The secret to successful landscaping is the right plant material selection. Picking plant colors that compliment your overall property theme are just as important as selecting your “live elements” with a purpose. What I mean by purpose is taking into consideration your focal points, whether you want shade, a barrier from noisy neighbors or erosion control and yard drainage.
Something else to think about is screening. Do you have air conditioning condensers sitting on the ground out in the open? How about your garbage cans, garden hoses or even a storage shed? Screening these types of items with plants or shrubs can go a long way to enhancing your landscape design.
When you make the right plant selection for the right purpose, it contributes to a manageable, Trusted outdoor kitchens designer New orleans that will work well for you and your family.
Many people get tunnel vision when looking at a plant’s bloom or color or the fragrance it will produce and do not consider many of the following characteristics:
How big will the plant, shrub or tree get?
How fast will it grow?
How big will the root base be at maturity or the canopy width if a tree?
What type of soil will it thrive in?
What are its tolerances for wind and for heat?
How much light does it need?
Stopping at your local garden center and picking out plants without spending a little time considering how and where they’re to be used, could be expensive and frustrating when they don’t survive.
Taking into account the questions above will better equip you to purchase these “living elements” based on their suitability to your specific landscape design intent and conditions.
Consistency in garden design is achieved through well-planned plant varieties instead of mixing and matching or scattering different species and colors here and there.
Selecting plants should include those that bloom during different cycles through the growing season so you always have some green or color in your landscape. Using plants that are evergreen or those that are semi-evergreen in equally spaced settings will add winter color and a uniform appearance to your landscape.
Think about trees and plants that are native to your region as an option. Because these are already growing in your area, they can save you plenty on plant costs.
When planting, consider “layering” plants or shrubs by height keeping the small plants in front and the taller as a backdrop behind.
Spending a little extra time pre-planning your landscape or garden design will go a long way to ensuring your success. Remember to not only envision your yard landscape from the inside of your house out but also from your yard to your house. You’ll want to be sure you’re enhancing your views and not blocking your views.
Take into consideration any slopes or land elevation variances so your site will drain properly away from your home and will not leave any standing water or ponding.
Above all else, the most important aspect of your landscape design will be to locate existing utilities before you start digging!
