Design a simple yet elegant yard that you'll enjoy for years to come.
Simplify your yard (and your life) by reducing the amount of water, chemicals and time required to maintain it.
You'll save money (on chemicals and/or contracted services), too.
Does it sound like a dream come true? It can be.
Begin by choosing plant materials that respect their soon-to-be new environment by ensuring they'll do well based on their climate and growing requirements.
Ensure the plants you select are native to your local area.
For example, if you live in California, northern California is very different from southern California climate-wise.
Something native to the San Diego area won't do as well in San Francisco.
Know your climate and choose wisely.
If you live in Seattle, choose plants that enjoy a greater rainfall.
If you're in the desert, choose water-conserving plants.
Essentially, choose plants that can grow well without or with little supplemental irrigation.
You can begin by visiting your local nursery; however, some nurseries carry stock plants that are highly ornamental and could potentially require a great deal of effort in maintaining their appearance.
Stay away from those.
If there is an ornamental you'd really like, consider putting it in a decorative, glazed pot or allocate a small planting area for your 'high maintenance' plants so they can remained grouped together.
Plants and trees with many flowers, berries or fruit require routine maintenance with dead-heading, sweeping, pruning, etc.
Use these plants as 'focal points' and surround them with selective greenery.
Add variety to your garden by choosing plants in a variety of textures, heights, and color variegation.
Remember that a plant doesn't have to flower or fruit to be beautiful.
Contrasting textures and hues of green with some flowering elements here and there are gorgeous.
It's also very soothing to the eye.
In terms of hardscape materials, natural stone pieces allow gorgeous texture, variety and interest.
Make it more affordable and sustainable by selecting materials within 500 miles of your location, or use recycled materials.
Brick and cobble are beautiful recycled materials.
Make your yard more sustainable, earth-friendly and reduce the amount of drain-pipe and drains inlets by setting natural stone or pavers over sand for a permeable solution so that the rainwater can infiltrate.
Please note that professional advice is essential, as not all soil types can support this application, and high-traffic areas may not be suitable.
For the average project, however, this is a reasonable and charming solution.
Incorporating these design features into your yard will have lasting benefits.
You'll reduce your amount of maintenance, watering regimes and potentially the cost for installing a drainage and/or irrigation system.
You're more likely to reduce your costs for maintenance services, fertilizers and water if your city meters what you utilize.
All of these benefits for a beautiful, naturally flourishing yard.
Happy gardening!
Simplify your yard (and your life) by reducing the amount of water, chemicals and time required to maintain it.
You'll save money (on chemicals and/or contracted services), too.
Does it sound like a dream come true? It can be.
Begin by choosing plant materials that respect their soon-to-be new environment by ensuring they'll do well based on their climate and growing requirements.
Ensure the plants you select are native to your local area.
For example, if you live in California, northern California is very different from southern California climate-wise.
Something native to the San Diego area won't do as well in San Francisco.
Know your climate and choose wisely.
If you live in Seattle, choose plants that enjoy a greater rainfall.
If you're in the desert, choose water-conserving plants.
Essentially, choose plants that can grow well without or with little supplemental irrigation.
You can begin by visiting your local nursery; however, some nurseries carry stock plants that are highly ornamental and could potentially require a great deal of effort in maintaining their appearance.
Stay away from those.
If there is an ornamental you'd really like, consider putting it in a decorative, glazed pot or allocate a small planting area for your 'high maintenance' plants so they can remained grouped together.
Plants and trees with many flowers, berries or fruit require routine maintenance with dead-heading, sweeping, pruning, etc.
Use these plants as 'focal points' and surround them with selective greenery.
Add variety to your garden by choosing plants in a variety of textures, heights, and color variegation.
Remember that a plant doesn't have to flower or fruit to be beautiful.
Contrasting textures and hues of green with some flowering elements here and there are gorgeous.
It's also very soothing to the eye.
In terms of hardscape materials, natural stone pieces allow gorgeous texture, variety and interest.
Make it more affordable and sustainable by selecting materials within 500 miles of your location, or use recycled materials.
Brick and cobble are beautiful recycled materials.
Make your yard more sustainable, earth-friendly and reduce the amount of drain-pipe and drains inlets by setting natural stone or pavers over sand for a permeable solution so that the rainwater can infiltrate.
Please note that professional advice is essential, as not all soil types can support this application, and high-traffic areas may not be suitable.
For the average project, however, this is a reasonable and charming solution.
Incorporating these design features into your yard will have lasting benefits.
You'll reduce your amount of maintenance, watering regimes and potentially the cost for installing a drainage and/or irrigation system.
You're more likely to reduce your costs for maintenance services, fertilizers and water if your city meters what you utilize.
All of these benefits for a beautiful, naturally flourishing yard.
Happy gardening!
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