Monday, April 25, 2011

The Benefits Of Landscape Design

By Adrianna Noton


Having the perfect yard starts with a good landscape design plan. Getting things right before you even start will make things easier when you are planting as well as when the plants mature. Improper planning may have you ripping things out a couple of years down the road due to overcrowding or light issues.

A yard becomes more valuable if it's not only beautiful, but functional as well. Whether you incorporate a seating area, dining area or even a kitchen, a functioning yard allows you to enjoy it more often. Figure out what you would like to do in your yard in order to create the perfect space.

A small yard can be difficult to fix up because of the way things grow and take up space. In addition to plants, you have to pack more punch with smaller accessories as well. A good way to maximize space is to find things that have multiple purposes. The perfectly cushioned nap bench can also be used as seating at a fold out table while a planter can be for flowers as well as vegetables.

A large yard can be such a treat to fill up because you have more options available to you due to its size. More plant varieties are available and you can even designate specific areas for special purposes. Add hedges, boarders and a trellis to create a little conversation nook within the yard. The division of plants and shrubs will make it feel as if you are in a different space and will provide intimacy.

It's easy to incorporate fruits, vegetables and herbs in any garden regardless of space. If you have a large yard you may just want to designate a patch of land solely for food production. Large or smaller yards look great with different vegetables mixed into boarders or on terraced planter beds. If you are short on space, or want to keep it simple, grow your ingredients in pots on the patio, many varieties take well to those conditions.

In addition to placing fruits and vegetables in pots, you can place different sized pots throughout your yard and patio. The different heights and colors of the containers will add a burst of personality while the flowers liven up the space. Keep like colors together for great visual flow but get creative with patterns.

A large fence or even a wall can be a difficult obstacle when designing the perfect yard. In stead of working around it, work with it by adding vines, planter boxes and art work. Vertical gardening increases the space you have to work with and looks great. Add hanging baskets onto tall shepherd hooks for even more style and plant vines up a pyramid trellis to bring flowers upwards.

Designing a yard can be a wonderful experience as long as you do your homework. Landscape design takes thought, preparation and maintenance in order to look good. Tossing in a few plants may end up costing you more in the long run, so make sure you understand the growing conditions in your area along with what the plants need. These few Toronto landscape designers pointers should help you get started on the yard of your dreams.




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