Also Called Wrap Around or Farm House Porches Country porches are so popular that restaurants use them for branding like Cracker Barrel who lines them with plenty of rocking chairs. And who doesn t take a second look when driving past one on a country road (or highway for that matter). Mary and I love country porches. Country style porches vary but all have one…
Swipe to view slides For these beautifully planted mounds to thrive, the sloping sides must rise at a very gentle rate. A long, low berm was used here to screen off the unattractive footing of the wall behind. This slight rise was created to keep the moisture sensitive crowns of these cacti above the surrounding soil, and where drainage is poor, mounding like…
When landscaping a yard, walkways often get overlooked. We concern ourselves with pools, patios, and plant selections, but then we neglect to consider how to connect the different spaces in our yard. By ignoring paths, a garden can become disjointed because of the lack of thought put into the transitions and connections. Not only do walkways guide people throughout…
Quiet doesn t mean dull. Designed to fit into the existing landscape rather than stand out from it, a ranch house generally presents The Raised Ranch is a domestic vernacular that was popular in American suburbia in the 1970s. With its entrance on the ground The open floor plan of a raised ranch-style home presents challenges for interior decorators. Creating…
Edging materials improve the look of your garden beds, while keeping mulch and soil in and grass and gravel out. But what kind of edging is best? One of the most commonly used materials is treated landscape timbers. They re inexpensive, last a long time and are easy to install. They may be stacked end to end or stacked and secured with long galvanized nails…
This Sammamish, Washington family had outgrown their backyard. Their old landscaping included a swing set and large expanse of lawn, which they no longer used. Heidi Skievaski, owner of Sublime Garden Design, a company based north of Seattle, came up with a plan for turning their unused backyard into a nature-inspired retreat that would suit the needs of the…
If you have dry, sunny areas on your property and wish to grow plants there, you need to select full-sun plants that are known for their drought-tolerance. Following is a list of perennials that qualify. Many of these perennials are popular in rock gardens. Also see my companion piece, 10 Best Perennials for Sun. Note that a location in your landscape is considered…
Many flowering shrubs attract birds with their berries and provide brilliant fall foliage. But they are perhaps at their best when blooming, during which time they can stand alone as specimens and serve as focal points in a landscape design. It is the splendor of their blooms that is the focus of these pictures of flowering shrubs. The bushes chosen for this…
Got a green thumb? Like do-it-yourself projects? These time-tested stormwater features will beautify your yard and fight pollution at the same time. Native Plants Native plants can provide an attractive, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lawns and landscapes. In addition to providing valuable food and habitat for native butterflies…
Back in the 1950s and ‘60s—when the USSR’s launch of Sputnik made outer space the new frontier, and the Beatles were transforming rock and roll music—the split-level home began to emerge on the American suburban landscape. At the time, the style appealed to a wide swath of buyers because it was a fresh design and it was grander than the modest bungalows that…
Mulch choices depend on multiple factors. Mulches give the landscape a finished look while also minimizing maintenance in garden beds. Lava rocks supply a durable and attractive choice, but they aren t suitable for all garden areas. Deciding on whether to use lava rocks or an organic mulch, such as bark, in the landscape depends on the types of plants you are…
If your yard feels cramped, dull or otherwise in need of of a pick-me-up, don t worry! You don t have to dig up the backyard and start from scratch to make it feel homey and new. Just make some small investments. Your focus should be the patio area, so start there. Here are some inexpensive patio ideas to help spruce up your small yard: #1 Add a path of pavers…
Shady spaces present their own set of unique challenges but can become a sanctuary in a garden with the right design and plants. Shade grows moss, it makes a yard cold and dreary, darkens interior rooms and omits sun loving flowers. Solving an existing shade condition is not easy, and options are few. But there are ways you and your designer can use plants to…
Every homeowner dreams of an outdoor space with lush, green grass. But the reality is that for many of us, that doesn’t exist. Maybe you haven’t quite found time for proper lawn care maintenance or there’s a patch of grass you can’t bring back to life. Dead grass reduces curb appeal and can simply be a reason not to spend time in your yard. The good news is that…
For her own front yard, designer Margie Grace of Grace Design Associates Inc. matched the hardscape to her home s architectural syle for a cozy cottage garden. To keep the yard low maintenance she laid a large patio using Arizona flagstones, then filled the rest of the space with lush flower beds. A reclaimed concrete bowl is transformed into a water feature…
Stylish roof garden design and ideas - from New York to London You may also like: City Gardens | Small Gardens | Garden Rooms | Patio and Decking Ideas Inspired by projects such as The High Line in New York City, architects, gardeners and urban planners are transforming the most overlooked and underused part of any building - the roof. With a little thought and…
Choosing your boxwood. All boxwoods are in the Buxus genus, with around 70 different species and hundreds of cultivars. Common, or English, boxwood (B. sempervirens, USDA zones 5 to 8) gets bigger, grows faster and has more pointed leaves than dwarf English boxwood (B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, zones 5 to 8). Dwarf English boxwood is particularly prized for…
This application shows you the galleries of amazing, beautiful and impressive landscaping ideas, designs and decorations. If you have an idea about your landscape or garden, this application can help you. This app. contains the various types of landscaping ideas, designs & decorating such as : - backyard, front yard, rock, wall - waterfall, pools - flowers…
If you like a low-maintenance yard, with as little weed pulling, watering, and pruning as possible, this design might be exactly your speed. Small cone-shaped topiaries rest on either side of the steps to the front porch, and small bushes line the railings, while not getting large enough to obscure the railings of the porch. The result is a simple, yet elegantly…
The purpose of the design in the prior picture was to create a focal point in a front yard. In this picture, we turn our attention to the side yard. In the picture above, the lawn area is quite extensive; the expanse of lawn needs to be broken up. To break it up visually and invite the viewer to the backyard, the fencing and garden arbor serve as a transition…
The bamboo garden design does not just focus on plants; it also provides opportunities for outdoor furniture and bamboo structures. Information related to plants is at the top of this page and other garden related topics such as fencing, fountains, and furniture are linked from further down. You will find links to products such as; tiki bars, benches and gazebos…
A home with a walk out basement looks great, as it sits within the landscape. It is like the home grew up out of the surrounding countryside; however, building a walk about basement is a skill that takes into account the surrounding terrain. Walk Out Basement Considerations Almost any home can be built with a walkout basement. The only type of home that wouldn…
Blueberries are such an easygoing shrub, it s a wonder more people don t grow them. There are various types of blueberry bushes that grow best in different regions - from the very small wild blueberry grown in Maine, to the large rabbiteye grown in the South. Here in Minnesota we fall somewhere in between with the half-high blueberry. Many cultivars grown in…
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Hillside Nursery s Landscaping helps to beautify Wichita and surrounding communities. With over 90 years experience, we offer complete residential and commercial services from landscape design to installation. Getting your landscaping project started is simple Bring sketches, measurements and pictures of the area to us for a complimentary in-house consultation…
River rock is one of the most popular stone products used for landscaping purposes. There s a good reason for its popularity. It comes in an endless variety of shapes, sizes and colors. So it can be used with any landscape design you have in mind. In this article, I ll share some tips and ideas for using river rock in your next landscaping project. If you need…
Stones, sand and gravel are predominant in a Zen garden. Zen is a specific path of Buddhism that emphasizes the importance of meditation and quiet contemplation, but you certainly don t need to be a Buddhist to enjoy the benefits of a Zen-inspired garden. A Zen garden is a type of dry landscape that s been appreciated in Japan for many centuries. Flowers are…
