•Deck Ideas or Patio Designs - Which One Should You Choose?
There are many great deck ideas and just as many wonderful possible patio designs. However, there are few things to consider when deciding which one to include in your landscape. Hopefully you will enjoy your landscape structure for many years to come. Here are some things to think about.
The first consideration is how high off the ground your structure will be. It may be at or just above ground level where no steps are needed. It may require just a few steps. However, the structure may have...
•Driveway Paving – Which Paving Material Should You Choose?
When it comes to paving your driveway, there are several factors to take into account. The primary concern is what material to use. One type of material is loose stone, which tends to be inexpensive in comparison to other popular materials such as asphalt, tar and chip, or concrete. Loose stone is natural looking and pleasing to the eye, although there are some challenges to take into account. It may pose as difficult to walk on and prove to be a challenge when it comes to snow removal.
The...
•Evergreen Shrubs - How to Avoid Costly Mistakes and Have a Professional Looking Design
So, you want to add some landscaping to your home, but don't know quite how to go about it? I understand. And evergreen shrubs, which provide greenery all year long, are not inexpensive.
It's difficult to know exactly which plants to choose. Evergreen shrubs are often chosen because they do not lose their leaves and provide greenery in your landscape during the winter. There are so many to choose from, but selecting those that are perfect for your particular situation can be confusing.
Here...
•Fragrant Plants - Four Outstanding Choices For Your Garden
Fragrant plants can be wonderful in the garden...what is a garden with out at least one?
What could be nicer than sitting on your patio, meandering along your front walk or walking through your rear yard and all of a sudden getting a whiff of a beautiful fragrance? When adding fragrant plants, be sure to place them in areas where they can be appreciated.
Here are four fragrant plants that I would highly recommend:
Lilacs
Lilacs will bloom in April or May depending on what area of the...
•Landscaping Ideas - How to Be Different and Have a Very Special Landscape
What makes a landscape design stand out from the usual designs you see all the time? How do you go about having a landscape that everyone talks about and thinks is very special?
First of all you have to start with a good basic design. It must function and yet the layout must have creativity to it. In addition, features should be added that are not run of the mill. So...what are some of these special features?
You can add special features to a patio to make it special. It might be a seatwall...
•Outdoor Pergolas - Tips on Design and How to Use it in Your Landscape
An outdoor pergola is a standing structure which typically is used for shading or covering a specific area in an outdoor living space. The two separate design styles of pergolas are described as being either free standing or attached to a solid wall, such as the side of your home. Pergolas can be designed in a combination of different shapes and sizes, the most popular shape being a rectangular. That being said, a pergola can be almost any shape, even curved. Curved pergolas, however, can be...
•Patio Fire Pits - Deciding on Which Type to Have in Your Landscape
Patio fire pits are a popular outdoor feature in recent years. If you think you might enjoy the atmosphere of sitting outside with a cozy fire glowing, you might consider adding a fire pit to your landscape design. The enjoyment is enhanced if nice seating is located near it to enjoy the view, warmth and general ambiance.
Fire pits can be built in or portable. They can be wood burning for a true rustic experience, or they can be operated by gas.
The gas method can be either natural gas or...
•Plants For Landscaping - Three Important Considerations For A Great Design
Where does one begin when selecting plants for landscaping? There are a few main factors that should be considered to not only attain a beautiful planting design, but also one that has plant material that will flourish over time.
Here are some important things to consider:
Sun and Shade Conditions
I list this first, because a plant must be located in an area where it receives the required amount of sun or shade. If not, at the least it won't perform well and at the worst, it won't survive at...
•Sketchup and Online Landscape Design - Creating a 3D Landscape
Sketchup is 3D design software that is used for many different industries.
However, for the hard to visualize area of landscape design, it can provide one of the best portrayals of the 3D landscape.
Sketchup was originally owned by @Last Software, but it was bought by Google. Hmmm....I guess Google thought it was pretty good. And it is.
There is a free version and a paid version. For the average person, the free version is fine. If you want to get more intricate with such things as grading...
•Swimming Pool Decking - What Paving Material Should I Use?
Selecting a paving material for your pool decking is an important part of your pool design. However, what to choose can often be confusing.
One of the main concerns is often budget. Of course that is always a concern in a landscape project, but with swimming pool decking it is particularly important because of the large amount of square footage that is typically involved.
Concrete
One of the least expensive materials is concrete. With a little creativity, concrete can be a good choice....
•Travertine Pavers - A Dramatic Material With Outstanding Beauty
Travertine pavers are one of the most exciting paving materials I have worked with in a long time. Although this material can be imported from many countries, the material I have been working with on my landscape design projects come from Peru. These travertine pavers are from the Andes Collection.
I recently provided a landscape design for clients who wanted a swimming pool. Therefore, pool paving had to be selected.
I knew that they would love a natural material. I often use bluestone, yet...
•Waterfall Designs - How to Make Waterfalls Look Natural
When you look at waterfall designs, there are those that are absolutely beautiful and those that just don't quite make it. So, how do you create a spectacular one?
The key is to make it look as natural looking as possible. Observing those found in nature will allow you to see how those created in home landscapes should look.
Although you will see some water features where the water flows gently over rocks, many have very dramatic waterfall spillways. A waterfall spillway often is created by a...
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