IMAGINE if your pots and planters always looked fabulous. Wow! your friends would say to one another, How does she do it? Gone are the days when you could feel good about just picking up a couple red geraniums and some pink wax begonias. The pressure is on. Your pots and planters need panache! So this spring, before you head out to buy plants for your porch…
Place big-money plants where they ll be most often seen. Rasmussen always uses large plants and striking plant combinations to mark a home s entryway. Whenever possible, he incorporates plants that offer multiseason interest, like the patch of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) that flowers with yellow blooms through spring; the flowers give way to reddish fruits…
Pea Gravel Pea gravel–a small, fluid stone found near bodies of water–has an appealingly smooth texture, the result of natural weathering. Pea gravel comes in sizes from 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch, about the size of a pea, and in a range of natural colors like buff, rust brown, shades of gray, white, and translucent. If you’re trying to decide between decomposed granite…
For Your Front Porch And Yard Mary and I have collected 10 easy landscaping ideas from our travels photographing front porches across the U.S. to share with you. Most importantly, they are fun to do and will help you create lots of curb appeal for your front porch and home. They are ideal for both large and small porches. In fact, many of our ideas can have a…
See how gardeners around the country have created wonderful gardens in small spaces Small gardens have a lot more potential than you realize. Whether dealing with a long narrow space behind a vintage home, a cramped backyard that lacks privacy, or a shabby garden at the rear of a brownstone the possibilities are endless. So don’t write off your 40-foot by 20-foot…
Flexible plastic edging is a snap to install. Gravel sidewalks offer more color and texture than pavement, but the loose stones can be a problem if they spill over into your lawn or driveway. Installing landscape edging that is a minimum of 3 inches above the ground keeps the stones in place so you don’t have to top up the gravel as frequently. Edging also gives…
Lavender is the secret weapon of gardeners around the world. In warm, dry climates, the herb’s 39 evergreen species can fill problem spots in the garden with year-round foliage and with flowers in lovely shades of purple, blue, violet, and gray. From Albuquerque to Athens, we’ve rounded up 11 of our favorite examples. Give lavender full sun and from 2 to 3 square…
So far, my pictures have shown examples of beds with plants blooming during a certain season: spring, summer or fall. But it won t always be prime time for a particular flower border. In fact, when we think in terms of four-season interest in the landscape (365 days of visual interest), the period in which this or that perennial is blooming will represent the…
My husband and I have been living in our ranch home since the 1970s, and we are finally ready to do some upgrading to make it a little more current. Can you help us with some ideas? Let’s start with some historical perspective. The informal ranch style evolved from several 20th century styles. The earth-hugging prairie-style houses pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright…
PM Location: MD s Eastern Shore 2, 007 posts, read 2, 099, 268 times Reputation: 3467 I m trying to come up with some landscaping ideas and think this might should be a priority as things take time. I m on a corner lot so my back yard borders the neighbors side yard. Neither is very wide. My back deck is right outside a sliding door leading to family/dining room…
Built in: 1925. Bought in: 2013. Size: 1, 147 sq. ft. “This house used to be mustard yellow, but it’s Mediterranean in style, so I wanted to paint it white like houses you’d find in Greece or coastal Spain,says homeowner Briana Lang. It’s one of the first changes I made.” Terra-Cotta Tiles and Potted Plants Glazed terra-cotta tiles on the front porch and steps…
Adding a front porch to your home or improving an existing one can help create a sense of arrival. Entry porches have their roots all the way back in ancient Rome, where many buildings featured grand porticos that served as a transition from the outdoors into the building. Today porches serve three purposes: They highlight a home s entrance by framing the front…
Whether you believe it or not, the name of your business means a great deal when it comes to how you are perceived by consumers. Even though it should not have such a large impact, it is one of the first impressions people are given, which leads many to judge quite harshly. If you are the owner of a lawn care business and you are looking for a catchy name, you…
Attorney Paul Kolpak, representing the would-be developer Piotr Filipek and 1440 Higgins LLC, and Guido Neri of Neri Architects, laid out a vision for the 2.19-acre site of Mr. K Garden and Material Center during a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 9. The concept plan, as presented to the commission, called for 34, three-story townhouses on…
This koi pond is designed well. It holds plenty of water, has fountains for aeration, and has lots of plants that provide the fish with food, shade and places for hiding. Photo used under Creative Commons from flickr user s_w_ellis. Koi Pond Design Tips A koi pond must be properly designed in order for the fish to thrive. Most professionals recommend that a pond…
It’s been said that ideas are a dime a dozen but it’s the execution that counts. Certainly true words in the case of this landscape project in the centre of Paris, France. The idea of a 330 ft (100 m) long optical illusion of a grass globe probably sounded pretty cool when French artist François AbĂ©lanet conceived the idea, but making it happen was a whole different…
You d like to remake the design in your yard, but you need some ideas to get you started? You re not sure what style you prefer - an informal or a formal landscape design - but you do know that you re tired of looking at the existing style, or tired of lawn care? You know what you like when you see it in someone else s yard, but only at a gut level: you re not…
Spring is holding on with relatively mild temperatures and abundant rainfall. Of course, Texas summer time conditions are right around the corner with hotter and usually dryer weather. Here are some tips to help you be more successful in your June garden. Make plans to attend the free Horticulture Field Day on June 25, at the Texas A&M Agrilife Research…
3. Dress Up Your Driveway - 10 Best Landscaping Ideas - Southern
Thanks to clever fencing, strategically placed plantings, and creative design, this 500-square-foot rooftop garden has become a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Photo by: Jon Whittle. Towering more than 30 floors above the street, this rooftop overlooks Sailboat Bay and Miami’s cityscape. The owner loved the views, but also wanted her…
Are you a weekend yard warrior who needs help coming up with landscape ideas to turn your yard from an unsightly mess into a sight to behold? Here are five landscape ideas to help you create a beautiful yard, even if you have a brown thumb. 1. You can t escape the streetscape An angled bench and large flower pots create a very inviting threshold. (Photo: David…
Swipe to view slides This Japanese maple is highlighted successfully by the low groundcovering plants at its base. Statuary and colorful plantings can be used to create a focal area from a bare wall. This courtyard sets an inviting scene from inside the home. A side yard can become a place of beauty with careful design. Asian Landscape Style Guide Use this design…
2. Taylor’s Master Guide to Landscaping by Rita Buchanan Taylor’s Master Guide to Landscaping is a great book for anyone learning to do their own home landscaping, whether you are an experienced gardener or if you are completely new to landscape design. This book covers how to choose plants that are appropriate to your climate, avoid common mistakes, plant your…
Swipe to view slides A well-maintained entry will help sell your home. Take black and white photos to get a fresh perspective. Before defining edges and adding mulch. After defining edges and adding mulch. The skirting effect on shrubs creates a more open appearance. Use bold paint color to perk up patio furniture. A good first impression can make a world of…
Before: This new-construction house began with a blank landscape. Image courtesy of landscape designer Rick Perry After: This landscape design includes decorative crushed-stone pathways, a garden bench to enjoy the views and a destination flagstone patio to draw guests to the garden. Image courtesy of landscape designer Rick Perry Before: The homeowners want…
An outdoor fire pit can be a relaxing addition to a landscape. Something is appealing about sitting in your back yard on a chilly fall evening and roasting marshmallows beside the fire pit. Although you may use it most often after dark, when it s difficult to see much about the landscaping, the fire pit can serve as a focal point in your landscape design. Choose…
Whether your front porch is a large area where you relax and entertain or a tiny space that is just an entrance to your home, there are plenty of things that can be done to make it pretty and welcoming in the spring and summer months. Remember to incorporate some front porch ideas when decorating your home for summer. Front Porch Seating If space allows create…
