It is so exciting to start any Landscaping Design project. Many home owners begin without a plan and end up dissatisfied with the overall result leaving them with wasted money and time. The planning stage is one of the most important pieces in the landscape Design and should be carefully planned out to give your home the best look in regards to Landscaping. There are many things to think about when Designing the Landscaping in your yard. Create the space on paper and let your imagination go before you spend money and time on planting and the creation of the space.
Here are some things to think about before your green thumb gets to work.
1) Accessible: Make sure your yard is still accessible to all areas that might need maintenance further on down the road. When we began Landscaping I had to take into account access into our back yard. We have a grinder system that needs to be accessed by the township so it was important that they did not trample my new Landscaping. Other things to consider are where your well and septic are contained. You will have your own obstacles to review before you begin your Landscaping Design project.
2) Focus: It is important that you Design your Landscaping around a point of focus. Options for a focal point include a larger tree with flowers, a statue or garden art piece or even something as simple as a bench. All it needs to be is something that says look at me and brings the attention to your Landscaping Design. It needs to stand out not stick out like a sore thumb so plan accordingly.
3) Ditch Formality: When a landscape Design is formal it sets up the garden for disaster for the inexperienced landscape Designer. For instance if you are trying to keep complete symmetry that will require weekly maintenance and up keep. Also, if you are planting in symmetry and one object dies or is infected it will need to be removed leaving the challenge of finding a replacement of equivalent size.
4) Straight not Curvy: Landscape Designs that are overly curvy are not appealing to the eye. Instead of a small garden with lots of curves look into something with subtle curves and more lines.
5) Make it Move: Make sure your garden has Elements that move in the wind. Larger grasses or shrubs that move with the wind add interest and leave your garden from becoming stagnant and still. You want slight movement. Plants that attract animals are wonderfully pleasing to the senses as are the creatures they attract. Butterflies and birds bring another degree of movement which is pleasing to most.
6) Accents: Do not allow the landscape Design to overkill your homes Design but also don't let it completely over shadow the home either. It is important to keep things in proportion and to soften any flaws in the home.
7) Delete: Instead of Designing the landscape around Elements that you dislike remove them. If you dislike that oak taking up the entire back yard remove it. It may give you a new motivation in your Design and you will be making it a space you love instead of one you can just deal with.
8) Follow Direction: It is important to make sure you plant items where they will thrive. If you have shade don't plant items that are in need of full sun. They will not thrive and you will be wasting funds. It is important for you to review what the plants need before you make purchases to make sure your environment is one in which will allow the landscape Design to flourish.
It is best not to walk into a Landscaping center without a budget and a plan. Without those two items you can end up throwing valuable resources down the drain. Lack of planning will end up costing you money that could be used elsewhere in your landscape Design. It is important to also remember that Rome wasn't built in a day and that a landscape Design can be added as you continue to live in your home.
