With my front, side and backyard needing totally redone after the flooding to the property I have been taking stock of what works in the yard, what needs to be removed and how to set up the yard to be flood proof or at least to drain water as quickly as possible.
photo credit: dichohecho

I have also been looking at shrubs and trees to get a good deal but also pick plants that will work in certain areas. My main concerns in selecting shrubs were the height they would grow and their hardiness.

In the front of the yard I will have a raised planted area that will protect the yard from run off rain. Right now it’s a pile of rocks and looks pretty homely.

I decided this area needed native plants that will handle drought and rough winds. I am also selecting plants that will need less care so I don’t need to work with the plantings as much. This area will also have a heavy covering of mulch to keep weeds down and retain moisture in the soil.

So my selections for this area are daisies, Black-eyed Susans, lilies, perennial herbs and several other low plants and ground covers. For shrubs I will have groupings of juniper, one flowering shrub and a several lower growing shrubs. No shrub will grow to over seven foot.
photo credit: danielfoster437

The area will take about two weeks to set up.

To get started I need to pull out the flat rock and set it aside for the flat rock patio I am creating. I need to enrich the soil and check the nutrients to make sure the shrubs I have selected will grow well. I will check online and at my local nursery for this information.

I was lucky yesterday and found some shrubs on sale for an extremely low price of $2. I asked why and they told me they just don’t want to over-winter the shrubs. I came home and checked the shrub varieties online to see if any would work in the yard.

The shrubs are 3 to 4 foot high and in pretty good shape. I chose four different varieties. And today they were $1. Actually about 75 cents – the owner told me to put a few more in the car.

I am most pleased with the “Gold Cone” Juniper. It will give height to the shrub groupings I have selected and add color all season long. By selecting shrubs with flowers or variegated leaves and a variety of perennials that flower for three season I will have an attractive garden area all year long and one that will handle sun, wind and act as a flood barrier.

I can also buy perennials at a nearby business for $2 a shovel scoop. I can break each scoop down into 4 or 5 plant groups. This will stretch my landscaping costs down

I plan to start the area this week and if weather permits (that means a few sunny days – a rare event this summer) the area should be done in two weeks. It will have that new somewhat bare look but next summer it should look great.

I will show photos of the finished project in a few weeks.

Technorati Tags: buying shrubs, landscaping makeover, landscaping on a budget, native plants

It doesn’t matter if you have a large or small space to work with, a garden should be relaxing to you. But sometimes that same layout can get a bit old and you just want a change.
photo credit: slideshow bob

So, here are five easy garden landscaping ideas that you can try without a lot of work or money:

Idea #1: Fountains are a great way to spice it up – No matter who you are, a nice little fountain is always something relaxing in a garden. And, these great little garden landscaping ideas offer you a sweet way to get a small, cheap fountain and place it in your garden to liven up any space. It doesn’t matter what size fountain you choose, the sound of the water and the birds and butterflies it will attract will help you relax and enjoy your space.

Idea #2: Potted plants are always beautiful – While they don’t have to be in massive planters, you can easily create and move your potted plants all over your garden then the need strikes you to change garden landscaping ideas. One week it can be spread out and peaceful, the next week they can mark your paths. It’s easy to pick up some beautiful, inexpensive pots and plant some of your favorite flowers.

Idea #3: You don’t need thousands of colors at once – One of the most common mistakes that people make in their garden landscaping ideas is to just grab every color of the rainbow and go to town. Yet there are certain colors that will clash and cause a war on your eyes. You want to make sure that you choose and place like colors together, or one cool and one warm color in a specific area. This way, you have a beautiful garden without chaos.

Idea #4: Climbing plants are awesome – Climbing plants are a super way to create new garden landscaping ideas that will offer you beautiful greenery and color where you want it. You can even place these plants into pots that can be moved if you prefer, so that you can always have beautiful green leaves or flowers any time, any place.

Idea #5: Artwork is your friend – And you should be afraid to use the garden artwork that you already have in new and unique garden landscaping ideas. After all, if you don’t like where you put it, you can always move it back. But, just a few switches here and there can make a big difference if you don’t want to spend money on new stuff.

With these five easy to use garden landscaping ideas, it’s easy to change up your garden’s look and feel with just a simple move or placement of an item. Take your time and see which ideas strike you and have your garden transformed into a whole new world for you to enjoy.

April Kerr writes for Finer Living which has information on low price driveway alarm systems and cheap solar motion security lighting.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard projects, diy, garden, gardening, home, landscaping, plants