more accurately you will be able to see how you garden will look once it is finished.

Buying landscape design software isn't always easy. There are so many different options that it can be difficult to know which to choose. One of the best ways is to look at the reviews that people have posted on the internet of their chosen software. This will tell you not only what the benefits of a package are, but also what the negatives are so that you can choose design software that best suits your needs and budget. More powerful software that costs a lot more will have extra features, but that certainly doesn't mean that the cheaper options won't be enough for you.

Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Landscape Design series of Information websites. You can visit his Landscape Design website at: Landscape Design Ideas

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Landscape design plans | Landscape Garden design

The landscape design market is booming. But what is booming along with it is the market of the online software that actually helps you design a landscape for your own house. I think it is a brilliant innovation. The advantages of the same are manifold. Not only do you save on the money that you would be giving to a professional landscaper, you will also actually be putting yourself into the design. Each and every corner in your house can now be a reflection of you and your family.

People in the United States spend a huge amount of money in landscape architecture as property is considered as the most important investment there. After all, it is an investment that will bring years of enjoyment, peace and harmony at your property. However, it is very important to understand all aspects of landscaping so that the money is not wasted and also that your landscape architects do not cheat you. Also, it is very vital to understand that the landscape should reflect your personality and not vice-versa. So do not overdo anything.
While choosing a landscape design for your house, considering the geographical and climatic conditions of your area is of utmost importance. For example, planning lush green lawns bordered with exotic flowers in an area where drought is a high possibility would be rather foolish. In contrast, a rock garden in a rocky terrain would be a fantastic idea. Also, in an area where water is available in plenty around the year, a water feature like a pond that reflects the sky and the surrounding surfaces can add depth and dimension to your landscape.

Along with the softwares, there are also a huge number of online websites that provide help. Some sites are owned by professional landscapers who fill their website with beautiful pictures of what they could your backyards into. However, some are in it for the pure pleasure of landscaping and fill their sites with very useful home landscape design ideas and tips.

Some of the easy to use and inexpensive landscape design software available for home landscape design over the Internet are:

Plan 3D: is an online landscape design service that helps you create home landscape with features available for walks, drives, patios, trees and planting. It lets you view your design from any angle.
Instant Architect Home (Broderbund Software): provides the ability to design your own home or landscape and is very intuitive in nature. Hence, no previous experience is required.
Fences and Gates: software helps design fences and gates in an artistic manner. It also provides a list of all the materials that will be required to build the fence after the design has been finalized.
3D Home Architect Home & Landscape: provide easy to use home and landscape design solutions, which also contains a complete set of landscape design tools. It uses the latest design techniques and technologies to make designing a very enjoyable experience.
35 Do It Yourself Backyard Project Plans: allows building 35 different projects for your backyard. It allows a combination of 10 sheds, 3 playhouses, 3 gazebos, 3 arbors, 2 picnic tables, a deck, a doghouse, a sandbox, fence and a loveseat. This is very inexpensive software and permits printing of plans.
Realtime Landscaping PRO (Idea Spectrum): helps you visualize even the most demanding landscape design projects. Using the latest advances in 3D technology, even beginners will find it easy to plan and visualize design ideas.
Realtime Landscaping PLUS (Idea Spectrum): helps create highly realistic 3D and photo based landscape designs. This software is ideal for homeowners as well as professional designers. The plus point is that no CAD or prior architectural experience is required.

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Back Yard Landscape Design Services, Expression of Balance and Unique Ideas

Simplicity in Theme and Follow Through

Design services for landscaping are much in demand today, as more home owners realize that they work hard in order to be able to spend more time in their own homes. Landscape Art design services offer simple ways to create unity in your landscape. While we realize that the front yard creates first impressions the back yard is the home owners place to escape and a theme which follows through both spaces consistently, leads to harmony.


Or a Multitude of Ideas

Expressing elements of design with balance and consistency means just what the word "balance" implies – a good sense of equality. But when it comes to the back yard, it is often much larger than front yard, so, different styles and ideas may be incorporated quite easily. For example Landscape Art would be able to include an entertainment area, a play area, contemplative area with water feature and even an edible garden. The ideas are quite limitless!

Because there are so many ideas to choose from and different ways to accomplish flow while including various ideas, it is always wise to choose a professional to establish at the very least the "grass roots" of the landscaping project. A large back yard should be a pleasure for the home owner and not a life sentence of hard labor.

Most lay people do not have the knowledge or skill that it takes for landscaping a back yard professionally, in particular for a large area. In a matter of days, professional landscaping services can turn a barren back yard into an enticing comfortable place which includes a safe playground area for children; close enough to keep an eye on them, while adults relax in their own space. Say for example in the Moroccan style; an entertainment area with a fire pit and cushioned seating on the floor, makes a very welcome and relaxing change to the normal-type deck seated entertainment style.

This could be further enhanced with potted palms or bamboo, to create an aura of seclusion, or even a gauze-draped gazebo with ambient lighting. While just around the corner, close to the kitchen entrance, an edible garden can be established with seedlings and the correct bedding and placement, virtually overnight.

Reduce Carbon Footprint and Recycle

The brilliance of a kitchen garden when you have the space is absolutely wonderful. The vegetables and herbs are fresh, this reduces carbon footprint and is good for your pockets as well as your health. Growing vegetables is brilliant as a project for the entire family to become involved with. In fact there is no need even for a garden in order to grow fresh herbs and vegetables, they can be successfully grown in large or smaller planters, recycled barrels or other large containers, and have been attractively and successfully grown using old car tires, which may also be painted, as containers and for bordering. Roof tiles, wine bottles and many other products may be attractively recycled in back yard landscaping ideas; say nothing of composting and other methods for sustainability.

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Free Landscaping Design Software

If your want to take your landscape design to the next level then you definitely need to consider getting your hands on landscape design software. While there are plenty options available on the market, they can be quite expensive and if you are only landscaping your own garden you might not be able to justify the cost. However there are some free landscape design software options available on the internet which may be more than enough if you are only a hobbyist.

You should remember however, that if a piece of software is free it is probably not going to be as advanced as paid options. That doesn't mean that free landscaping design software won't be enough for you, this depends on what you want to achieve using your software. The great thing about free software is that there is no cost for trying it out to see whether it has the features that you want.

Even though the average paid landscaping software will have a more advanced graphical interface and will look a lot better, a lot of the features aren't actually necessary to create a brilliant garden. If you have tried out a piece of free software and decided that it isn't enough for you then you should see if a more expensive software program has a free trial before buying it. Many programs such as Isisoft offer a free month long trial of their software which will allow you to really see whether it is what you need. If you are buying an expensive computer program then you should always try and give it a go first because often getting a refund can be difficult if you have already installed and registered the software.

The other benefit of free landscaping software is that they are often much more simple to use than more advanced options. While paid software might be more powerful and allow you to do more advanced things, it also increases the learning curve to start using it. Free software might not have these extras and hence if it is designed well it will probably be a lot easier to use. If you are only going to be using the software for your own garden then it often doesn't make sense to spend a lot of time learning how to use a difficult program when you don't need it.

One example of free garden design software is Virtual Garden Designer. This is a great option if you want to visualize how your garden will look once it is completed, even if it isn't as powerful as paid software.

The options today for landscape design programs is simply unlimited. If you surf the net you can find scores of programs that are free, or the trial program is free. I urge you to take advantage of many of these offers. You have nothing to lose, and it can assist you a great deal when you are landscaping your property.

Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Landscape Design Ideas series of Information websites. You can visit his Landscape Design website at: Latest Landscape Design Ideas

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Desert Landscape Designs Require Less Water

Desert landscape designs are used by many of us who live in areas where it is difficult to maintain green grass or to grow many plants. Many desert landscape designs work well in backyards that have many rocks and boulders along with very sandy soil. That peaceful backyard retreat can still be created by adding items to soften the yard and give the family and guests more comfort.

Gardening magazines or landscape magazines that are relevant to your weather conditions will be able to help you figure out what will work best. The most difficult part is coming up with that perfect design for you and your family. There are three important issues to consider regarding your desert design and they are: the amount of money you want to spend; the time you are willing to give to the project; and the space you have available. If you are thinking about boulders or already have some in the yard, by placing lively desert plants around them can spruce up a garden. A smaller yard will be able to handle smaller boulders or rocks of different colors, shapes, and styles.

It is always possible to create a desert landscape in any garden. Plants and flowers that are that are able to withstand your particular weather conditions along with rocks and pebbles will give you a desert type landscape that can give a garden a new look. The lower growing plants and smaller boulders need to be in the front of the garden while the taller and larger ones are lining the back. This way you can enjoy the entire landscape from inside the house and may even lure you to spend more time outdoors enjoying it.

If you live in a hot, dry climate you may want to add a water feature to your backyard landscape. This not only gives you relief from the heat but that wonderful sound of water will be very relaxing after a long day at work. Some of you may be able to add a swimming pool but others with smaller yards can have a water fountain, water garden, or a pond for enjoyment. Another wonderful idea for a desert garden is to add outdoor lighting. This way you will be able to enjoy your desert landscape designs even more during the night. Unusual shadows will be created by spotlighting all your rocks and boulders. A few creative ideas can improve the feel of your landscape.

Desert garden designs are not only good for arid climate areas but for almost any type of climate area because you will be using native plants that require very little or no water to be able to survive. In the arid climate areas some shade or covered outdoor living areas are a must to work into the landscape for relief and comfort from the extreme sun in the afternoon. There are several materials that are energy efficient to create outdoor living rooms that can resist the intense heat from the sun but will also retain a little warmth during the cooler evening hours.

Clay barrel roof tiles, adobe brick, natural cast earth, and even thatched straw can be used to construct shaded patios and covered walkways. Any garden walls that are constructed of plaster or clay will provide shade during the day and warmth during the evening and also provide a little privacy. The right accessories can blend together the indoor space with the outdoor area by providing comfort and ease of entertainment to the garden. Desert patio designs not only include some type of shade and water feature but also fans or other devices that help circulate the air. Fireplaces or some type of heating device for cool, chilly evenings with any other patio accessories can create a comforting outdoor living room.

These desert designs also include xeriscaping which is an easy way to garden in the dry climate with the use of drought tolerant plants and it also will preserve one of our most precious resources by the use of less water. Xeriscaping will still provide us a beautiful garden of blooming flowers and native foliage. It also combines a number of native plants that are able to survive with smaller amounts of rainwater. Desert landscape designs are created mostly in your very arid climates that receive the lowest levels of rainfall during the year but can also be used in other climates to conserve the use of water.

Barbara lives in a desert area that does best with desert landscape designs. She and her husband enjoy their time in the garden. Barbara has several articles on her website Gardeners Garden Supplies pertaining to the garden.

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The Delight of a Courtyard Landscape Design

Court Yard. The very word stirs the imagination. What comes to mind when you think of a courtyard? Is it a royal garden? A secret place? A sanctuary? Even an outdoor sitting room or retreat might be imagined. If your garden or the architecture of your home includes a courtyard take advantage of this delightful feature. The landscape design details of your courtyard garden lend themselves to a bit more punch than the rest of your garden.

Designing a courtyard landscape is as easy as a-b-c: Develop a design, designate a focal point and fill in the spaces with plants according to the scale of the garden.

Because the courtyard is such a special feature of your landscape, the design aspect is the most important step in your landscape design. Even before making design choices it is important to research appropriate plants for your area, designs that complement your architecture, and ideas that stem from your imagination and desire for your courtyard use. Even if you plan to install the landscape yourself, you might want to consult a professional landscape designer for this phase. Unlike the rest of your garden, a courtyard must be a little more permanent, so carefully plan your courtyard landscape design.

Move on to the next step, designating a focal point only after the design has been carefully planned. When choosing the focal point for a courtyard landscape design, you have much more choices than simply plants. True, a beautiful fruit tree with a circular border, or a flowering weeping cherry might be exactly what your design needs. However, you could also choose from a number of other plant designs such as an herb garden or a mossy path leading to a quiet but beautiful sitting area. Perhaps a water feature; either a reflecting pool or a fountain, will provide the atmosphere you desire. Even a formal or informal sitting area, a grill or a comfy hammock could provide an inviting focal point. It might be a good idea to allow the expert designer who is helping you with your plan give you suggestions about the focal point, helping you coordinate the mood of your courtyard and the scale of the space.

The final step, choosing and installing the right plants and other details to fill in the rest of the space is actually the most rewarding. It is exciting to watch everything come together and see your dream courtyard come alive. A courtyard landscape design provides ample opportunity to add small details or features that will coordinate, yet provide the unexpected. Perhaps a strawberry border to the edge of a flower bed, or a small bronze sculpture, or even a rock garden tucked into a corner will deliver that extra touch that makes the design. When choosing the fill in elements of the courtyard design, remember to select the largest plants first to anchor the design, and then fill in with smaller. The focal point and the large plants should be carefully selected for their permanent home, but the smaller plants can be changed or moved seasonally. Don't forget to include some container plants as well that can be transported to different areas of the courtyard for different uses.

If you are a ‘do-it-yourselfer,' and you plan to accomplish a lot of the digging and planting securing the help of the landscape designer will save you time and trouble in the long run. They will help you make sound decisions based on their training, knowledge and expertise, eliminating the risk of having to re do the work in the near future. To save money, you might even consider sharing the responsibility of your courtyard landscape design with a professional landscape designer. Whether you do the entire job yourself, or you hire a designer, a court yard landscape design will bring you pleasure for many years to come.

There are lots of things a landscape designer can suggest to make the most of your courtyard. We used the experience of this landscaping sydney designer.
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Backyard Landscaping Designs

Mainly designed for entertainment purposes and for extended living areas, backyard landscaping designs can be as detailed as needed to gain the look desired. Taking time to draw out a design is important. This design should include plans for existing trees and shrubberies, retaining walls, fences and backyard structures. Backyard landscaping designs need to be well thought out and planned. Use and function of the layout should be the first designing step. Privacy issues with neighbors, pet issues, and stray animals need to be addressed when planning the landscape design. Play areas and entertainment areas need to be well planned for.

An ugly fence or chain linked fence can be covered up by a tree line or shrubbery line that will bank against it properly. Use this period of designing to think about planting for noise and privacy reasons. Most landscaping designs flow freely with no set structuring other than being pleasing to the eyes of the beholder. Existing patio areas and pools should be carefully designed around to keep entertainment value high. Crowding plants around in haphazard ways is not an option when it comes to seating arrangements. Boxy seating areas are not as pleasing to the eye as those that curve and curl around a seating area on two sides or more. Every corner should be taken into consideration by the height of plants needed for privacy. Proper walking paths can be scattered with pea gravel or set with occasional stepping stones winding through the landscaping design. Pavers are also ideal path material and can be used, as to avoid having to edge the landscaped area with edging material.

Often, a plant or shrub can be safely moved to be incorporated into the design. Large trees may take more planning. Talking with a local nursery about moving larger planted trees, like fruit trees, is recommended. Planning the move for existing plants should be done when they are in their dormant state to avoid any potential re-rooting problems. The design stage should also include a nearby water source for landscape watering, or a water irrigation design should be added. It is recommended that all waterlines, underground cable lines, electric line, phone lines and gas lines be well marked beforehand. Calling the local utility and power company is a good idea before ever digging up a yard.

Once the backyard landscaping designs are drawn and finished, plants, trees, water structures and pavers or stepping stones need to be bought. Plants, trees and shrubbery should be chosen for their beauty as well as their hardiness. Make sure the plants that are bought for the landscaping project are properly zoned for the area. A local nursery or landscaping magazine will have this information. Native plants should be used, not only for the existing wildlife species, but because invasive species tend to become aggressive and quickly take over the design, often killing off native species.

Water fountains and backyard water ponds lend artistic and architectural value to backyard landscaping designs. Plants that are known water species or tolerate wet soil conditions should be easy to find and establish in and around these water features. If fish are added to the water pond, a good investment would be a pond mesh covering to keep birds from fishing in the pond. Additional features to add around ponds and fountains are beautiful riverbed rocks and small landscaping boulders. Lights that light these features up at night can add even more interest to the landscape. Solar light kits are the most popular and most cost-effective to use.

For more backyard landscaping ideas, stop by http://www.BetterBackyards.com/

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Landscaping Design Software

Landscape design software is used to create landscape ideas and view landscaping tasks. Anyone can use this kind of software, whether you are a DIY fanatic or a professional landscaper. It can save you time by reducing the amount of work you end up doing as well as rid you of lots of inconveniences. You can modify your design, view a general concept of how the final design will look and more.

But, in order to get your desired results, you have to first understand what your needs are. Let's look at what some of your needs may be and the expectations of using landscape design software.

One of the errors people make is to expect that the design software will do the design for them. This is a big misconception. While some software will have ready-made designs which you can tweak, if you don't have the basic knowledge of landscape design, it can be hard to get the look you want.

The great advantage of landscaping design software is that you don't have to know how to draw. You can create a color plan, 3-D views and be able to make changes in a snap. The downside though is that it can be time consuming to learn to use the features. You have to know how to use the software before you begin designing. In addition, you can only use the materials provided for you in the template chooser and you have to be able to apply your knowledge of landscape design as the software doesn't do the design for you.

Best Way to Plan a Landscape

A great option to juggle both worlds is to sketch a rough draft on paper of what your idea is. Once you have an idea of what you want your design to look like, you can apply the use of the software to create a proper design and allow you to get a 3-D view.

The fundamental aspect of the design, however, is the primary survey. Taking a guess of the size and shape of your landscape is a huge mistake. You can still create a beautiful design but if it doesn't fit the space, then you would have wasted your time. Good design entails fitting together the aspects of the entire area as one unit. Therefore, if a specific area had to be amended, it will have repercussions for the rest of the design as well.

Landscape design software can be downloaded for free. This would be a great option if you are just looking for something to help you sketch a plan or make simple drawings. Software that you can purchase is typically classified in expert groups. These are ideal for professionals wanting to invest in a business tool. For the average homeowner however, it would be too much money spent on something that wouldn't fulfill a significant need.

Before you decide to purchase landscape design software, you should first learn the principles of landscape design and practice on free software to see if you enjoy using computer aided design.

To learn more about landscaping software, as well as other ways to help you create the best outdoor decor, visit http://www.BetterBackyards.com/

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Using Landscape Design Software to Plan Your Garden

Many a person who is interested in crafting and creating a lovely lawn and garden spends a great deal of time scratching his or her head trying to figure out exactly how to get started on the landscaping process. Perhaps you find yourself in such a position at this point in time. Perhaps you have decided that you want to better and beautify your yard but you do not exactly know how to get started.

In this regard, if you are like most people you do not have unlimited funds to invest into gardening and landscaping. Consequently, you may not feel as if you are in a position to hire a professional landscape consultant or garden expert. In short, you may feel rather adrift on a what might be coined a sea of bare dirt.

One tried and true solution that you might want to seriously consider when it comes to gardening and landscaping is the utilization of landscape design software. Indeed, in the 21st century, an ever growing number of men and women who are interested in creating lovely garden spots are relying on landscape design software programs to further their efforts.

Many a gardener wrongly assumes that typical landscape design software programs are out of their reach for two reasons. These people assume that these software programs will be too expensive. Additionally, these people conclude that a landscape design software program will be complicated and difficult to utilize.

Of course, there are a number of high end landscape design software programs that are designed for garden and landscape professionals. It is true that these types of programs can require a significant financial investment and it is likewise accurate to note that some of these programs can be quite complicated in their operation. However, in recent years, a new generation of landscape design software has been created with the typical consumer in mind.

As a result, there are now a number of different, reliable landscape software programs on the market today that are both economical and easy to use. These programs allow a person with only rudimentary computer skills to be able to design truly attractive and appealing landscaping schemes.

There are a number of different outlets through which a consumer can purchase user-friendly, economical landscape design software programs. Of course, the Internet is a natural resource for such software (as it has become for so many items and services in the 21st century). Additionally, an ever increasing number of garden supply shops and stores in the brick and mortar world have taken to adding tried and tested landscape design software to their stocks and inventories. Indeed, many of these merchants offer classes and training in the use of landscape design software for their customers and patrons.

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Landscape Design Ideas - Keep it Simple

In university design studies, whether landscape, interior or architecture; students all learn the basic components of design. Professors often assign projects or charrettes to help their students hone-in their design skills. Depending on the course, these assignments could range from Master Planning to Urban Revitalization to the Planting Design of a Small Courtyard. As students ideas veer off course, professors would steer them back in the right direction. Teachers allow them to come up with fresh, innovative ideas, but also would want students to keep a design simple and useable for the client. The term "K.I.S.S." is often heard during critiques.

KISS stands for "Keep it Simple, Stupid." The KISS mantra could be used across all aspects of life, but I'll focus on how this quote applies to landscaping in the home garden.

A few basic design principles to KISS are Order, Unity and Rhythm.

Order simply refers to the framework of the yard and how it is laid out. Are beds symmetrical or asymmetrical? Or maybe a massing of the same plants in a bed really makes a statement when in bloom. Without order, the flower beds look uncontrolled and one's eye cannot easily follow through the landscape.

Unity is the connection among pieces in a design. It is the seamless flow from your back door to your patio and the smooth transition into your garden. Unity brings together the lines, colors, forms and textures that make up the outdoor living space. When these objects are successfully blended together, the space feels right and Chi is positively flowing. According to feng shui, chi should always be able to flow freely through any space in order to help us be in balance with the elements surrounding us.

In music, rhythm refers to any flow or movement. In the landscape, this movement is repetition of plants or materials to create a pleasing result. Using a selected plant throughout the landscape helps carry a theme and pattern in the garden. Another example is utilizing patterns or materials in the patio.

Remember, these standards are not written in stone, but serve as a foundational base for landscape design. The next time you're out for a walk or in a space that is pleasing to you, ask yourself, "What makes this space/ garden/ patio comfortable?" "Why is this place so special?" See if the KISS principle applies and try to use it in your own garden.

JW Landscape Design provides sprinkler systems, patios and landscaping in Austin, TX. Our services include landscape design, irrigation, patios and outdoor lighting as well as spring and fall clean up. Our experienced landscape designers guarantee professional, prompt service.

We are a licensed irrigation company in the State of Texas (LI#18123) that have been installing sprinkler systems in Austin, TX for years. We serve both residential and commercial properties.

Please visit our website at http://jwlandscapedesign.com for more information and landscaping ideas.

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Garden Design Software - Benefits and Features

Add Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs

When using garden design software, it is easy to add plants to your landscape. See how different plants appear when they are placed together, notice how much space they require in your garden, and be mindful of the amount of sunlight they receive. If a plant is not blending very well with your garden design, just swap it out with a different plant. Making changes is easy when they are done at your desk and not in the soil.

Place Mulch, Grass, and Dirt

Design a bed for your gardens by placing mulch or dirt. It is recommended to use mulch for garden designs when available, as mulch can be quite attractive in the right setting. Choose the right type of mulch or dirt for your region, and be mindful of the soil requirements of the plants you place in it.

Design your lawn by creating a large grassy region. Choose the type of grass that compliments your house and is easy to care for. Alternately, use artificial grass for minimum care requirements and savings in your water bill. Garden design software makes it easy to see which color of grass suits your landscape design.


Design Decks and Patios

Whether you need to add existing decks and patios to your digital landscape design, or you are tasked with adding new structures, construction is easy with garden design software. Create deck designs with your favorite wood grain, balusters, railing, post caps, and more. Design patios with concrete, pavers, stone, or even custom materials.

Create Ponds and Water Gardens

Many people find ponds to be a relaxing and tranquil addition to a landscape design. Ponds can be added to your landscape in any shape and size, and even populated with Koi fish for an added touch of serenity. Add special pond waterfalls or fountains to your pond design for added visual and auditory effect. If you choose to keep water garden fish, be mindful of possible predators and prepare accordingly.

Modify Virtual Terrain and Add Retaining Walls

Is your landscape design seated atop uneven terrain? If so, use tools to accommodate for slopes, hills, and depressions. Create retaining walls in conjunction with a slope to design garden terraces: very elegant and impressive landscape features. Other terrain features you may consider include raised gardens, raised ponds, and ditches.

Add Roads and Vehicles

Perspective is very important when planning a landscape design, so it is a good idea to include the area immediately around the residence in the design. It is not necessary to design the neighbors' property, but including the street and sidewalk in front of the residence can go a long way toward giving a realistic impression of how your garden design will really look. This is especially true if you or your client lives on a Cul de Sac.

Design Swimming Pools and Spas

If your design includes a swimming pool or spa, then it is important to include it using your garden design software. Alternately, new swimming pools and spas can be designed along with the rest of your landscape. Swimming pools have a large footprint, and affect a lot more of a landscape design's visual appeal than they are typically given credit for. A good swimming pool design will not only provide a pool of rippling water, but will include bordering plants and waterfalls to help integrate the pool into the rest of the landscape.

Conclusion

Garden design software can help you in many ways, whether you are making just minor changes to an existing landscape or you are designing a completely new residence. By making changes in a 3D digital version of your design, you may stumble across landscaping ideas you never would have otherwise considered.

Justin invites you to download a free landscape design software trial: Download Trial. For more landscaping software information, see Idea Spectrum.

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Landscape Design Software-The Useful Landscaping Tool For Property Owners

Landscape design software will be the device used to sketch landscape ideas and view landscaping projects with the assistance of the computer. Each DIY fans and professional landscapers make use of this kind of instruments for maximizing work outcomes and attaining their goals. Because of expert software applications, it is not only possible to decrease the quantity of work, but also to get rid of plenty of inconveniences. You can make modifications, get yourself a common idea about how exactly the house will look like and so forth.

You can discover landscape design software both free of charge download or in pay-for-program packages. If you need something simple to assist you to draw a landscaping plan or make sketches, a free device could be the right thing to make use of. Google has such a sketching program, but it is not the only one. The greatest factor to do would be to lookup for the best-reviewed landscape design software and examine the corresponding attributes of each program. This will give you an concept about how exactly easy it would be to operate with the device and what it can do.
Then, paid landscape design software is normally categorized in expert groups. Landscaping designers may always have some top-notch tools to operate with. They cost a big deal of money but they could make wonders in terms of landscaping program drawing. Yet, the average house proprietor will not go to the extent of buying such applications: it might be as well higher a good investment for too low requirements. However, if you check on the web, you'll identify that you will find fairly many landscape design software programs that receive negative reviews and suggestions from customers.

How easy is it to operate? This is the primary query you have to find an answer to before purchasing some landscape design software. Too complicated configurations or capabilities and difficulty to set up are just two of the common issues encountered with some items. And the web abounds in tales regarding unfortunate options. Examine the functions and try a demo model of a plan, if some free landscape design software doesn't meet up with your needs.

It's in discussion boards and specific web sites that you'll locate hyperlinks to nicely esteemed software developers. The very advanced forms of the programs permit for landscaping plan sketching in related circumstances with architectural design. Most often the format is CAD-like, and also the operation of the program requires specific coaching or work expertise.

These are just a few issues to keep in mind while looking for landscape design software, and also you must go more in depth when you have to meet some high specialized requirements.

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Eco-Friendly Landscaping Designs

Firewise landscaping is quite common in Arizona, but we don't frequently hear as much about eco-friendly landscaping. Given the challenges of landscaping in the Phoenix area, eco-friendly landscaping is often overlooked. The reality is that it's easily accomplished no matter what kind of landscaping you're adding to your back yard or garden. If you're concerned about the impact that your landscaping could have on the environment, the reality is that you can find ways to create luxury living spaces outdoors without a high impact on the environment.

Low impact landscaping can be done no matter what type of landscaping or outdoor area that you're looking for. For the residential areas which are looking for ways to minimize the footprint that they make on the environment, or the home owner who wants to develop a natural area that offers great form and function, but also considers the overall impact of the project on the environment, there are some wonderful ways to accomplish precisely the look that you want and to keep your use of resources lower.
Materials may be selected in order to properly fit into your landscaping ideal, and installation specifications and details can be created that will add both form and function but keep your landscaping more natural to your area and keep your use of the resources to the low end. Seeking out a professional in order to help you to ascertain the best way to keep your environmental footprint lower is a great way to start.

Landscaping design companies can help you to select a great concept design or to work up a drawing that will give you the best methods to beautify and add scope and depth to your landscaping while remaining true to your values of green living. Whether you're interested in a desert landscaping or a more Mediterranean or Pacific Ocean landscaping design, the professional landscaper can help you to achieve that dream with minimal use of natural resources.

Whether you are installing a swimming pool, a water pad, a swim up bar, or a stone pizza oven in your back yard, you can do it in such a way as to make it environmentally friendly and to leave as small a footprint as possible on your environment. You can can create your environmentally friendly landscaping design using elements that you may never have imagined when you use the services of a qualified landscaper to help you to achieve a low impact, eco-friendly design plan for your own back yard or garden.

Creating a more native plant environment and a more naturally eco friendly environment has the added benefit of giving you both a low impact landscaping design and also saving you both time and money. You will put out less labor and far less money to maintain your environment when you consider low impact and beautifully appointed landscaping designs with the assistance of your professional landscaper.

Christopher D. Griffin is an author and recognized expert in the field of Arizona Landscaping and Desert Pool Landscaping. He specializes in all aspects of outdoor construction. Combined with his NFL experience (1996-1997) and civil engineering degree (B.S. University of New Mexico), Chris is an innovative genius in creating backyard environments and portrays his work at http://Unique-Landscapes.com.

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Front Yard Landscaping Tips For Year Round Beauty

There are many benefits to having a low maintenance front yard landscaping design. An easy to care for front yard landscape will save you time, money and enhance your property's curb appeal. You can hire professionals or do the work yourself with a little investment of time and money.

A low maintenance front yard landscaping design can be very personal and decorative as well saving you significant time and effort in regular upkeep. With the efforts to save energy you can help save water with less grass and this type of landscaping can solve your problems if you live in an area prone to drought conditions.

Keeping the amount of grass in your yard to a minimum will save you a lot of time, energy and watering. You will not need to worry about keeping weeds out or fertilizing the grass. You could keep a smaller area of grass and choose from many alternatives for the rest of the lawn.

1. There are a variety of grasses and vines that serve a variety of purposes. These ground covers grow quickly and do well in a variety of conditions. Clover in particular can be an attractive ground cover with its small colorful flowers and it serves as a bug repellant.

2. You can expand your parking area from a single driveway to a double parking area with concrete or gravel.

3. Plant a variety of bushes or trees and use mulch to keep down on the amount of weeds and watering.

4. Planting small flower beds will give your lawn color and you can change the plants with the seasons. There is a variety of bulbs to plant in the fall to bloom in the spring, when these flowers begin to wither, plant flowers that grow well in the spring and summer. There are also a variety of plants and flowers that will do well in the later spring and early fall.

5. A water feature like a large outdoor fountain will attract a variety of birds and provide an attractive element in your design.

6. Be sure to include the front entrance into your design. The best looking lawn in the neighborhood will not be attractive if the front of the house is neglected. Scrape and paint as well as replace any broken glass or torn window screens.

7. Have a professional install an automatic hidden sprinkler system.

8. Be sure to consider buried lines and any building permits you might need.

One of the easiest ways to increase the curb appeal and apparent value of your home is with a good front yard landscaping design. When planning your design keep in mind the style of home, area where you live and the local climate. Carefully planning the front yard landscape of your home will keep it looking attractive any time of year.

Belinda Nelson is a free lance copywriter who enjoys writing on a variety of subjects. Each article is carefully researched and put together for the benefit of the reader. Get more ideas and information about easy front yard landscaping by visiting: http://www.hiddentreasuresdirect.com/ Be sure to sign up for your free gift!

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Landscape Designers Tips and Tricks

Landscape designers are in huge demand and there is no hope for trial and error when it comes to Landscape Design. These professionals are experts at garden design, schooled in both the practical aspects of landscaping, as well as adding an artistic touch to your outdoor spaces. Besides that, they are also usually well trained experienced at meeting the challenges of landscape problems, and in transforming tough-to-work-with properties into beautiful landscapes to behold.

The simple homemaker who just wants to give his or her yard a DIY facelift, this article has some common landscaping issues and ways that landscape designers suggest you overcome them. Your backyard may not be comparable to the amazing Claremont Landscape Garden in the UK, but at least it'll be nice to look at your flowers bloom in spring and hear little birds chirping in the mornings.

While working with the yards having less space Landscape designers are quick to point out that you need to combine vigorous landscaping with space conscious design. Curves and tiered levels, for example, are excellent additions to a small yard because they add more depth and points of interest without swallowing up your valuable space. Still, you do want to think ahead about which type of plants to use. To quote the example you might hide the fence with flowering vines in the place of big shrubs and like to plant small trees instead of large ones.

High maintenance landscapes are being avoided by most of the homeowners. The reason is simple: high maintenance usually ends up being neglected, because we want to relax in the garden, not work all the time. You are being suggested by most designers suggest planting species which are native to your area or similar climates, and choosing ones that don't require a lot of pampering. Due to the presence of large variety of low maintenance plants available to everyone today, you can have a yard that requires almost no upkeep, but still looks great all the same. With the ease to maintain the low maintenance yards can also be low water ones. Having the landscape which can conserve the resources instead of wasting them is needed in this era of environmental concern.

You should re-use, and take advantage of, as much of your existing yard as possible is the recommendation from landscape designers, even when undertaking a large landscaping renovation. Which plants to leave in place, which to transplant, and which ones are best removed altogether, are being suggested by landscape designers. You are being suggested to "refurbish" rather than "replace" means saving money, time and learning to appreciate the landscaping resources you have ready at your disposal, by your designers.

Few landscape problems offer more challenges than the high traffic and noise of a busy street or intersection. Landscape designers do have natural solutions however. A world of difference can be made with a buffer of fast growing ,dense shrubbery when it comes to providing privacy and a sound barrier, while the soothing sound of a fountain or waterfall provides natural sound to compete with the din of the city. Designers have come up with some other great ideas like create small enclosed gardens where you can go to forget your daily stress, or think about installing up-lighting beneath trees and shrubbery to provide extra privacy at night.

The landscape solutions mentioned above are just a taste of what a good landscape designer can provide you as you design landscaping for your property. Whether you're looking for a total landscape renovation, or just want to "refurbish" your yard a little bit, the expertise a professional designer brings to the table is always well worth the money you spend to hire them.
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Free Landscape Design Ideas - Things You Can Do This Weekend

Landscape design ideas come in many shapes, sizes and colors and fit large, small and in-between budgets. If you're the adventurous type, you can "go all out" even to the point of renting a small bulldozer and really doing it big... or have beautiful results with much less effort.

If you're like a lot of us, you just want to have the nicest, most intriguing backyard around, and one you can do yourself. That could be achieved on your rented John Deere or maybe with just a little planing, placement and persistence. Sometimes, the difference between nice and really nice is simply the scale and arrangement.

For instance, incorporating a water feature, such as a fountain or koi pond-in the right place-upgrades everything around it. Ponds, fountains and even waterfalls can be built in a weekend by two non-professionals with a few simple tools and a few hundred dollars. Don't believe me? Go online and search "build koi pond", "cheap waterfalls" or "backyard water feature" for starters. A well placed small portable ceramic waterfall works wonders, too. Even a small water feature adds the unique element of sound.

Creating "areas" for your plantings is a way to add structure to your landscaping while allowing you to go wild within those areas. A vegetable garden set within a grouping of evergreens adds seasonal color and interest while providing food and interesting conversation. A rock tier is a perfect place to grow strawberries and tomatoes. Baskets of shade loving ferns adds serenity when hung from tree branches.

Solar lights are inexpensive and amazing after dark! Place them along a walkway, throughout your landscape or behind your new pond, where they'll reflect your good sense. Buy 'em, bring 'em home and stick 'em in the ground! See how important these can be at your next BBQ when the sun starts to set!

And, as always, keep "color" at the forefront. Variegated leaves, flowers, bright garden art and colorful pots. Color can bring it all together. And be conscious of the environment as you plan. there are many, many plants and landscape elements which are "drought resistant" and environmentally friendly. Its a natural thing to do.

For more tips, advice and free ideas, go to Free Landscape Design and click around!

Durand Demlow is a designer, home remodeler and web site developer. His knowledge and experience has allowed him to create a website focused on helping do-it-yourselfers and homeowners remodel and decorate utilizing his free advice and tips, gathered over three decades of home renovations.

His website, RemodelQuickTips.com, is an ever-changing free resource of ideas and advice.

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Tips to Cut Costs on Orange County Landscape Design

Is your contractor certified to put in your Orange County landscape design? There's a very simple way to learn if they are... simply have a look at the online site regarding the California Dept. of Consumer Affairs and you will have the ability to investigate their particular databases make sure that your Orange County landscape design is performed in accordance with code. Increasing the property value of your property, spending less in the long run, and visual appearance are a few useful motives for ensuring that your landscaping design is completed the right way.

One of the best considerations to ensure that your Orange County landscape design is completed properly is maximizing the valuation of your property. Generally, landscaping enhancements could raise the valuation on your property as high as 200% if you sell it, as per The American Society of Landscape Architects. To illustrate, if you happen to shell out around 6-11% of the property's valuation on landscape, you should be able to see about a 16% profit with that expenditure.
Also, saving cash in the long run might be expected should your Orange County landscape design is completed efficiently. Ask the landscape design contractor about water preserving sprinkler products. If certified, they should certainly be aware that sprinkler units in most cases fritter away a great quantity of water as a consequence of evaporation together with overspray. An excellent rule of thumb will be the more water a sprinkler product sprays, the more water is completely lost in evaporation and overspray. Think about using a watering plan on the grounds that they have been known to conserve up to fifty percent in comparison with your ordinary sprinkler system. Furthermore, if every individual that's landscaping their particular property could consider switching their particular sprinkler systems to drip irrigation strategies, think about the quantity of water we might save! Seek advice from your trained Orange County landscape contractor pertaining to these terrific price conserving tactics.

Thirdly, the general look of one's landscape style and design will be a lot more desirable should you utilize a trained Orange County landscape design contractor. Of course, we won't be able to ensure the end result and experience of every single contractor, but in almost all cases a licensed landscaper has labored within the industry for lots of years. These landscape companies understand what is most effective and what doesn't, so your all around landscaping design is going to reflect their valuable experience profoundly. Furthermore, a trained contractor knows his particular flowers and plants. This individual is not going to suggest choosing flowers and plants that require more shade from the sunlight.

Also, he or she will never advise putting flowers and plants like Hydrangeas within locations that consist mainly of shade, considering that he knows that they demand way more direct sunshine. Plus, he or she should be able to benefit from his own sources to identify established watering lines in order to put a stop to anyone from destroying current landscape sprinkler devices and the like. For the duration of the entire process, he or she should certainly be able to re-run those specific lines appropriately to be sure that your new landscaping isn't affected by the watering system.

When deciding on your contractor, bear in mind the straightforward pointers defined earlier and you can expect to be extremely delighted with regard to your Orange County landscape design. Be certain to engage a knowledgeable landscaping contractor to ensure you know every aspect will be completed properly. This is certainly the primary part of a successful landscaping process. I find it difficult to advise you of exactly how many home owners have saved cash and also ended up with attractive landscapes as a result of the knowledge and working experience of a competent Orange County landscape design professional.

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Landscape Designers Vancouver

Beaver Landscape is the best place for landscape designers in Vancouver.

For 5 years in a row Beaver Landscape has been the first company that comes to mind for Vancouver residents when it comes to landscape design. Their strive for excellence in design, execution and customer service has made them a leader in their field since before their incorporation in 1988. Ever mindful of environmental health, Beaver Landscape has been a trailblazer in green roof technology, manages and maintains an active green waste site and continually adopts the newest and most energy efficient equipment available.

As a bonded, licensed, insured and certified landscape design company, Beaver Landscape is equipped to deal with your landscape design needs however big or small. Their designers implement irrigation, walkways and patios, fences, concrete, asphalt, ponds and custom designs to build parks, playing fields, even highway and road projects that are beautiful and easy to maintain. Beaver Landscape's team of knowledgeable professionals can not only design and install your landscaping, but can also help you keep it looking its best. Beaver Landscape has worked extensively with both residential properties and large commercial complexes, working closely with the customer to offer solutions that will please the eyes and the pocketbook.

Beaver Landscape offers full tree service, expert shrub pruning, turf installation and lawn care. The nuisance of pests in your yard is a thing of the past with pesticide services from Vancouver's best landscape designers. No more dead lawn as turf health is guaranteed with a professional fertilization program. When the weather does its worst, Beaver Landscape also offers snow removal and de-icing services to keep you safe and comfortable. If you are interested in the many benefits of green roof technology Beaver Landscape can help. They use the latest in lightweight media to guarantee ease of use, plant health and sustainability. It is light, drains well, eliminates the need for multiple layer systems, is made from recycled products and promotes root health to name just a few benefits. Trust the landscape designers at Beaver Landscape to implement these systems and see why Vancouver has named them the winner of the Consumers Choice Award for best landscape designer for the 5th year in a row.

When businesses compete to offer the best products with the best service at great prices everyone wins. The Consumers Choice Awards realized this, and in 1987 began their mission to recognize and promote business excellence. The prestigious award ceremony is highly publicized, with recipients enjoying the fruits of their hard labor in the form of increased business and community awareness. The Consumers Choice Awards is the only organization that utilizes an independent market research campaign to accurately determine which businesses are considered the best by consumers in their area. Open ended questionnaires ask participants who they consider the best business in a number of given categories, such as best landscape designer in Vancouver. The 5 most mentioned businesses in each category are then determined and put to a vote. For quality purposes this procedure is repeated. Once the ballots are counted, winners are announced. Once again Beaver Landscape has proven that in Vancouver there is no better place to find a landscape designer. Congratulations on your Consumers Choice Award for best landscape designer in Vancouver.

Thank you Consumers Choice Awards for your continual effort to reward best business practices in local communities. Thank you Beaver Landscape for being the number one choice in Vancouver for landscape design. Beaver Landscape can be found at 11720 Voyageur Way in Richmond V6X 3G9. You can also reach them by telephone at (604) 271-3060. Stop by or call today to learn how Beaver Landscape can make all of your landscaping design dreams come true.

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Top 5 Architectural Design Software Products

If you are browsing for an architectural design software to begin redesigning your potential residence, or likely to guide you with your college works, the subsequent guide may help one to make a good choice concerning the perfect architectural design software to suit your needs.

Even while I was student in architecture, I used to be pretty confused with the options which i had at that time. It was 2003 and my second year, so as everyone learned a software, I needed to pick one myself. After researching like crazy thru forums, and talking to my colleagues I began to use Archicad, since it seemed the most effective fit for what we had to do... That appeared to work fine, until I needed to develop more complicated 3D objects, also to rotate them easily... During those times, Archicad was a bit dumber in that area, so I switched to Allplan, and stayed with it ever since.

Enough, about me, let's talk about what can be your options today, as the current market in architectural design software is a whole lot more diverse than a several years back.

1. ArchiCAD

The primary recommendation I have for rookies, is ArchiCAD, and that is as this software, was, but still is among the most intuitive ones with regards to producing and adjusting floor plans in my view. What meaning, is that if you're a young architect or designer you can easily discover the most significant commands and use them immediately to digitally draw whatever you want. You can also obtain a free trial version for the software.


2. Chief Architect

Is actually a professional 3D architectural home design software. It includes a built in automated building tools to make home design, remodeling, interior design and kitchen & bath design as simple as it gets. You can find why Chief Architect could be the home design software software product of preference for 2D and 3D design for a lot of US architects. This software also has an free trial offer, so if you think this can be a better suited option, give it a shot.

3. Punch Software

Self intitled America's #1 Home & Landscape Design Software, this application combines the power of NexGen with the stunning realism of photographic quality from LightWorks, enabling you to create realistic home designs yourself, or for your customers. You can check it on their official page.

4. Autocad Architecture

AutoCAD Architecture software program is the package of AutoCAD designed for architects. Features developed for architectural drafting help you build designs and documents more effectively, inside the familiar AutoCAD environment. Certainly, you can try this one too before you buy it.

5. Vectorworks Architect

This is my personal favorite, and I left it towards the end, simply because is quite complex, and although it's difficult to sit and learn your way around it, the program will deliver fast and extraordinary results after you have used it for some time. But as I was saying, this is for tech nerds, and in all likelihood not really the first option for a newbie.

This group of architectural designs software should supply you with a basic guidance regarding what is available today out there and what you could buy for your future designs.

You can learn more about architectural design software and other design programs and resources at our website http://www.archtopia.com

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