As you look to improve your yard and property, you might want to make it easy on yourself and hire a landscape architect. These licensed professionals can provide homeowners with great expertise when it comes to designing the perfect plan for their space.
After formal schooling and years of experience, a good landscape architect will find work easily at places such as public parks or golf courses, working in the actual design of the area. Many others own nurseries where they sell many different types of plants and spend their days helping customers plan out their yards. Still others work full-time at clients’ homes, designing their yards and coming up with a complete plan for landscaping.
It is possible to plan out your yard on your own, but a landscape architect will have a broad base of knowledge about things like what plants would look good together in a certain bed, or how to use things like brick, pebbles, marble or travertine pavers to create a walkway. These professionals might also suggest you try something you might not have considered, such as adding a cap rock waterfall, or a dry bed of recycled glass mulch. Landscape architects should know what things will work well in your area, and will know other things, such as coral rocks should only be used in very warm climates, or else they will crack.
You may be able to get this information on your own by doing your research, but a landscape architect will simplify the process for you.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Curb Appeal
For those that are looking to sell their home, or even just improve the value of their current home, one thing that can help is curb appeal. Homeowners that take the time to improve their yard and landscape, as well as the outside of their house, often find a nice return on their money. A well-kept yard and house will usually sell better than a run-down property.
Starting with the simple things, it doesn’t take much time or money to make sure the garden is free of weeds and looking healthy. Inspecting and, if necessary, replacing gutters and downspouts will improve the home, as well as installing a new front door. Planning out and installing lighting can make a yard beautiful at night. These things, while rather small, will make a big impression on those looking at the house from the curb.
Other improvements, such as painting the house and trim, will take more time and labor. If the homeowner is willing to take the time, or can hire help to do it, adding or rebuilding a patio made out of a nice stone like travertine pavers, or a fireplace out of coral rocks would add much to a home. A homeowner could also build a walkway leading to the flowerbeds, made out of colored pebbles or other stone.
One more thing that can help would be to take pictures of the yard and then use them to see what needs to be improved. Sometimes taking a step back helps us see things we tend to overlook.
Starting with the simple things, it doesn’t take much time or money to make sure the garden is free of weeds and looking healthy. Inspecting and, if necessary, replacing gutters and downspouts will improve the home, as well as installing a new front door. Planning out and installing lighting can make a yard beautiful at night. These things, while rather small, will make a big impression on those looking at the house from the curb.
Other improvements, such as painting the house and trim, will take more time and labor. If the homeowner is willing to take the time, or can hire help to do it, adding or rebuilding a patio made out of a nice stone like travertine pavers, or a fireplace out of coral rocks would add much to a home. A homeowner could also build a walkway leading to the flowerbeds, made out of colored pebbles or other stone.
One more thing that can help would be to take pictures of the yard and then use them to see what needs to be improved. Sometimes taking a step back helps us see things we tend to overlook.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Going Green
Everyone is talking about how important it is to conserve our resources. The following 5 tips will help you manage your yard without putting a strain on the environment.
1. Organic fertilizer: You may like the results that come with fertilized plants and flowers, but synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to both the environment and people. Instead, choose a good organic fertilizer that uses things such as alfalfa meal.
2. Glass mulch: In some areas of your yard, glass mulch can add great texture and color. This glass mulch is made from pieces of recycled glass that have been tumbled until they are smooth. Glass mulch is growing in popularity because of the positive effects it has on the environment, as well as the modern look it portrays.
3. Compost: A compost pile is an easy way to recycle old food and plant matter to make a natural fertilizer. Find a location away from the traffic of your yard to add a compost pile.
4. Rain barrel: Set up rain barrels to collect and store rain water as it falls. Often, they can be placed under a rain spout to catch all that falls off of the roof. Rain water is great for watering outdoor plants.
5. Xeriscape: In some cases “going green” can actually mean giving up the green space. If plants are hard to grow in areas of your yard, rather than use a lot of water and resources to get them to grow, think of replacing them with rocks, pebbles, or glass mulch that are low maintenance.
1. Organic fertilizer: You may like the results that come with fertilized plants and flowers, but synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to both the environment and people. Instead, choose a good organic fertilizer that uses things such as alfalfa meal.
2. Glass mulch: In some areas of your yard, glass mulch can add great texture and color. This glass mulch is made from pieces of recycled glass that have been tumbled until they are smooth. Glass mulch is growing in popularity because of the positive effects it has on the environment, as well as the modern look it portrays.
3. Compost: A compost pile is an easy way to recycle old food and plant matter to make a natural fertilizer. Find a location away from the traffic of your yard to add a compost pile.
4. Rain barrel: Set up rain barrels to collect and store rain water as it falls. Often, they can be placed under a rain spout to catch all that falls off of the roof. Rain water is great for watering outdoor plants.
5. Xeriscape: In some cases “going green” can actually mean giving up the green space. If plants are hard to grow in areas of your yard, rather than use a lot of water and resources to get them to grow, think of replacing them with rocks, pebbles, or glass mulch that are low maintenance.
Do It Yourself Landscape Projects
Many people today are trying to save money because of the current economy. For those that take pride in the way their yard looks, there are ways to go about maintaining a beautiful landscape without spending too much hard-earned money. One way is to do the work yourself. Countless websites and television shows give tips to complete certain projects that increase a house’s curb appeal. Investigate some of these, or check your local library for do it yourself books that will walk you through the process.
Be aware, that some projects will require more time and labor than others. Perhaps you will find it easy to enhance your area with some colored pebbles, or maybe some glass mulch will make a big difference with relatively little work. Other things, such as installing a patio with travertine pavers or making a cap rock planter, will be require you to have a carefully laid-out plan, a good eye for detail, and some knowledge about these types of materials. But after doing the research and finding the answers first, even beginners can take on and accomplish these projects.
Other things, such as designing the area and planning what plants and flowers will work best in certain areas, may be something that a professional could be consulted about, or you could ask at your local garden center. Once the plan is laid out and the work is done, more and more homeowners are now finding they can save money by maintaining their yard on their own.
Be aware, that some projects will require more time and labor than others. Perhaps you will find it easy to enhance your area with some colored pebbles, or maybe some glass mulch will make a big difference with relatively little work. Other things, such as installing a patio with travertine pavers or making a cap rock planter, will be require you to have a carefully laid-out plan, a good eye for detail, and some knowledge about these types of materials. But after doing the research and finding the answers first, even beginners can take on and accomplish these projects.
Other things, such as designing the area and planning what plants and flowers will work best in certain areas, may be something that a professional could be consulted about, or you could ask at your local garden center. Once the plan is laid out and the work is done, more and more homeowners are now finding they can save money by maintaining their yard on their own.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a growing trend in our country, especially in areas that don’t get much rain. But the techniques can be used anywhere as a way to conserve water. By using xeriscaping, a homeowner can cut down on the cost they spend on water and on labor to maintain green space.
It is important to plan out your xeriscaped lawn or have a professional do it for you before you begin. You will need to take into account the different needs you have for your property, such as play areas or vegetable gardens.
You can expect a xeriscaped lawn to have some grassy areas that are smaller and better maintained than a whole property full of grass. Choose the best area for your yard to sustain grass and put the turf there.
An irrigation system that is properly installed can conserve water, and be a part of xeriscaping. Drip systems work well and get the water more precisely to the areas you want watered. Run the system in the morning or at night to prevent evaporation of the water.
One of the main components to a xeriscaped project is the use of rocks or pebbles. Areas where things are hard to grow, like under a tree or in a high traffic area, can be completely covered with pebbles. Pebbles now come in a variety of sizes and colors to meet the needs of any landscaper. Pebbles require very little maintenance and will help cut down on water usage. Overall, pebbles are a great addition to a xeriscaped yard.
It is important to plan out your xeriscaped lawn or have a professional do it for you before you begin. You will need to take into account the different needs you have for your property, such as play areas or vegetable gardens.
You can expect a xeriscaped lawn to have some grassy areas that are smaller and better maintained than a whole property full of grass. Choose the best area for your yard to sustain grass and put the turf there.
An irrigation system that is properly installed can conserve water, and be a part of xeriscaping. Drip systems work well and get the water more precisely to the areas you want watered. Run the system in the morning or at night to prevent evaporation of the water.
One of the main components to a xeriscaped project is the use of rocks or pebbles. Areas where things are hard to grow, like under a tree or in a high traffic area, can be completely covered with pebbles. Pebbles now come in a variety of sizes and colors to meet the needs of any landscaper. Pebbles require very little maintenance and will help cut down on water usage. Overall, pebbles are a great addition to a xeriscaped yard.
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