Creating a well-maintained landscape encourages you and your family to spend more time outdoors. This translates into more mental and physical health benefits.
Choosing an environmentally-friendly landscaping company means avoiding equipment and lawn treatments that are harmful to the environment. It also involves planting species that require minimal additives to thrive. Contact Landscapers Baltimore for professional help.
A backyard is the perfect place for family and friends to gather, play games and relax. If you’re not using your backyard to its full potential, consider making some upgrades with the help of a landscape design professional. It doesn’t matter if your backyard is big or small — there are always ways to make it better.
Make a list of your household’s hobbies and interests, then find ways to incorporate those into your backyard design. For example, if you enjoy entertaining, create a patio complete with seating and a fire pit for chilly nights. Or, if you love to cook, a backyard kitchen makes it easier and more fun to prepare food for friends and family.
Backyards can also be a haven for those who enjoy gardening. Planting a variety of plants in your backyard helps ensure that you’ll have fresh herbs and flowers to use throughout the year. Choosing plants that thrive in your region’s climate will save you a lot of time and money on garden maintenance. Xeriscaping is a popular choice in desert regions, but it’s beneficial for anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours mowing and weeding their yard.
If you’re looking to transform your backyard into a peaceful oasis, try creating a sitting area that’s enclosed by flowering bushes and vines for a cozy, insulated feeling. You can even add a soothing water feature for added tranquility.
Another way to relax in your backyard is to entertain with a backyard bar, which will allow you to enjoy drinks and snacks without leaving the comfort of your own backyard. Whether you choose to set up a bar on a raised deck or in a corner of your backyard, you’ll find that having an outdoor space to host parties and gatherings will make your backyard feel like an extension of your home.
The key to a great backyard is making sure you have plenty of comfortable seating areas. Investing in the right patio chairs and lounge sofas will keep everyone happy, especially if you’re hosting an event. You can also create a cozy seating area around a fire pit with benches and a side table for drinks and snacks.
Hardscaping
If you’re a homeowner, you know that landscaping includes a lot of work. Mowing, weeding, planting and bedding are just some of the tasks that come with keeping your yard looking great. Fortunately, hardscapes help to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to keep your outdoor areas looking their best. Hardscapes are the non-living components of your landscape and can include everything from brick to concrete. They’re usually designed to add a decorative touch and can enhance your overall landscape design.
The most common types of hardscapes are patios, walkways and driveways. These are usually built using brick, flagstone or concrete pavers. They can also include retaining walls and custom outdoor lighting. Other hardscape features include sitting walls, water features and grill surrounds. Depending on your preferences, hardscapes can be functional or decorative.
When used correctly, hardscapes can make your yard feel like an extension of your home. They can also increase your usable square footage and create unique outdoor living spaces for entertaining friends and family.
A well-designed hardscape can also complement your architectural style and tie the whole landscape together. For example, brick patios are a classic choice for homes with traditional architecture, while a flagstone walkway can be used with a variety of styles.
Hardscapes can be a great way to add a sense of privacy to your backyard. Fencing, walls and other dividing elements can help to cut down on noise and light pollution from nearby streets or neighbors. They can also increase your privacy when entertaining guests or spending time with loved ones.
Adding hardscapes to your backyard can be a great way to enhance your curb appeal and boost the value of your home. However, it’s important to remember that hardscapes can be damaged by exposure to the elements. Taking steps to protect your hardscapes and ensuring that they are installed properly can help them last longer. Regular maintenance such as a protective seal can help to prevent damage from sun, wind and rain.
If you’re considering installing a new hardscape feature on your property, be sure to contact a professional. They’ll be able to advise you on the best material for your needs and create a design that will suit your personal tastes.
Trees
Trees are one of the most important elements of any landscaping plan. They offer a wide range of benefits that improve the overall look of your commercial property. Adding trees to your landscape can also increase the value of your property. The following tips will help you choose the best place to add a new tree.
Framing a view
Trees can frame a view without the expense and limitations of structural boundaries like walls, fences, or built-in seating. They also create outdoor living spaces, separating one part of the yard from another and defining a space without blocking views or creating visual clutter.
Privacy screening
Evergreen trees provide a cost-effective and attractive solution for blocking neighbors’ views from homes, decks, and patios. They can easily extend above fencing and are a good choice for blocking upper-story neighboring views as well. They can even serve as a windbreak to help shield yards from winter winds.
Seasonal color
Trees add beauty to the landscape through blooming flowers and foliage that change with the seasons, enhancing the beauty of your property throughout the year. They are also a focal point, attracting birds and other wildlife.
Sound barrier
Trees help to reduce noise pollution in urban areas by absorbing and deflecting sound waves. They can also help to filter air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, and promote soil stability to prevent erosion.
Accentuating the base of a tree
To make the most of the space under your trees, add landscape accents such as flowering shrubs or ornamental grasses to fill in gaps and keep weeds from growing. Alternatively, use large rocks or garden art to create silhouettes and shadows under the canopy of the tree.
Be sure to plant your trees properly, ensuring they are not planted too close to structures or buried utility lines. Check with your public works department to see if they offer free flagging services and to find out where underground utilities are located before planting. Make sure your tree is planted at least a half of its mature height away from buildings or paved surfaces to avoid damage or staining.
Outdoor living spaces
When you’re planning for outdoor living spaces, lifestyle is a key element to consider. Whether it’s curling up with a book in the morning sun or hosting friends for late-night drinks, you want your yard to feel like a comfortable extension of your home.
One way to help your backyard become more inviting is by creating a central space for dining and entertaining. You could create a cozy nook around a fire pit, add a dining patio or even transform your front yard into a social garden.
Focal points make the best backyard entertainment areas, and a fountain can serve as an eye-catching centerpiece for any landscaping project. Water also appeals to all five senses, providing a soothing sound and a dimension of cool tranquility that’s sure to enhance any gathering. For an affordable focal point, try adding a small store-bought fountain or opting for something more unique, such as a cascading waterfall or an elegant sculpture.
To define a seating area in your backyard, consider using paver stones or bricks to create a floor that sets it apart from the rest of your lawn’s grass. This simple design element gives the illusion of a defined room and helps separate the area for dining and relaxing from the rest of the garden. If you have the budget for it, a wall provides an even more effective separation, while also offering a sense of privacy and security.
When it comes to outdoor furniture, choose pieces that can endure a range of weather conditions and temperature fluctuations. Properly waterproofed wood or metal chairs and couches can resist rain, wind and sunlight for years without fading or becoming damaged. If you’re considering a pergola, look for one that features screens that can be opened or closed to keep mosquitoes and other pests away when you’re enjoying your outdoor living area at dusk or dawn.
The right lighting will also help your backyard be a welcoming gathering place at night. There are many ways to brighten up a space for outdoor living, including sconces, pendants and Edison-type bulbs strung overhead. You can also add a softer touch with candles, lamps and lanterns.
