By layering your garden beds, you are able to add a whole other level of excitement to your landscaping design. Your yard, particularly the front area, is the first thing that people see when they come to your house and leading a grand tour that includes a breathtaking garden is always fun. You will be the talk of the neighborhood when you utilize good garden landscaping ideas.

Layering your garden landscaping design is not difficult. You need to understand the flowers that you are going to plant first, however. The choices that you select as far as the flowers and other foliage will affect just how your garden landscaping is laid out. For example, you do not want to have the taller plants in front of the smaller ones. This is obvious, but you had better make a blueprint of where you want things planted in your landscaping before you begin. This will help you to keep things as simple as possible and aid you in avoiding bigger problems with drainage, poor soil and incompatible color combinations. Your landscaping will go a lot smoother this way and you will run into fewer problems as you go.

When layering you should create about three layers. Your back row should face north, if feasible, and it should contain the tallest plants. As the rows descend, so should the heights of the plants and flowers. Place the medium and ground level plants in front of the larger ones.

The difficulty of this approach to landscaping is that often the plants we buy are baby plants. So you will need to talk to those working at your local gardening store about how large the plants will grow to be. This is crucial to successful garden landscaping. If the front or middle row of your garden landscaping design is growing higher than the last row, then you will have to do some rearranging.

Think about how you will water your layers so that your irrigation system makes it effortless for you to reach all your plantings. Layering plants requires a little education, but the results are well worth the time you spend.

Layering plants will bring depth and make your foilage much more interesting to see. Garden landscaping ideas like these will make your garden landscaping a success, increasing your property value and making your garden a more beautiful and appealing place to live.

Professional landscaping projects can be pricey, but you can take steps to reduce the cost. The best place is at the start — the landscape design.

Left to themselves, professional landscapers will likely produce an outrageously expensive plan, filled with exotic plants and wonderous features. Nice, but do you want to pay for all that?

Set Goals

What it is you really need? A place to barbeque? Solitude? Family activities?

Which area of the property would you like to work on? Knowing and defining your desired outcome is a major part in the money saving process.

Do Not Over-Do It

Don’t contradict the style of your house. Can you imagine a sky scraper in the middle of the city with a big barbeque lawn? If your house has a simple design, don’t go with a landscaping design that will overwhelm the flow.

Know Your Style

Formal style uses perfect, straight, geometrical shapes. The plants and bushes are pruned neatly and arranged closely.

Informal style goes against the straight line geometry. There are other styles that can be found on the web and in your neighborhood bookstore.

Hiring A Professional Landscaper

Sometimes a highly respected landscaper is a must, especially if you have a goal that is very complicated. Other times a new, less established landscaper, can produce the desired result for less money. Talented people are not necessary the successful ones.

For now, just do your research in a relaxed environment. Make this project fun. After all, you are just doing the planning part. The professional landscaper gets to provide the back breaking work.

Remember that the initial costs of creating a landscape often create ongoing budget items. Maintenance and other related and recurring costs that are a part of the landscape experience must be factored into your budget.

You need to take everything into account when you plan your budget. Although annoying and tedious, in the end it will help you out immensely. You won’t be surprised at how much everything costs if you have estimates on costs and if you stay within your budget parameters.

Think of each portion of the landscape as a separate project and create a budget for each one. Then total it up to see what you can or cannot afford now. You can make adjustments to various landscaping elements if you need to bring the cost down a bit, or perhaps you can postpone a feature for the time being. Or even forego it entirely.

Figure out which plants you want, and whether or not they will look good in your complete landscape design. Investigate the cost of a variety of plants, so that you have some choices. Create a budget for the type of fencing you would like. Learn what materials are needed to build an arbor, deck, or patio. Then check out the cost of the materials, and how they will fit into your budget.

Keep in mind the landscape you want when creating a budget. Do you desire special fixtures? What can you live without? Create a vision of your landscape and then alter it as needed to match your budget.

Landscape design software can help in this, as you can easily adjust your plan and your ideas to fit within your budget. Figure out the approximate costs of your landscape needs by talking to professionals or by going online to find what is needed for similar projects. If something is too expensive, or it is not in your budget at all, now is the time to make adjustments.

The main elements of most landscapes are plants. When choosing plants, consider their size and growth rate. Even though a plant may be initially cheap and fast growing, future maintenance costs may be a problem. Typically, fast growing plants cost more in maintenance because they get bigger faster. Slower growing plants may force you to adjust your initial views of spending, but they will probably save you money over the long run.

One major decision you will need to make is how much of the work you are going to do yourself. Many landscape projects can be done without professionals, and turn out very well. Remember to consider the cost of labor versus doing the labor yourself.

Look for cost cutting landscaping ideas, because you are sure at some point to start to go over budget. For example, you can construct your walkways out of flat rocks if you can’t afford to have concrete poured.

There is a lot to keep in mind when creating a landscape budget. Make a detailed list of how much money you want to spend for each project before beginning the actual work.

For each of your landscape projects, try to come in at or below budget. If something is costing more than what you’ve budgeted for, you’ll need to quickly make adjustments. Look upon your budget and your landscape design as partners in an on-going creative dance. If either misteps, disaster may result.

Current Landscape Design

The first step in planning your landscape is to look at what you already have. A critical eye is needed here in determining what you like and dislike about the current design. Be sure to take into account how your home looks during different seasons. Make a list of all the good points of your current landscape, what changes you’d like to make, and what additions you want.

You should really do this planning process over an entire year, so that you can see precisely what you have during each season. Remember, taking your time will help you develop a better plan.

Landscape Space

When planning your landscape, keep in mind your space needs and what the space will be used for. Does the design interfere with your family’s activities and routines? Does that shrub block the walkway to the mailbox? Would the flowerbed in the middle of the lawn inhibit family games? Would the addition of a deck make family barbecue functions more convenient? Would a sandbox be a special addition for your grandchildren?

The best designs combine attractiveness with utility and are an essential part of the landscaping process.

Keep A Journal

Another way to help you plan your landscape is to keep a journal or folder of landscape ideas. Keep a list of things you currently like and dislike, as well as your plan for the use of your landscape space in this folder or journal. Gather ideas by looking at pictures in books, magazines, on the Internet, or by driving around the neighborhood and taking pictures. Next to the images you collect make sure you include the things that you think you will need to build a particular feature, or keep notes on things you would do to tweak a design to make it all your own.

Combine different design ideas into something that you like. The point is to look for new ideas that will help you accomplish your goals.

Building Codes And More

While planning your landscape design, don’t forget to check on local building codes and make sure of those tricky property lines. Find out from your utility companies where underground power, telephone, and cable wires are run. You do not want to hit one of these important things while digging around in your yard.

Figure all of this out before you finalize your landscape plans. This can help you adjust for possibly having to relocate a feature in your plan or for having to scale down the size of something.

Landscape Design Software

Another helpful tool in planning your landscape is the use of landscape design software. Much of this software can be used to figure out which plants may look nice in your yard, and which plants would go with your house. Some programs even allow you to scan in an image of your own house in order to better get an idea of the possibilities.

Most programs can be used as references to determine which plants are best suited to survive in your climate, and cost less than $70.

Careful Planning

It is possible with careful planning and the use of a few landscaping tips, to plan out your landscape in a way that will make use of your available space and allow your landscape dollars to be spent wisely.

I’m talking not just about the driveway itself, but also the design elements on either side of the driveway, as well as those at the top and bottom of it. You can make your driveway attractive by using all sorts of materials from softscape options to hardscape.

Make A Good Entrance

As the entrance to your home, the driveway should not be neglected. If so, it can be a blemish on the other landscaping around the home. If it is incorporated, it can add depth to the entire look for your home. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on the design elements for it either. You can be creative and choose features that are attractive, yet yield a very low cost landscape that is welcoming.

Make sure that you take everything into account before choosing your elements. For example, if you are looking for minimal work to be used in the driveway’s landscaping, do not plant a flower bush at the end of your driveway where the plants can be disheveled or ruined by those in your neighborhood. Instead, look to an attractive fence or a rock garden.

Another important aspect to pay attention to is the footpath to the home. Do not put any elements into the design that are in the way of normal foot traffic. You don’t want to make visitors go out of their way, or worse, trample your plants to reach your door.

Hardscape Choices

You have many options here, such as walls and fences. They can add distinction and accent your driveway. For example a large rock can be especially interesting, particularly when it has multiple colors.

You can plant grasses and small flowers in the cracks of stones to create an even more decorative look.

A small fence can add character to the landscape. Use fencing to add color and character to the driveway. Use hanging baskets or lanterns with the fence for more charm.

Softscape Choices

First, determine what you will landscape. For example, with a limited budget, just landscaping along the sides of the driveway is an excellent option. It will cost little, yet add lots of beauty to your landscape design.

As for softscape options that will work in driveway areas, a flower bed or groundcover along the driveway will create a border that is interesting and separates the lawn from the actually driveway.

Ornamental trees and shrubs can do the same thing for the border of the driveway. Shrubs can be cut to be topiary as well, which will add even more design elements to the look of the driveway landscape.

Another thing to consider for a curved driveway is to add a focal point — something to make a statement. For example, you can have a beautiful tree, a flower bed, or a rock garden there. Whatever it is it, should be beautiful because the curve element will serve as the main focal point of your driveway landscaping design.

You can use water gardens, landscape brides, a wishing well, as well as many other types of elements to enhance this area and have it look amazing.

Doing these things can completely transform the entrance of your home. In a simple, affordable way, you can add character and depth to your landscape design around your driveway.

Evergreens range from broad-leaved shrubs such as laurel and rhododendron to cone-bearing pines and stately spruces.

Most effective as windscreens, the giant spruces and firs are widely used not only because for their attractiveness, but also because of their shape. Furthermore, they do well in the shade, which makes them excellent for foundation planting.

Here are some popular evergreens to consider (in alphabetical order):

Cedar

The ornamental Arbor vitae, such as cedar, produces the flat evergreen branch found in flower arrangements at Christmas. It is best in moist, protected places. Although it can be cut to any size or shape, untrimmed it forms a broad 35 to 50 feet tall pyramid.

Fir

Hardy, healthy, and drought-resistant, the Douglas fir grows quickly and compactly. The best fir for windbreaks and screening, its lofty pyramid makes a good lawn element. White fir has an attractive silvery color while balsam fir, the Christmas tree, is noted for its fragrance and lustrous foliage.

Hemlock

The hemlock, with feathery foliage, is most effective when planted in a grove with others. The Canadian hemlock can be sheared for symmetrical effect.

Juniper

The tall species of juniper, such as the formal columnar juniper and the upright juniper, are very useful in planting. As a spreading evergreen, the Pfitzer juniper is best used for banks, edgings and ground cover. Its green feathery foliage grows rapidly, can withstand crowding and its height at maturity is 8 feet, and width up to 12feet. Ground-covering junipers include creeping, prostrate, Sargent, and Waukegan.

Pine

The most widely known evergreen is the pine. Noted for its long, soft, light silvery-green needles, the white pine can reach 60 to 80 feet at maturity. In addition to the white pine, the red pine is splendid for backgrounds and windbreaks. A broad, compact tree, the ponderosa pine is used for protection and ornamental screens.

The Austrian pine (black pine), popular in the Midwest, has a rich, green color and spreading branches.

Spruce

Short and thick, with light blue-green needles, the white spruce reaches 70 feet and is good for landscaping and screens. Although it suffers in drought and heat, the Colorado blue spruce is a hardy tree. Because it withstands dry weather and the thick green foliage has a bronze in winter, red cedar is a fine ornamental evergreen for hedges and windbreaks.

Probably the most widely planted windbreak evergreen, the Norway spruce is hardy and quick growing. A slow grower, it has short needles of dark green and is compact and pyramidal in shape. The Black Hills variety grows to 40 feet in time, and is hardy and drought-resistant.

Yew

With its thick, glossy needles and dense, upward-reaching branches, the yew is useful as both a shrub and tree. Although it grows well in sun and shade, it’s best used as a single feature against a wall of the garden rather than as foundation planting. The low-spreading bushy dwarf yew can be clipped, while other varieties such as the upright yew and Japanese yew are tapering or conical plants best used for hedges.

Protection

Since evergreens tend to be adversely affected by dry, hot summer weather, they should be watered every 10 to 14 days during this time of year. Be sure the water reaches at least 6 inches deep.

A good way to protect the tree from loss of water in dry weather is with a mulch of grass clippings or peat moss. To help an evergreen thrive, pruning in the late spring is recommended, making sure that the inner branches will develop.

Formal trees should be kept trimmed with no ragged branches sticking out; badly-shaped or deformed trees can be corrected through shaping. When exposed to too much wind and winter sun, evergreens may dry up and their branches will crack under the weight of snow or the force of wind. To prevent this, water them deeply before the ground freezes in the late fall.

Another way to protect evergreens is to use screens of burlap mats. They only need to be shielded on the sunny side, unless the wind and winter sun is too strong. Be sure that burlap covers are well-ventilated.

To prevent breakage under heavy snow or ice, prop up the heavy limbs of old trees with boards. So that smaller branches won’t crack, you can tie cloth strips to tall shrubs or small evergreens.

Types

First you should gather information on the many different types of climbing roses. Not only do they range in color, look and texture, they also vary in hardiness, which determines what you are able to grow in your area. In addition to knowing their hardiness level, you’ll need to know what type of soil to use and the amount of sunshine in your prospective planting area.

Selection

Although there are many varieties of climbing roses to choose from, don’t get discouraged, as you will surely find something that meets your particular needs with a little research. Check out your local discount department stores, hardware stores, and/or gardening shops, but the best selection is found on the Internet. You can request a catalog be sent to you, or buy your selection immediately online. When shopping online for climbing roses, not only will you find just what you are looking for, you’ll probably find something you never imagined. And at a better price.

Care

To find the type of care your climbing rose requires, grab a book or do a little research online. Taking the time to do these things will give you the best climbing rose you can get, perfect for your location, and which adds a lot to your landscape design.

If you hire a professional to do your landscaping, though, be sure to tell him that your over-all goal is a yard that will not take much work.

Lawns

If you have less grass in your front yard, then you will immediately eliminate a lot of maintenance time. Mowing the lawn takes up a lot of time and energy, so keeping the grass to a minimum is a great way to save on work. Talk to a local landscaping expert about alternatives that will make your yard look good with little lawn area.

Some people use clover instead of grass, which saves money and time. You will not have to mow it very often and a clover lawn is even good in areas that are prone to drought. They do well virtually everywhere. And a final good point is that bugs hate clover.

Watering

Watering the yard can be a big hassle as well. That is why many people incorporate automatic irrigation systems into their front yard landscaping designs these days. This can save you lots of time and even money. This is one of the easiest ways for you to keep your yard looking healthy during the hottest months of the year.

You can get a professional to quickly install one of these systems for your yard, or you can get a kit and do it yourself. I recommend a professional, unless you are experienced with this kind of thing. A leak can quickly produce flooding and rotting, which can destroy your beautiful landscaping, forcing you to start anew.

The Landscape Budget

First, can you afford to implement your entire design at once? Or do you need to create a plan in stages, reaching your goals one at a time?

You need to determine how much money is available for each phase of your design, and what you’ll do if you come in under budget. Will you purchase more plants? The bottom line is you need to set a target amount for each stage of your landscape project and then stay within the budget.

Here’s a helpful budget rule-of-thumb: The cost of landscaping should come in at about 10% of the value of your home. This includes irrigation, fencing, decks, patios, ponds, and other features you want to include.

There is no need to try to complete everything at once. It’s much more realistic to gradually make improvements over the years with ready money than leave yourself debt burdened and half-finished landscaping features.

How Will You Use the Space?

Visualize the activities that will take place, and how you would like to use the open space. Imagine how you and your family will move through the landscape. This will help you determine where to place walkways and how to ease traffic flow.

Consider how you will incorporate trees, fences, flowerbeds, and other elements into the space for best effect.

Where Does the Sun Shine Through?

How sunlight covers your property is a very important consideration, since it will largely determine where to plant different vegetation. You need to know which locations receive full light (a minimum of 6 hours a day), partial shade (4 to 6 hours), or full shade (less than 4 hours). Your goal is to place plants according to the amount of sunlight they need to thrive.

What Grows Well in Your Area?

Do you know what kinds of plants grow well in your area? You should learn which plants are native to your region, and which plants do well in areas with a similar climate. You might really enjoy succulents, for instance, but if you live in a very wet area they might drown in the extra water.

Along that line, you must learn about your soil’s composition. It is very important that you know whether plants will survive in your soil as is, or whether you’ll need to improve the soil with amendments such as crushed shells or organic compost.

Finally, ask yourself, “What do I think would be appealing?” Take a picture of your yard and then mentally start adding plants. You can also make a sketch of what you think would work well, and then decide whether it really accomplishes the appearance you’re looking for. Landscaping software can really help here.

You also want to ensure that the new landscape design is convenient and doable, especially if you’re going to be creating it yourself.

There are numerous considerations when designing a new landscape for your property. While it can be a gratifying experience, it is important to carefully consider your design plans before putting them into action. Lanscaping is a large investment in resources and time, and something you’ll have to live with for many years to come.

Decks And Patios

Decks and patios are the most common landscape design features. You can either build them yourself or have them professionally installed. As part of the landscape design, decks and patios provide a great deal of enjoyment. They can be used for family gatherings, entertaining friends, and they are great places to just sit, relax and enjoy your surroundings. The most common deck and patio shape is the basic square, but it is possible to get them in virtually any shape you want. However, if you handle your own maintenance, the square is very convenient for mowing, trimming, and weeding.

Rock Gardens

Rock gardens are increasing in popularity these days. Not only can they provide a great deal of beauty, but they also make use of fewer plants. Landscapes that include rock gardens need less water and less attention. The plants that usually go into rock gardens are usually hardier and are easier to care for, and this can save you a bundle of money. Additionally, it is possible to build your own rock garden within a landscape, which will save you even more money.

Landscaping rock and landscaping stones are widely available to suit any taste and budget.

English Cottage Gardens

English cottage gardens are known for their lack of formality. Because they are allowed to “just grow,” they are less rigid and require less maintenance than most types of gardens. English cottage gardens evoke a true sense of charm; they are the most common type of backyard landscaping for those who just want to enjoy the garden and show an informal sense of elegance while entertaining.

In the United States, the lawn dominates as a front yard landscaping feature. However, an English cottage garden, with its riot of flowering plants, can be very beautiful. Most features of this sort include perennials, rose bushes and vines, and they sometimes grow across pathways. Perennials grow back every year, without much effort.

Japanese Gardens

Incorporating the elements of a Japanese garden has become an increasing trend in landscape design. In Western circles, this can be interpreted to mean showy flowers to grab attention. However, they can be difficult to take care of, as they are often non-native. They can also be expensive.

However, using traditional Japanese garden principles of simplicity in design and foliage, is less expensive and can be equally attractive.

Lawns

The most universal landscape feature is the lawn. Lawns are a great platform for family activities and they are fairly easy to maintain. If done properly and with common sense, the expense in fertilizing and watering your lawn can be fairly economical.

There are a variety of things that people can do with their lawns. For instance, it is quite popular to add a small flowerbed in the middle of a lawn for decoration and as a focal point. Another popular way to make the lawn more inviting and attractive is the addition of trees.

Enjoy Your Landscape

A beautiful landscape is a matter of enjoyment for most people. If you are hesitant about where to begin to create your own landscape, stick with tried and true landscape features. Hopefully, the landscape ideas mentioned above will help you succeed in your ongoing attempt to beautify your home and its environment.