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Hillside Landscaping Ideas
By Brad Palmer
Hillside landscapes are one of the largest challenges a property owner can face. Designing the landscape to look beautiful while controlling erosion and drainage can be one of the hardest things to do � and one of the most expensive. With proper planning and research you can save money, control erosion and drainage and create a hillside landscape that will last for years.
Some of the most common methods used for hillside landscaping incorporate rock walls, decks, retaining walls and plants. In your design you can choose to use any number of these methods to create your perfect landscape. We will touch base on each of the methods and explain what each can offer to your hillside landscape.
Retaining walls are some of the most common methods of creating a pleasant landscape on a hillside that needs erosion control. Retaining walls can be made of rock, brick, wood and even PVC or plastic. The first thing you should do is research and decide on how to best place your retaining walls. You will need to know how they will affect drainage patterns on the hillside. You will also need to understand whether the positions will help prevent and stop erosion or increase it. You will need to keep in mind placing your retaining walls one way might stop erosion in that area but could cause increased erosion and damage in another area that otherwise would not be a problem. It is highly recommended that you consult a professional landscaper or engineer to assist you in the layout and design of your retaining walls. With their help you will be able to not only prevent or stop current erosion but insure your design does not change or cause problems for other areas.
Plants are another method of creating an erosion free hillside landscape. Beside helping to hold the ground in place, plants can also help give beauty to an area that otherwise might be bare. Like standard landscape designs, plant selection is one of the most important aspects of your hillside landscape design. You will need to select plants not only for their look but for their ability to withstand erosion and harsher growth locations. With proper plant selection, you can turn your hillside into a plush landscape that compliments you and your home.
Decks are another common method of use in hillside and sloped landscapes. In some areas building a deck can be beneficial in hiding areas that are not convenient to landscape using other methods. Decks can be designed to also contour to the natural layout of the land thereby enhancing the beauty of an area that might otherwise be unusable and unsightly to look at. As with other landscaping measures, you should carefully plan the layout and design of your deck. Improperly designed and placed decks can increase erosion and in some cases be the source of dangerous situations if they are not mounted or anchored properly, especially on steeper slopes.
Some of the most successful hillside and sloped landscapes incorporate some of all the different landscaping methods utilized for these types of areas. By carefully planning each zone of your area, you can minimize additional impact to erosion and drainage of an area and in many cases reclaim an area that would otherwise be unusable. If you have an area that is already prone to hard erosion, proper landscaping can be the method of solving and repairing an area that would otherwise continue to degrade in time.
Imagine a beautiful landscape with a multitude of trees and color plants anchored by a well designed deck where you can relax and enjoy the sunset. With proper care and planning you can turn that otherwise plain hillside or slope into the sunset of your dreams.
For free landscaping pictures be sure to visit http://www.landscapingideasonline.com . It's the website landscaping contractors & homeowners use to get landscape design ideas - by Brad Palmer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Palmer
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The Beauty of Landscaping
By Bob Janeway
In architecture, landscaping refers to the science and art of modifying land areas by organizing natural, cultivated, or constructed elements according to a comprehensive, aesthetic plan.
This landscaping involves the elements of topographical features like hills, valleys, rivers, and ponds or growing things like trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers as well as constructions like buildings, terraces, and fountains.
Today, landscaping is quite popular for homeowners who would want to improve their homes. The goal should be the house and the landscaping must complement with each other.
A GUIDE TO D-I-Y LANDSCAPING
Any house with landscape should complement each other. In order to achieve this harmony, you really need to consider and reconsider your options and the extent of landscaping you would want to have.
There are actually so many aspects in do-it-yourself landscaping like budget, skills, the climate of your region or place, personal design tastes, and the available resources. If you really want to beautify your home through landscaping, here are some do-it-yourself landscaping tips that can help you get by.
1. Make sure that you provide your landscaping with a year-round theme. The surefire tip in landscaping is to provide it something related to four seasons so you�ll never be outdated. A combination of a plant-selection with flowering trees or shrubs throughout, and fall foliage would do.
2. Try to layer the garden�s flower beds when planting. By layering the planting beds in rows of three that include a back row filled with tall plants, a middle row planted with the next tallest plants, and a front row containing the shortest plants. The repetition of each flower bedding will give your garden a unified look.
3. Consider the use of evergreens for continuity. When it comes to DIY landscaping usually focuses more on trees and shrubs but this doesn�t mean that you cannot include evergreens because this will give the space more structure and the view of variety and continuity.
4. Experiment on using annuals to supplement perennial hues and colors. Perennial flowers are ideal for flower beds because they last for a long period of time. But since they bloom only in a specific period, it is best if you try incorporating annual plants with perennial ones so you can fill up the colorless spots in the flower beds when perennial flowers are not yet in bloom.
If you are quite particular about color coordination of the two kinds of blooms, try using a picture gallery so you�ll get ideas what is the right color scheme for your garden.
5. Don�t forget to assimilate hardscape into your initial and final landscape design. Aside from paying much attention to plants when landscaping, don�t forget to include hardscape features such as fences and other garden decorations.
If you want to be more specific, try including patios and decks to your garden because these will provide great transition from your indoors to your outdoors.
6. Don�t be daunted in installing water features. One of the best focal points of any excellent landscape designs is the water feature. Aside from being one of the hottest trends in landscaping today, installing a water feature will not only make your garden more visually appealing but it can only create soothing sounds great for relaxation. The most basic water feature you can install is ponds.
When you think you�re ready to do something bigger and better, consider conceptualizing a simple waterfall through the use of cheap fountains, flexible tubing, pre-formed rigid plastic liners, and durable pumps.
7. Always keep foliages and drought-tolerant plants in mind. When thinking of landscaping your house or garden, never forget to include the characteristics of a plant�s foliage. The varying foliage textures and colors are needed to help you liven up your yard while the presence of drought-tolerant plants so your garden will have a staple decoration.
8. Lastly, make sure that you can maintain your yard without so much hassle. Sure, you can do landscaping in your yard based on your taste and aesthetic sense, but never forget to keep it low-maintenance so you can enjoy the beauty of your work even if you don�t spend much time and money keeping it.
Bob is the owner of landscaping.knowsmart.com Check it out for a great landscaping idea.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Janeway
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Valuable Information About Landscape Design
By Morgan Hamilton
No matter if you feel like doing your own landscaping or you consider hiring a landscaping artist to get the work done, it is certain that you'd like to see a great variety of landscape designs before you proceed. You will save time and efforts if you first carefully plan your landscape with every little detail included. If you keep it all planned, when you see the landscape finished you would be more than happy. In case you are not sure what is best, you can get many wonderful ideas for landscape designs from books, magazines, TV shows or home improvement centers. Of course, surfing the Internet will also provide you with lots of online articles related to landscape designs, some of them include useful tips and pieces of general care advice.
A good landscape design is expected to include a great number of trees and plants which emphasize the beauty of each other through the year. If you want your yard to flow through the seasons it is a good idea to alternate different blooming plants in separate areas. The annual and perennial plants and flowers with their lovely fragrance should also be planted throughout your yard. In case you are a dog-owner or have any other pet, you should consider a pet-friendly landscape design which may include a walking path, a stump or any other solid structure. Don't forget to keep toxic plants away from the pet area and have at least a patch of grass especially for the needs of your dog. When our four-legged friends have an area for them to play at, they don't get near your precious new plants, so be wise and save yourself some headaches.
In case you still don't know how you want your yard to look, then it is best if you contact a landscaping specialist. As they are professionals, they will offer you many different landscape designs and you could make a pick. You could fully trust the landscaping specialists because they know everything bout indigenous plants and they can also give you sound advice what will thrive best in the environment you live. You shouldn't hurry when choosing your landscape design, so take your time and select the one design that meets your requirements, as well as your budget and time. Don't forget that not everything has to be done all at once. Consequently, if you need some more time, take it. But you should still have a general idea how your ideal finished landscape design will look. Above all, your yard is part of your home; it is an important area as it gives you a relaxing retreat. The good yard is the right place where you can be in touch with the nature.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning gardening. Learn more at Landscape Design
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton