Landscape Design Blog

Jul 21, Waterfall Designs | Backyard Waterfalls

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:56:02 GMT

Waterfall designs work best when they look natural. Landscape waterfalls should have an interesting mix of stone shapes, sizes and even colors.

Jul 12, Front Yard Foundation Plants

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:11:21 GMT

I have a recently built home in Illinois and now I'm in the process of transforming my front yard. I would really love to have some Boxwoods planted

Jun 29, Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' / Zelkova serrata 'Village Green'

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:44:22 GMT

I purchased these two trees and I think I may have made a mistake on what I wanted. I have a small front yard with a beautiful view of the east

Jun 28, Landscape Design Advice Newsletter

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:28:01 GMT

A landscape design advice newsletter which will provide professional landscaping ideas.

Jun 27, Designing With Evergreen Shrubs | EBook

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:53:42 GMT

Professional advice on designing with evergreen shrubs. Learn about front foundation plants, plant placement, and plant recommendations.

Jun 23, Deck Ideas | Designing a Deck

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:20:19 GMT

There are many parts of deck ideas to consider when designing a deck. Deck materials, deck stairs, a canopy or pergola for shade and the design itself are all important. In addition, deck costs can be

Jun 21, Landscaping Cost | Landscapers and Landscape Contractors

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:10:53 GMT

Your landscaping cost can vary greatly. Landscapers charge differently, but material and labor costs are always included.

Jun 12, Outdoor Garden Benches | Wooden and Aluminum

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:29:09 GMT

Outdoor garden benches can be used in many ways. Wooden garden benches, aluminum, iron, concrete and even natural stone are all types you can use.

Jun 11, Patio Fire Pits | Propane and Natural Gas Firepits

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:46:36 GMT

Patio fire pits can be portable or built in. They can be be run on propane or natural gas. Wood burning outdoor firepits are also a great choice.

Jun 3, Driveway Drainage | Driveway Drains and Swales

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:40:52 GMT

Driveway drainage can be a challenge. Drains, swales and creative grading can all offer solutions in all situations.

Jun 2, Pictures of Swimming Pools | Inground Pools

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:56:44 GMT

Pictures of swimming pools can help you decide what type of pool you like. Here are some images to give you some ideas.

May 30, Steep Front Slope Landscaping

Fri, 30 May 2008 12:07:41 GMT

The front yard in the front of my house is painfully steep. We bought the house five years ago and have avoided doing any major landscaping to the

May 28, Aluminum Residential Fence | Gates

Wed, 28 May 2008 21:22:20 GMT

The aluminum residential fence is maintenance free and an elegant choice. Fence prices are at the higher end. Aluminum fence gates can match or be more of a decorative focal point.

May 28, Shady Grass Areas

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:32:05 GMT

In front of my house there is a sidewalk and a large tree. One half of my lawn between the sidewalk and drive is too shady for grass and on the other

May 21, New Patio | Swimming Pool Decking

Wed, 21 May 2008 10:45:30 GMT

Hi, I live in Southern New Jersey. My wife and I just built a new home and are moving in soon. We are interested in putting in a pool. I have met

May 17, Outdoor Garden Rooms | Landscape Gardens

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:16:10 GMT

Outdoor garden rooms can be flower gardens, an area with a water feature, or just a quiet sitting area. They an be similar to secret gardens.

May 16, Landscaping Slopes

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:06:33 GMT

Here's my question: I would like to get design ideas to re-do a sloped triangular area next to my driveway. It is about 34' long and 10' high, with

May 15, Patio Design Decisions

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:56:47 GMT

When deciding to add a patio to your landscape design, most people have not really decided what material to use. And you know what? That's fine. You can come up with the design first, and then interchange materials, according to likes and costs, and then make your decision. This is easiest to do with a simple patio at ground level. It gets a bit more intricate if the patio is raised (more like a terrace). In this case, steps and sidewalls are involved. Thus more materials must be coordinated. If designing a patio at ground level, the materials chosen should blend well with your house and any other hardscape features nearby. There may be a few different paving materials that will work. For example, a white clapboard home would look fine with bluestone, brick or pavers. However, let's assume it is a terrace. Not only must materials be selected for the terrace floor itself, but also the sidewalls and any necessary steps leading off the patio. If brick is chosen for the terrace, the sidewalls can also be brick. Yet the steps can be either brick or bluestone. Perhaps the steps will be comprised of bluestone treads and brick risers. Or bluestone treads and stone risers. If you change the material to concrete pavers, the same decisions must be made, but with different materials. All these different choices affect the cost of your project. Ideally you would select two different options...perhaps one that you love and the other that would be fine. Price them both and see how they fit into your budget. The point is that you can decide later.

May 12, Pizza Ovens

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:19:21 GMT

Did you ever wonder exactly how pizza ovens work? I found this video, which not only shows you how they work....but it's a lot of fun. It's on my page http://www.landscape-design-advice.com/outdoor-kitchen-island.html (Outdoor Kitchens)

May 10, Evergreen Shrubs | Foundation Plantings

Sat, 10 May 2008 21:50:16 GMT

Evergreen shrubs solve the problem of a bare landscape in the winter. Some things to consider are size and whether it prefers sun or shade.

May 5, Plants For Landscaping | Landscape Plants

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:10:31 GMT

Plants for landscaping come in many types and varieties. It is important to select the right landscape plants for the right location.

May 5, Leyland Cypress and Shrubs

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:40:56 GMT

Hello, I recently planted four Leyland Cypress trees alongside my driveway for a lush and estate style privacy appearance. The four Leyland Cypress

May 2, Garden Fountains - How To Enhance Them

Fri, 02 May 2008 22:50:53 GMT

Garden fountains are always a nice amenity in the landscape. However, there are ways of really capturing their beauty. Give some thought as to where you will be placing it and what will be nearby. Here is a garden fountain that was planned out successfully. It's fine to have it displayed out in the open, but make sure this is set in such a way to become a true focal point. Otherwise.... Tuck it into your garden. Place lots of plants around it so that it really looks as if it belongs there...integrated. It might be placed in front of a landscape wall. Or perhaps in front of some dark evergreen shrubs or trees where it will show well.

May 1, Retaining Wall Safety

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:42:47 GMT

We have an under garage and two 7 foot large boulder type retaining walls, one to each side of the garage. We also have a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old,

Apr 30, Pruning Clematis

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:02:19 GMT

I have a book (somewhere) where I learned the secret of pruning Clematis. There are three groups of Clematis, and basically you must know when your Clematis blooms in order to understand how and when to prune it correctly. Wayside Gardens has a very simple article which explains it nicely. You can read about it here: http://www.waysidegardensvoices.com/2008/04/tips-for-growin.html

Apr 25, Green Roof Systems | Green Roofs

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:16:48 GMT

Green roof systems are not as complicated as you might think. There are different types of green roof construction and various plants that can be used.

Apr 21, Foundation Plants

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:57:54 GMT

My husband and I have cleared our flower beds of holly bushes and some other kind of shrub that we were not happy with. We have looked at several

Apr 21, Driveway Pavers | Concrete Driveway Pavers

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:19:08 GMT

Driveway pavers should be designed creatively. There are some special features you can add to paver driveways to make the design exciting.

Apr 20, The Garden Center Adventure

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:52:42 GMT

We've all been there. It's the day to go to get some plants. Our excitement mounts....oh, all those lovely plants and flowers! We are going to get some things we love, and at the same time not spend too much money. Great! It's a plan. We drive to our favorite nursery. It's crowded. Oh well, it doesn't matter. We see color! Blues, and whites, and pinks. Yellows and wines. Curling vines and huge shrubs and just lots and lots of stuff. Wow! And then what? That plant looks great, but do I have enough room? Yes, I think so. But should I get one or three? Oh, I love that one...but where could I place it? Oh, and those roses I always admire when I see them in bloom. There they are! But there are so many types and colors and heights. Hmmmm. So, for all of you who have areas that you like to play with yourself, but often get overwhelmed when you stand in the middle of all that color and beauty....make a plan. It doesn't have to be involved. It doesn't have to be complicated. Pace out the length and width of your bed. As a rule, a woman' pace is about 2 1/2 feet and a man's 3 feet or more. Get a pad and draw it on paper. Put in the plants that are existing with some rough sizes of both the plants and the available spaces. Then make some notes. First, are the areas sunny, shady or a little of both. This will tell you if you should buy that gorgeous Butterfly Bush. Decide on some colors. I was looking at my perennial garden yesterday. I had alot of purples and a few pinks. I decided I needed some whites. Think about the heights. Perhaps you have Boxwood, and you could use some perennials in front of it. If your Boxwood is about 3 feet high, you can use perennials 18 to 24". So before you make that trip, think about space, color and heights, and what your garden needs to make it fun and exciting. Oh, and if you see that one plant that you have to have? Smile...and take it!

Apr 20, Need Help with Landscape Ideas

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:31:03 GMT

I have a house with a retaining wall in the front yard and I have no clue how to add curb appeal to the home. Right now the grass in the front is

Apr 16, Accent Shrub for Shamrock Inkberry

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:34:10 GMT

I am re-doing the front landscape...Finally! I removed a not-so-dwarf Alberta Spruce and two Yews. After much looking, I think I want to go with the

Apr 9, Paver Patio Designs | Patio Pavers

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:11:04 GMT

Paver patio designs can include seat walls, circle kits and interesting borders at the perimeters to make them interesting and exciting. An outdoor pergola can also be included for shade.

Apr 4, Outdoor Living Rooms | Outdoor Living Spaces

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:04:59 GMT

Outdoor living rooms are spaces which can be used just like interior rooms. Sofas, outdoor televsions, an outdoor kitchen island, ponds and special dining areas are just a few things that can be inclu

Apr 3, Paver Patterns

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:13:42 GMT

We are having pavers put down on a new patio and walkway. The walkway begins at the front of our home and leads along the side, then connects to the

Mar 23, Gas Outdoor Grills | Outdoor Cooking Grills

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:22:17 GMT

Gas outdoor grills are great when used alone or as part of an outdoor kitchen island. There are many features to consider for outdoor bbq grills, such as stainless steel quality and grill features.

Mar 19, Outdoor Kitchen Island | Outdoor Kitchens

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:50:01 GMT

An outdoor kitchen island can be part of outdoor living rooms. Outdoor kitchens can include many different appliances, accessories and features, such as a beautiful outdoor pergola for a very intimate

Mar 6, Landscape Structures | Arbors, Outdoor Pergola, Outdoor Gazebo, Garden Trellis

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:37:45 GMT

Landscape structures can be a garden pergola design, a garden arbor, an outdoor gazebo or similar amenities. There is also the garden trellis. They all provide shade and can create beautiful focal poi

Mar 3, Outdoor Gazebo | Gazebo Unit

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:31:54 GMT

An outdoor gazebo can be a wonderful garden structure. A gazebo unit can be a beautiful focal point in the landscape while also providing a shady place to sit. You can find a garden gazebo unit made o

Mar 2, Garden Trellis Design | Outdoor Pergola, Arbor and Walls

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:29:36 GMT

Garden trellis design can be used in many ways. It might be used to create interest on a blank wall or as a garden structure, similar to an outdoor pergola. There is also the arbor garden trellis.

Mar 1, Outdoor Pergola | Garden Pergola Design

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:50:07 GMT

An outdoor pergola is a lovely feature to add to your landscape. Garden pergolas can create shade and can become an outdoor room. There are different shapes, materials and details to consider.

Feb 20, Concrete Patio Designs | Concrete Decorative Patio

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:33:17 GMT

Concrete patio designs can be very attractive. A decorative concrete patio can incorporate different patio design ideas. Adding color to the concrete, using acid based stains, and creating patterns ar

Feb 13, Decomposed Granite | Paths & Driveways

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:46:59 GMT

Decomposed granite can be applied in three main ways. It can be used alone, with a stabilizer or with a resin. DG provides a more natural appearance than other paving materials such as concrete.

Feb 4, Solar Landscaping Lights | Outdoor Solar Lights

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:13:49 GMT

Solar landscaping lights have many advantages, although there are a few things to know. Outdoor solar lights will save you money, are easy to set up and maintain.

Feb 1, Swimming Pool Decking | Paving Materials

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:06:08 GMT

Swimming pool decking can be made of many materials, such as concrete, tumbled pavers, travertine pavers and natural stone.

Feb 1, Cobblestone Driveway | Granite Cobblestone Pavers

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:15:53 GMT

A true cobblestone driveway is one made of granite pavers. It will outlast other types of materials such as concrete pavers. Cobblestone driveways provide a special, old world impression.

Jan 31, Solar Garden Fountains | Solar Powered Fountain

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:23:21 GMT

Solar garden fountains have many advantages, which you can read about here. How they work and setting a solar powered fountain up is quite simple too.

Jan 28, Solar Bird Baths | Solar Powered Bird Baths and Fountains

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:28:21 GMT

Solar bird baths are easy to operate, inexpensive and good for the environment. Solar powered bird baths can be used in any sunny area of your landscape.

Jan 28, Window Bird Feeders | Wild Bird Feeder | Window Birdfeeder

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:03:16 GMT

Window bird feeders are wonderful for seeing birds up close. This type of wild bird feeder comes in a few different types including a wild birdfeeder with covers to shelter the birds.

Jan 7, Droll Yankee Birdfeeders | Bird Feeders

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:31:58 GMT

droll yankee birdfeeders come in many types, such as window bird feeders, humming bird feeders, tube bird feeders and Droll Yankee Flipper bird feeders

Jan 4, Thistle Feeders | Thistle Bird Feeder

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:01:52 GMT

thistle feeders, types of thistle bird feeders, nyjer seed, where to place the thistle bird feeder