Send Flower To Overseas

I thought it'd be appropriate with the changing of the seasons coming up to talk to you a little bit about landscaping and just how simple it can be. Of course, this isn't for everyone, as not everyone wants to get out there and build something or plan something with their own two hands or eyes, but it is for some of you, and you might not even know it. So, whether you're the type that thinks they'd rather just hire some contractors to fix up their yard, or if you're the type that is raring to go, both of you just sit down and have a read- you may be surprised at what you find.

First off, landscaping doesn't have to be some big overhauling project where you blow up tree stumps and install swimming pools. Conversely, landscaping also doesn't have to be placing the perfect flower at the perfect angle in the perfect yard so that the ancient god of feng shui is appeased. No, all landscaping is, is making the most of your space so that it is the most pleasing to your eye and needs. That's it.

So, let's tackle these three parts (space, aesthetics, need) separately first, and then see how we can bring them all together at the end to make sure you're ready to step out into that yard, or call the contractor, whichever you still find pleasing.

Using Your Space

As with anything having to do with architecture, design or planning, you have to work within the space you have available to you. This means the water slide for the backyard may be out, but other things you haven't yet considered may be in. For example, making the most of your front yard with a slightly winding footpath that leads from a gazebo to your front door could make your yard feel much larger to walk through.

On the other хэнд, if your yard feels too open, closing it off with islands or planters may make it feel cozier. You can even go so far as to lay down unevenly edged slate stones through which trees and plants can poke through the cracks. Whatever it is about your yard that you want to enhance or detract from, you can do it by paying attention to the space you have available to you.

What's more is that there's probably space you don't even know you have available to you. What would happen if you cleaned out the garage you don't park your car in, knocked down the walls and мейд an open air patio? Or turned it into an outdoor BBQ pit? How about extending the pool wall above ground to create a naturally shielded patio or bringing the wall up into the pool and installing a waterfall? The limitations are only in your mind (and maybe your wallet), so try to picture your space as not just a flat, limited surface, but a living, 4-dimensional plane of existence where your ideas can come to life.

Pleasing Your Eye

The next thing I'd like to touch on is probably what most people think about when they hear landscaping and that's the aesthetics of it all. Of course, you want your yard to look nice and you want it to look better than your neighbor's (well, most of us do), but how do you go about that? And there's the question you'll have to answer with what you expect out of your yard.

Are you expecting it to raise your property's value? Well, there are two schools of thought on that. The first is what I like to call the "clean door" group which bases its theory on the fact that a clean house sells for more money than a dirty house. This is the minimalist landscaper. They believe that simple cosmetic upgrades which are aesthetically pleasing will increase the value of your property.

This means washing the windows, placing two planters on either side of the door, fixing up the front fence and hanging a bird feeder up is all that's needed. Maybe even prune a bush if they're feeling wild.

The second school of thought is that property value can only be raised by actually increasing the value of the property. These are the materialist landscapers. They believe that spending money on things to go on the land can be accounted for directly in the sales price. For example, adding an in-ground Jacuzzi costs $9,000, so the asking price for the house just jumped by $10,000.

These types of people will add outdoor kitchens, pools, new walkways, rooftop gardens, pink grass, etc. etc. You get the picture.

So, what's the better route to choose out of the two if you really want to raise your property value but not go crazy on the landscaping? Well, you guessed it: a subtle mix of both. While you may not need a Jacuzzi and a birdfeeder is too small, how about a birdbath? Or instead of redoing a whole walkway but still doing a little more than sticking a planter by the front door, drop some slates down and make a stone path? Instead of a rooftop garden or a simple plant, how about a flower bed to line the stone path?

In the end, it's really up to your eye and what you find pleasing, but a simple trick might be to see what you want, then write down the extreme version and the minimalist version of that and try to meet yourself somewhere in the middle.

The Need of Landscaping

Finally, let's talk about the need. I wanted to do this last because now that you have an idea of how fantastical and out of control landscaping design can get, it's time to bring in the pragmatic side of this to bring it all home. I like to think of the 'need' as the glue that holds your ideas and reality together.

Do you see that trampled grass over there? That's where visitors cut across your lawn to your front door. You need a walkway there. Go with the stone path. Do you see that pool heater that looks horrible in your yard? You need a planter to go in front of it to keep it out of view.

When it all comes down to a question of need, I think you're going to have a very easy time putting your space and aesthetic eye to use in your landscaping endeavors. So, now it's time for you to get out there and survey your land. Have fun, but keep in mind that your need is the glue that will hold your budget together when your eye and your space start to get out of хэнд. Good luck!

Emily Lacey invites you to discover more free, high quality articles, top secret gardening tips and tricks at her website !