Stunning Landscaped Garden

10 Professional Tips For Designing A Stunning Landscaped Garden

Landscape Design

If you are planning new landscaping for your garden, as with every other large project you could undertake for your property, there is a right way to do it and, as many know from bitter experience, numerous wrong ways to do it. Unfortunately, given the scale of landscape designs, getting it wrong can be costly, not just financially, but also in the time wasted and the stress a botched landscaping project is likely to create.

We do not want you to get anything wrong concerning your landscaping so we thought it would be useful to share with you ten of our best landscape design tips. These ten excellent landscape design tips come from professional landscapers, so they are even more certain to prove useful when you are ready to plan your landscaped garden.

Landscaping Tip #1 – Take Account Of Your Garden’s Surroundings

One of the biggest landscape design mistakes made by homeowners is, they take no account of their local surroundings. By surroundings, we are talking about the type of soil in the area, the local climate, the plants that are natural to the region, and so on. You must take account of these for your garden to thrive.

Landscaping Tip #2 – Utilise The Natural Features Within Your Garden

Before planning your landscape design in detail, take time to inspect your current garden and make a note of the natural features that already exist. These include any trees and other plants which you wish to retain, the undulations and inclines of the ground, and the quality of the lawn, for example.

landscaping drainage

Landscaping Drainage Problems And How To Resolve Them

Landscape Design, Landscaping

One of the most destructive things to befall any landscaping is flooding. Whether the flooding is caused by days of continuous torrential rain, waters from a nearby source such as a river or lake busting their banks, or closer to home, a burst pipe or water main, the potential destruction of much of your landscaped garden is a real possibility.

Water is something that can be a double-edged sword for gardens. Gardens could not survive if they did not get enough water, and yet, if there is too much of it and the garden floods, then the opposite can be the result and the garden and most of the things that grow in it can meet their demise.

Thankfully, not every encounter with water is as destructive as those which we have just outlined. Normal rainfall, or when you are watering your garden are occasions when your garden will be thankful for water. However, even these seemingly positive interactions with water can lead to issues, especially with lawns and plant beds. If the drainage within your garden does not function as it should you must take steps to rectify this situation.

Problems Caused By Poor Drainage

  • Flooding: We have already discussed how flooding can occur, but it is the damage it can do which should attract the most attention. Although destroying plants within your garden is bad enough, severe flooding can weaken the foundations of your property and seep into your home causing even more destruction to flooring and carpets, for example.
  • Standing Water: This harms your garden in several ways. It can effectively drown plants, flowers, and vegetables, it makes walkways slippery and dangerous, and it acts as a breeding ground for fungus, mould, bugs, and other pests which simply add to the destructive forces caused by the excess water in your garden.
  • Erosion: Poor drainage and excess water in your garden, including flooding, can negatively impact the soil within it. The water can cause soil to be washed away, it can move it a considerable distance from where it should be, and in doing so, it can create imbalances in the soil structures and depths with your landscape design.

7 Types Of Artificial Lighting To Consider For Your Landscape Design

7 Types Of Artificial Lighting To Consider For Your Landscape Design

Landscape Design

Whilst most of us benefit from many hours of sunlight for most of the year, when a landscape design is being put together there is other light to be considered. That light is the artificial lighting that will be switched on, normally after the sun has gone down, and is required so that you and others in your garden can see each other and everything else around you.

One of the problems that can occur when new landscaping is being considered is there is so much choice when it comes to artificial lighting that the expression ‘spoilt for choice’ is extremely apt. When you consider the array of artificial lighting types, their sizes, and the colours which can be produced, it is little wonder that some homeowners get trapped in a spiral of indecision.

We do not want that to happen to you so what we are going to do is give you a brief walkthrough of the types of artificial lighting that you can include in a landscape design and why you might choose each of them. Please note that, in most landscaping projects, more than one type of artificial lighting will be used so you are not choosing one of these to the exclusion of all the others.

Artificial Lighting Type #1 – Floodlights

Some people are under the impression that these get their name because they are a light used when flooding occurs but that is not the case. Instead, their name refers to the fact that they flood the area with light rather than focus it on a small area. As such, they are ideal for lighting parts of your landscaping that are used often, and also where you want a wide coverage area such as a patio or a driveway.

Artificial Lighting Type #2 – Spotlights

From lighting wide areas to lights that are designed to focus on a specific area or even a single item. Spotlights come in many varieties where the variables will be the brightness they produce and how narrow or wide an area their light covers. They are often used for highlighting features within landscaped gardens such as a statue, specific plants, trees or an entrance/exit gate.

Small Sydney Landscaped Backyard

How to Landscape a Small Backyard

Landscape Design

The further into large cities you get, the smaller the yards that properties tend to have. And while it can be disheartening to learn that you can’t have a short work commute and a sprawling lawn, that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with landscaping.

In fact, when you call upon landscape experts, you may be surprised at just how much you can do with a small space. Some of these ideas below may appeal.

Plant Up

You can’t plant outwards, but you can certainly plant upwards. Create that natural paradise you have always wanted by making use of your property’s perimeters. Use fencing, privacy screens, and similar, to grow climbers like passionfruit and grapes. Planting upwards can give you more space to move in your yard, while not compromising on having plenty of green and natural elements in your area.

Divide Your Space

Even though you may not have a lot of room to utilise, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it appear bigger by dividing it. Create different areas to achieve different goals. For example, you may lay pavers down to create a small entertainment area. Then, you might offset it with some raised garden beds. Even the addition of turf lawn nestled between concrete pathways can offer the illusion of space.

Professional Landscaper in Sydney

How to Welcome Wildlife into Your Garden

Landscape Design, Landscaping

Loss of wildlife habitat is happening at an alarming rate in Australia due to deforestation and tree-clearing. As a result, all manner of creatures are venturing into urban areas to find some semblance of home. Is your yard set up to cater to birds, reptiles, and mammals? Here’s how you can ensure your landscaping is up to scratch for those creatures who need it.

Choose Plants for Protection

If you have been thinking about changing your property’s plant variety, then consider those native trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants that protect reptiles and small birds. Pair large trees and plants with small, dense shrubs, and even grasses, that animals can use for shelter and shade.

Plants for Food

Possums, flying foxes, and other small mammals are finding it harder and harder to get the nourishment they need. If you don’t mind welcoming wildlife into your property, then there are specific plants you can include in your landscaping to encourage them. Lemon and eucalyptus-scented gums and plants with nectar and pollen can be a great option to begin.

Install a Pond

Aside from having some surprising mental health benefits, a pond or water feature of some kind can be a welcome addition for encouraging wildlife. When positioned in a sheltered spot, it can be a source of water for birds as well as somewhere for frogs to live. Talk to your local landscaping expert about the best type of ponds to match your property style.

Backyard Privacy

Boxed In: How to Get Much-Needed Backyard Privacy

Landscape Design

Everyone is entitled to privacy in their own home. But that’s not to say that everyone’s landscaping design is making it easy to achieve it. If you’re struggling to maintain a sense of privacy in a built-up neighbourhood, then read on. A few slight changes can make a world of difference.

Try Portable Partitions

If a permanent fence is not an option, then maybe a portable partition is. Think about the parts of your yard that require more privacy than others. Perhaps you want to block the view of your neighbours as you sit in your entertainment area. Set up a partition that you can move around your property at will.

Potted Trees and Shrubs

Establishing trees and shrubs against your property boundary can take years. Fortunately, there’s a faster option if you require it. Instead of planting shrubs and trees in the ground, you can buy them for planting in pots. That way, they are already well-established enough to provide privacy. Pots can also add much-needed style to your property while being easy-care at the same time.

Hedges

If you’re in no hurry to benefit from privacy as long as it looks attractive once it’s established, then why not grow hedges? There are plenty of fast-growing varieties out there, such as viburnum. If you’re not sure where to begin, talk to your local landscaping team.

Popular Landscape Design Features to Consider in 2020

Landscape Design

If you have a large outdoor space that gets neglected and isn’t well cared for, it could be time to speak to a team of landscape designers. They will be able to help you come up with a clear landscape design plan to transform your garden into something special.

There are numerous things to consider when you’re designing a new outdoor space. In this article, we’ve put together a list of the top landscape design features to consider in 2020. Different things come in and out of fashion all the time, but you can be sure that your garden will be a hit if you incorporate a few of the following.

Water Features

Water features are always a hit with landscape designers, and their popularity hasn’t diminished in 2020. If you’re thinking about including a water feature in your backyard, you need to think carefully to make sure that it’s well designed and consistent with the rest of your garden.

For starters, you will want to think carefully about its size and position. Will you include a small stream that flows through your garden, or are a pond and small fountain going to be enough?

Hardscaping

In the past, green areas were all the rage. However, people have realised that things like garden beds and lawns require a significant amount of care to keep them in good condition, and a lot of use just don’t have the time for this.

Instead, hardscaped areas are becoming increasingly popular. Homeowners across the country are including cleverly designed paths, walkways, constructed patios and other hard areas in their landscape design plans every day.