Hillside Landscaping Ideas

 backyard design  No Responses »
Aug 152010
 

For those of you who have a slope in your yard you know the challenges it can create. My yard has a slope that is as bad as what this you tube shows. It’s created mowing and water runoff problems for me.

I am working on a design for the yard that includes, plants, shrubs, trees, steps and a railing and soon to be added – a driveway.

This you tube will give you some ideas for planning a design for a sloping yard.

Drainage for rain and removal of snow is also an issue with my landscape planning.

The most important part of a terraced design or layout for a slope is trying to plan for all the situations that might occur.

Posted by Denise at 6:42 pm  

Quick Backyard Decorating Pick me ups

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jul 222010
 

As the summer progresses we want a quick change in our backyard. If a few quick changes you can add color and privacy to your home, often at a low price.

last leg
Creative Commons License photo credit: hello-julie

Hang planters and hooks on the side of your home and place hardy plants in baskets. You will want hardy low maintenance plants that require less water than most plants. You don’t want to be running out watering these planters all the time. I often select geranium, ivy, marigolds, zinnias or a mix of herb plants. Garden art figurines will also look nice tucked in the planters for more color and interest.

Consider adding a collection of different size pots and containers and arrange them in a corner of a porch, patio, fence area or yard. This will give a feeling of height to the area and create a lush garden feeling.

Purchase a freestanding wrought iron plant hook for your garden and hang a basket filled with annuals. A planter placed high in a garden creates a focal point.

Consider planting climbing roses or clematis to wrap around deck posts. This will soften the sharp lines of your home and create a more private feel to the backyard.

Many for these tips can be done in a few hours at a reasonable cost. They will give your home and garden area a fresh look.

Posted by Denise at 9:35 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

What is hardscaping?

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jul 102010
 

Hardscape is a landscaping term for permanent construction that is added to the landscape and backyard.

Anything cast in concrete or built of stone is hardscaped. Wood structures and built-in waterfalls are also hardscapes. One easy way to determine hardscape is if it is more permanent it’s hardscape and if it can be moved easily, it is probably more likely to be considered décor.

completed wall
Creative Commons License photo credit: mccun934

If it grows and is alive, it is ‘softscape’.

Hardscape adds to a landscpae and you can get stunning effects, but it takes time, planning, space and often is not a possibility if you rent.

You also need to realize that hardscape, being more permanent, should be well thought out before adding to you backyard or lawn.

I have several hardscape plans going to the yard this year. They include a terraced garden and a wood and rock stairway in the front yard area. Raised rock beds that also serve as flood control are under way and dry creeks are in the planning stages.

All these plans have been carefully laid out and all extra considerations have been taken into consideration. Considerations were traffic flow to the house, parking, drainage, runoff, checking any underground lines, and the fact it’s permanent. I also considered cost and how much maintenance it will take for upkeep and general lawn care. I was looking for low installation cost and to make yard work less demanding.

My hardscape plans will take all summer as I am doing them myself. The supplies are mostly free. When completed I should have made my yard easier to care for, less prone to runoff flooding and much prettier. I think the plans will also create more privacy in the yard.

As the projects are worked on links will be provided. These ideas may be something you could add to your yard.

Posted by Denise at 5:36 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Plant a Small Space Patio Herb Garden

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jul 012010
 

A patio herb garden makes a great small space garden and serves a double purpose of producing herbs for cooking or for crafting purposes.

Restaurant courtyard, Straight Street, Damascus.
Creative Commons License photo credit: jemasmith

Planting an herb garden on your patio isn’t only a practical use of space, but it also adds atmosphere and greenery to your patio.

These simple steps will help to make planting your patio herb garden a breeze.

First choose herbs to plant in your patio herb garden. What herbs do you sue the most? Take a look at your kitchen shelves for help with your selection. Basil, chives, dill, oregano, parsley rosemary, sage and thyme are the most popular herbs and are easy for even a first time gardener to grow. Once you have determined the herbs you would like to grow its time to select pots and containers.

Study your patio, them choose different sizes and shapes of containers to give your patio herb garden a unique and fun look. You may want to go with a rustic look, match containers to go with your landscape or make a garden that would appeal to children. With containers the atmosphere you can create is unlimited.

Make sure that your containers have holes in the bottom for good drainage, and then fill the bottoms with small rocks or gravel.

Next fill your containers with composted soil mixed in a 2 to 1 ratio with sand. Leave a 1-inch space at the top of the container. This gives you room to water without running the pot over and creating a mess.

Water the container and allow it to drain before planting your herbs. This step also settles the soil mix. I usually let the containers set overnight.

Next plant your herbs. It’s best to keep oregano, rosemary, mint and thyme in separate containers. They tend to grow large or spread and take over the container. You can grow the other herbs together in large shallow pots or a window box in your herb garden.

Last of all, it’s time to place containers on your patio in a location where they get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. Herbs have a variety of different colors and textures and add depth to a small space garden area, like a patio. Add a few edible flowers in your herb garden for more color. Nasturtiums are an edible flower.

Lavender and rosemary are more difficult herbs to grow but you may want to consider growing them. In many areas they are perennial if brought indoors during the winter months.

One other idea you may want to consider when planning your herb garden is making part of the garden into a vertical garden. This would be perfect for a small patio with a corner that gets direct lighting.

This patio garden could be a compact as 3 foot in length if you use vertical growing methods or a few hanging baskets.  It could also be a growing wall or barrier to create more privacy on the patio.

Herbs are easy to grow and have so many uses. You will be surprised how much this small garden will add to your home and patio space.

Posted by Denise at 3:11 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Gazebos A focal point To Any Landscape

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jun 232010
 

A gazebo is a wonderful addition to a backyard landscape. It adds a comfortable spot to relax. It also will give you the opportunity to create different landscape designs and atmosphere to  home and garden areas.

Chatham, New Jersey
Creative Commons License photo credit: dougtone

If you are thinking about adding a gazebo to your backyard decor, you will want to carefully plan the location where you intend to place your new structure.

The gazebo location will be influenced by what you are planning to use your gazebo for. Will it be a gathering place for friends and family?  A garden gazebo that emphasizes plants shrubs and trees? Perhaps you’ll be enclosing your gazebo for cooler climates or plan to install a hot tub or spa inside of it.

How you use your gazebo will determine where you should build it. Garden gazebos are often located toward the back of your yard, in order to have friends walk through the landscape and enjoy atmosphere and privacy. A hot tub shelter should probably be located closer to the door, to minimize the walk in a bathing suit. And for gazebos built for entertaining a location near the kitchen or outdoor party area is an ideal area.

Aesthetics are also important. You may choose to highlight your structure by making it the center of attention. You may blend it in to your landscape to make it a secret hideaway. You also need to consider the building’s relation to other structures that you may have on your property. The gazebo should fit into your landscape and not fight or overpower other buildings.

Think about the pros and cons of your selected site in all four seasons. Will the location be affected by hot or cold weather? Is it a building you would use all seasons if properly located. In my zone 5 climate, it’s better to have the gazebo closer to the house.

Choosing the proper size for your gazebo is the next important step. Make sure that your space is large enough for its intended purposes, while remaining proportional to the surrounding buildings and landscaping. A general rule of thumb is that an 8′ gazebo fits 2 people (2 chairs) and a small table. With every two-foot addition, two more people can be seated comfortably in the gazebo (for example, a 10′ gazebo holds 4 people comfortably, a 12′ gazebo holds 6 people comfortably, etc.).

Once you have decided on a size, it’s a good idea to stake it out the dimensions in your yard to ensure that the fit is comfortable for your needs and that the location is harmonious with your landscape.

And the final step is to create a flow between your new gazebo and the backyard. This may be accomplished by related colors in the landscape, flowers and other plants, or a wandering path.

Ideas for Gazebos can be found in books, online or by visiting a local landscaping business in your town.

Posted by Denise at 8:34 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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