Landscaping the steep slope or grade

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 142010
 

Slopes and grades in the landscape can create a challenge for the backyard landscape and homeowner. Grades in the landscape can create a beautiful finished backyard design but need proper planning.

As a general rule of thumb grades of over 5 percent are too steep for comfort or for best appearance. They are difficult to mow and often have problems with grass and rutting. I know from personal experience.

Where there are differences in grade on a small lot you should put in steps and a terraced slope.  Or a retaining wall could connect the two levels. With a retaining wall you need to plan for the wall to be sturdy. And check for any construction regulations in your area before starting the project.

The most comfortable steps for a garden path have a 5-inch rise and a 14-inch tread. A 6-inch rise and a 12-inch tread will also work. Anything steeper can be uncomfortable, particularly if it has a rough surface. It’s also wise to include a handrail with any stairs. You do not know who may use the steps and what weather conditions may be, so offer your guests the security of a handrail.

Terraced slopes seem to work best if you use a rise of 1 foot in a 3-foot area, particularly if a power mower is to be used. If the banks are too steep to make grass cutting easy, it is much better to plant them with ground covers. My front yard has such a slope and it has one terraced area near the top were I planted shrubs and perennials and added a set of stairs. The lower section has ground cover with perennial groupings and decorative rocks.

Note: Ground covers add instant beauty to a yard. They can help prevent erosion and cut back on mowing difficult areas. And these perennials come in a wide variety of color, texture and season flowering. But, as with all plants, they can have drawbacks and with ground covers you have to check for invasive spreading. Read the rowing tags and instructions well and ask at the garden center when you buy the plants.

You may also want to consider using heavy mulch or crushed decorative rock in certain areas of a slope. In my area I can find free pine needles and wood chips for free. They add a rich base to a slope to build on.

The main concern when landscaping a graded yard is to simplify yard work, prevent any runoff flooding and to make the area safe for family and friends.

If properly planned a yard with a steep grade can be turned into a beautiful garden area that can be enjoyed. Many slopes have incorporated gardens, plants and a place to relax in the design making it a useful addition to the home and garden area.

Posted by Denise at 9:52 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Plan your new Patio Design this Winter

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 082010
 

It is soon to be winter and most patios around the country will be sitting unused for a month to five months. So this will be the perfect time to be thinking about any patio improvements you might want to make for next year.

Upgrading or expanding your patio is not something you do on a whim. Take your time and look through magazines, online sites, and other resources to decide what improvements you want to make. I like to take a drive around my area and see what ideas others have used in their patio design, then add my own creative touches.

You may find ideas in your research to expand your patio and make it look better than a slab of concrete. By softening the edges and changing the shape you can create a new look to concrete. Change the landscaping around the patio to add layers, new color or blend the home and yard together.  By finishing the cement with texture, color and added stone you can have a unique inviting look that will match you landscape.

Slate is a great way to modernize a patio. A slate patio can be a beautiful choice. Just make sure the pieces are put together in the right way. Slate will add a look of elegance and style to your patio and come in a wide variety colors, sizes and textures. Slate is one of the more expensive choices in patio flooring, but if you plan on using your patio often for entertaining, it could be one of your best options.

And something as simple as changing patio furniture or adding shutters, a trellis or porch boxes can create a new atmosphere. You may also want to link the adjoining room in the house to the patio with color or a rug. This creates a flow from indoors to outdoors and the feel of more space.

Adding lighting to your patio will add that finishing touch, and create a relaxing atmosphere. There are many different lights and styles to choose from.

Benefits of patio lighting are the added safety, making it easier to walk around and illuminating steps and other objects in the yard. Lighting will extend the time that you spend on the patio. And by linking lighting from the patio into your landscape or walkways, you will again extend the feel of the patio to include your backyard.

And if you live in a town, you may want to add a screen, trellis, or fencing for added privacy. Tall plants such as potted bamboo or tropical plants can also create a living wall for privacy.

So take the time this winter while things are slow, to come up with ideas for your patio, and you’ll be ready to give new life to your patio area when spring begins. My patio has needed redone for years and I have already started new plans and designs.

Posted by Denise at 9:30 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Quick Fall tips for a fresh new Outdoor Look

 backyard design  1 Response »
Nov 072010
 

In the fall after the plants die back and the leaves fall off the trees you often have a week or two to do those jobs you have put off or overlooked during the summer rush.

These odd jobs often only take a few hours and the difference they will make in your home are amazing. You may have to schedule a few around the weather if you live in a more unpredictable area like I do, but the effort will make a big difference in the curb appeal of your home and in any spring chores you may have.

Simply repainting the trim of your home, the doors or the shutters, will give the home a fresh look.

You can make your home more inviting by simply adding a walkway outside your house. If you already have a straight concrete walkway, smarten up it up a bit. Prepare a little garden bed edging along each side for next year. That way you will have a garden bed ready for the spring and a fresh manicured look. In the fall there are many shredded tree beddings available. Place solar walkway lights on each side or the walk.

If you do not have a walkway and want to create one, wood chips and stone make a fast and easy pathway. Winding paths have a more relaxing and inviting look, so if possible create a wandering look to your door.

Yard ornaments add to any yard and they do not have to be complicated. A birdhouse or feeder will add interest to any landscape. An outdoor lantern light mounted on a pole will add light and cast inviting shadows, and a beautiful array of fall flowers that withstand cold temperatures will add color to the home. A simple lawn ornament or garden art will make your home stand out from that of your neighbors.

Its not too late to add flowers, plants, and bushes to your backyard design. Fall flowers will add the final color in your yard. Perennials will create texture and color throughout the year, depending on your selection and bushes will have the opportunity to settle in, rest and then develop roots in the cool months of spring. With shrubs remember to water them until the growing season in over. And protect them against harsh winds their first year.

Depending on your climate you may be putting away your outdoor furniture or replacing it with hardier furniture made of metal or weather resistant materials. New lighting or lanterns will perk up a porch or patio in the cool winter weather. You may also want to consider a new garden statue for the porch or wreath for a wall or door.

With many of the plants in a dormant stage these small changes will brighten your home.

Most of these tips will only take a few hours of half a day. And this week I will be adding shrub, redecorating the porchs and adding a walkway to my home and garden areas.

Posted by Denise at 7:38 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Recreate your Backyard with Garden Accessories

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 052010
 

Another step to recreating your backyard landscape is accessories. Home and garden areas benefit from the addition of benches, small decorative fences, fountains, garden art and more.

The accessories you select should go well with the plants. For example if your overall feel of the yard is country, old farm collectibles, wagon wheels, picket fence and water pump will add to your home. And you may enjoy a classical style but if you have a house full of toddlers you may have to settle for mini garden statues and a small patio fountain.

Most garden areas have decorative containers and statuary. They blend in and add to any décor. Your selection will be based on your style of home, neighborhood and family.

Planting Containers

Containers are essential to most gardens. Containers allow you to fill in blank spots when your flowers die back. They are also a wonderful way to garden in a small space or to add color to your porch. They also give you the opportunity to change the look of your yard and patio area but simply moving containers or adding new ones.

Containers also give you the opportunity to be creative. They can be arranged in curves, placed by driveways, layered or used on terraced hills. And in small space garden area using containers vertically will add privacy and make better use of your limited growing space.

They can be artistic in nature or rustic. The wide variety available will make decorating your home easy and unique to your personality.

Garden Statues

There are two basic rules when it comes to garden statues.

1.  If you are using large statues (3 foot or taller), then 1 per area of your garden will make your garden look good.

2.  If you use small statues then you can put them in groups to get maximum impact. At least three seem to add balance to your area. I like to vary the size of the pieces to create more interest.

And finally, many people use garden art in their landscape design. You can decorate your garden in your own way with a wide selection of one of a kind collectibles that range from mirror to handmade art. If you have a one of a kind piece, make sure it stands out on its own.

One item many people use in a garden area is handmade hypertyfu containers. They are fun to make and are definitely one of a kind.

When adding accessories just remember to have fun. Using that principle the home and garden areas will show your personality and make your living area a great place to relax and enjoy.

Posted by Denise at 10:39 am  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Recreate your backyard this Fall

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 032010
 

A Backyard is more than a place to relax and share time with family. It is an extension of our personalities. By adding plants, trees, shrubs and garden art we create a feel and leave behind a part of ourselves.

The fall is a great time to look around your backyard and patio area and make changes for a new look. When you look at one area for a long time you tend to overlook things.

One of the first steps to changing your yard is to take photographs. This will help you see your yard from a new perspective. Maybe you didn’t realize a patio window was broke or a step was uneven. A photo often brings these small details to your attention.

Take a look at your layout. Most backyard designs fit in a formal look – straight lines and structured paths. Or a flowing pattern and meandering paths, which creates a more relaxing cottage garden, look to a home.

After deciding on the layout of your garden, and if you are happy with it, you will want to decide on any new plants. Fall is a great time for new plants. They are usually on sale and the plants have time to adjust to their new home without abundant heat.

Japanese Maple and Bamboo are suited for the modern style. Roses and most perennials suit the traditional style and the Black Eyed Susan, flowering herbs and Coneflower are best suited for the country styles of gardens.

Trellises, garden fences and gates create backdrops and boundaries for gardens and other areas of your backyard. They emphasis your plants and make them stand out. The use of short decorative fencing not only creates the boundaries to your garden but also creates a layered look, which adds dimension and seems to expand the look of a yard. In a small space landscape this is a plus.

Small touches will add a new feel and flair to a home or landscape and fall is a perfect time for great landscape deals.

Posted by Denise at 10:00 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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