Landscape Design Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Front Yard

Do you see your front yard as little more than a space to cross in order to reach your home? If so, your front yard could use a makeover. Check out our front yard reDesign Ideas below. For boring front yards.... The answer is a jolt of creativity. Design/Landscape gurus have several ways to jazz up dreary front yards: 1. Aim for Elemental Equality. Feng Shui teaches that equal parts fire, metal, earth and water are present in a visually pleasing Design. Landscape pavers are generally considered as earth. For metal, think about adding a sculpture or a reflective ball. Vibrant yellow and red flowers can add fire, while water can be represented with a fountain or pond. 2. Use a Variety of Materials. People are suckers for variety. To spice up your front area, tell your Landscape Designer to incorporate a wide variety of materials. As an example, instead of using just pavers, you could use gravel and ground covers as well. 3. Think About How You'll Use Your Design. Landscape Designers who are worth their salt ask how their clients anticipate using their yards. Utility is a sure-fire way to destroy boredom. An "edible" front yard is perfect for lovers of fresh produce, while a built-in sandpit is a dream come true for parents of toddlers. Or, if you want a private retreat, add stucco walls to create a secluded sanctuary. When partnering with Landscape Design services, always start with a meditation on how you want to use the area. For yards that don't jive with the traditional American style... Choose a more harmonious Design. Landscape techniques from around the globe can highlight your home's style. For example, if your house boasts Asian details, you can continue this theme in your front yard by adding an elaborate front gate and higher walls. (This style is common in places like Japan, where limited land lead Landscape artists to create front-yard privacy.) Check with your Landscape Designer to figure out which garden fashions would best accent your house's Design. Landscape Design services usually delight in the opportunity to escape traditional Americana. For tiny front lawns that don't justify storing hefty mowing equipment... Talk to your Landscape Designer about ground cover alternatives to turf. Some, like Scotch and Irish moss, do not require mowing. In truth, there are multiple advantages to removing grass from your Landscape Design. Portland denizens, for example, are often interested in reducing their carbon footprint. For these environmentally enlightened homeowners, a lawn symbolizes unneeded energy expenditures - energy spent fueling mowers, creating fertilizers, and transporting weed killers, and that's just a start! Many non-tree-huggers have eliminated their lawns as well, simply because they abhor the inordinate amount of upkeep that a lawn demands. If you need more space for entertaining... Create an inviting space with short shrubbery, accent fencing, and trellises. These Design elements can create an outdoor "room" that visitors will feel drawn to. Landscape Design services may also suggest building a short wall to create the sensation of a smaller, cozier space. Or, you may just decide to erect a patio cover and a front-yard deck to encourage outdoor socializing. If none of these Ideas rouse you, your Landscape Designer will no doubt have a surfeit of Ideas to make the perfect front yard for your family.

Read More...

What to Consider When Purchasing Landscape Design Software

The aim of this article is to assist you in finding the appropriate Landscape Design Software for your unique situation whether you are a do-it-yourself house owner or a qualified Designer. Below are a number of the items you'll want to think about before selecting a landscaping program. 1. Features Most Landscape Design programs contain hundreds of features for both the professional Landscaper and the person who just Landscapes their own yard. If you are a professional, you probably would seek out the more professional programs for your business. If you are a home Landscaper doing it for yourself, then you want to find very easy programs with features you can work with. You definitely want to seek out programs that give you a more true to life or realistic vision of your Landscape job. 2. Usability All of the other features basically being identical, we all prefer a program that's simple to use. Sample some of the test programs or trial based programs for user friendliness and adaptability to what your project is. Choose a program that doesn't possess an extreme learning curve. One criterion that is particularly important is the GUI of the Software program. The user interface should not be difficult and complicated for even the most average user. 3. Cost Even though the Software programmers wish you had an infinite sum of money to shell out on Landscape Design Software, it is never the case and unless it is a top program that contains features no other program includes, the more expensive programs are mostly passed over. You should do a comparison of cost, item features and quality of Software. 4. Assistance In a perfect universe your Landscape Design Software program would do everything you wanted it to do. It would be free of bugs and it would install efficiently. Sad to say, this isn't a perfect world. There will be instances when you need support because you won't be able to delete an object, or the application locks up, or you cannot print your blueprint. In times such as these, you'll want to work with a good Software company that provides excellent support. Locate a company that offers many different types of assistance including instruction materials, live online chat, on-line forums, frequently asked questions, Information base, Phone support, and electronic mail support. Most people enjoy easily looking up a solution online, but they also want the availability of calling the company if they cannot find an answer to their problem. Summary There are several important characteristics to consider when you decide to purchase Landscape Design Software. Always download the trail Software first to be sure you can manipulate the Software easily and it contains the features you basically were looking for. Good luck to you in your new purchase of Software.

Read More...

Point to Keep in Mind While Considering Front Yard Landscaping

Located right on the edge of the 80-mile long Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is known for some of the most spectacular landscape in Canada. Home to some renowned world-class wineries and orchards, it is also a large city offering an array of gourmet dining, excellent shopping and a thriving cultural community. Kelowna is also a popular destination for holidays of all seasons since the city experience all four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. There is always something for someone to do here in Kelowna. For me, it's an enjoyable drive around the residential areas of the city where you get to take in the sights of beautifully landscaped homes, big or small. No wonder the Kelowna real estate industry still shows excellent results in housing despite the not-so-favorable market conditions. If my finances are of no constraint, I think I would be easily tempted into investing in one, just by admiring all the beautiful Kelowna Front Yard Landscaping. Every home is so tastefully landscaped with their individualistic designs. The Yard is normally not the area considered for relaxing or entertaining. However, Front Yard Landscaping is one good idea to add value to the home. BackYard Landscaping may be for the purpose to provide for privacy but the Front Yard Landscaping is the opposite. It's like a testament to your personality to the world outside. It also provides a sense of invitation for anyone who steps right in Front of the Yard. If you are into the idea of sprucing up your Yard, then the following points might be worth your time to consider before your project value-add or depreciate your investment. 1. Available Space The top most important consideration for your Front Yard Landscaping is the area space available for you to transform into your dream landscape. Normally the Yard hosts the entrance of your home as well as the driveway for your cars. This is where the most traffic occurs to your home and an appropriate space set aside for it is essential as you define the landscape to be created around these spaces. 2. The Topography Is your Front Yard flat or is it sloped? The topography is another important factor that determines the landscape of your Front Yard. Say if the land is flat, you may need to include a design that allows rainwater or your car wash to flow out into the drainage system. Exposed or hidden gutters may add or take away the aesthetic taste of your Front Yard landscape. On the other hand, if your Front Yard is sloped, you will have to add stepping stone for visitors and anti-skid flooring to your driveway. A sloped Yard provides an advantage as it provides for outstanding visual between your home and the Front Yard. 3. Exposure To The Sun How exposed is your Front Yard determines the type of plants and awnings that you will put up in Front of your home. If your Front Yard is exposed to harsh sunlight daily, then planting a tree to cast a large shadow over your lawn or green foliages would be a suitable idea. If this does not permit, then you may consider erecting a structure in the form of awnings or maybe a pergola to provide the needed shade. This structure should remain simple to frame your home and not hide it or change the focal point which should be your home. 4. Selection of Plants & Trees Just as the above three points, the plants and trees that you select for your Front Yard is equally important. Trees can either frame the view of your house or it can dominate the focal point away from your house. Select trees that can match the design of your house. An uncluttered Front Yard will create the illusion of extra space and tidiness. Always follow the rule for simplicity and repetition. Less is often more. 5. Lightings Outdoor lighting is must for your Front Yard landscape. Not only will it show off your Front Yard landscape during the night, it is also for the safety and security for your visitors and family. Study the natural light available on your Front Yard i.e. the light coming from the streetlights, from the neighbor's or even the light on nights when the moon is full. Keep the lightings focused on focal points and safety hazards and do not forget to maintain these fixtures away from walking paths. Not only choose safe spots in your Yard but also ensure that it interfere with your plants. Remember, your Front Yard Landscaping is all about providing a welcoming access to your home while adding an aesthetic appeal to your house.

Read More...

5 Great Backyard Landscaping Ideas to Green Your Garden

Dare to be different with some fresh Backyard Landscaping Ideas. Backyard Landscaping Ideas are legion, and can be used to transform a common old block of land into something quite marvelous.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas 1 - Spanish Style Vertical Garden

A vertical Garden will really make your Backyard Landscaping Ideas come to life. Now you can look at a blank wall as if you are an artist about to create a work of art. The blank wall is your blank canvas you will transform into a beautiful living picture of pots and flowering plants that can change into a riot of color all years round.

Spanish style flower's pot holders are available that are specially designed to carry plastic or terracotta pots or even wicker work conical baskets. Spanish style flower's pot holders will give a real flavour of the Mediterranean. Spanish style flower's pot holders are inspired by the narrow, winding alleyways of Southern Spain.
The Best of Spanish style flower's pot holders:

* Strong (being made of mild steel and last for years)
* Available in different sizes
* Simple and easy to handle

Backyard Landscaping Ideas 2 - Feng Shui Style Garden

In Chinese Gardens feng shui is an underlying factor throughout many Chinese Gardens. Feng Shui Garden landscape designs mostly incorporate mountain (Shan) and water (Shui) energy since the basic of Chinese Gardens originated from the art form called Shan Shui, meaning mountain-water

Mountain energy symbolizes good health, harmony and stability. It is yang, strong, hard, tall and vertical. One can identify this energy in actual mountains, higher terrain and mounds. Virtual mountain energy can be realized in boulders, raised planting beds and walls.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas 3 - Patio Backyard Design.

There are three type of Patio Backyard Design - Open patios, patios that are enclosed and patio that is placed right outside or connected right your home. Open patio utilized your home's outdoor space by decorating it with different materials and with furniture whereas in closed patio basically use walls commonly glasses wall or sliding wall. The last one of patio design Ideas - patio that is placed right outside or connected right your home. The good thing about this patio design is you can easily transfer inside your home then to your patio and vice versa since it is very accessible.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas 4 - Japanese Backyard Garden

Japanese water Gardens are popularly called as koi ponds. Before building these Gardens you should think about the material to be used for building them. Some of the great building elements which can help you in designing a pleasant natural Garden are Bamboo screens, high stone walls and weathered wood. Other than that, you can choose miniature Gardening which include bonsai tree and water elements (ponds).

Backyard Landscaping Ideas 5 - Foliage Garden

Foliage Garden is the flowerless Garden. Do you realize that flowers aren't the only things that can bring color to your Backyard? People always talk about the rose Garden, the dahlia bed, the wildflower meadow when they thinks about Garden but they ever seems to talk much about the leaves. But, if you look back at the woodland Garden in summer, no flowers, there are only ferns and heuchera and other leafy things. The fact is Foliage Garden can be beautiful alternative of Garden which consist of flower.

Once you have your Backyard landscape Ideas you can start making a plan on how to achieve your Backyard goal. If you're planning to landscape your Backyard, take time to browse through as many different Backyard Landscaping Ideas as you can to find Ideas that not only look good, but fit your personal needs, too. No need to waste your time. Get some Backyard landscape Ideas and green your home now.For further review of Backyard Garden pictures just visit my site at GardenLandscapingIdeas.org.

Read More...