Drip irrigation systems water plants right at the root and serve as an efficient alternative to sprinkler systems. Ovr-watering is a huge problem in many residential landscapes and one that can be easily avoided by hiring a landscape architect.
Coordinating the colors of hardscape materials with the plantings in a landscape design can create a striking and satisfying series of patterns and designs. Gravel, paving stones, and rock are available in all the colors of the rainbow for contrasting or complementing schemes.
Subdivision construction requires survey maps to be submitted to various governmental agencies, such as the Town Hall, Health Department, and other local or state agencies.
One of the goals for your new landscaping project might be to create a place to relax outdoors or for reading. Keep your goals in mind as you plan how you would like the new landscaping to look.
Did you know the gardens at Versailles were designed and built by Andre le Notre over a period of 39 years – from 1661-1700? They are in the French Baroque style.
If the amount of maintenance that the new landscape will require is a factor, one idea might be to incorporate more hardscaping into the overall landscape design.
Concrete is exceptionally adaptable in landscape designs. It can be stamped and colored to look like stone, brick, or other curbing materials to create an inviting trompe l’oeile effect around your home or building.
Do you know that the calming sounds produced by fountains or other water elements in your landscape are highly beneficial for your health? According to studies, the soothing sound of flowing water reduces stress levels.
Want to give a traditional touch to your landscape and make it more pleasing and relaxing? A wooden or bamboo fence around the garden or including a sculpture as a centerpiece will give your landscape a true oriental look.
Landscape architecture goes far beyond simply planting trees, flowers, and gardens. Landscape architecture involves the professional design of everything from the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC, to the urban farms and green roofs of many university campuses.
Even if the acreage around your building is limited, it can still benefit from a thoughtful and well-planned landscaping design. We will evaluate your particular situation and make cost-effective recommendations based on those parameters.
To avoid an “unfinished” look when using gravel to create paths or bedding, have them bordered with rocks to provide definition, hold the gravel in place and limit grass "creep".
A professional landscape architect will be able to reasonably provide a project budget range through experience or be able to guide you through the pricing/bidding process. That will allow you to determine whether to build the project all at once or to phase it in over a few years.
Garden ponds are highly versatile and can be created in any shape desired, from formal and highly structured to free-form designs that blend effortlessly into the landscaping.
A front yard filled with flowers in a garden is a warm and inviting way to great your guests. To get even further enjoyment, have walkways or seating areas incorporated into your landscape design using using fieldstones, mulch, gravel or a combination of these elements.
To plan a design for new landscaping at your property, it can be beneficial to draw out your ideas on paper. You will want to be sure to draw out the ideas to scale.
Does your home have curb appeal? The first impression your home gives is what could ultimately lock-in a buyer. With great landscaping, features, and updates, a home’s design could pull in that potential buyer. It's the reason they'll want to walk through the front door.
If you have a problem with erosion, retaining walls can be incorporated into the landscape design to correct the problem. They keep soil in place, eliminating worries about lost land and erosion encroachment on living areas.
One of the most famous examples of hardscaping was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Through expert design that incorporated terraced areas with waterfalls and other features, one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world was created.
While you may know a thing or two about landscaping, this is one project you shouldn’t undertake if you can’t devote time to it. Instead, it would be better to have a professional landscaper work on it as they will be able to get the job done without too many delays.
If you have some general landscaping ideas for a home improvement project, but are not quite sure where to start, our team of professionals can help you. We will listen to your ideas, make recommendations about the best place to start, what materials you will need, and other important factors.
By varying the sizes of the different plants included in the new landscape design, you can help to create a unique look for your property.
Did you know that there are plants that you should never consider for your yard? Sometimes, that is because they don’t thrive in your area, but at other times, it’s a simple matter of not being the right size or having the right form for your space.
If budgeting is a concern, work with what you already have. We can send a landscape designer to your location to survey what is available and to make cost-conscious recommendations that can change the look of your property without draining your purse.
The layout of the property is important to consider when designing your landscaping. An energy efficient design is something to keep in mind, such as planting trees in areas to shade the home during hot summer months. Consider other similar adjustments to make the home and layout more energy and cost efficient.
One thing that landscape designers work towards in their designs is unity. Certain aspects (walkways, types of plants, types of rock, etc.) carefully repeated over the entire area will help tie everything together into a pleasing, cohesive look.
If the total cost of your landscape project is not financial feasible, you can separate the project into different parts and finish the project gradually.
Early forms of landscape architecture were influenced by Romanticism, whose origins emphasized natural if picturesque landscapes and whose variety transcended regular forms through irregularity and informality. Landscape architecture, thus, was an attempt at preserving wilderness and inaccessible spaces.
The complexities that can arise in designing a garden comes from the involvement of multiple disciplines. A landscape architect will have knowledge of numerous fields of study including: horticulture, soil biology, engineering and art, to name a few.
If you have adopted xeriscaping elements, large stone or concrete pads can add an unusual and visually intriguing dimension to the layout and design of your landscaping. When set in river rock, the look like they are floating on a stream of stone.
Do not forget your new landscape will need to be watered. Your landscape designer will help you plan the watering system that is best for your climate conditions, and that incorporates eco and energy friendly technologies.
If you are planning to install new landscaping near the fence at your property, it is important to keep maintenance in mind. You will want to still be able to access the fence easily for maintenance tasks.
Green roofs have become an important trend in landscape architecture of late. Green roof design involves transforming old boring black tar roofs into a beautiful living ecosystem of plants and soil.
Aside from knowing how to do the job, a professional landscaper can also show you what plants are appropriate for the project. As such, you will be able to pick the ones that suit your taste and preferences best without worrying about their suitability.
Do you know that having a number of trees on your property can reduce the indoor pollution as well? Trees actively remove contaminants from the atmosphere, thereby improving air quality.
A beautiful quote by Dorothy Frances Gurney: “Kiss of the sun for pardon. Song of the birds for mirth. You’re closer to God’s heart in a garden than any place else on earth.”
For small areas around commercial or industrial buildings, terraced landscaping designs make excellent use of limited space while increasing the visual appeal of the building. A mixture of planting options and materials are at the core of its appeal.
Did you know the current “best place to study Landscape Architecture” for an undergraduate degree is Pennsylvania State University? The best post-graduate program for Landscape Architecture is Harvard. Who knew?
Most people agree that Capability Brown and Frederick Law Olmsted started the profession of landscape architecture as far back as the 18th century. They’re often referred to as godfathers because of their immeasurable contributions to the profession.
When selecting plants for your landscape design choose native or adapted species as much as possible. Not only do they look like they belong, they will survive longer.
Did you know that the word “landscape” was originally an art term, referring to paintings of natural scenery? It didn't acquire its modern definition of the laying out of gardens and lawns and planting trees until the late 1920s.
If we will be installing an irrigation system as part of the landscaping project, we recommend including rain sensors. These devices prevent the sprinklers from activating during rainstorms as well as when the ground’s moisture-content is above a certain level.
"The good is, like nature, an immense landscape in which man advances through centuries of exploration." - Jose Ortega y Gasset
According to studies, 83% of Americans believe having a yard is important, 90% believe it should be well maintained, and 84% feel that a home’s landscaping quality would affect their decision to buy a home or not. This shows how important your home’s landscaping is!
Do you know that there are more microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on earth? These microbes are vital for keeping your soil nutrient-rich and your landscape healthy.
A landscape architect is trained not just to put plants in to the ground, but to know exactly how the plants he’s choosing will work together for years to come, not just in year one. He has the skills to build a landscape that you will love.
For the front of your house, approach your landscaping with the idea of drawing the eyes up – no matter if it is a simple one-story bungalow or a multi-story building. Lower plantings should be in the foreground and subsequent ones should incrementally taller.
The installation of a mulch bed can drastically improve the appearance of your landscape. Mulches from trees such as cedar, oak, hickory, and cypress also provide protection for your plants and soil.
