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Concerning Mulch - PART TWO
Copyright © 2005 Tammy Clayton The use of shredded wood mulch exists for reasons unknown to many of us. It is true and a good point that the mulch does in fact control erosion in a new planting prior to the roots taking hold of the soil. The wood...
Enhance Your Home
Enhance Your Home By BatSheva Vaknin
Home furnishing can be difficult without the help of an
expensive interior designer. Choosing a style is hard enough,
but knowing how to create that style can be even harder! Use
these tips to create...
Hidden Costs of Landscaping
A complete makeover of your home’s landscape may not be possible. After all, there is no surprise that if you choose to completely re-do your landscape you will spend a great deal of money. However, there are surprising hidden costs in nearly any...
Outdoor lighting fixtures - Great selection available online!
The way we look at outdoor lighting may never again be the same, illuminating your property with designer fixtures that look just as nice as the ones inside your home, makes it possible to light up the outdoors in style. Take a drive through your...
The Pollen-Trapping Power of a Lawn
The Pollen-Trapping Power of a Lawn
Thomas Leo Ogren
Think twice before you give up your lawn.
Lawns are often blamed for causing allergies but the right lawn is actually a powerful allergy suppressor. The best lawn grasses either do not...
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Laying Out Your New Landscape
When planning your new landscape, the first place to start is by driving around your neighborhood and seeing what other people have done with their landscapes. Bring a sketch pad or digital camera to record things you like. Your next stop is your local nursery or garden center. Look at what plants do well in your area. Look at any displays they have setup to get an idea of which plants work well together. And don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Now comes the planning stage. Get a long tape measure and some graph paper and take some accurate measurements of your yard. The more accurate you are, the more detailed you can be with your plan. Don’t worry though, if you aren’t perfectly accurate. Even if you pace off your yard and get some general measurements, you will be better off than just trying to guess how large an area you are working with.
After the measurements are done, you can use either graph paper and pencils or one of the new software packages that are available. I prefer the software only because it allows you to make changes very quickly and easily, and also allows you to see three-dimensional views of your design. One unique feature is that many software programs allow you to preview your landscape five-, ten-,
twenty- or more years from now! This way you can see how your mature lot will look in the future! This will help prevent over-planting areas.
If you don’t use your computer to lay out your new design, use a piece of graph paper and transfer your measurements to the paper. Begin by laying out the larger elements like trees and shrubs, and then adding the smaller elements around them to complement the design. Also keep in mind the relative heights of the materials you are going to use. When viewing a landscape you want taller items in the back and shorter elements in the front.
This article series will continue over the next couple of issues as I take you through the entire process from planning to planting!
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Find more of Mr. Novosat's writings on his own blog at http://www.novosat.us/wp
About the Author
Dean Novosat is an avid gardener and landscaper. He has transformed many boring yards into beautiful landscapes. He has several websites including http://www.the-garden-doctor.com and http://www.dr-landscape.com.
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