Landscape Edging

Yard Landscaping is an art, which sets the aesthetic balance between the different elements of a yard. While designing both the hardscape and softscape of a yard, the basic elements of landscape design like focal point, scale, texture, line, form and colour must be considered. The scale of the yard determines the incorporation of different elements. As proportion is the key, it must be cohesive, with the yard scale and the architecture of the house. The yard elements must not overshadow the other elements. First determine the theme. Often landscaping yards involves maintaining lawns, different plants and flowers. If the lawn is larger, it will require more landscaping and maintenance. Usually the theme is the colour element. Yard landscaping involves creation of a family of colours that are aesthetic and suitable to your tastes. These colours must also be complimentary to the house. The “form “comprise of the architecture of the house, plants, lawn, and other elements of the yard.

Materials that can be used for the flooring of the yard comprise of grass, patios and decks. The walls can be built from formal or informal hedges or hardscape elements like fences and latticed screens can be used. Ceiling can be comprised of canopies of trees, pergolas and arbour, or umbrellas and awning.

Yard landscaping involves depicting the scenery visualised for the yard. For this it is necessary to plan, design and maintain. If through lack of foresight, yard landscaping is not done intelligently, it will suffer visually. Decide where to have the lawn, the hardscape, and the locations for plants, the type of flowers and plants to be bought. Also decide the level of maintenance involved in landscape maintenance. To reduce plant maintenance, select plants whose requirements are in tandem with the conditions in the yard and your goals. For many, the yard landscaping includes landscaping both front and back yards.

Front yard is often semi functional, but mostly it is for show. When designing the front yard, many factors like the nature of the land, movement of vehicles and the sunlight plants get must be taken into account. First, consider if the land is sloped or flat. Sloped land is more attractive, as it develops a visual balance with the house. To change the levels, topsoil can be added to grade the yard. Get a sense of the levels, slope of the property and the drainage. For flat lands, provide rainwater gutters or paved floors to drain away the rainwater. Vehicular and human movement pattern must be clearly defined. Plant a tree, where it will give relief from the heat. But the tree must not hide the house. Building patios or decks helps to provide a transition between outdoor and indoor living. Water features can be installed for any budget – from cheap water features to decorative fountains. After deep soul searching, lock upon a distinctive landscape style suitable to your lifestyle, budget and tastes.

Yard landscaping becomes fun, simple and inexpensive with flower gardening. First step in flower gardening, is finding out what type of flowers is suitable for the local climate. Some of the flowers thrive in the shade; some do better in partial sun and some flowers glories in the sun. Select the type of look before planting. For instance, stepping stone style has tall flowers in the rear and short flowers in the front. Wild plant style mixes a variety of flowers of different varieties, heights and colours to get a charming, maybe a meadow look. Put in extra work before planting, to save much work and money in the long run. Attempt to create a classic balance of whimsy in the yard by including a cute garden sign or a garden gnome. Yard landscaping must incorporate both the front and back yards, so that they flow together.