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Add some splash to your garden with a fountain
One great way to add character to a garden is to add a fountain. Fountains, also called water features and water elements, can add elegance, a sense of peace or a feeling of fun to nearly any landscape design. The sound of flowing or trickling water...
Getting Your Hands on a Good Pair of Gardening Gloves
The next best thing to gardening is owning the best pair of
gardening gloves. Gardening gloves is the basic gear that the
gardener in us needs. And a good pair of gardening gloves should
always be found in a gardener's tool box. Why? Because...
Jump Start Your Garden with Seedlings & Cuttings
The arrival of March typically has gardeners itching to get outside and start digging, but with many final frost dates well into May it's just too early to do any real planting outside--as so many of us have learned the hard way. To satisfy the...
Saving Energy By planting Nursery Stock and windbreaks
In the past week there has been an increasing interest in
landscape design for energy conservation. Rising fuel costs can
be offset by landscaping. The primary goal is to control wind
and sun. In Pa. the first line of defence for energy savings...
Terrace Gardening And Landscaping Ideas
Terraces present wonderful possibilities in the garden. They are
outdoor living rooms during good weather and form a transition
from the outdoors to the indoors throughout the year.
The terrace may be either at ground level, below...
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Landscaping...How Does Your Garden Grow
The landscaping of the exterior areas around your house should
be as personal in taste as your interior decoration.
A driveway and garden are usually the first impressions a
visitor has of your home. They should always be as trim and well
cared for as your house itself.
Naturally, landscaping, like most things, depends on individual
taste. Some people prefer a wild, natural look in gardens and
outdoor areas. Others prefer the clipped hedges, planned walks,
planting and ordered flower borders of the stylized English
garden.
Before planning your landscape, check the zoning regulations of
your community, if you live in the city. This must be the first
step, as many zoning laws determine the limitations on the
height of trees, shrubs and other foilage, and their placement.
Interior and corner lots often differ in these respects.
The cost of landscaping varies with each house, as does the
planning. The location of the house on the property, the size,
shape and elaborateness of areas planned for trees, shrubs, lawn
and flowers are of course the controlling factors. The larger,
more intricate garden naturally cost more than a smaller area.
Here are some good basic pointers to remember when planning
your landscaping.
Privacy - Shrubs, bushes, a cluster of trees can serve as
screens from adjoining properties, walks, roads and create a
park like effect at the same time. Clever landscaping of a
patio, terrace or swimming pool adds to their usability and
attractiveness, also provides perfect privacy.
Integration - A driveway should be fully blended with the
foilage to create an attractive first impression of your
property. The proportion of trees, grass, shrubs, bushes and
flowers should be carefully balanced with concrete, graveled,
asphalt or flagstone driveways to dispense with a paved,
sidewalk effect.
Shade - A single, large tree may be a joy to look at, but
make sure it does not obscure the house or shade it
too much.
Plant a tree or cluster of trees at the edge of the lawn, so
that you get the most benefit from the shade on hot days. Make
sure the trees do not overhang swimming pools or sun patios, and
obscure the sun. Also bear in mind that trees near a pool mean
falling leaves and debris to clean out of the water constantly.
Levels - A garden on flat land can be planted with little
regard to change in grade (level). Some land is not totally
flat, so do not overlook grading problems in your plans.
However, a garden that has more than one level is more
interesting and much more effective designs can be achieved.
But, naturally, the cost are higher.
Drainage - If you are designing your own garden before
calling in a landscaper, remember to settle the drainage
problems first, or discuss it with the expert. You don't want
puddles, ruined turf or plants, so settle the drainage system in
the beginning.
Basic Planting - Once your design is complete, you have
two courses you can follow in the planting plan. If your budget
allows you to do the whole planting job at once, the sequence
should be as follows: plant trees and shrubs first, then sod or
seed your lawn. Should it be neccessary to carry your
landscaping over a period of years, plant lawn first, add trees,
shrubs and flowers later when you can afford it.
Plans - Your garden requires landscape plans, just as the
interior of your home. If you have definite ideas about what you
want, and the effect you wish to achieve, draw up some rough
plans on graph paper. Then you can discuss the project fully
with the landscaper. If you are an amateur gardener and wish to
do your landscaping yourself, you will not need a set of plans
to determine each area of your property.
About the author:
Lisa French is a freelance writer of home decorating articles
and webmaster for Decorating Country Home.com. Use of article
requires an active link to
http://www.decorating-country-home.com/landscaping.html
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