Italian Garden Design
June 1, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
A client in the Heights contracted Exterior Worlds to create an Italian garden with a number of complimentary, classical elements to the front and rear of their home. Their house had a classic Old World appearance to it. It was a two-story structure with a porch and an upstairs balcony. Steps led up to the porch, and shuttered windows with arched tops lined both the porch and the balcony. A stately, old, and very large oak tree grew just next to the house, reaching up and over the top of the house. The architecture and indigenous landscape were an ideal setting to further develop a European look and feel to the property.
We began by installing lights in the trees next to the home in order to illuminate the roof and balcony, and we placed lights under the eaves of the porch and patio to illuminate the surfaces, walls, and windows. We planted a small Italian garden in the front near the trees. In it, we placed a variety of ground cover plant species, shrubbery, and smaller, ornamental trees. This lent an organic sense to a very symmetrical and elegant structure, and helped develop the Classical theme we were asked to create. We completed the design in the front with urns placed on either side of the stairs that led up to the front door. This worked to create a sense of grand entryway that alluded to a sense of Roman antiquity and classical design.
The home had been built toward the front of the lot, so the majority of the property lay behind the house. This provided a great deal of room to develop an Italian garden with a number of functional and aesthetic elements that fit the lifestyles of the owners. The first thing we designed for them was a planter, shaped like a small wall, which surrounded the rear perimeter of the home. This provided a casual seating area for the home owners that they use as an overlook point to appreciate the scenery beyond. In the morning they could sit outside and watch the sunrise while they drank coffee and talked, or comfortably recline while they read the paper.
Just a few feet from this planter, we built a water fountain. We designed it as a rectangle to continue the movement of the house, because all Italian gardens are intended to follow the linear movement of architecture and maintain a sense of order and proportion throughout their continuity. Although the fountain featured very simple and compact proportions, we made it look much more dramatic and prominent by installing four water jets and 4 underwater lights to draw attention to it in the dark.
Around the fountain we then laid down a paver patio using a blend of hardscape and softscape paving. This blended construction made the patio appear to be fading into the grass, and caused the patio and surrounding gardens to look more classically Italian. The patio was surrounded by bull nose coping and sloped slightly toward the planter walls, which were built with unseen, 1-inch drain channel to provide a convenient and unobtrusive means of water runoff. We then filled the space around the new patio and planter with an Italian garden featuring cypress and decorative handmade pottery.
At the far end of the property, we completed our project with an arbor that functioned as a destination for outdoor entertainment and a terminus for the Italian garden design. The garden arbor was built on a limestone patio, and was constructed out of Permacast columns and a cedar top. We installed a ceiling fan within the arbor, and decorated the patio with tables and chairs to provide a comfortable gathering place for visiting guests.
One very unique feature was also added to this arbor to complete its design. This final piece was a mirror built to look like a window. Because the property bordered a commercial lot that had a rather unattractive building on it, we wanted to create a sense of enclosure and provide a focal point that would draw the eye away from the eyesore behind the arbor. A mirror proved much more useful for this purpose, because it both blocked the view of the building, and it magnified the apparent size of the Italian garden, fountain, planter, and rear of the home.
By: Jeff Halper
About the Author:
We began by installing lights in the trees next to the home in order to illuminate the roof and balcony, and we placed lights under the eaves of the porch and patio to illuminate the surfaces, walls, and windows. We planted a small Italian garden in the front near the trees. In it, we placed a variety of ground cover plant species, shrubbery, and smaller, ornamental trees. This lent an organic sense to a very symmetrical and elegant structure, and helped develop the Classical theme we were asked to create. We completed the design in the front with urns placed on either side of the stairs that led up to the front door. This worked to create a sense of grand entryway that alluded to a sense of Roman antiquity and classical design.
The home had been built toward the front of the lot, so the majority of the property lay behind the house. This provided a great deal of room to develop an Italian garden with a number of functional and aesthetic elements that fit the lifestyles of the owners. The first thing we designed for them was a planter, shaped like a small wall, which surrounded the rear perimeter of the home. This provided a casual seating area for the home owners that they use as an overlook point to appreciate the scenery beyond. In the morning they could sit outside and watch the sunrise while they drank coffee and talked, or comfortably recline while they read the paper.
Just a few feet from this planter, we built a water fountain. We designed it as a rectangle to continue the movement of the house, because all Italian gardens are intended to follow the linear movement of architecture and maintain a sense of order and proportion throughout their continuity. Although the fountain featured very simple and compact proportions, we made it look much more dramatic and prominent by installing four water jets and 4 underwater lights to draw attention to it in the dark.
Around the fountain we then laid down a paver patio using a blend of hardscape and softscape paving. This blended construction made the patio appear to be fading into the grass, and caused the patio and surrounding gardens to look more classically Italian. The patio was surrounded by bull nose coping and sloped slightly toward the planter walls, which were built with unseen, 1-inch drain channel to provide a convenient and unobtrusive means of water runoff. We then filled the space around the new patio and planter with an Italian garden featuring cypress and decorative handmade pottery.
At the far end of the property, we completed our project with an arbor that functioned as a destination for outdoor entertainment and a terminus for the Italian garden design. The garden arbor was built on a limestone patio, and was constructed out of Permacast columns and a cedar top. We installed a ceiling fan within the arbor, and decorated the patio with tables and chairs to provide a comfortable gathering place for visiting guests.
One very unique feature was also added to this arbor to complete its design. This final piece was a mirror built to look like a window. Because the property bordered a commercial lot that had a rather unattractive building on it, we wanted to create a sense of enclosure and provide a focal point that would draw the eye away from the eyesore behind the arbor. A mirror proved much more useful for this purpose, because it both blocked the view of the building, and it magnified the apparent size of the Italian garden, fountain, planter, and rear of the home.
By: Jeff Halper
About the Author:
Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Italian garden design or Landscape Design
A Beautiful Front Garden Design Makes A Statement
June 1, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
The front yard of a home is a statement to the whole neighborhood of what the people who live in the house are like. Some yards are cluttered with junk or cars and do not speak well for the owners. Other yards have overgrown bushes and trees that say there is not much care being given to the home.
Having a beautiful front garden design can be a statement of great ownership. The time and effort put into the front garden design will not only look nice but will increase the value of the home and make the owners proud of their accomplishment.
Natural Front Garden Designs
There are many things to consider when designing the front garden. The first thing to consider is the location of the home. A home in the southwest desert will have a totally different front garden design than one in the northeast. Another consideration is the amount of care a person wants to take to maintain the front garden design.
Many people in desert areas where water is scarce and the summer season is extremely hot find that a natural garden design works great. Using rock, pebbles and drought tolerant plants can make a beautiful front garden design that will be able to stand up to the severe temperatures.
In very cold climates the homeowner may want to use the natural theme but will modify it. Evergreens make a beautiful natural garden design for such a climate. Looking for other native plants to the climate will insure that the front garden design will have lasting beauty.
Rocks and stone will look beautiful in cold climates as well and make great items for borders. Whatever the climate, using the natural products of the land will help make a nice front garden design.
Inviting Front Garden Designs
If the homeowner wants people to always feel welcome there are ways to say this with the front garden design. One of the most important aspects of welcoming people is making a clear walkway. Keeping the bushes and large plants away from walkways will make the home more accessible.
Another important aspect is using welcoming plants and colors. Bright cheery flowers say welcome better than about anything else. Early spring flowers such as tulips, crocus, and daffodils will invite people out of their winter doldrums. Bushes with bright green foliage can be placed to show the way to the door of the home.
Avoiding plants with thorns or a lot of pollen will make people feel more welcome and prevent injury or allergies. The front garden design of the home should be well manicured and inviting.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
Having a beautiful front garden design can be a statement of great ownership. The time and effort put into the front garden design will not only look nice but will increase the value of the home and make the owners proud of their accomplishment.
Natural Front Garden Designs
There are many things to consider when designing the front garden. The first thing to consider is the location of the home. A home in the southwest desert will have a totally different front garden design than one in the northeast. Another consideration is the amount of care a person wants to take to maintain the front garden design.
Many people in desert areas where water is scarce and the summer season is extremely hot find that a natural garden design works great. Using rock, pebbles and drought tolerant plants can make a beautiful front garden design that will be able to stand up to the severe temperatures.
In very cold climates the homeowner may want to use the natural theme but will modify it. Evergreens make a beautiful natural garden design for such a climate. Looking for other native plants to the climate will insure that the front garden design will have lasting beauty.
Rocks and stone will look beautiful in cold climates as well and make great items for borders. Whatever the climate, using the natural products of the land will help make a nice front garden design.
Inviting Front Garden Designs
If the homeowner wants people to always feel welcome there are ways to say this with the front garden design. One of the most important aspects of welcoming people is making a clear walkway. Keeping the bushes and large plants away from walkways will make the home more accessible.
Another important aspect is using welcoming plants and colors. Bright cheery flowers say welcome better than about anything else. Early spring flowers such as tulips, crocus, and daffodils will invite people out of their winter doldrums. Bushes with bright green foliage can be placed to show the way to the door of the home.
Avoiding plants with thorns or a lot of pollen will make people feel more welcome and prevent injury or allergies. The front garden design of the home should be well manicured and inviting.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
Ann Marier has written articles on house and garden topics providing helpful tips and advice. Read all about her latest articles on types of garden design offering a new insight into Garden design.
Garden Design: Give an Artistic Touch to Your Garden
May 30, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
A house or commercial building is to be considered incomplete without having a beautiful garden. Every house owner who has a little bit of space outside the house may think about having the small garden. Even people who have large space, they can have bigger garden either. Everyone wants to live in an area full of shady trees and beautiful parks. Gardens are suitable for all wishes. They are maintained in residential as well as commercial areas through parks, theme parks, botanical parks and amusement parks.
Gardens are helpful to make the environment pollution free and healthy. But gardens should be designed well and make them look attractive. For this, garden designing is the right option. A professional garden designer can design your garden according to your requirements within the limited area. For good garden design you need some articles and ideas like landform sources, fountains, garden pools, garden planting and buildings, garden ornaments, garden furniture and landscape materials. These are few basics that play a big role in making the garden look great.
You can also use your own ideas to choose what you want. Water source is the main thing for garden. It is helpful to attract the little critters as well as flying friends to share in the beauty of your garden. If there is a small pond in your garden or may be even a fountain or bird bath, your garden will look more gorgeous. Landscaping garden design is also main thing. You should give shape your tree regularly. The position of plants with careful thought on their shape gives the garden an amalgamated feel.
Space has great impact to the design of the garden. You have to think about the design that appropriates with the space that you have. Arranging space predominantly for garden, you have to be very careful in design and function. It is true that garden needs more function than any other area. For garden design, you should also look at your budget. If you have good budget planning, you can make your garden more beautiful by spending less.
For a good garden designer, search over the internet and you will find websites that are not only providing the information but also attached with numerous professionals. Find the expert designer for your garden and give it the artistic touch according to your plans. A good garden design is helpful to make your home as well as commercial area beautiful and attractive.
By: Article Manager
About the Author:
Gardens are helpful to make the environment pollution free and healthy. But gardens should be designed well and make them look attractive. For this, garden designing is the right option. A professional garden designer can design your garden according to your requirements within the limited area. For good garden design you need some articles and ideas like landform sources, fountains, garden pools, garden planting and buildings, garden ornaments, garden furniture and landscape materials. These are few basics that play a big role in making the garden look great.
You can also use your own ideas to choose what you want. Water source is the main thing for garden. It is helpful to attract the little critters as well as flying friends to share in the beauty of your garden. If there is a small pond in your garden or may be even a fountain or bird bath, your garden will look more gorgeous. Landscaping garden design is also main thing. You should give shape your tree regularly. The position of plants with careful thought on their shape gives the garden an amalgamated feel.
Space has great impact to the design of the garden. You have to think about the design that appropriates with the space that you have. Arranging space predominantly for garden, you have to be very careful in design and function. It is true that garden needs more function than any other area. For garden design, you should also look at your budget. If you have good budget planning, you can make your garden more beautiful by spending less.
For a good garden designer, search over the internet and you will find websites that are not only providing the information but also attached with numerous professionals. Find the expert designer for your garden and give it the artistic touch according to your plans. A good garden design is helpful to make your home as well as commercial area beautiful and attractive.
By: Article Manager
About the Author:
Barnabylandscapes provides Garden Design services, landscaping, and tips of gardening for commercial as well as residential clients. Garden Design London is the best service to make your home as well as commercial area beautiful and attractive.
Bristol Garden Design Helps Deal With Space
May 29, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
When you have a garden, space is going to be something that you are going to have to deal with. Especially in places like Bristol, you might find that you don’t’ have enough space to have the kind of garden that you want.
However this is something that really isn’t true, because there are many ways that you can deal with space in your Bristol garden design without worries. No matter what, you’ll find that space in your Bristol garden design is very important, so here are some tips to follow to make sure that you are making the most out of your space issues.
Unusual places
The best way to deal with space in your Bristol garden design is to find spaces that you didn’t think about and turn them into gardens. Rooftop gardens have become very popular because these are spaces that aren’t used for anything, and so people turn them into gardens.
Also, you can use things like window boxes and even buckets to have gardens in smaller spaces like the front steps and other areas that you might not have thought of. A back alley can easily be turned into a garden with the right kind of care and love that is needed to make the most out of it.
Stay Creative
When you are dealing with space in your Bristol garden design you have to make sure that you are finding ways to be creative. Planting things in usual spaces might mean that you have several small gardens all over one area of space. This is something that could make for a very neat set up and it could be fun to look at and to show others. This might be a great way to have a Bristol garden design without having to worry about the space issue.
Another thing that you can think about when it comes to space an Bristol garden design is having a garden that goes up instead of out. If you plant things on shelves in some small area, you might find that you can have a great garden in a very small space.
No matter what, your Bristol garden design should be about you and about your personality. There are simply too many ways for you to have a great time with your Bristol garden design, so you should find something that meets your needs and then find a way to make it your own. You’ll be surprised at the great things that you can come up with for your Bristol garden design.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
However this is something that really isn’t true, because there are many ways that you can deal with space in your Bristol garden design without worries. No matter what, you’ll find that space in your Bristol garden design is very important, so here are some tips to follow to make sure that you are making the most out of your space issues.
Unusual places
The best way to deal with space in your Bristol garden design is to find spaces that you didn’t think about and turn them into gardens. Rooftop gardens have become very popular because these are spaces that aren’t used for anything, and so people turn them into gardens.
Also, you can use things like window boxes and even buckets to have gardens in smaller spaces like the front steps and other areas that you might not have thought of. A back alley can easily be turned into a garden with the right kind of care and love that is needed to make the most out of it.
Stay Creative
When you are dealing with space in your Bristol garden design you have to make sure that you are finding ways to be creative. Planting things in usual spaces might mean that you have several small gardens all over one area of space. This is something that could make for a very neat set up and it could be fun to look at and to show others. This might be a great way to have a Bristol garden design without having to worry about the space issue.
Another thing that you can think about when it comes to space an Bristol garden design is having a garden that goes up instead of out. If you plant things on shelves in some small area, you might find that you can have a great garden in a very small space.
No matter what, your Bristol garden design should be about you and about your personality. There are simply too many ways for you to have a great time with your Bristol garden design, so you should find something that meets your needs and then find a way to make it your own. You’ll be surprised at the great things that you can come up with for your Bristol garden design.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
Ann Marier has written articles on house and garden topics providing helpful tips and advice. Read all about her latest articles on types of garden design.
A Yard and Garden Design Can Set Your Home Apart
May 29, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
The design and implementation of a plan for a beautiful yard and garden can set your home apart. It can also have other important advantages, including increasing the value of your home, reducing the cost of creating and increasing satisfaction while reducing the time required to keep it beautiful and personal.
There are many ways to create a design plan for a yard and garden including hiring a custom designer, purchasing and using design software, or by doing your own research through the many magazines and do-it-yourself books. The goal is to upgrade a yard or garden from poor or average to good or excellent. It has been researched and proven that the monetary return can be anywhere from 7 to 14% when a home is sold. It may be the attraction that sets your home above the competition when you decide to sell your home.
There are many ideas to consider when creating a yard and garden design. The most obvious is cost and time. You will also need to consider the size of the area, your personal style and environment you live in. It has been common practice to have a lawn mainly of grass and a garden of green plants. Alternatives can include choosing to use natural elements, planning for maintenance efficiency, adding a variety of height and size, and choosing décor to highlight the natural plantings of your yard and garden. In this economy, another option is to consider ways to add a vegetable garden to the décor of your yard and garden, either by area planting or container gardening.
A well designed yard and garden should include color. When choosing plants for your design, remember to give serious consideration to their life span and their space requirements. You need to evaluate the amount of sun, shade and water your areas provide and what plants work well in those environments. You also need to consider the variety of color and color compliments. Ask a garden specialist or a university extension agent if you need help.
Gardens can also provide décor to attract birds. Many people are bird enthusiasts, but even those of us who know little about birds can enjoy their playful antics and enthusiasm for life. There is a wide variety of garden décor items that entice our feathered friends to make your yard and garden home-such as bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths.
These are not the only garden décor items that add to the eye appeal of a garden. You should also consider figurines, statues, arbors, trellises, stepping stones, lights, planters and more. Browsing through a garden store or website will provide your with many ideas and options. Each should be chosen according to your style and design.
With your special touch, your yard and garden will be an extension of your home where you and your family will enjoy time together. If done correctly, your yard and garden design planning will reduce having to re-plan and replant at a later time. It will add to the curb appeal of your home and provide a place of comfort and joy.
By: Debra Yeik
About the Author:
There are many ways to create a design plan for a yard and garden including hiring a custom designer, purchasing and using design software, or by doing your own research through the many magazines and do-it-yourself books. The goal is to upgrade a yard or garden from poor or average to good or excellent. It has been researched and proven that the monetary return can be anywhere from 7 to 14% when a home is sold. It may be the attraction that sets your home above the competition when you decide to sell your home.
There are many ideas to consider when creating a yard and garden design. The most obvious is cost and time. You will also need to consider the size of the area, your personal style and environment you live in. It has been common practice to have a lawn mainly of grass and a garden of green plants. Alternatives can include choosing to use natural elements, planning for maintenance efficiency, adding a variety of height and size, and choosing décor to highlight the natural plantings of your yard and garden. In this economy, another option is to consider ways to add a vegetable garden to the décor of your yard and garden, either by area planting or container gardening.
A well designed yard and garden should include color. When choosing plants for your design, remember to give serious consideration to their life span and their space requirements. You need to evaluate the amount of sun, shade and water your areas provide and what plants work well in those environments. You also need to consider the variety of color and color compliments. Ask a garden specialist or a university extension agent if you need help.
Gardens can also provide décor to attract birds. Many people are bird enthusiasts, but even those of us who know little about birds can enjoy their playful antics and enthusiasm for life. There is a wide variety of garden décor items that entice our feathered friends to make your yard and garden home-such as bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths.
These are not the only garden décor items that add to the eye appeal of a garden. You should also consider figurines, statues, arbors, trellises, stepping stones, lights, planters and more. Browsing through a garden store or website will provide your with many ideas and options. Each should be chosen according to your style and design.
With your special touch, your yard and garden will be an extension of your home where you and your family will enjoy time together. If done correctly, your yard and garden design planning will reduce having to re-plan and replant at a later time. It will add to the curb appeal of your home and provide a place of comfort and joy.
By: Debra Yeik
About the Author:
Debra Yeik is the owner of Cornerstone Yard and Garden Decor and enjoys the beauty of a well designed yard and garden as an extension of the home. Cornerstone Yard and Garden Decor emphasizes items for ornamentation and functionality in your yard and garden. Visit Cornerstone Yard and Garden Decor to be ready for this spring growing season.
Article may be reprinted if author credit is given with a website link. All rights reserved
Avoid the Most Common Garden Design Problems in Mesa, Arizona
May 26, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
Are you planning a new garden design in Mesa, Arizona? Currently encountering some gardening problems? This article will provide you with remedies to the top 5 most common gardening problems in this day and age. Whether you’re designing your garden for beauty in your backyard or for vegetables that will feed your family, the following information will be beneficial to you.
Avoid the 5 Most Common Gardening Problems in Mesa, Arizona:
1. You don’t need a “green thumb” to raise crops or grow plants. The “green thumb” requirement is nothing but a myth. Peopler aren’t born with gardening skills! Rather, they acquire proper gardening knowledge and they implement what they learn. When we use the words “green thumb,” we don’t mean “talent,” or “flair.” We use those words as a label that refers to developed skills rather than acquired at birth. To solve the “green thumb” problem, which some people consider the most common of gardening excuses, anyone can learn how to grow and cultivate plants.
2. Be certain you have the appropriate landscape for your garden. This is not a precise rule on how to arrange your lawn or backyard to accommodate your garden, save for this: plants you wish to grow should be cultivated in an area where they can enjoy space. At full maturity, plants shouldn’t be close to one another, so much so that their foliage can already be regarded as the same. Plants need their own freedom to grow. Promoting space will ensure that they won’t have to fight for the nutrients they receive, and that diseases won’t spread quickly among the developing crops.
3. If you don’t have enough space for your desired garden, which is another popular problem in the long list of things that keep people from gardening, there are other options for you. In fact, that problem is pretty easy to address! The answer: try container gardening which will allow you to grow plants at home even if you’re living in an apartment or condominium.
4. Put a stop to pest invasion. If pests are left unimpeded, they will destroy your garden quickly. Pests can be eliminated through a variety of methods. You can try to attract useful insects that will feed on the particular pests. Or, you can grow companion plants that will repel the inhabitation of these creatures. You can also try commercial pesticides that will eliminate these pests without harming your plants.
5. Get rid of weeds! Stop thinking about pulling them out one by one or tilling the soil regularly. You won’t get rid of the roots and the weeds will just grow back. Try using mulch or putting a protective cover over your soil. This will deprive weeds of sunlight and they won’t be able to grow and reproduce.
Here’s some information about a popular desert plant that will make a great addition to your garden design in Mesa.
The Red Fairy Duster, also called Calliandra Californica, is a brilliant, puff-like flower that can bloom almost all year long, with peak bloom time occurring in the late spring. Its spectacular bloom makes it a colorful, accentuating shrub for the garden.
The Red Fairy Duster loves full sun. Supplemental water in the summer will increase blooming significantly. Its flowers are favored by hummingbirds and its small, dark green leaves lend this plant to a lush and almost tropical feel that can be used in a desert oasis landscape.
The Red Fairy Duster can grow to be both 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall, but it is particularly easy to maintain. Pruning is not necessary and watering should be done twice a month in winter and once a week in summer. The Red Fairy Duster is susceptible to frost and is both pest and disease resistant.
If you are still unsure about what will work in your garden design and landscaping in Mesa, there are plenty of online resources that can help you. For instance, many local landscaping companies have expertise in garden design and plants that thrive in the area. Hiring a professional garden design and landscaping company in Mesa, Arizona might just be your best bet. They can work with you to pick out the best plants that fit your taste, lifestyle and budget – and they can even help you maintain it!
By: John Waters
About the Author:
Avoid the 5 Most Common Gardening Problems in Mesa, Arizona:
1. You don’t need a “green thumb” to raise crops or grow plants. The “green thumb” requirement is nothing but a myth. Peopler aren’t born with gardening skills! Rather, they acquire proper gardening knowledge and they implement what they learn. When we use the words “green thumb,” we don’t mean “talent,” or “flair.” We use those words as a label that refers to developed skills rather than acquired at birth. To solve the “green thumb” problem, which some people consider the most common of gardening excuses, anyone can learn how to grow and cultivate plants.
2. Be certain you have the appropriate landscape for your garden. This is not a precise rule on how to arrange your lawn or backyard to accommodate your garden, save for this: plants you wish to grow should be cultivated in an area where they can enjoy space. At full maturity, plants shouldn’t be close to one another, so much so that their foliage can already be regarded as the same. Plants need their own freedom to grow. Promoting space will ensure that they won’t have to fight for the nutrients they receive, and that diseases won’t spread quickly among the developing crops.
3. If you don’t have enough space for your desired garden, which is another popular problem in the long list of things that keep people from gardening, there are other options for you. In fact, that problem is pretty easy to address! The answer: try container gardening which will allow you to grow plants at home even if you’re living in an apartment or condominium.
4. Put a stop to pest invasion. If pests are left unimpeded, they will destroy your garden quickly. Pests can be eliminated through a variety of methods. You can try to attract useful insects that will feed on the particular pests. Or, you can grow companion plants that will repel the inhabitation of these creatures. You can also try commercial pesticides that will eliminate these pests without harming your plants.
5. Get rid of weeds! Stop thinking about pulling them out one by one or tilling the soil regularly. You won’t get rid of the roots and the weeds will just grow back. Try using mulch or putting a protective cover over your soil. This will deprive weeds of sunlight and they won’t be able to grow and reproduce.
Here’s some information about a popular desert plant that will make a great addition to your garden design in Mesa.
The Red Fairy Duster, also called Calliandra Californica, is a brilliant, puff-like flower that can bloom almost all year long, with peak bloom time occurring in the late spring. Its spectacular bloom makes it a colorful, accentuating shrub for the garden.
The Red Fairy Duster loves full sun. Supplemental water in the summer will increase blooming significantly. Its flowers are favored by hummingbirds and its small, dark green leaves lend this plant to a lush and almost tropical feel that can be used in a desert oasis landscape.
The Red Fairy Duster can grow to be both 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall, but it is particularly easy to maintain. Pruning is not necessary and watering should be done twice a month in winter and once a week in summer. The Red Fairy Duster is susceptible to frost and is both pest and disease resistant.
If you are still unsure about what will work in your garden design and landscaping in Mesa, there are plenty of online resources that can help you. For instance, many local landscaping companies have expertise in garden design and plants that thrive in the area. Hiring a professional garden design and landscaping company in Mesa, Arizona might just be your best bet. They can work with you to pick out the best plants that fit your taste, lifestyle and budget – and they can even help you maintain it!
By: John Waters
About the Author:
John Waters is Principal of Creative Environments Design Landscape, the largest and most respected landscape design company in Arizona. Let our team work with you to develop a garden design in Mesa that will fit your style and budget. Visit our website to request a free consultation.
Six Marvelous Garden Design Tips
May 25, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
If you are in a spot where you have a different expanse to plan and landscape, or you are looking for fast and fun ways to redevelop your existing garden, you will learn that there are several tips that can make it a good deal less complicated to receive the design that you need. When you are looking to convey a revolutionary and brilliant new-sprung style for your garden design, make a point that you keep these hints in your thinking.
1.Assimilate the whole picture.
When you are looking at garden design, recollect that you should admit into report the total expanse. Make sure that the section of the garden that you are doing work on is moving to mesh well with the different parts. If you gather in the big picture at the kickoff, you will be able to take in a more full-scale plan for the garden totally.
2.Judge your foliage height
When you are looking to insert fresh plants, make sure that you recognize how tall-stalked they will develop and how great a footprint they are going to want. Even though this may leave you a rather sparse garden to take off with, you will find that you will be thankful for your farsightedness when your plants grow.
3.Pick out wider flower beds
At the time you are planning floral beds, remember that for the near part, the broader your floral beds are, the more attention-getting they are starting to be. You will determine that a larger bed will make you a more ample style to your garden, as well as making a point that you can possess some craftily ordered splash of the foliage you select, relieving you from a style that is overly harsh or abstract.
4.Flawless lines
When you are lying out some decorative edging or when you are diagramming out your flower beds, recollect that you should draw-up the lines as simplified as accomplishable. Stay away from lines that are too convoluted; attempt to head off lines that wiggle or that contort. If you opt a more geometrical pattern, you will find out that the trace of your flower beds should be plain, while a curve, whether subdued or striking, will buffer the tone.
5.Exercise some colour designing
When you are projecting your garden design, remember that you should reckon around the hues that attract you. While naturally this relates to the shade of the blooms that you have selected, remember to select foliages that have additional green tones likewise. As well consider roughly what will live in flower when; with the exact designing, you can realize an explosion of full-scale shade for nearly the distance of your growth time of year!
6.Mainstay your garden
At the time you are anticipating to create a consolidated harmonious garden pattern, recollect that your garden-area should experience a highbrowed centered spot. Whether it is a gorgeous trellis or a small-scale or a garden bench, get some time to guess about the place you need your guests’ sight to land when they first get in your garden. Consider about what your design sensibility is like, and make a point that they line up a centrical point that becomes you and delights your sight!
By: John Cole
About the Author:
1.Assimilate the whole picture.
When you are looking at garden design, recollect that you should admit into report the total expanse. Make sure that the section of the garden that you are doing work on is moving to mesh well with the different parts. If you gather in the big picture at the kickoff, you will be able to take in a more full-scale plan for the garden totally.
2.Judge your foliage height
When you are looking to insert fresh plants, make sure that you recognize how tall-stalked they will develop and how great a footprint they are going to want. Even though this may leave you a rather sparse garden to take off with, you will find that you will be thankful for your farsightedness when your plants grow.
3.Pick out wider flower beds
At the time you are planning floral beds, remember that for the near part, the broader your floral beds are, the more attention-getting they are starting to be. You will determine that a larger bed will make you a more ample style to your garden, as well as making a point that you can possess some craftily ordered splash of the foliage you select, relieving you from a style that is overly harsh or abstract.
4.Flawless lines
When you are lying out some decorative edging or when you are diagramming out your flower beds, recollect that you should draw-up the lines as simplified as accomplishable. Stay away from lines that are too convoluted; attempt to head off lines that wiggle or that contort. If you opt a more geometrical pattern, you will find out that the trace of your flower beds should be plain, while a curve, whether subdued or striking, will buffer the tone.
5.Exercise some colour designing
When you are projecting your garden design, remember that you should reckon around the hues that attract you. While naturally this relates to the shade of the blooms that you have selected, remember to select foliages that have additional green tones likewise. As well consider roughly what will live in flower when; with the exact designing, you can realize an explosion of full-scale shade for nearly the distance of your growth time of year!
6.Mainstay your garden
At the time you are anticipating to create a consolidated harmonious garden pattern, recollect that your garden-area should experience a highbrowed centered spot. Whether it is a gorgeous trellis or a small-scale or a garden bench, get some time to guess about the place you need your guests’ sight to land when they first get in your garden. Consider about what your design sensibility is like, and make a point that they line up a centrical point that becomes you and delights your sight!
By: John Cole
About the Author:
Do you live in the UK and are looking for top garden design Warwickshire and landscape gardeners.
River Oaks Italian Garden Design
May 21, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
A well-known resident of River Oaks contacted us and asked us if we could harmoniously blend the organic and inorganic components of her landscape into a design that would complement the classical architecture of her house and exterior masonry. We immediately noticed that the symmetry of her three-story house, and the fine linear designs of the yard and surrounding stonework, were also two very key elements used in Italian gardening. We shared this insight with the homeowner, who agreed that such a design would work very well for what she had in mind.
We began by working on the walkway that ran from the sidewalk up to the front of the house. This walkway curved in from the sidewalk between two small stone walls and converged in a series of very small, ascending steps reminiscent of those in a staircase. This gave us an opportunity to establish an immediate sense of formal entryway by framing the front of the walkway with Agapanthus and a number of other perennial and flowering plant species that bloom in seasonal cycles throughout the spring and summer. We framed the flowering plants with boxwoods to create an organic enclosure whose angular symmetry and self-containment speak to essence of an Italian garden.
At the other end of the walkway, where the steps ascended to the porch, the walkway widened symmetrically and intersected on one side with the motor court. This proportional stonework was almost like the design of a planter, and provided us with an additional opportunity for planting a number of colorful plant species. We deliberately used annuals such as snapdragons in order to create an entirely new set of floral patterns that would change colors with the coming of each new spring. As we had done in the front, we then framed the flowers with boxwoods that were planted in rows and intersecting right angles. This served to frame the flowers with an organic enclosure consistent with the balance and angular symmetry of Italian garden design.
The thee-story house itself was a classical element in its own right. It rose up from the landscape to a height nearly equivalent to its width. Its architecture featured both Renaissance and Roman elements that gave it a very old, stately European sensibility. Its windows were shaped like tall arches, and its third floor was ornamented by a balcony that geometrically complimented the entirety of the structure and the roof above it. We added pots and planters to this area to create an outdoor garden on the patio, along with an irrigation system that would minimize the need for constant maintenance. Then, to draw the eye upward to the patio garden, we planted two Italian cypress trees, one on either side of the house, whose height added a sense of continued vertical movement upward. We kept the vegetation in the very front of the house to a minimum. This was done both to maintain the aesthetic of the windows, and also to allow people within the home to better see out of the windows.
To make certain that both vegetation and architectural highlights were clearly visible at night, we installed Façade lights and lit the Italian cypress trees with Mercury vapor lights. We also lit two very tall oak trees growing on either side of the walkway near the sidewalk. This maintained the sense of a grand entryway after sunset. We deliberately took a minimalist approach to lighting the front of the home, using illumination only to accent the Italian garden elements of the landscape, and letting the remainder of the light come through the windows from the interior of the home.
After we completed the front area, we turned our attention to the side of the house. This area was quite unique in that it was a yard that was completely covered by masonry. Its linear proportions and right angles framed the luxurious pool with an exquisitely formal sense of symmetry. The geometry was ideal to create a small Italian garden on the far side of the pool, and required only a few basic elements to add this organic aesthetic. We planted a row of Holly trees on the far side of the pool, and lit them with concealed fixtures. We mounted an Italian cherub in the center of the pool wall, lighting it with special sculpture lights, and balancing its presence as a center piece with handmade Italian pottery placed on either side of the pool wall.
This effectively turned what had been empty space on the far side of the pool into a mini-garden area that functioned as a decorative, living wall of green that enclosed the entire patio and provided complete seclusion and privacy to the homeowner and her guests.
By: Jeff Halper
About the Author:
We began by working on the walkway that ran from the sidewalk up to the front of the house. This walkway curved in from the sidewalk between two small stone walls and converged in a series of very small, ascending steps reminiscent of those in a staircase. This gave us an opportunity to establish an immediate sense of formal entryway by framing the front of the walkway with Agapanthus and a number of other perennial and flowering plant species that bloom in seasonal cycles throughout the spring and summer. We framed the flowering plants with boxwoods to create an organic enclosure whose angular symmetry and self-containment speak to essence of an Italian garden.
At the other end of the walkway, where the steps ascended to the porch, the walkway widened symmetrically and intersected on one side with the motor court. This proportional stonework was almost like the design of a planter, and provided us with an additional opportunity for planting a number of colorful plant species. We deliberately used annuals such as snapdragons in order to create an entirely new set of floral patterns that would change colors with the coming of each new spring. As we had done in the front, we then framed the flowers with boxwoods that were planted in rows and intersecting right angles. This served to frame the flowers with an organic enclosure consistent with the balance and angular symmetry of Italian garden design.
The thee-story house itself was a classical element in its own right. It rose up from the landscape to a height nearly equivalent to its width. Its architecture featured both Renaissance and Roman elements that gave it a very old, stately European sensibility. Its windows were shaped like tall arches, and its third floor was ornamented by a balcony that geometrically complimented the entirety of the structure and the roof above it. We added pots and planters to this area to create an outdoor garden on the patio, along with an irrigation system that would minimize the need for constant maintenance. Then, to draw the eye upward to the patio garden, we planted two Italian cypress trees, one on either side of the house, whose height added a sense of continued vertical movement upward. We kept the vegetation in the very front of the house to a minimum. This was done both to maintain the aesthetic of the windows, and also to allow people within the home to better see out of the windows.
To make certain that both vegetation and architectural highlights were clearly visible at night, we installed Façade lights and lit the Italian cypress trees with Mercury vapor lights. We also lit two very tall oak trees growing on either side of the walkway near the sidewalk. This maintained the sense of a grand entryway after sunset. We deliberately took a minimalist approach to lighting the front of the home, using illumination only to accent the Italian garden elements of the landscape, and letting the remainder of the light come through the windows from the interior of the home.
After we completed the front area, we turned our attention to the side of the house. This area was quite unique in that it was a yard that was completely covered by masonry. Its linear proportions and right angles framed the luxurious pool with an exquisitely formal sense of symmetry. The geometry was ideal to create a small Italian garden on the far side of the pool, and required only a few basic elements to add this organic aesthetic. We planted a row of Holly trees on the far side of the pool, and lit them with concealed fixtures. We mounted an Italian cherub in the center of the pool wall, lighting it with special sculpture lights, and balancing its presence as a center piece with handmade Italian pottery placed on either side of the pool wall.
This effectively turned what had been empty space on the far side of the pool into a mini-garden area that functioned as a decorative, living wall of green that enclosed the entire patio and provided complete seclusion and privacy to the homeowner and her guests.
By: Jeff Halper
About the Author:
Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Italian Garden Design or Landscape Design
A Cottage Garden Design Is Beautiful And Practical
May 13, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
The image of a cottage as opposed to a house is most complimentary. When one thinks of a cottage, the image is of comfort, beauty and serenity. A cottage design garden is all of those things and more. A garden can make a dramatic difference in any property and a cottage garden design could make a dramatic difference in the atmosphere and appearance of any property. A cottage garden design might first bring images of a very tidy garden, but a cottage garden design is more than just a very neatly kept garden space.
The cottage design garden is not limited to the cultivated areas around a small cottage. A cottage garden design could be established around many different types of structures and there could be this type of design that is not established around any kind of structure.
A cottage design garden can be defined by the structure and the plants in the garden rather than the structure around which it is established. The name cottage garden design refers to a particular style of garden. This garden style has been used for thousands of years, and this type of garden is still currently used.
A Cottage Garden Design Has A Fruitful History
A cottage garden design developed during the time when international trade became possible, and people started to find a vast variety of plants from different places. Some of these plants grew better than others, and some of these plants lasted longer than others. They had many choices that they never had before.
Simple gardeners first used these plants that looked great and had stamina in their gardens. The new and different plants that looked great soon became popular in the gardens of the people who had more beautiful homes and estates.
Some people still have this type of garden in their homes, but these gardens must be carefully tended. The plants are beautiful and not the easiest to cultivate. A busy person does not have hours to work in the garden. In the modern day, people are so busy that they do not have a great deal of extra time. They spend long days on the job and do not have a great deal of time after working hours to spend in their garden.
They want to have a garden but one that is easy to tend. Many people do not have the means to employ experts to take of their gardens. People do not often cultivate cottage garden designs because they tend to use plants that are easier to care for and are native to their own area.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
The cottage design garden is not limited to the cultivated areas around a small cottage. A cottage garden design could be established around many different types of structures and there could be this type of design that is not established around any kind of structure.
A cottage design garden can be defined by the structure and the plants in the garden rather than the structure around which it is established. The name cottage garden design refers to a particular style of garden. This garden style has been used for thousands of years, and this type of garden is still currently used.
A Cottage Garden Design Has A Fruitful History
A cottage garden design developed during the time when international trade became possible, and people started to find a vast variety of plants from different places. Some of these plants grew better than others, and some of these plants lasted longer than others. They had many choices that they never had before.
Simple gardeners first used these plants that looked great and had stamina in their gardens. The new and different plants that looked great soon became popular in the gardens of the people who had more beautiful homes and estates.
Some people still have this type of garden in their homes, but these gardens must be carefully tended. The plants are beautiful and not the easiest to cultivate. A busy person does not have hours to work in the garden. In the modern day, people are so busy that they do not have a great deal of extra time. They spend long days on the job and do not have a great deal of time after working hours to spend in their garden.
They want to have a garden but one that is easy to tend. Many people do not have the means to employ experts to take of their gardens. People do not often cultivate cottage garden designs because they tend to use plants that are easier to care for and are native to their own area.
By: Ann Marier
About the Author:
Ann Marier has written articles on house and garden topics providing helpful tips and advice. Read all about her latest articles on types of garden design offering a new insight into Garden design
Good Planning Is Essential To Successful Garden Design
May 11, 2009 by The Gardener
Filed under Unique Garden Designs
Do you want the perfect garden this spring? Have you already bought some flowers or shrubs to put in some of the empty spots in your garden? Stop right there! The key to great design is to see the end in the beginning. You need to have a clear picture of what you want before you start.
So, the first step to perfect garden design is to determine where your garden is going to go. Draw a map of your property and identify the area or areas you are going to focus on this year. This is crucial to having a successful and stunning garden. The ideas will start flowing once you know where the garden will go.
The absolutely essential next step in great garden design is to evaluate the condition of the soil and determine what needs to be done, if anything, so it will be hospitable to your plants and flowers. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money and time only to find out that nothing will grow. Most gardening stores have kits to do soil analysis. Or, you may just want to purchase some new soil for your garden.
The next thing you should consider in your garden design is how you are going to enclose it. You can’t just throw a bunch of flowers and shrubs in some dirt and expect to have a good-looking garden. You need some kind of border. Rocks are a favorite border and add an elegant touch to your project. Fencing material, mulch or small shrubs look very nice as well. I personally enjoy using small rocks or pebbles and mound them around the border of the area I’ve designated for growing. Colored rocks are also available for this purpose. The border can really make the difference between good and bad garden design.
Make sure that your garden area will receive enough water. If for some reason part or all of you garden will not get direct rain water, then you’ll want to either see if you can redirect water to it, or install simple irrigation. If you are not forgetful, you can simply water the garden yourself, too. You’ll also want to be sure that your garden area won’t get too much water when it rains. You don’t want rushing water to wipe away your garden every time it rains.
The last garden design element you may want to consider is lighting. After all, if you are going to spend all that time and money on it, why not enjoy it at night as well. Of course, it would be a waste of electricity to over do it. But, if you are having guests for dinner or some other special occasion, it’s nice to light up your garden at night. Talk to someone at a garden store about options for setting up outlets outdoors. You’ll also want to ask about what kinds of lights are best and most efficient.
Finally, before you buy any flowers or shrubs, be sure to plan out in detail your garden design. Look at pictures of garden designs, talk to your neighbors or ask your friends. Draw out on paper or use garden design software to plan out what exactly what flowers and plants you include and where you will put them.
By: Jonathan Higgins
About the Author:
So, the first step to perfect garden design is to determine where your garden is going to go. Draw a map of your property and identify the area or areas you are going to focus on this year. This is crucial to having a successful and stunning garden. The ideas will start flowing once you know where the garden will go.
The absolutely essential next step in great garden design is to evaluate the condition of the soil and determine what needs to be done, if anything, so it will be hospitable to your plants and flowers. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money and time only to find out that nothing will grow. Most gardening stores have kits to do soil analysis. Or, you may just want to purchase some new soil for your garden.
The next thing you should consider in your garden design is how you are going to enclose it. You can’t just throw a bunch of flowers and shrubs in some dirt and expect to have a good-looking garden. You need some kind of border. Rocks are a favorite border and add an elegant touch to your project. Fencing material, mulch or small shrubs look very nice as well. I personally enjoy using small rocks or pebbles and mound them around the border of the area I’ve designated for growing. Colored rocks are also available for this purpose. The border can really make the difference between good and bad garden design.
Make sure that your garden area will receive enough water. If for some reason part or all of you garden will not get direct rain water, then you’ll want to either see if you can redirect water to it, or install simple irrigation. If you are not forgetful, you can simply water the garden yourself, too. You’ll also want to be sure that your garden area won’t get too much water when it rains. You don’t want rushing water to wipe away your garden every time it rains.
The last garden design element you may want to consider is lighting. After all, if you are going to spend all that time and money on it, why not enjoy it at night as well. Of course, it would be a waste of electricity to over do it. But, if you are having guests for dinner or some other special occasion, it’s nice to light up your garden at night. Talk to someone at a garden store about options for setting up outlets outdoors. You’ll also want to ask about what kinds of lights are best and most efficient.
Finally, before you buy any flowers or shrubs, be sure to plan out in detail your garden design. Look at pictures of garden designs, talk to your neighbors or ask your friends. Draw out on paper or use garden design software to plan out what exactly what flowers and plants you include and where you will put them.
By: Jonathan Higgins
About the Author:
Jonathan Higgins writes on garden design for Elegant
Garden Design.
Garden Design.
