If you have any type of outdoor property and you have a garden of any size there is going to come a time when you have to have a shed. Don’t forget that a shed isn’t just applicable to the summer months it can be utilized to store all those winter items as well.
Once you have determined that you are ready to invest in a shed then you will need to determine if you are going to build it yourself or erect a prefabricated one. Either one there is a little planning involved or you need to follow some steps to make your shed project a successful one.
First Step:
Obviously, the primary purpose of your shed is going to be for storage. Then you may want a small amount of space to do some repairs or small hobbies. What you are considering right now is the size. Consider the large summer and winter items. Most certainly, you are going to want to store these in your new shed. Probably the biggest items will be your lawn mower and your snow blower. You need to think about both floor space and wall space. Many of your garden tools can be hung up.
The more you plan and organize the more you will be able to utilize the space. Now that you have an idea of just what you have to store and approximately the size of shed you need there are two more things to consider while you are still on this step. First, you need to determine just where the shed is going to be. If you have a specific amount of space available to you then your shed size is going to have to coincide with that area. Secondly, you need to think of the plan to get your shed a little bigger than what you need right now because no doubt your garden and outdoor inventory will grow.
Step Two:
Once you start shopping for your shed you are going to be amazed at the models and styles. You need to constantly keep in mind your needs. If you are going to be working in the shed quite a bit then lighting is going to be important to you. You may want something with windows or preferably a skylight. You want to utilize your walls for handing items.
Step Three:
You may have finally determined that you have found the perfect shed. It has everything you need. It’s the right size it has plenty of lighting and there’s room to grow. It’s ultra modern and sleek in design. There’s one problem your home happens to be an English style cottage and your entire landscape is English gardens. Somehow, the ultra modern just isn’t going to fit in with the over all look. You must keep this in mind during your shopping excursion, as it must blend in.
Step Four:
Determine everything thing that you are going to need before you erect your shed. No matter whether it’s a build it yourself kit or a prefab. For example, you will need some type of foundation so you need to keep that in mind and any other extras that are applicable to your needs.
Step Five:
Finally consider others. Don’t put your shed in a conspicuous place where its going to block a family members window for example. Think about your neighbors as well. I’m sure they would prefer to look out their window at your English garden rather than the back of your shed.
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Raised bed gardens are a great way to start gardening without a lot of the pain. You can either make a raised bed garden from scrap materials, or build one from kit. Here’s a look at some of the options.
Some of the biggest problems with gardening are finding a good spot with good soil to get started, and the ongoing need to spend a lot of time in the garden bending and stooping to prepare the soil, and weed the garden. In addition to this, you may have issues with your soil like poor drainage or soil borne diseases. One way to get around most of these problems is to use a raised garden bed.
One other advantage to using raised gardens is that the crop yield will tend to be higher because you will be using intensive gardening techniques like wide row planting or square foot gardening. This cuts back on the amount of watering and fertilization needed for gardening as well. You can get higher yields because you don’t need space for the rows to walk in between plants, and the closer spacing of the plants helps suppress weeds. In addition, since you aren’t walking on the soil, your avoid soil compaction, so over the years you enhance the root development of your crops.
You can build raised bed garden yourself from scrap lumber, although you may find that your scrap lumber doesn’t hold up as well as more expensive wood like cedar. If you choose to build your own, one common way to simplify the job is to use raised bed corners. Making sturdy corners is the hardest part of the job of building a bed, and these cut out a large part of the job. They also make it easy to stack boards to increase the height of the bed. With these you can easily tailor the bed to your specific needs, even building a bed that has some shape other than rectangular. Hex shaped beds are a popular option, useful for building around a featured item in the landscape like a tree or a flagpole.
If you want to buy a raised bed garden kit, you’ll find that cedar bed gardens are some of the most popular. Cedar is a long lasting wood, it resists insects well, and is quite attractive. These beds are also found as raised planters, and beds raised to almost waist height can really eliminate the pain associated with working in the garden. Add a small platform underneath, and you don’t even need to walk to the shed to get your tools.
For something a little less expensive, take a look at the vinyl or plastic bed kits. Some are made from recycled plastic, and come in a number of colors so they can blend with any yard. The brown is often fashioned to look like a real timber bed, but come in sections that can be extended.
For an interesting change of pace, some plastic raised beds are built to look they are built from rock. Coming in straight or curved sections, they are made of a lightweight composite, but appear as natural rock. Much cheaper and easier than rock, but definitely a change of pace from traditional raised gardens. These typically come in gray finish.
In order to know what type of amendment will best help you create rich loam, you must first identify whether the texture of your soil is primarily clay, silt, or sand.
First, let’s deal with the characteristics of each type of soil.
Because clay soil is made up of very fine particles, its disadvantages are that it compacts easily, drains poorly or not at all, and tends to crust over. When clay soil is extremely dry, you will hardly be able to make a dent in it even with a shovel. The purer the clay soil, the more easily it compacts thus leaving very little space for air; obviously plant roots may not survive because of this lack of oxygen.
The advantages of having clay soil is that it is a very rich soil, and it drains slowly; thus, nutrients don’t get leached out.
Organic amendments such as ground bark, peat moss, or leaf mold improve dense clay soils by physically separating the fine clay particles without holding moisture. A good ratio is roughly 50/50.
Sandy soil is the opposite of clay soil in that it generally drains quickly because its particles are quite a bit bigger thus leaving more air pockets between particles. As a result, sandy soil tends to lose nutrients quickly.
To improve the texture of sandy soil, add a spongy organic amendment such as peat moss. Spongy particles fill the open spaces between the sand particles, so moisture and nutrients are not leached out as easily or quickly. A good ratio is 2/3 amendment and 1/3 soil.
Silt soil is made up of particles which are bigger than those in clay soil but smaller than those in sand. Since high-silt soil tends to compact, preventing deep root penetration, it too benefits by having spongy organic amendments such as peat moss added to it. Again, a good ratio is 2/3 amendment to 1/3 soil.
A higher ratio of organic material to sand/silt is good as the organic matter tends to break down faster due to faster drainage (more oxygen). Since organic material helps to hold onto water and nutrients, it’s almost impossible to add too much. Generally speaking, all soils, even clay soils, benefit greatly by adding composted organic matter to it.
Testing for Texture
1. The most basic soil texture test is to pick up a handful of moist soil, roll it into a ball, and squeeze the ball lightly. If the soil feels slippery and your fingers leave an impression in the surface, you are dealing with clay soil. If the soil feels gritty and forms a loose ball when you squeeze it, there’s a significant sand content. If the soil feels greasy, then you’re dealing with a high proportion of silt. Finally, if the soil crumbles into large particles or is difficult to roll into a ball, it has a well-balanced texture characteristic of loam. In that case you’ve hit pay dirt, for loamy soils are excellent for gardening.
2. Another test to help you determine the texture of your soil is to visually compare the proportions of sand, silt, and clay. To do this, you first half fill an ordinary quart jar with your soil and then add water to the top of the jar. Securely close the jar with a cover and shake until the water and the soil have become thoroughly mixed. Then set it on a flat surface for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, check the layers: the sand proportion will be at the bottom, the silt will hover in the middle, and the clay will be towards the top. By seeing what you have the most of, you can get a rough idea of whether your soil texture is clay, silt, or sandy soil.
A gardener for years, Marcie has learned the value of soil amendment to put nutrients back into the soil. To do this, one needs to understand soil texture. Find more information/ideas on how to deal with soil textures!
Maintaining a nice looking lawn does not have to be a difficult affair. To keep your lawn looking great, follow some of these easy tips and you will be well on your way. Perhaps one of the most important tips is to mow regularly. This does not imply that you must mow on the same day every week, but rather, it is important to keep the grass at a consistent height. Allowing grass to grow too high, or cutting it too frequently, will damage the lawn. An evenly cut lawn requires much less effort to mow and is also more visually pleasant.
In general, a lawn should be cut in the cool season when the grass has reached a height of about 3.5 inches. In the warm season, you will want to mow as the lawn reaches about 2.5 inches. No matter the height of the grass, never cut more than a third of the grass height because taking too much off at once may damage the lawn. When grass is damaged, it may die reducing the strength of the lawn overall. When grass dies, it can create patchy spots where there is enough nutrients available for weeds to take hold and grow.
Just as it is important not to cut too much off at once, you must also ensure that your mower blade is not dull. A dull blade does nothing but shred up the grass as it comes into contact with it. When the grass is torn up by a dull blade, dead and patchy spots will begin to appear in the lawn allowing weeds to eventually take hold. Check your blade every time you mow to make sure it is still sharp. Before you do this, however, be sure to disconnect spark plug wires. A recoil start motor may fire up if the blade is simply turned.
Be sure to change up the pattern in which you mow. Mowing in the same direction every time will train the grass to grow in a certain direction, eventually giving it a flat look. Before you actually begin mowing, however, walk over the lawn and look for potential obstacles. Sticks, stones, toys, and other objects can potentially damage the mower or injure someone nearby. Also, be aware of bumps or other spots that stand up in the lawn as these may cause the blade to go into the ground and possibly damage it.
You should also avoid cutting the grass when it is wet. This is a safety issue, and may also result in an uneven cut for the lawn. Wet grass also tends to foul up the mower housing and may clog up grass clipping bags. Absolutely avoid mowing on a hill or sloped grade when the grass is wet because it is all too easy for operator to slip up in these cases. Riding mowers may also lose their traction and tip over in these cases.
Make sure to follow safety guidelines closely.
Steve Weide is a gardening and lawn care expert He operates a website featuring lawnmowers reviews and lawn care tips.
What’s better than a handpicked bouquet of vibrant flowers or the taste of fresh herbs? Not having to spend hours of back-breaking labor digging up a plot of arable land to make into a garden. Planter boxes are the not just the easy way out; they are the perfect and mobile way to showcase your blooms and foliage. Before you set up a box in your backyard or window, refer to this handy checklist so you’re prepped and ready to plant.
1. Plan ahead. Count how many planter boxes you have versus how many plants you would like, but take into consideration the spatial needs of the different species. Some plants require more space, while others have long-reaching roots. Others still, like ivy or phlox are creepers that will eventually hang over the sides of planters boxes.
2. Note where you will be putting your boxes and how much sunlight is in those areas. Plants and flowers are normally grouped into three categories by how much sunlight they need: direct sunlight, partial sunlight, and shade. For instance, do not plant a shade seeking flower with a sunshine seeking flower. Take heed: the late afternoon rays are much weaker than early afternoon sun because of the angle at which they hit the earth.
3. Play around with different color and pattern combinations. Flowers come in a plethora of varieties, and pairing them alongside green leafy plants like various grasses and ferns creates a nice contrasted and natural look.
4. After bringing plants home, have all tools at the ready so there’s no need to stop midway through planting to go and get something you have forgotten. The items you will need are gloves, a trowel and garden claw for digging, potting soil, optional fertilizer, and a hose or watering can.
5. Start out by filling planter boxes about 2/3 of the way full with potting soil. Here is where you may want to add a layer of fertilizer like Miracle-Gro if the soil you’re using is not already enriched.
6. Next, take plants from the containers they came in, gently loosening the roots a bit, and place into the box. Space plants evenly apart and do not overcrowd. Be extra careful trying not to break the roots.
7. While holding plants upright, fill in the rest of the potting soil up to the edge of your planter boxes. Press down on the base of the plants to secure them in place.
8.Finish by watering plants with a hose or watering can. Be gentle when using a hose as the water pressure could damage the fragile stalks, and make sure not to overwater plants, as this may kill them. Depending on the temperature, weather and humidity, water plants regularly according to their needs.
Build Your Own
If you’re a real go-getter, try constructing your own planter boxes. They’re relatively simple to build, and this way you can have them to your exact size and shape specifications. Store-bought planters usually come with a rudimentary drainage system and window planters come with attachable brackets, but otherwise they’re all basically open top square or rectangular wooden boxes. Just be sure to choose a durable hardwood like cedar or cypress that handles well in the outdoors. Also, reinforce bottoms as that is where the weight from all of the potting soil will rest. Finally, attach the side boards as close together as possible to reduce any spillage from the soil. In the end, whether you buy or build, planter boxes are a fruitful summer project whose results just keep giving.
Planter boxes are a fun and easy way to create a mini mobile garden. Whether you’ve opted for flowers, creepers, leafy foliage, or whatever plant of your choosing, know what to do from start to finish. Before you even set foot in a nursery, having a plan of action will ensure the best results possible, and a beautiful bounty in your planter boxes.
Plan ahead
Count out how many planter boxes you’re using and consider space factors before settling on a specific number of plants. Remember that some plants require more room than others, have longer reaching roots, or will eventually creep or hang over the side of the box. Sunlight is another key issue to take into account. Plants and flowers are usually divided into three basic categories as far as the amount of sunlight they need: direct sunlight, partial sunlight, and shade. In addition to planning out where each box will sit with this mind, also be careful not to plant a shade seeking plant with a sunlight seeking plant. When choosing plants, and especially flowers, keep in mind different color and pattern combinations. Often times, a pairing of a few different flowers and a green leafy plant like a grass or a fern can make a lovely combination.
At Home
After you’ve chosen and bought your desired plants, have all the materials you’ll need at the ready so you don’t have to stop midway through the process. The basic tools you will likely use include gloves, trowels and claws for digging, potting soil and either a hose or watering can. Start by filling planter boxes halfway with potting soil. If you have any sort of separate Miracle-Gro or other fertilizer, add some as well. Next, gently remove the plants along with the soil they come with and place them equidistant in the box from one another. Be careful to break as few of the roots as possible. Lightly pulling the roots around the bottom of the plant will more easily help it adjust to its new environment. When all of the plants are in, fill in potting to the edge of the box, while holding plants upright and firmly pressing down. Continue these steps until all of your planter boxes are full. When you’re done, lightly water plants, being careful not to over-water or damage the fragile sprouts. Depending on the temperature, amount of sunlight and weather conditions, keep up with watering plants on a regular basis. You will be able to tell by touch the soil’s moisture content and by looking at the plant itself whether it needs to be watered. A classic mistake, though, is over-watering which can easily kill a plant. When the next growing season rolls around, the process starts afresh, until you’ve opted to plant annuals.
DIY
Because of their simple shape, a lot of people build their own planter boxes. Most store-bought planters come with a basic drainage system and/or brackets for attaching boxes to window sills, but the basic idea is the same for any kind. Use a sturdy wood such as cedar or cypress and make sure the bottoms of planter boxes are strong enough to hold as much soil as you’ll be putting in it. Also, make sure there are no cracks in the side that would allow soil to slip out. Other than that, have at it. Planter boxes are a fun summer project, and the fruits of your labor will be sweet.
Finding someone who doesn’t like flowers is like finding someone who doesn’t like sunshine. The uplifting and beautiful colors and blooms brought on by the multitude of flower species are what makes planter boxes so popular, especially in urban centers where green space is scarce. It’s not only flowers that people plant, though. There are some incredible edibles that you can grow easily at home in your window sill or freestanding planter boxes. What exactly should one plant in these mini-gardens? Herbs, vegetables and flowers tend to flourish in this environment. Here, along with what types to plant are a few helpful hints on how to do it. So even if you’re guilty of killing everything your butterfingers touch, there’s hope yet to turn you into a green thumb.
For starting out, herbs are practically foolproof and their smaller sized plants fit perfectly in compact planter boxes. Place them indoors, outdoors, in most any kind of sunlight. It’s hard to mess these guys up. As a starter, try your hand at cilantro, basil, chives or whatever your favorite spices are. There is absolutely zero comparison between the taste of dull, store-bought dried herbs and fresh from the garden herbs. And if you’ve bought fresh herbs from the grocer, you know how expensive they are and how quickly they wilt in the fridge. The best part is, once the weather turns cold, smaller planter boxes can be brought indoors for yearround fresh herbs.
If you’d like to try your hand at something a little more substantial, consider the possibility of fresh vegetables. In general, planter boxes, especially the kind that hangs from window sills, are not large enough to accommodate vegetables. However, there are some freestanding boxes available on the market that are larger in size and can fit smaller plants. Tomatoes and some pepper varieties like banana peppers and jalapenos work well in confined spaces and under varying degrees of sunlight.
Flowers, though by far the most fun thing to plant owing to their endless color and variety combinations, can also prove the most tricky to aspiring gardeners. A good thing to do is plan ahead what flowers to plant where so when they grow you have aesthetically pleasing patterns and colors. What also goes well with flowers are bits of green foliage mixed throughout for added contrast and leaf patterns. When choosing between perennial and annual flower types, it’s really up to personal choice, and many people plant both. Also, if you’re interested in the Japanese practice of Feng Shui, placing red flowers by the front door brings harmony and good fortune.
When you get to the flower nursery, don’t be overwhelmed by the multitude of types, their meticulous care instructions, etc. Just remember what flowers and plants require what amount of sunlight, depending on where you place your planters boxes. Also, the biggest rookie mistake is to overwater plants. Read the instructions that come with each plant and you’ll be blooming in no time. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what perennial flowers work best where and with what plants.
For flowers that grow in shaded areas, choose from the following:
Periwinkle, Phlox, Sweet Pea, Viola, Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, Blue Bells, Daylily, Geranium, Lily of the Valley, Trillium, Peonies, and Trinity Plant.
For a greener touch, pair mainly with a variety of ferns and Hosta. Ivy and Moss also prefer this environment
For Partial Shade:
Begonia, Bleeding Heart, Columbine, Daisies, Daylily, Foxglove, Geranium, Lily of the Valley, Peonies, Phlox, and Roses
Partial shade leafy plants:
Ferns, Hosta, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Wintercreeper and grasses
For all-day direct sunlight:
Aster, Baby’s Breath, Black Eyed Susan, Blue Bells, Carnations, Daisies, Delphinium, Lavender, Geranium, Hibiscus, Iris, Lily, Mums, Peonies, Phlox, Poppies and Yucca.
Plant with:
Hosta, Hens and Chickens or various grasses
Some plants and flowers, including phlox, hosta and peony appear in each category of the list. That’s because they thrive in practically every amount of sunlight. Novice gardeners may want to start out planting these heartier varieties before moving onto more time and care-intensive flower types.
Houston landscape architects are much more than gardeners and lawn maintenance professionals. They are degreed professionals whose training includes botany, irrigation science, construction, and outdoor lighting techniques. These multi-specialists often spend up to seven years in undergraduate and graduate studies to master these disciplines, and the expertise they develop in the process enables them to introduce sophisticated designs and structures to properties that magnify the aesthetics of Nature and unify human architecture with topography and vegetation.
To best serve their clients, Houston landscape architects begin every project with an in-depth consultation with the client. Understanding the expectations of the homeowner is necessary prior to initiating any work on the property. Some people are looking to simply improve the appearance of the front and back yard, and consequently have a strong preference for gardens, natural pools, fountains, and ornamental sculptures. Others are looking to create outdoor entertainment space that offers comfort and amenities equivalent to those found indoors. Still others are looking to create special play areas for their children. It is the duty of the landscape professional to ask as many specific questions as possible to get a clear picture not only of what the ultimate purpose of the design is going to be, but also what details will be most suitable to that homeowner’s particular tastes and lifestyle.
What next when hiring a Houston Landscape Architect
The next step in the design process is a walk-through of the property where a thorough analysis is made of the terrain. Topography can vary significantly in different parts of Houston. Landscape architects often work on properties that lie close to flood plains and bayous that present significant challenges to water drainage. Devising effective methods of managing water runoff without diminishing the property’s aesthetic is one of the many nuances of this science that can only be learned after years of disciplined training and experience. Sunlight is also a major factor that landscape architects study in detail before proposing a preliminary design. The amount of shade versus light, and the amount of time each day that certain areas receive light, will play a major role in determining what plant species can be added to the landscape. Designers also have to take into account how the overall design will look in comparison to adjacent properties. If neighboring homes, buildings, or yards are too blatantly visible from a client’s locations, steps will have to be taken to create a more self-contained aesthetic that provides the homeowner with a more unique and personal experience.
The ultimate purpose of this analysis is to develop a strategy for shaping the terrain to meet the objectives of the Houston homeowner. The true Houston landscape architect works with Nature, not against it, by looking at the many elements that constitute the big picture of the landscape and seeing where they can be developed according to the desires of the clients. Areas that are shaded by trees can often be developed into summer gathering areas. Places near the backs of yards, or tucked away in the corners of the lot, and play host to a patio that overlooks a quiet fountain. Some areas, such as the places along fence lines and areas adjacent to the house itself, are highly suitable to ornamental gardens planted in any number of styles. Open spaces should be utilized as play areas for children and building areas for arbors, outdoor kitchens, and swimming pools.
Because of Houston’s temperate climate, it is possible to plant almost any kind of vegetation here. Landscape architects can offer their clients a wide range of choices when it comes to garden species, shrubbery, hedges, and trees. Professional landscapers need to remind their clients, however, that the actual choices in vegetation should be based on the goal of complimenting the architecture of the home and fully developing the greenery of grasses and indigenous tree species. Both the size and type of vegetation can play a significant role in how a home looks to visitors. Garden styles like Italian, French, Zen, and Modern all add very distinctive elements to a landscape that are more suitable to some architectural styles than others.
Last but not least, one of the most important benefits that Houston landscape architects offer to their clients is an entirely litany of specialized services subcontracted from professionals who specialize in certain forms of masonry and construction. Swimming pools, outdoor buildings, special walkways, and landscape lighting represent very unique niche disciplines that must be carefully integrated into a comprehensive landscaping plan in order to truly serve the best interest of the homeowner. It is best to let a professional manage these services because contractors tend to be more comfortable working in partnership with other contractors. More effective communication is ensured in this manner, and a more harmonious blend of individual parts to the whole will result.
You are more likely to achieve your landscaping goals by hiring a professional landscaper—no matter if your project is a themed garden, like an English garden design or a Mediterranean landscape design, a small garden design that only encompasses landscape planting or a complex construction project. A well-versed Houston professional landscaper will take into account not only your desires, but the specific challenges of this region: dense soil, weather conditions of the Gulf coast, drainage issues, and likely insect infestations and plant diseases.
Choosing a Professional Landscaper
Begin the process by distinguishing between off-the-shelf landscaping design services and a professional designer who can capture your vision for your landscape. During the preliminaries, visit the company website and ask to see a portfolio to determine if the design firm under consideration has a sense of style that complements your own. Ultimately, you want a professional who can design a landscape that reflects your home’s architecture and your lifestyle.
As you begin the early discussions, be as specific as possible about what you want the end design to look like. Perhaps you would enjoy hardscapes, like a well-thought-out patio design or pool design, eye-catching gates or interesting pathways. Maybe you like to entertain, something that calls for an outdoor kitchen. Understanding these landscape elements, their relationships to each other and the open space, and interpreting them well distinguishes a Houston professional landscaper working in the top echelon.
The Process
After selecting a landscape professional and the subsequent exploratory discussions, the next steps involve meetings, site analysis, program of uses, and use of the design professional’s expertise. During the conceptual phase, the landscape professional develops the overall design and puts it onto paper. The resulting documents will show such specifics as lawn areas, plantings, areas of general use and their sizes, irrigation systems and drainage systems, landscape lighting, and the projected overall cost.
Once you have agreed to the designer’s overall layout and made general material selections, it is time for the implementation and construction phase. This phase comes with its own set of landscaping design drawings for documentation purposes:
• For permitting.
• To convey final design intent and material selections for you and the installation contractors.
• To specify materials and installation methods. This paperwork is also known as construction documents.
In the permit arena, each governing body has its own set of requirements for landscape plan approvals. Usually a submittal of the permitting package will be accepted or rejected by a committee. This checkpoint illustrates why it is important to hire a knowledgeable professional, as they will know what information to include—items like engineered drainage plans, pool fencing layout, lot coverage ratios and specifications.
Taking the Long View
In choosing among Houston landscape designers, remember that it makes sense to use a design firm that also performs the project management and landscaping installation. Jeff Halper, landscape specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, “You want someone who not only has great ideas, but also knows local contractors and their methods of construction, the best use of materials and their availability, and overall budget development and containment. In other words, you want a landscaper who can bring you a landscape design that thrives in the Houston climate—and is on-time and on-budget.”
Most homeowners already have one or more Most homeowners already have one or more landscaping design ideas fixed firmly in their mind when they contact Exterior Worlds. They may have seen visited our landscaping design portfolio and seen the work we have done for other homeowners in neighborhoods like West University, Bellaire, River Oaks, and Tanglewood. They may have seen photographs of properties in a reputable publication that inspired certain landscape design ideas based on several motifs that caught their eye, or they may be have had a passion for a certain cultural style such as French, Italian, or Japanese that they have always wanted to develop on their own personal homestead.
Regardless of the origin of such inspiration, it is important that you work with a Houston Landscaping Service that can help you more fully develop your landscaping design ideas in a manner that compliments the appearance of your home and helps extend its living space outdoors in a way that fully expresses the core values and subjective sentiments of your own personal lifestyle.
Make your landscape a virtual, organic extension of your home’s structure and aesthetic.
When you meet with your landscaping architect for the first time, try to develop landscaping design ideas that will compliment the architecture of your house. No matter how small or large your home actually is, it represents the most dominant feature of your landscape, and as such, cannot be ignored. Any outdoor structures such as an arbor, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, patio fireplace, or special walkway needs to reflect the basic design principles that distinguish your house from surrounding structures.
The swimming pool in particular is something you should pay very close attention to. Most swimming pool construction that is done independently from a landscaping plan tends to focus only on making the pool itself functional and aesthetically pleasing. We see this all the time when we work on older homes that were build in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The pool looks fantastic in and of itself, but it clashes severely with surrounding terrain and home architectural features. We commonly have to remodel swimming pools significantly, or rebuild them all together, to harmonize the poll with the surrounding landscape.
Garden design is another area that you should really rely upon professional expertise to help develop. While you may already have dozens of landscaping design ideas in mind about what types of flowers, shrubs, and trees will look best in your yard, please keep in mind that vegetation groupings constitute forms in and of themselves that either work with or against the appearance of your house. A good example would be some of the contemporary landscapes we have done in our landscaping portfolio section which required us to plant some very unique vegetation patterns to truly do justice to the unique elements that constituted a particular home’s appearance.
Think form follows function when developing a landscaping plan.
The best landscaping design ideas will develop forms around practical use of open areas. After all, the more beautiful your landscape, the more you are going to want to go outside and experience it firsthand. Activities will naturally follow, so coming up with a clear picture of what you intend to ultimately do when you are outdoors will help you more fully develop a plan for development of key areas of your yard. If your ultimate goal is to create entertainment space, then outdoor structures and special environments will need to be built that support the many activities that you and your guests particularly enjoy. If you have children, and you are looking to create special play areas and sports facilities, Houston professional landscapers can help you by subcontracting specialists who can design these facilities (such as courts and practice fields) safely and effectively while still remaining ultimately true to the overall landscaping design idea envisioned in the master plan.
Ornament the landscape to create special space in addition to simply decorating it.
Even something that normally conveys a purely artistic sentiment can play a functional role in the development of your landscaping design idea. Your Houston landscaping company can help develop special patio and seating areas that are aside just for you. Here, you can reflect, meditate, read the paper, and enjoy the morning over conversation and coffee. Fountains and sculptures, though typically categorized as purely decorative, can take on a new, more subtle role as boundary markers between public space, children space, and special, private space. Landscape lighting can then be installed around these areas to maintain these boundaries during the night as well as the day. In this sense, one single landscape can be turned into many smaller landscapes; each represented by its own unique features, forms, purposes, and carefully designed ideas.
fixed firmly in their mind when they contact Exterior Worlds. They may have seen visited our landscaping design portfolio and seen the work we have done for other homeowners in neighborhoods like West University, Bellaire, River Oaks, and Tanglewood. They may have seen photographs of properties in a reputable publication that inspired certain landscape design ideas based on several motifs that caught their eye, or they may be have had a passion for a certain cultural style such as French, Italian, or Japanese that they have always wanted to develop on their own personal homestead.
Regardless of the origin of such inspiration, it is important that you work with a Houston Landscaping Service that can help you more fully develop your landscaping design ideas in a manner that compliments the appearance of your home and helps extend its living space outdoors in a way that fully expresses the core values and subjective sentiments of your own personal lifestyle.
Make your landscape a virtual, organic extension of your home’s structure and aesthetic.
When you meet with your landscaping architect for the first time, try to develop landscaping design ideas that will compliment the architecture of your house. No matter how small or large your home actually is, it represents the most dominant feature of your landscape, and as such, cannot be ignored. Any outdoor structures such as an arbor, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, patio fireplace, or special walkway needs to reflect the basic design principles that distinguish your house from surrounding structures.
The swimming pool in particular is something you should pay very close attention to. Most swimming pool construction that is done independently from a landscaping plan tends to focus only on making the pool itself functional and aesthetically pleasing. We see this all the time when we work on older homes that were build in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The pool looks fantastic in and of itself, but it clashes severely with surrounding terrain and home architectural features. We commonly have to remodel swimming pools significantly, or rebuild them all together, to harmonize the poll with the surrounding landscape.
Garden design is another area that you should really rely upon professional expertise to help develop. While you may already have dozens of landscaping design ideas in mind about what types of flowers, shrubs, and trees will look best in your yard, please keep in mind that vegetation groupings constitute forms in and of themselves that either work with or against the appearance of your house. A good example would be some of the contemporary landscapes we have done in our landscaping portfolio section which required us to plant some very unique vegetation patterns to truly do justice to the unique elements that constituted a particular home’s appearance.
Think form follows function when developing a landscaping plan.
The best landscaping design ideas will develop forms around practical use of open areas. After all, the more beautiful your landscape, the more you are going to want to go outside and experience it firsthand. Activities will naturally follow, so coming up with a clear picture of what you intend to ultimately do when you are outdoors will help you more fully develop a plan for development of key areas of your yard. If your ultimate goal is to create entertainment space, then outdoor structures and special environments will need to be built that support the many activities that you and your guests particularly enjoy. If you have children, and you are looking to create special play areas and sports facilities, Houston professional landscapers can help you by subcontracting specialists who can design these facilities (such as courts and practice fields) safely and effectively while still remaining ultimately true to the overall landscaping design idea envisioned in the master plan.
Ornament the landscape to create special space in addition to simply decorating it.
Even something that normally conveys a purely artistic sentiment can play a functional role in the development of your landscaping design idea. Your Houston landscaping company can help develop special patio and seating areas that are aside just for you. Here, you can reflect, meditate, read the paper, and enjoy the morning over conversation and coffee. Fountains and sculptures, though typically categorized as purely decorative, can take on a new, more subtle role as boundary markers between public space, children space, and special, private space. Landscape lighting can then be installed around these areas to maintain these boundaries during the night as well as the day. In this sense, one single landscape can be turned into many smaller landscapes; each represented by its own unique features, forms, purposes, and carefully designed ideas.
