Everyone knows that one of the key elements to having a beautiful home is having a great landscaped background. Planning your landscape design definitely requires making a plan. There are plenty of common landscape design ideas and features available for you to gain inspiration when beginning an attractive landscape project. With a few helpful tips, you can save money on your landscaping without sacrificing quality or beauty and get yourself a fulfilling landscaping experience.
Tips #1 – Before planning, look at all the resources you already have
The first step in doing your landscape is to look at what you already have. Keep a list of things you presently like and dislike, as well as your plan for the use of your landscape space. Be sure to bear in mind how your home looks during different seasons, and what you like and dislike about each one. Keep a record of all the good things about your existing landscape, the changes you’d like to make, and the additional landscaping design you would like to have. Ideally, you should do this for one year, so that you can see what you have during each season. A tip to do this is to keep a journal or folder of landscape ideas. Find out what is it that you like and dislike about the current landscape design and write it down in this folder or journal.
Tips #2 – Steal your landscaping ideas from other people
Originality is good, but not in the case of landscaping. If you have seen any landscaping design that you like, copy it, tweak it and make it your own. Trust me, originality often fail people. Things always turn out different from what you imagine in your mind.
You can gather ideas by looking at pictures in books, magazines, on the Internet, or by driving around the neighborhood and taking pictures. Next to the images you collect make certain you take in the things that you believe you will need to construct a particular feature, or keep notes on things you would do to tweak a design to make it all your own. Combine different design ideas into something that you like. The point is to look for ideas that will help you accomplish your goals, while you are thinking about what you already have and what you will use your landscape for.
Tips #3 – Take into consideration the style of your home
Nothing is more awful than having different styles built into your landscape and your home. Before beginning your landscaping work, the style of your home must be taken into account. Think also about your lifestyle. Do you want to spend hours caring for many beds of annuals or pruning beds of roses? If so, go ahead and plant them. However, if you prefer to spend your free time at the beach, then go for an easy-care garden and landscape.
Tips #4 – Spend some time thinking about exactly how you want the final design to be
You need to take account of the style and function of your landscape. If you have a rural cottage, formal gardens surrounding it will look out of place. When planning your landscape, keep in mind your space needs. Do you want to include an area for entertaining? A barbeque? Would the flowerbed in the middle of the lawn inhibit family games? Is there to be an area for children to play, a fishpond or a swimming pool? An idea of the plants you want to be there will also help. Focus on the area where you spend most of your time. That’s a good place to start.
Tips #5 – When planning your landscape, keep in mind your space needs
When planning your landscape, be sure and take into consideration what the space will be used for. The best designs combine attractiveness with utility and are an essential part of the landscaping process.
Tips #6 – Think twice before hiring a designer
Do you know that an independent designer might cost you hundreds of dollars. Before hiring a pro to do the job, check out the various free resources first. You may be able to access free plans on the internet or at a nursery. But if you have an awkward block such as very steep ground, a designer may give you the expertise to save costly mistakes.
Cindy Heller
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Tips for landscaping garden cheaply and quickley?
I have a average back garden around 30 foot by 30 foot,I would like to landscape around the sides bottom part and two sides.
What plants would you advise for all season,just overall any tips i would want to do it myself thanks xxxx
Its sunny i live in the city liverpool,and would like it to look nice and maybe hide my fencing xxx
What is usually advised, is to use plants that are native to your area. If you have questions, then go to a garden center or nursery, and pick a few brains. Most people in these places are knowledgeable, and like to talk.
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alot of that is going to depend on where you live and what climate.do you want flowering plants,bushes hedges,cround cover ect…also is it shaded or sunny?
since you live in england i’m not sure about the soil,native, plants or what zone you live in,but here is a link for you so you can find out about everything you need to know.hope it helps
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_1927
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That’s actually fairly small garden so i’d go for a cottage/herb garden. it will be useful to have some herbs for cooking and wont cost you a lot as most cottage plants grow easily from a slip or cutting.
First thing to do is mark out some paths that allow you to stretch into the centre of beds. Maybe a figure eight pattern would suit. Something along these lines
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http://www.burnhamabbey.org/Herb_Garden_6.jpg
Don’t make a rectangle of grass with narrow edges….borders must be wide enough .make curves long and not too intricate.. …brick edge the lawn to keep tidy and then plant big plants at the back..small plants at the front…think I would use shrubs rather than perennials…makes life easier..!!
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If you want to hide some fencing, put either some shrubs that get medium sized, or some big grass plants. I love grass plants. Some varieties are 2ft. tall and others can get to be 10ft. tall. Check the tag on the plant to see how big it will get when shopping. We’ve got some big ones off our back entrance, that are about 6ft tall and 4ft wide. If you plant grass plants, put other things several feet apart from them so they won’t crowd your other plants when they get big. A rose bush would be nice (need lots of sun and water), and maybe some tiger lillies. Tiger lillies come in several colors, bloom all summer, and are very hardy. Same with day lillies. Grass plants, roses, lillies. This will make even a small garden gorgeous. Good luck!
P.S.- by now a lot of things are on sale now at nurseries too. I’ve found even walmart or Lowes has good plants. If you want to put some little annuals in (flowers that only live one season) you can get those now for like $2 a pot.
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I agree with above, don’t bother with grass and especially if you had planned on a tiny border garden around the perimeter. Anything less than a meter deep is too narrow and actually 2 meters is better.
I know cheap is the first rule, so scrounge around for plants. Garden clubs often have plant sales, car boot sales sometimes have plants, ask around when people are working their garden and have extra plants. The trees and shrubs you can purchase in smaller sizes…..they grow.
Paving or stone might be from construction sites with broken concrete, some people are willing to "sell" you their stone or gravel if you’ll haul it away.
I’d create a nice terrace/patio or some type sitting area in the "middle" either of stone or pavers and then plant the rest small ornamental tree or two, moderate size shrubs, some evergreen some flowering deciduous, some small plants around the sitting area…herbs were a lovely idea, maybe a trellis/pergola marking the entry to the garden with a wonderful rose or clematis growing over the top, and maybe a nice small water feature beside the sitting area. By focusing your attention to the middle of your garden, you won’t notice that back wall.
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For mine, I went around a scrounged natural stone and used those in my landscape, free. I created a dry creek bed in my back yard where there was a drainage problem & grass wouldn’t grow. I did buy some smaller stones to fill in the "creek" and plants. I also laid weed barrier down before placing the rocks.
Drive around to various construction sites in your area. Wherever you see broken-up chunks of concrete, stop and ask if you could take a few of the smaller pieces, none of them seem to mind. Look for pieces that have a flat side that you can use for stepping stones.
It is difficult to recommend plants. Where are you? Your climate will make a huge difference. We need to know what temperature zone you are in. Will the plants be in direct sun, partial shade or shade. It makes a huge difference. What kind of soil & moisture in the soil makes a difference too.
Landscaping on a budget:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/cheaplandscaping1/a/low_budget.htm
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