Home Garden Design Ideas
July 10th, 2010 | 
Author: Your home garden can be a source of great joy and inspiration for you. A good number of artists, authors and other notable people draw inspiration for their work from their gardens. Aside from being a source of inspiration, a lovely home garden can be a refuse from the stressful world outside. Studies show that people who live inside dismal and scrap apartments are less likely to be creative than those people who have lovely gardens at home.
Making your home garden look good is relatively easy. No, there is no need for you to spend thousands of dollars just to have a lovely home garden. You can always make use with whatever materials you have at home. If you have some landscaping rocks and other things that you can use to make your garden look great, then there is no need for you to spend a lot of money on your garden.
By arranging some landscaping rocks and putting plants in strategic places around your garden, you can create a very relaxing atmosphere. With little cost on your part, you can add depths and character to your garden by using whatever stones you have at home as landscaping rocks. Actually, the secret here is to come up with garden design that utilizes local materials.
Designing your home garden can be very enjoyable and challenging at the same time. To help stimulate your creativity, buy a few magazines and books on landscaping and study the different garden designs featured therein. You may also check out the internet for some landscaping ideas. To get some concrete ideas as to how gardens should look like, visit some gardens in your locality. Just read books, magazines and browse through the internet to get some fresh ideas as to how to make your home garden look really stunning. If possible, you may also take pictures of the place.
The size of your place, the climate and the amount of money that you are willing to spend on your garden affect the final outcome of your design. Take the time to measure your space so that you will have some ideas as to what type of plants, landscaping rocks and other garden decorations can fit into it. When it comes to plants, try to use whatever endemic species you can find in your locality. To save money, use endemic plants and affordable landscaping rocks.
It may take you a little while before you can come up with a really cool garden design so do not be discourage if things do not turn out as good as you want them to. If your garden design does not turn out to be as beautiful as you would like it to be, work on your design some more until you get satisfactory results.
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Tips for your Home Gardens
Home gardens can be hard work but for many it is a great hobby that gives you many rewards. Gardening is the most popular hobby in this country. It helps you to relax and many say it is very therapeutic. Look at it this way, you are outside in the fresh air and you are working on a project that helps to relieve stress and worry. It is also a great way to work out without having to get in your car and go to the gym. Think of the hours of enjoyment you will get when your hard work turns into gorgeous, lush gardens. Along with the enormous enjoyment you will get from your garden, you will also reap the harvest of any fruit trees and enjoy that too. There are a few garden tips that you should follow that will reward you with a beautiful home garden for you and your friends to enjoy.
There are some home gardening tips to keep in mind when shopping for new trees or shrubs. Usually, when you purchase and plant trees and shrubs they are very small. The gardener comes home and plants under a window or near the house. These plants will start to grow and can cause some tricky problems. This is a mistake to avoid. As the plants grow, so do their root systems. If planted to close to the house they could do harm to your foundation, sewer or water lines. Not only can they cause damage to these things but then it will be necessary to pay to have the tree or shrub removed. When planting shrubs around your house they may grow tall enough to block out sunlight or be a detriment to your landscaping scheme. To avoid this trouble in your home garden, find out exactly how tall and wide the shrubs and trees will be at maturity, a very important tip. Remember, never plant a tree too close to your house. The roots could cause very costly damages and you would have to have the tree taken out.
To encourage new spring growth, prune your shrubs in the fall to allow air flow. Until the shrub or tree is established you must water them liberally. Proper watering of your trees or shrubs is essential if you want them to survive and in some cases to keep the guarantee valid. Lawn sprinkler irrigation is generally inadequate for watering these new plants. Trees and shrubs must have a deeper, soaking watering of the root ball. Moist but not “sloppy wet” is the rule. The recommended watering schedule when your trees and shrubs are first planted is as follows:
Days 1-30 – Everyday
Days 31 – 60 Every other day
Days 61 & following – At least twice per week
Plants that you have watered well survive far better during the cold months than plants starting winter without enough water. Depending on your zone, it is best to plant trees and shrubs in the fall, never in the summer. Take care of your home gardens and you will have years of enjoyment adding texture and beauty to your home and yard.
Happy Gardening!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Gardening Landscaping Tips and Gardening Outside and Herb Gardening
Mary Hanna
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/tips-for-your-home-gardens-115252.html
Tips for the Upkeep of your Lawn Landscape
Landscaping maintenance also goes by the name groundskeeping and it is the art of keeping the landscape attractive, clean, healthy, and safe. Some people do landscaping maintenance as a hobby, but others do it as a necessity because it is not only illegal to keep an untidy lawn in some places, poorly maintained lawns attract animals and dangerous insects, they can cause problems with the neighbors and they are unsightly.
You should have a schedule of when to do groundskeeping. It is important to do landscaping maintenance to your lawn because it will keep you on the right side of the local laws, you will avoid conflicts with your neighbors, you will have a place to pass your time and to bond with family members, your lawn will be beautiful, and you will keep away animals and insects. Hiring a professional is advantageous in that groundskeepers know the right herbicides and fertilizers to use, they know the best plants as well as where to get them, they know how to deal with rodents, insects, and worms, and they can advice you on relevant matters.
You can also research from home maintenance magazines and by consulting experts. You can also get your friends or family members to help in the groundskeeping.
You should do weeding regularly as part of landscaping maintenance. You should note that different plants need different quantities of fertilizer and that using too much water is just as bad as denying your plants sufficient water. When weeding and when keeping away pests, you should avoid the use of chemical based pesticides and herbicides to protect the environment and to prevent the poisoning of family members and pets.
During autumn months, you should apply fertilizer to the plants to prepare them for the winter and to enable them to ‘explode’ once winter is over. During winter months, you should remove debris such as branches and logs from the lawn since they can lead to brown rings and because they are dangerous when hidden by snow. Different plants need different fertilizers and different quantities of fertilizer and you should therefore research on this.
On the onset of winter, remove debris such as logs, branches and toys from the lawn. Groundskeepers are professionals who have theoretical knowledge on groundskeeping and who have experience. You can do the research online, which is convenient and cheap. You can get a groundskeeper online, through the yellow pages, or through recommendation from someone who has a well maintained landscape.
Different times of the year require different landscaping maintenance. You should not simply put a hose on the lawn as this is wasteful and some plants do not do well under soggy conditions. Use drip irrigation or aboveground sprinklers. In spring and summer, just water and weed your lawn.
Japanese Gardens In Japanese Decorating
Many landscapers today, whether professional or home do-it-yourselfers are turning to Japanese designs for landscaping a garden. The peace and tranquility of a Japanese garden is attracting many people to this type of landscaping design. One of the biggest attractions of a Japanese garden is the ease of taking care of it. If a Japanese garden is well designed in the first place, it will not be expensive to install, and will be relatively carefree. Many people think a Japanese garden will be expensive because it has to have exotic plants and flowers in it. This couldn’t be the furthest from the truth, since a Japanese garden seeks to have the simplest materials to create that peaceful look. If you understand the underlying principles of Japanese gardens, you can create one that will not be expensive and will be easy to care for.
One of the most important underlying principles of Japanese gardens is to follow the lines and form of nature. There are not square ponds in nature, so a Japanese garden would have to have a round pond. Natural shapes that abound in nature are what will be found in a Japanese garden. Stones that are carefully placed so that they look as if they occurred there naturally are a perfect example. Another main principle of Japanese gardens is the management of space. There is no fear of having large empty spaces in a Japanese garden; this is done on purpose so that the empty spaces complement and outline the other elements in the garden. Managing size in a Japanese garden is a third element to be addressed. Large items in small places will overwhelm the tranquility of the garden. Seeking balance, the Japanese landscape gardener will proportions so that each element works with the other, rather than compete with it.
Japanese gardens frequently use enclosures in interesting ways. Fences and gates serve the purpose of secluding the garden, but they may also point the visitor to another area, even if it is only an illusion. The symbolism of seclusion in the garden is important and so walkways are always wandering off into small areas, even in expansive gardens. Gates and fences create both a barrier and a entrance way, leading the garden visitor away from the cares of the world and into a peaceful retreat.
A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/japanese-gardens-in-japanese-decorating-97526.html
Finding A Good Landscape Gardener
At some point or another most home and business owners need to hire a landscaper. A landscaper is someone who modifies the visible features of a space of land such as a backyard or deck and pool area. For any person who is looking to find a landscaper there are a few important tips to remember. Because there are so many different landscaping companies available today, there are a few tips that will be helpful to use when making your decision here.
One of the first and most important things to remember when hiring a landscaper is that cheaper is not always better. In fact, most people who choose the cheapest landscaping company often end up paying twice as much or even more as they would have. Companies that offer ridiculously low prices often do so because their work is not up to par and they need a way to make more people hire them. The more experienced companies that have more to offer are going to charge a decent amount because they know they will get the job done right and this is what really matters more than anything.
The longer a landscaping company has been in the business the more you can trust them, at least for the most part. Regardless of how long they have been in business for, it is also important to do a sort of interview process with any landscaping company before hiring them. You want to either meet them in person or talk to them over the phone so you can discuss the details with them. Get an idea of their prices and see how long it would take them to finish your job.
Bring up all the ideas you have about the landscaping job because you want to get across the clearest picture of what results you want so they understand. It can be hard to express thoughts you have in your mind but they should offer drawings and work showing what the space will end up looking like so you can make sure they on the right track before getting started. Always see what extras are included in the price you are charged as well. For instance you want to see whether ongoing maintenance issues are going to be included or if you will be charged extra for things like weeding and spraying after the job is completed.
Even if you will be charged at least get the specific prices and get everything written up in a contract so you can keep a copy. You can also read reviews when you need to find a landscaper. Reviews allow you to see what past clients had to say about a landscaping company. It can take time to find a landscaper that is worth hiring but it will be worth the patience when you find that company that is going to get the job done just how you want it.
Getting the Right Plants for your Desert Landscaping Project
There are all types of landscaping and one is desert landscaping. This refers to the modification of a yard or other area of space using desert plants. The desert garden idea is a very popular one these days and there are lots of plants to enjoy if you want to create your very own desert garden. Whether you plan to come up with a design on your own or get help there are a few important things to remember.
For one thing, you have to consider that with desert plants water is not going to be used as often. If you water them as much as you water the other plants in your designs you are likely to end up killing them. Desert plants are used to going without water for long amounts of time and you have to be really careful in regards to your watering schedule with these plants. Different desert plants are native to certain landscapes so choose the ones that are going to strive in your location.
Also do not worry about using so much fertilizer on the plants. Desert plants do not require much fertilizer and nutrients because the soil in the desert is not nutrient rich. They will strive and be healthier if you use less water and fertilizer which makes these plants much different than others. Group the right desert plants together in your design if you want the design to be successful.
This is probably one of the most important tips of all because there are really easy things you can do to make the most of your desert landscaping and help the plants to stay healthy and look beautiful. You can group certain plants together as this will help them to feed off each other. Then group another set of plants together that need the most water. This also keeps a nice flow to the design and keeps things from looking too scattered.
You can hire a professional company to help out. Landscaping companies are not always that expensive and can make a big difference in your designs. Just make sure you give them your idea of what you want things to turn out like. You can shoot ideas back and forth and come up with the most effective and beautiful design.
Lawn Alternatives and Natural Gardens
From coast to coast the lawn is one the most ubiquitous garden features in the landscape. Though all gardens require some maintenance, lawns require far more than most. Between fertilizing, weekly mowing and other requirements such as aerating and thatching, lawns are among the most labor intensive and chemically drenched types of landscape. While some lawn space may be managed with little trouble, large vast, weed-free lawns should be rethought. Consider the alternative, introducing native plants species into your garden. Reducing the size of your lawn and replacing it with a more low maintenance garden would be an environmentally friendly alternative.
Natural gardens emphasize native plant species of a local environment. Plants which are native to a specific area have adapted to certain site conditions and are generally self sustaining. They’ll need little, if any, fertilizer and no more water than is provided by rain. Natural gardens introduce diversity to the landscape and use trees, shrubs and perennials not found in traditional gardens. They also provide a garden with a sense of place. Lawns are everywhere and it’s often difficult to distinguish a garden in New York from one in Washington even though their landscapes and climates are completely different.
Gardens which draw inspiration from the natural environment are successful because they’re easy to maintain and will thrive even in the most extreme conditions. Planting a natural garden can help restore the landscape, attract a variety of bird species and provide the garden with a wonderful mix of under utilized, interesting plants.
The woodland garden, for instance, is a landscape which focuses on the forest ecosystem. Woodland gardens are low maintenance and provide your garden with a wide range of plants which add seasonal interest. In the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, perennials bloom profusely throughout the spring months. In the shadier conditions of the woodland garden in summer, the spring floral display gives way to perennials and shrubs with rich varied foliage. Woodland gardens also provide a shady respite from the hot afternoon sun of summer. In the fall, colorful leaves brighten up the garden.
Wildflower meadows are another natural landscape type. Meadows are noted for their easy maintenance, wide diversity of plants, vibrant colors, interesting textures and distinct seasonal changes. Along with these aesthetic benefits there are ecological benefits as well, including the reduced need for maintenance, the creation of a habitat for native species of animals and the fact that wildflower meadows are very effective at trapping airborne pollutants. Meadows are relatively easy to create and need minimal maintenance once established. The reward is a colorful, self sustaining, low maintenance landscape.
All gardens require some sort of care and attention, natural gardens, those requiring less of it, are no exception. As with any garden, you’ll need to deadhead, prune and occasionally weed in order to encourage blooming flowers and healthy growth.
If you’re attached to the more traditional garden setting you can still introduce native trees, shrubs or perennials to your garden. Many of them flower just as beautifully as the ones commonly found in the garden.
anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/lawn-alternatives-and-natural-gardens-89595.html
What is Landscape Gardening?
People often wonder what the actual landscape definition is. Whether you are interested in getting into it as a career for yourself or just want to make sure you are hiring the right person for the job, it is helpful to learn what the landscape definition actually means.
The term landscaping refers to the modification of the visible features of any space of land such as a backyard or garden. So for any person who wanted to get a yard, pool, deck or other space fixed up it would be a landscaper they would need to call. There are do it yourself landscaping designs you can follow but most people choose to hire professional landscapers so they know they are going to get the best results. Especially if you are planning to spend a large amount of money on the job, it will be much more worth the money to pay out for professionals so you know the job will get done right. First you should get started with a list of tasks that you want to have completed.
Make a list of different tasks you do not want to forget to tell the landscaper. Of course you will be charged differently depending on the amount and how hard the work is you need done, but the point is to get everything to look just how you want it. Set out a budget before looking for a landscaper so you know what your max limit is and do not spend more than you can afford. This is also going to help by narrowing down your selection of landscaping companies somewhat. One of the biggest mistakes people make when hiring a landscaping company is they assume they want to look for the cheapest one they can find.
Make a list of the different landscapers in your area and then start to make notes of the pros and cons of each. Read reviews and see what past home or business owners just like you had to say about a particular company. This way you can get much better insight into each company and make the right decision on who would be best for your job. Always read reviews and see what others have to say on a company before deciding on them.
You do not necessarily just want to go with the cheapest landscaping company you can find. Sure this may save you some money in the beginning but if they do not get the job done right it is going to cost you much more money in the long run. Aesthetics and practicality both need to be considered when coming up with any landscaping design. Everything should be just the way you want it before you pay them the full amount.
Creating Japanese Gardens
Japanese gardens create landscapes which resembles nature through the careful placement of trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and water. Zen and Shinto traditions have greatly influenced Japanese gardening and as a result the gardens are contemplative and serene spaces. It is essential that all the elements work well together within the garden and that the relationship between rocks, plants and water is well thought out.
The basic landscape elements found in most Japanese gardens include trees, shrubs, rocks, gravel, water, moss, stones and fences. Boulders are often used as centerpieces and provide the garden with a feeling of stability. Gravel is used to imitate the flow of water and other small stones are used to create boundaries and are turned into sculptural lanterns. Water, whether it be in the form of a pond, stream, or waterfall, is an essential part of a Japanese garden. It can be actual water or a symbolic representation, either way, it is vital to the Japanese garden.
In Japanese gardening there are three basic ways to create a landscape scene. The first of these is reduced scale. Reduced scale is the art of taking an actual scene from nature, mountains, rivers, trees, and all, and reproducing it on a smaller scale. Symbolization is abstract and could include using white sand to symbolize water and boulders to symbolize islands. Borrowed views refers to the use of distant a landscapes, such as a mountain, and incorporating it into the garden.
There are several types of Japanese gardens. Zen garden are meant to be viewed rather than entered. They are comprised of a mix of boulders, gravel or sand, moss and a limited number of trees an shrubs. Carefully placed stones symbolize islands while the gravel or sand, raked into interesting patterns, symbolizes water. Zen gardens help clear the mind and aid in contemplation.
Another type of Japanese garden is the tea garden. The tea garden is considered a ceremonial space which consists of an outer garden and an inner garden. Tea gardens are small and are ideal for those gardens with limited space. The outer garden is informal and consists of an entry gate to and a stone path leading toward the inner garden. Another stone path flows through the inner garden, whose plants are more formally placed. The inner path leads to a small building where the actual tea ceremony is performed.
Another garden appropriate for a small space or patio is the courtyard garden. The design of the Japanese courtyard garden is kept simple and is usually built to be observed from inside the house. It could, however, be planned so it is a useable outdoor space. Consisting of a few plants, a small water feature, a dry stream, or other simple elements, the Japanese courtyard garden allows nature and light to flow into your home through large windows and patio doors.
The above examples are just a few Japanese garden styles. Before designing and planting your own garden, look through some garden books and search for photos of Japanese gardens online. Japanese gardens are intended to create a meditative and relaxing experience. A little planning and research will help you design a serene and beautiful landscape which will delight all who visit your garden.
anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/creating-japanese-gardens-89811.html
Tips For Installing And Maintaining Water Gardens
Water gardens, also known as aquatic gardens and garden ponds, are miniature ecosystems. They add charm, enthusiasm and a sense of tranquility to any place.
Water gardens can be created by combining a pool with aquatic plants and ornamental fish. Rocks, waterfalls etc when combined with pools add to the beauty of the gardens. Water gardens can be man-made or natural, comprising the right blend of flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
Pond Plants
Water gardens have plants such as submerged plants, marginal plants and floating plants. Submerged plants are those that grow completely under water. Marginal plants have their roots deep into the soil but the plant grows above the surface of water. Floating plants grow freely floating on the water surface. The submerged plants in the ponds often act as oxygenators and provide oxygen to the fish in ponds. A garden pond requires at least one oxygenator and a lily plant.
Aquatic Animals
Water gardens look colorful with fish like Koi, Gold Fish, Golden Orfe, Golden Tench, Mosquito Fish etc. Water ponds also attract snails, frogs and other predators. Some predators such as snakes can be dangerous to the fish in the pond.
Requirements For Water Gardens
There are certain points that need to be considered when installing water gardens. Some of them are -
1. Sunlight – Most water plants need enough sunlight to grow. Hence it is recommended to install the water pond at a place where there is enough sunlight. In case of shadier places, the choice of plants is limited.
2. Trees – Having a water pond near a tree is not preferable. The dried leaves from the tree may fall into the water and harm the aquatic plants and animals.
3. Location – The location of a garden pond should be such that it can be easily viewed and enjoyed. It is recommended to install it in places near the windows or in places easily viewable from the terrace etc.
4. Size – Size of the water garden should suit the size of the garden. A small garden will not look good with a large water pond.
Maintenance of A Water Garden
Since the garden ponds contain plants and animals living in them, just creating water gardens is not enough. They require regular maintenance. Maintenance of ponds includes filtering the water, pumping, preventing the formation of algae etc.
Equipments Used For Maintenance Of Water Gardens
Pond Pumps – Pond pumps provide water enriched with oxygen to the plants and animals in the pond. While choosing a pond pump do consider the operating cost of the pump as well along with the pump cost.
Pond Filters – Pond filters mainly function to filter the water in the pond. Fish and other aquatic animals living in water pollute the water due to their regular metabolic activities. If the impurities are left behind, the water gets polluted thereby causing harm to the plants and animals in the pond.
Ultraviolet clarifier – Ultraviolet clarifier (UVC) is used to prevent algae that result in green murky water. The algae remove the oxygen from pond water and hence may cause death of fish in the pond. UVCs are usually included in most pond filters. It is important to note that UVC contains quartz tubes since that doubles the efficiency of the UVC.
With proper planning and maintenance, water gardens can be your source of joy and pride.
Peter Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/tips-for-installing-and-maintaining-water-gardens-101681.html