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.

It makes sense to install a drip irrigation system in your yard. Then you don’t need to worry about getting the right amount of water at the right time, nor do you have to move sprinklers all the time.

An irrigation system is not cheap, however it will pay for itself over time and most do it yourselfers can install it easily.

What Is It?

Drip irrigation is actually a combination of several types of low-pressure, low-volume water delivery systems. The correct term for these systems is microirrigation. Each microirrigation system is distinguished by a different style of emitter (the part that discharges the water).

Drip irrigation is the  precise and slow application of low pressure water directly to the plant’s roots using emitters. A drip irrigation system is a series of interconnected flexible plastic tubing. The tubes have holes placed at specific intervals to fit with the placement of your plants. The system is either buried or placed on the ground next to the plants.

Advantages

By keeping the plant’s roots moist (but not to the point of saturation) you actually use less water than with conventional watering techniques. Maintaining an ideal moisture level in the soil at all times results in:

• deep watering
• efficient watering
• water conservation
• very little evaporation
• water only where plants are
• no wind to carry the water away
• deeper roots
• healthier roots (by reducing disease problems associated with high levels of moisture on plants)
• plants are hardier: more resistant to pests, drought, and disease
• more abundant foliage
• increase yields
• no uv degradation of plastic and other materials exposed to sunlight
• decreases water, fertilizer, and labor if managed properly.

Where To Use

Drip irrigation systems are most often installed around flowers, shrubs, and even trees. This targeted approach allows watering to be more effective and efficient. It helps ensure that each of the landscape’s individual elements are properly watered.

A drip irrigation system can be easily concealed with a layer of mulch, so that the system does not detract from the appearance of your property.

How To Install

Installing drip irrigation is simple, using kits available at most home improvement stores. Kits come with instructions that clearly explain all the steps. There are a few tools needed for the installation, but you probably already have them. The installation takes 1 day or less.

You can make plant maintenance even easier by adding a timer to your system. The timers can be purchased at home improvement stores and are easy to install as well. Timers insure that your plants get watered without you needing to remember to do so. They help your plants get exactly the right amount of water at the right time.

Your drip irrigation system can be used with “irrigation zones” in your landscape. Plants with similar water needs should be planted in the same area, so that they can be more efficiently watered. This helps you to not overwater some plants just because others in the area need more water.

It’s easy to change the configuration of a drip system. So, a drip system will evolve as your needs change.

All in all, drip irrigation systems are economical as well as a good choice for keeping your plants healthy and hardy. They can help to improve your garden … the easy way.

2 Main Types

There are 2 major types of lighting available to today’s consumer. If you are interested in conserving energy (and we should all be), low voltage landscape lighting is recommended.

Solar lighting is another energy conserving lighting type. Powered from the sun, solar lighting stores energy during the day and when it gets dark, they automatically light up. They give off a faint glow that can light up a small to moderate sized area.

Low voltage and solar landscape lighting are cost efficient ways to light your landscape.

Lighting Design

Although it can be some work, landscape lighting design can produce a beautifully lit yard. If you don’t want to do it yourself, hire a professional.

you might want to focus your lights on a single bush or tree that has a special meaning. Or perhaps you want to shine a light on a flag. Or you might light the entire walkway to the front porch of your home or even light the driveway from the street to your garage.

Safety

Whatever you decide on, be sure that you consider safety. If you are unfamiliar with lighting safety, speak to a professional who will help you design a safe lighting system for your landscape.

We all need to strive for energy efficiency and one way is the use of low voltage and solar lighting. Whatever your choice, you will add beauty and charm to your home when you have installed a proper and safe landscape lighting system.

But many people just don’t know what to do with their back yard, once the lawn is mowed. You need some good ideas.

A great place to find back yard landscaping ideas is online. The wonderful world of the Web will provide you with hundreds of free landscaping ideas. All you have to do is decide what you want to do with your little plot of land.

Are you looking to plant a few trees to add privacy to your yard? Or do you want some bushes along the side of the driveway? Either can be accomplished in very little time and at a reasonable cost.

The steps to having a great landscaped back yard are really quite simple:

• Decide what you want to accomplish
• plan your landscaping design
• purchase the right materials
• and get started.

In practically no time, you’ll have the best looking back yard in the neighborhood.

Following are the advantages to increasing wildlife populations around your home.

Safe Haven

First of all, while spending time nesting in your yard, these birds will have less of a chance of being harmed or killed. After all, the more they come to your yard and the longer they stay, the more they are protected from hunters and predators. Your yard, therefore, serves as a safe haven for them.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is another reason to attract different populations to your yard through different landscaping ideas. Not only is it educational, bird watching is a wonderful pastime for you and your whole family. While you and your children are watching these magnificent creatures, you can be teaching them little facts about each species.

In addition, you and your family can learn to do projects together, such as making homemade bird feeders to go along with the bird houses you have already put together. This type of family togetherness surely beats watching television.

Photography

One more reason to attract birds to your yard is that you’ll be able to take beautiful photographs of every species. Then, if you choose, you can put together a wonderful photo album to share with your friends. And who knows, maybe you can even enter a few wildlife photography contests!

Conclusion

There are many websites available for landscaping ideas. A beautiful and inviting yard filled with your favorite landscaping ideas will draw an abundance of wildlife to your yard for that up close and personal experience.

Sources Of Landscaping Stones

Old river and creek beds yield stones that are quarried, then tumbled to give a smooth rounded edge to add a touch of class. Since they provide low maintenance and low water requirement for the home landscape project, decorative stones are increasingly being used throughout  home landscapes today.

Pebbles

Pebbles are an increasingly popular alternative source of decorative landscaping, used in a wide variety of applications to include interior and exterior landscaping, roofscaping and even the latest trend in decorative concrete seeded exposed aggregate.

They are usually produced from stones that are tumbled from quarried rock to the desired size.

Often produced as a by-product to sand mining operations and found in huge stacks covering areas as large as a football field, polished pebbles are hand picked for their color (usually black), then are polished by tumbling, waxed and bagged.

Color Selection

Today landscape architects and designers can finish their landscape design by choosing from over 40 different colored pebbles and over 100 different color oxides available to select from.

In addition to selecting from a variety of colors, landscape designers can incorporate exciting features, such as polystyrene cut-outs set into the concrete during the initial pour and subsequently removed and replaced with a contrasting concrete/pebble combination.

Side borders can vary, from the many decorative bricks and pavers that are available on the market today to hand laid pebble borders using any of the 100-plus colors and sizes.

Functional As Well

When applied over moist soil, these attractive pebbles suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and don’t break down over time. With the wide range of colors available, they provide a stylish appearance — and functionality — to anyone’s yard.

With these few helpful landscaping ideas, you can save money on your landscaping without sacrificing quality or beauty.

Plan Before You Spend

Before you make any purchases, make a plan. Having a plan for your landscape lets you take advantage of common sense and economy when making your purchases. Without a plan, you may buy things you don’t really need, and that can be a waste of money.

Begin by completing a rough sketch of your landscape design. Next find out exactly what you need to make it possible. If you need advice, there are a number of websites where you can get lots of ideas on what you need to complete a project. Specialty stores and even some home improvement warehouses have experts on hand who can give you pointers.

Once you’ve done your homework, and know exactly what you need, you can make your purchases without buying excess materials that waste money.

Purchase In Phases

Do your purchasing in phases. Your written plan should include a timetable for when you will install each portion of your landscape. If you’re like most people, you probably can’t afford to make all the changes you want at once. Planning out your landscape project in phases lets you buy what you need as you go, and as the money becomes available. This kind of phased financing lets you avoid the interest and fees associated with home improvement loans or putting your purchases on credit cards.

Don’t Sacrifice Quality

It’s good to remember that cheaper is not always better. If there is very little difference in quality, then buying the cheaper item is naturally the best course. However, local stores are often staffed with seasoned experts who will share their wisdom for free if you ask questions while making a purchase. If you are inexperienced in landscaping, you can save money in the long run by spending a little extra for better service, experienced help and advice.

Check Plants Carefully

If you’re making your purchases at a "big box" store, be sure to carefully inspect plants for diseases and insect problems. These stores are not always motivated to give their plants the kind of care that a nursery would. If the plant you buy is diseased, you’ll have to buy it all over again when it dies, and this means money down the drain. Beyond that, the disease or pest can spread to your other landscaping. Many nurseries offer warranties and guarantees free of charge on their plants.

Buy When Prices Are Low

If you plan your landscaping ahead, you can determine when each phase needs to be accomplished. You can buy lumber during the winter when it is cheaper, and then store it until you are ready to use it. Buy trees, shrubs, perennials, mulch, and soil late in the season when the prices go down. In most places, you can wait until October to make your maintenance purchases and still have time to winterize your landscape. Keep an eye out for plant sales at local nurseries. You can find really good quality plants at low prices this way.

Pursue Other Resources

Explore alternative resources. Stores are not the only places to get what you need. You can order through catalogs or go online. Membership in a garden and seed club can yield very good prices on many items, as well as useful advice.

Try arranging a plant exchange in your neighborhood. Some cities offer low-price or free mulch and compost, and you can check construction or demolition sites for free stones and bricks.

Neighborhood Cost Sharing

Approach your neighbors about sharing costs. If you pool your resources, you can get some good deals on items bought in bulk, and everyone benefits. In the same vein, you can share the rental fees for machinery such as chippers, tillers, and aerators. If everyone chips in a few dollars, you can work out a schedule that lets each neighbor use the equipment before it is due back. This is a great way to reduce the costs of your landscaping.

By heeding a few of these money-saving landscaping ideas, you can hold down your costs and create a beautiful landscape that you can afford to maintain.

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.