Landscaping Tips

When you want to create a beautiful and functional landscape, the task may be overwhelming. Before the first shovel of soil is turned, close your eyes and picture your dream garden. Begin by asking what are your landscape goals. Some of the common reason to landscape include:

? Create privacy

? Invite entertaining

? Provide recreation

? Modify the climate

? Beautify the property

? Grow a kitchen garden

? Attract wildlife

? Reduce water use

When a landscape is thoughtfully planned, it does more than beautify the property: It can provide a recreation area and places to entertain. Well placed trees and shrubs can cut down on heating and cooling costs. A good design can also add more living space to your home in the warm seasons and provide a window to the natural world during colder months.

Following are some landscape design basics that apply to all designs. Every good garden design owes its effectiveness to certain basic design principles. These rules apply to all levels of gardens, from a simple garden border to an elaborate classical design. Remember, in any well-designed garden no one feature, plant or structure is completely dominant. Instead, all features work together to establish a sense of unity.

A. Repetition. Repeat certain plants, textures or colors.

B. Simplicity. This is the result of constraint. It keeps your design from being cluttered and unfocused.

C. Unity. A unified design ensures that the garden reads as one whole design rather than a hodgepodge of separate elements.

D. Scale. Scale refers to the balance between sizes of various elements, which includes the house, walkways, paths, fences, garden beds and plantings. No one element or feature should overpower all of the others.

Donna Evans is a landscape designer and website designer. Donna along with her husband own, Gizmo Creations LLC, http://www.gizmocreations.com, works with residential property owners and commercial property owners to create landscape designs that provide beauty and functionality to the site's owners. As well as having a landscape designer, the company has a licensed landscape architect on staff. In addition to working with nearby property owners, Gizmo Creations also does on-line landscape design through their site at, http://www.gclandscapes.com. Donna also teaches an on-line landscape design course. For information about the course go to http://www.gizmocreations.com. More articles on landscaping and sample plans can be seen on the website.

---

Agio Patio Furniture

The fresh air of the early spring solstice and the... Read More

Teak Furniture: The Premier Outdoor Furniture

When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More

How To Prevent Damping Off

Damping off is the single term used to describe underground,... Read More

Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care

Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn... Read More

How To Choose Water Garden Plants

So. The water garden bug has bitten. You've dug and... Read More

Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard

Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know... Read More

Introduction to Botany

Botanists are individuals who conduct extensive study on plant biology... Read More

Colour in the Garden

Colour affects our emotions, moods, physical, and spiritual well-being. It... Read More

Blue Wild Flowers for Your Garden

Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More

Water Pond Designs

You can have different water pond designs, however ones that... Read More

Fall Garden Planning - Garden Plans for Next Spring and Ordering by Mail

It's August, the weather has cooled a bit here and... Read More

Lawn Edging

How do you make those flowers bloom where they are... Read More

The Home Garden

The garden should be near the house and away from... Read More

Garden Swings Create an Enchanted Garden Setting

Nothing invites one to sit and enjoy a lovingly created... Read More

A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs

Flowers are a favorite of many backyard gardeners. Thanks to... Read More

Italian Vegetable Seeds

Some might ask, "Why grow Italian vegetable seeds?" Why bother... Read More

Marsh Marigold

The bright yellow flowers of the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)... Read More

Feng Shui in the Garden

"The Ancient Art of Placement" called Feng Shui (pronounced phung... Read More

Laying Out Your New Landscape

When planning your new landscape, the first place to start... Read More

Homemade Hummingbird Nectar

HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPEWe love hummingbirds and love to watch them... Read More

How To Prune Your Roses For Stunning Results

Pruning and deadheading are essential to proper rose care. Alas,... Read More

Hummingbird Migration

Specific humming bird migration patterns differ by species and habitats,... Read More

Balcony, Patio, and Courtyard Gardening

People choose balcony, patio, and courtyard gardening for many different... Read More

Escape to Sunny Mexico - at Home!

Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't... Read More

The Basics Of Pruning

The technique of pruning varies with the type of rose... Read More