A lot goes into landscape design beyond planning how it will improve the property’s curb appeal. You also have to think about the maintenance efforts required to keep the plants healthy and the mulch fresh. You’ll need to consider the placement of trees, flowers, and other plants and whether you want them to make the outdoor space feel larger or smaller. Keep reading to learn some fun facts about landscaping design that you can use to create a yard that looks great and works for your lifestyle.
A Curved Walkway With Decorative Edging Makes the Yard Feel Larger
A sidewalk that runs in a straight line from one end to the next creates a direct sight line for the eyes to follow. This can make your yard feel smaller. One of the easiest ways to avoid this problem is to design the sidewalk with gentle curves. Those curves extend the visual journey of the eyes as they follow the path, helping the yard to feel larger. If you want to outline the sidewalk, do it with decorative stone or brick edging, so the curved path feels even longer.
Help the Yard Look More Natural With Odd-Numbered Plant Groupings
If you arrange your plants and trees in perfectly even rows with the same exact number in each, the yard will look like a grid because of its stiff, formal appearance.
A lot of homeowners group them in various numbers throughout the yard to break up the symmetry. They might have a cluster of seven perennials next to a garden bed and a trio of flowering shrubs near the patio or running along the walkway. By staggering their positions around the yard and choosing complementary plants that vary in height, texture, and color, you’ll have a much more natural-looking landscape.
Native Plants Often Require Less Maintenance
It doesn’t matter if you plant 10 clusters of flowers and shrubs or simply outline your sidewalk with ornamental grasses. All types of landscaping need regular maintenance to keep the yard looking healthy and beautiful. However, if you choose plants that are native to your area, they may require less upkeep because they have already adapted to the local climate.
Where you live determines what those plants will be. Just be sure to take note of any moisture-loving flowers and trees and find them spots in the yard that stay naturally damp. That will make it easier for them to get the water they need to grow strong without you having to constantly mess with a sprinkler system or water hose.
These are just a few of the many fun landscape design tips that you can use on your property. A knowledgeable landscaping designer can tell you all about the plants that are native to your area and how to minimize maintenance for your yard. If you live in El Paso, TX or a surrounding area and need landscape design services, make your first call to Exterior Elevate.
