Daily Handy Tips

Posts Tagged ‘landscaping’

The direction in which your house faces (north, south, east, west) is termed its exposure. This fact is of utmost importance in planning your garden. First of all, you will have to locate plants that will grow successfully in shaded areas according to the exposure; secondly, the position of shade trees will be most satisfactory if you determine before planting the spots where they will do the most good.

Generally speaking, a house whose front faces southeast is best adapted for the American type of home landscape. A more detailed discussion of this subject, will appear in a succeeding chapter.

Surroundings

Just as individuals are apt to reflect the habits and characteristics of their environment, landscape design should to some extent conform to the standards set by the surrounding area. This statement holds true only if the general surroundings happen to be pleasant. If, however, the land adjoining or close by to yours happens to be an eyesore, your landscape plan will emphasize seclusion and try to block off the undesirable view.

Soil

Your choice of design and of plants will also be controlled by the soil. For our purposes the two most important types of soil are (a) acid ( sour) and (b) alkaline ( sweet). The easiest thing to do is to work only with those plants that are best suited for your particular soil. However, some plants are so attractive and so well suited to home landscaping that you will feel it is worthwhile to change the type of soil in a part of the property to accommodate them. In fact, this practice is so common today that it is all but taken for granted.

You must also consider whether your soil is wet or dry. Poorly drained, wet soil is among the worst calamities that can befall any home gardener; stagnant water renders soil all but useless. Other wet soils produce good results because they have excellent aeration.

At the opposite end of the scale are the very dry soils ranging all the way to desert conditions. Here, of course, the list of plants that can be used is severely limited. Fortunately, the characteristic architecture of homes in arid regions is also limited and the plants that are in keeping with the climate and soil conditions also go well with the architecture. So, it is important for them to know all the great indoor plants.

Just as acid soil can be made alkaline, and vice versa, we have worked out ways to handle certain natural forces so that they are not too damaging to our efforts to beautify the landscape. The home gardener in Texas, for example, knows that their main problem is to sustain landscape plants successfully through the hot, dry season. To do this they apply a mulch which keeps the soil cooler and conserves its moisture for a longer period. As a result of such practices, there are in the nation’s hot, dry sections beautiful home landscapes that “defy” nature.

Keith Markensen shares his vast knowledge at http://www.plant-care.com. Knowledge is power - get more power and find out more about great indoor plants. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Plants, like any other commodity we use, do cost money. However, unlike, say, a vacuum cleaner, they grow more valuable as they grow older.

You should expect to pay a fair price for any plants you decide to use in your landscape. But, since the price depends largely on the amount of work the nurseryman has put into the given plant, you should always buy smaller specimens. Properly cared for, they will grow into valuable shrubs, flowers and trees.

If you have enough time, patience, and skill, you might try developing your own shrubs - a difficult task but one that will stretch your gardening dollar.

Cash Outlay

Do not, confuse the fully grown plants shown many magazines, websites and books with the ones you will plant when you start to landscape. These plants are often shown mature in order to help you visualize what you will ultimately have.

Your initial cash outlay, however, will not be for mature plants or even large specimens. You will be buying plants for much less because you are going to wait for them to mature.

Not even extremely wealthy people buy mature plants. The shade tree that you buy will be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. You may pay around $50 for it; in ten years, when its diameter will have reached about 5 inches, that tree would cost at least $1000. Even a man in the higher income bracket would have to think twice before buying 10 or 15 mature shade trees.

Less Expensive Plants

Most home owners choose evergreens or calathea plants for foundation plantings. When asked why they select evergreens, most people will say that in winter they do not like to look at plants that have lost their leaves. They think of them as a dead bunch of twigs that mar the appearance of the front of their house.

Is this so? Next time you have the chance, study closely the delicate twig arrangements of any deciduous shrub during the winter time. Note the wonderful patterns formed when they are covered with snow or ice. Then you will think before committing yourself to the added expense of evergreens.

Have you ever stepped across the street from your house and gave it a close examination of what your visitors, guest and those who drive by see when they look at the message your landscape and garden gives? Does your entrance say - Welcome or chaos is happening here?

Driveway and Entrance

Besides presenting an attractive picture of the house, you want to create an atmosphere of welcome for your visitors. This was carried out beautifully in English cottage gardens.

The driveway is the first step, since most people travel by car. The semicircle so popular on large properties wastes a lot of space and seldom gives a good view of the house. It is usually best to have the driveway straight to the garage, if possible, with a wide bay for parking. A driveway should be at least 18 feet wide, to allow cars to pass easily, and the turns should have an inside radius of 18 feet.

The position of the driveway, parking area and a good lawn that are added with peat moss lawn often makes the approach to the house from one side rather than the front. This gives you a chance to have a welcoming, attractive entrance court or patio at the front of the house, as well as a pleasant view from inside.

Your entrance court does not have to be elaborate as the one shown. For example, if the house faces south or west, you probably will have trees to shade the front windows. In addition to framing the house, the branches overhead give a sense of enclosure. Between the driveway and the court you might have a paved area with a seat or some other feature to focus attention before turning toward the house. Then you could have a low hedge, to define the court, and a few outstanding plants for color. An interesting entrance like this makes your guests feel they have been welcomed before they even knock on the door.

The email reminders full of images and fall catalogs have been arriving. Ah! What pleasant reading. What feasting of eyes at the luscious fruits and blooms as they are illustrated!

Although the variety of things that lend themselves to fall planting is not so wide as in the spring, there are some things that are strictly for fall planting. Heading this list, of course, will be the various bulbs. Naturally one first thinks of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, probably in that order. Far be it from me to distract or disparage any of these.

My personal observation leads me to believe, however, that many are overlooking the possibilities of greater enjoyment from hyacinths. What is more breathtaking than a long solid spike of florets with the heady perfume of a deep blue hyacinth? (Or you choose your favorite color.)

Some people explain their lack of enthusiasm for hyacinths, saying they don’t do well the second year in their part of the country. There are two observations I’d like to make to that lame excuse. First, so what? They pay their way from the enjoyment you get from them the first year. Second, this excuse just isn’t so, at least, not so far as our experience is concerned.

Of course you have to be reasonably cooperative. First and foremost, put your bulbs in decent soil, and unless nature tales care of it, see that they get some moisture. That applies to all fall planted bulbs, but I think it is especially needed for hyacinths.

You CAN have hyacinths like the catalog pictures.

Nevertheless, don’t overlook the tulips. By starting the season with the species which bloom extra early, you can have a riot of color throughout the spring. You can also find a wide range in color, form and blooming season for the daffodils. Each season ours come better and in larger clumps.

Last fall we had to thin out the muscari or grape hyacinths. Several new rows were started along the edges of the garden walks and they gave a good account of themselves.

Now of course they are all covered over with other vegetation. But come spring and they will again be in all their glory.

In addition to putting out the hollyhock seedlings, remember that many perennials and biennials (plants that bloom and die the second year) do well with early fall starting. It is best to give these some protection through the winter. If you have a cold frame, fine. If not use some brush, straw or leaves. Just be sure it doesn’t mat down and smother the plants out.

We have made a special seed bed by mixing sand and peat moss with garden soil and compost for a seedling nursery i also put deck solar lights to give light at night . This is on the east side of the north porch, where it is easy to water, and the hot afternoon sun doesn’t bake the ground and to enhance its beauty i put deck solar lights in every corner.

These plants started now will bloom next year. We have put out columbines, campanulas, carnations, penstemons, dianthus, coral bells and Shasta daisies - also some delphiniums and perennial phlox. We have especially enjoyed the foxgloves or digitalis, and have included several varieties.

Swimming Pool Landscaping for either a residential or commercial application for a swimming pool should be carefully planned, designed, and constructed in order to provide a high-value and be visually stimulating. You should have an enjoyable experience while using the swimming pool.

Although many successful landscape applications for swimming pools are provided by professional landscapers and other designers, a homeowner or business owner can do this with a little research, time, and effort. You can produce your own beautiful landscape.

Landscaping applications for swimming pool landscaping will typically emphasize specific plant types. It is important to focus on trees, shrubs, and grasses that are habitable to a specific location.

Flowers and plants that can thrive in your specific zone should be selected for sustainability purposes. Successful landscape applications flourish due to the plants ability to grow and live in a specific environment. This is typically based upon climate, rainfall amount, sunlight, and soil parameters. Since the landscaper cannot control these elements, it is wise to select plant material that will successfully grow given these elements of the application.

Plant selection guides are available in hard copy, audio, and online. They can help the designer select the best material for your landscaping project.

Successful landscape applications include a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. They are usually native or adaptable to the location. When selecting plants, you should include material that is visually appealing, and can also be functional. Most plant functions not only include visual purposes, but also guide pedestrian traffic and provide screening for privacy. Specific plants and trees can be purchased to perform these useful functions.

Other types of applications for swimming pool landscaping include fencing, patios, and furniture. While these elements are important and can add value to your landscape design, the focus of any application should always be on your plant material.

Usually, multiple designs are considered to provide different planning ideas. Once a final design is chosen, you can begin implementing construction and installation. This can be done either by professional landscaping contractors, or by the homeowner or commercial property owner.