Billings Farnsworth asked:




There are two main objectives most people wish to accomplish when designing a landscape; function and style. To meet these objectives, it is important to know what the property in question is meant to be used for. A residential landscape or an area that needs to accommodate entertaining large numbers of people will differ substantially from a commercial landscape, and a landscape that requires very little maintenance will differ from that belonging to an avid gardener. All these things need to be considered when undertaking a landscaping project. This is called the function of a landscape. It is the first, most basic factor that must be determined before individual style can be applied to the project.

Once the framework of the functionality of a landscape has been determined, the possibilities for the style are nearly endless. Elements such as plants, grasses, flowers, trees, rocks, paths, walls, statuary, and water-features can all be added to make a landscape reflect the taste and lifestyle of the property owner. Care must be taken to ensure that plant, flower and tree selections grow well in the climate and are suited to the safety needs of the owners, for example a family with children would want to ensure that plants are not poisonous.

One other important factor to consider when designing a landscape is the potential effect on the property value. Many landscaping elements can be considered a monetary investment because the increase the value of your property. However, there are some landscaping choices that could pose liability problems, such as installing a swimming pool. Be careful to consider all these implications before making any final decisions on a landscaping design.

Katie Appleby asked:




Who doesn’t want a backyard that looks professionally done? Home landscaping examples can probably save you tons of money because you can do it yourself. The plants you choose can greatly depend on your area of the country and climate. But the most important thing for environment-friendly world is that we go for plants that can conserve water.

Always start with a plan that takes into consideration the environmental issues of your landscape. Everything should be inspected before you start planting anything – the soil, terrain and runoff properties. In areas that that retain rainwater with a moist soil, then do you research and look for plants that thrive in that environment and if you have a sandy or dry soil then make sure that you only plant those that are ideal with that kind of soil.

Also check the content of your soil. It may have a high content of gravel, sand and construction debris – this can drain water quickly. The nutrient content of your plant like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and the pH level of the soil are also important to be match with the ideal plant.

Choose plants that vary in height. It would look better if you group together plants that have different height levels to look more natural than to have then just standing there aligned to each other. Also check out the colors of the plant and what the plants will look like in each season; choose the colors that best suit you.

Mulch like pine straws and wood chips can be very helpful in landscaping. It can retain much of the water therefore making your job lesser. You do not need to water you plants as much if you have water-retaining mulch to help you. And do not over-fertilize, let them grow naturally and if it needs a little help, just use fertilizer minimally. Everything in excess is bad, even for your plants.

Before you start your home landscaping project, do your research. Ask around your neighbors, those that has tried home landscaping, what plants thrive in your area. Ask your local nurseryman what plants thrive best in your climate and what plant has the least amount of maintenance needed. If you have the plants on your mind, try to make a sketch plan on paper; plan out the distribution and the location of your plants. This can ensure you that you are maximizing the use of your backyard. These suggestions can help your home landscaping easy and fun for you.