Back Yard Landscaping Tips
Looking for back yard landscaping ideas? As you look through garden catalogs filled with beautiful trees, shrubs, flowers and pictures of beautifully landscaped yards, complete with ponds and garden sculptures, the choices seem endless. Before ordering hundreds of plants or giving up because you cannot decide what you really want, here are a few things to consider.
A routine issue in landscaping is creating a peaceful, private environment. While fencing can provide immediate privacy, you may want to think about a buffer strip of shrubbery between your yard and the one next door. Most shrubs will grow quickly, within a couple of years, and act as a screen while providing habitat for a variety of birds.
Planting native shrubs is best because they are usually well adapted to local conditions and may provide the best habitat for local wildlife. Other considerations: whether the plants have special characteristics such as flowers or fruits, how large they will eventually become, and how much maintenance they require to remain healthy and in scale with your yard. You can get advice from a local nursery or garden center for recommended species.
If you ever thought it would be fun to have a pond, then go for it. With the variety of materials now on the market, anyone can have a garden pond, regardless of the size of their yard. If you have a lot of space, you can build one in ground. You can purchase a pre-formed mold or dig a hole and line it with a plastic pond liner.
An easy type of pond consists of a plastic lined barrel or tub. Just add water, plants, a pump, and even fish and you have a pond for your yard or patio. Be sure to keep in mind sources of electricity if you intend to add a pump. Also, make sure you use caution and take security measures if small children have access to your yard and the pond. Another factor to assume is maintenance. A pond can require a lot of effort to keep it clear of algae, leaves, and debris.
If you do not want to spend your weekends maintaining a yard, turn part of it into a wildflower garden. Depending on where you live, this could be a prairie, desert landscape, or alpine garden. Check first with local zoning ordinances. Some communities have not yet recognized the value of "native landscaping" and may consider this an inconvenience area. If you want a more maintained yard, think about ground covers instead of grass and use mulch to control weeds in foundation plantings and flower beds.
When selecting plants, make sure they are adapted to your area. Keep in mind both the minimum and maximum temperatures, amount of moisture, amount of sunlight, and soil characteristics. Ask yourself: Do you want an annual that will need replanting every year or a perennial that comes up year after year? Do you want cut flowers for inside your home or to give to friends?
Consider native plants. They are usually better adapted to local conditions and need little maintenance. Be cautious about introducing exotic species such as purple loosestrife that will become invasive and is prohibited in many states.
The most important tip of all is choosing what you like. The variety of plants in your new yard will offer homes to wildlife and provide you with years of pleasure. You can enjoy the yard of your dreams with a little planning and a few back yard landscaping ideas.
Copyright © 2006 AmazingEbooksOnline.com All Rights Reserved.
This article is from Homeowners Guide To Landscaping that will guide you every step of the way, from creating a base plan to choosing plants, trees and landscaping for energy savings.
A routine issue in landscaping is creating a peaceful, private environment. While fencing can provide immediate privacy, you may want to think about a buffer strip of shrubbery between your yard and the one next door. Most shrubs will grow quickly, within a couple of years, and act as a screen while providing habitat for a variety of birds.
Planting native shrubs is best because they are usually well adapted to local conditions and may provide the best habitat for local wildlife. Other considerations: whether the plants have special characteristics such as flowers or fruits, how large they will eventually become, and how much maintenance they require to remain healthy and in scale with your yard. You can get advice from a local nursery or garden center for recommended species.
If you ever thought it would be fun to have a pond, then go for it. With the variety of materials now on the market, anyone can have a garden pond, regardless of the size of their yard. If you have a lot of space, you can build one in ground. You can purchase a pre-formed mold or dig a hole and line it with a plastic pond liner.
An easy type of pond consists of a plastic lined barrel or tub. Just add water, plants, a pump, and even fish and you have a pond for your yard or patio. Be sure to keep in mind sources of electricity if you intend to add a pump. Also, make sure you use caution and take security measures if small children have access to your yard and the pond. Another factor to assume is maintenance. A pond can require a lot of effort to keep it clear of algae, leaves, and debris.
If you do not want to spend your weekends maintaining a yard, turn part of it into a wildflower garden. Depending on where you live, this could be a prairie, desert landscape, or alpine garden. Check first with local zoning ordinances. Some communities have not yet recognized the value of "native landscaping" and may consider this an inconvenience area. If you want a more maintained yard, think about ground covers instead of grass and use mulch to control weeds in foundation plantings and flower beds.
When selecting plants, make sure they are adapted to your area. Keep in mind both the minimum and maximum temperatures, amount of moisture, amount of sunlight, and soil characteristics. Ask yourself: Do you want an annual that will need replanting every year or a perennial that comes up year after year? Do you want cut flowers for inside your home or to give to friends?
Consider native plants. They are usually better adapted to local conditions and need little maintenance. Be cautious about introducing exotic species such as purple loosestrife that will become invasive and is prohibited in many states.
The most important tip of all is choosing what you like. The variety of plants in your new yard will offer homes to wildlife and provide you with years of pleasure. You can enjoy the yard of your dreams with a little planning and a few back yard landscaping ideas.
Copyright © 2006 AmazingEbooksOnline.com All Rights Reserved.
This article is from Homeowners Guide To Landscaping that will guide you every step of the way, from creating a base plan to choosing plants, trees and landscaping for energy savings.
posted by Gary at 3:07 PM
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