Landscape Design Basics

The key to any great landscaping design is to find one that keeps your yard interesting no matter what time of the year it is.

Evergreen trees are the secret plants in a really good landscape design. These fabulous trees will add a stately atmosphere to your home while still keeping it welcoming and warm.

Although adding deciduous trees in the landscape offers variety, evergreens always give stability to a good backyard landscaping design. Deciduous trees are best appreciated in all but winter months… although many folks also enjoy their branch structures during winter. Evergreens are fantastic year round, and this is why they make such a great backyard landscaping additions.

Read more

How To Buy Plants That Will Survive In Your Garden

How often have we all bought plants on impulse only to find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them.

Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged, and whether your target area is sheltered or windswept.

Just this simple step will help you buy plants suitable for your own garden. Select shade-loving plants for sheltered areas, sun-lovers for warm spots, drought-resistant plants for parched areas (which may be either sunny or shaded), and swamp plants for poorly-drained parts.

Read more

Front Yards For Busy People

Busy people want easy-to-maintain front yards.

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or hire a professional landscape designer, check out these basic components for an ideal front yard for busy homeowners… and renters:

Replace some (or all) of your lawn with ground cover. Depending on your situation, select those that are either heat and drought tollerant, or shade lovers. Some are even resistant to most bugs. Oh, don’t forget… the less lawn you have, the less time you spend mowing it. Read more

Desert Landscape Plants

(I know… the image is a bit much, but it does spark the imagination, doesn’t it?)

Living in a dry and arid climate definitely has its challenges. Desert landscaping takes a little more planning, and a revised garden vision… none of which should limit the serious gardner or landscape designer.

Realistic desert landscape designs include only plants and trees that can survive with much less water, and tolerate more heat. It makes no sense to buy plants that can’t survive in your garden. Just a bit of due diligence will keep you on track when you visit nurseries and building supply stores. Remember, just because they offer a plant, doesn’t mean it will survive in your community. A little research will save you money and physical effort!

Read more