Landscaping Basics

Covering the landscaping basics before you start your design project will save you time and money and bring you more satisfying results. Many residential and commercial landscapes appear uninspiring, cluttered or sparse because they weren't planned efficiently ahead of time. Landscaping basics include both a consideration of the aesthetic elements of the yard and its functional features in order to bring out the strong points of the front or back of your house or business.

A well designed landscaping plan can increase the curb appeal of your home, as well as boosting its market value. Most importantly, landscaping that touches all the design basics makes your home inviting, welcoming and easy to access by family and friends alike. Getting landscaping questions answered and learning the basics of landscape design involve more than planting trees, shrubs or flowers. Landscaping integrates all of the exterior elements of your property to create an outdoor living environment that reflects your personal style.

Evaluating the Basics of Your Yard

Pictures of landscaping ideas can provide inspiration when you're planning the basics of your design. Browse through landscaping magazines, architectural design books and online galleries to find images of houses that motivate you. Photos can guide you on your shopping excursions at nurseries or home improvement outlets as you search for the elements and tools that you need to create the basics of an attractive and functional front yard or backyard.

When you're evaluating the exterior of your house, consider the landscaping basics that you already have in place, as well as any improvements that you need to make. You must also think about how much time and energy you have to commit to the maintenance of your landscape. If you're passionate about gardening and you have the space and storage areas available, planting annual and perennial flower beds can bring you great enjoyment. However, if you barely have time to mow the lawn, you may prefer to plan a yard that requires minimal maintenance.

As you discuss the landscaping basics with your family, consider how you spend your free time and how you could improve your yards to increase your satisfaction with your house. You may decide to expand your children's outdoor play space, create an open area for sports activities or expand your outdoor entertainment facilities. Planning the landscaping basics includes a configuration of patios, decks or swimming pools, along with outdoor lighting elements to keep the exterior of your house well illuminated.

Practical, functional concerns are also important when plotting the landscaping basics. As an initial step, draw a map of your yard that includes all of the aesthetic elements you'd like to add, along with areas for activities or entertainments and utilitarian items like mailboxes, garages, sheds, dog houses or trash cans. Access to the house should be clear and well defined, with plenty of room for larger vehicles, if needed. Walkways can be edged with flower beds, field stone, gravel or other elements that calls attention to the entry to your house.

Basics of Planting and Construction

Although planting isn't necessarily the most important element of landscaping, planning lawns, trees and gardens represents a challenge for many homeowners. The local climate, the pattern of sunlight on your property, the quality of the soil and the direction of the winds should be taken into account when you're choosing shrubs and flowers. Shrubs, hedges and trees can fulfill important practical functions in your landscaping basics, such as protecting the soil, blocking wind and sun and providing privacy and noise control for your home.

Color is an important element in designing the exterior of a home. The foliage of trees and shrubs, as well as the blossoms of the flowers in your border beds, add to the mood and character of the house. Whether you prefer richly hued shade plants or bright annual flowers that add a pop of color to your walkways or porch, color plays a key role in the landscaping basics. Flowering vines that climb along trellises, porch railings or the face of the house itself contribute color, but they must be well maintained in order to avoid an overgrown, unkempt look.

Flower beds or herb gardens can be edged with brick, fieldstones, concrete, or scalloped plastic or metal to maintain clear lines and discourage weeds and grasses from invading your cultivated plants. Edging materials act as visual guides to separate the elements of a yard. If you live in a hot, arid climate, gardens may include succulents, rocks, ornamental grasses and other plants that thrive in desert environments.

Landscaping basics encompass not only trees, flowers and ground cover but benches, arbors, gazebos and fences. A comprehensive approach integrates a variety of structures, colors and textures in a harmonious design. Use the free resources on our site to explore your options, gain inspiration or contact consultants who can help you maximize the appearance and functionality of your home.

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