Professional Landscaping Ideas

Here are some great landscaping ideas to help you design in an artistic and professional way. I know that it can be confusing.

What should I plant? Where should I place them. How many should I use?

And most important, how do I create a design that will be creative and special?

I have incorporated the following landscaping ideas into many of my designs. Various areas of the landscape are discussed below. You can also go to my Site-Index page to look for detailed information on other topics, since there are many other landscape subjects covered in this site.

You might also be interested in learning about my online landscape design services.

Visit the new Landscape Design Questions & Answers section!!

Wood Edges

A wonderful design element is to place plants actually in the woods for winter interest.

You can choose Native Rhododendron. They are evergreen.They produce large white flowers and are relatively deer resistant.

You can add Daffodils for early spring color. These are deer resistant also and will come back year after year!

I then mix in ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and perennials at the wood edge for more color and interest.

The above garden by Gertrude Jekyll is a wonderful example of a colorfully edged garden.

You might like to visit my page with information on my new ebook, Designing With Evergreen Shrubs.

Here are some landscaping ideas for a wood edge design:

Use three Dogwood trees, where one is placed towards the left side and two are place at the right.

Place the middle tree back slightly, so that they do not form a straight row.

Related Pages of Interest: pruning hydrangea fall landscape deer resistant plants rain garden design perennials for sun driveway landscape hot tubs teak outdoor furniture garden bulbs waterfall designs

Between the Dogwood, add a group of seven shrubs such as Winterberry Holly, which will give a magnificent show of red berries in the Fall and Winter.

Additional groups of shrubs would be added at the sides of the holly. One group might have pretty flowers in the spring, while another might flower in the summer, such as Hydrangeas.

You now have an interesting planting with all year round color and special features.

Remove weeds and brush at the wood edge for a minimum of 10' to 20' back and also add mulch to the first 5' to 10' feet of the woods.

Create a sharp bed edge between the woods and the lawn and it all starts to look wonderful!

I have written an entire page on Hydrangeas, including varieties and pruning information.

Designing For Fall Color

• When the Fall comes around, it's wonderful to have those exciting Fall colors in your landscape. Here are a few landscaping ideas.
• You can add trees with red, gold and purple leaves.
• Use colorful shrubs. Also add plants that produce colorful red berries.

Fall is also the time to think about planting bulbs. Spring is usually the first time we are able to enjoy color in the garden. I know, it seems so far away. But when Spring does come, you want those flowers! (Especially the bulbs.)

It is the Spring bulbs, such as Daffodils and Tulips, (there are many others) that will provide this color. Yet which ones to choose is not so easy. In addition where to plant them and how many to buy can be confusing. Ideally, you should strive for continuous spring color. Please go to my page on garden bulbs to read about some of my recommendations.

Screening Techniques

There are many times when homeowners want to create privacy from a neighbor or screen an undesirable element. This can be done in a way that is not only functional, but also creative. Here are some landscaping ideas that I have used very successfully.

Screening With Evergreen Trees

• Plant evergreen trees, but stagger them to make a softer line.
• I like to use Norway Spruce, due to their dark green color and pendulous branches as they gracefully get older.
• Place ornamental trees at various points in front of the evergreen trees. The trees should have a nice feature, such as interesting bark or showy flowers so that they stand out against the evergreen trees. (For example, a pink Flowering Cherry in front of Norway Spruce looks striking.)
• Groups of shrubs and perennials can also be added to the design. When using a particular shrub, try to use at least five. As that plant shows off its special feature, it will be magnified by doing so in a mass. A group of 7 flowering pink azaleas are much more exciting than one alone.

What do you do when you don't want to block out the view completely?

Here are some landscaping ideas that I often use in my designs.Create a screen that gives a more filtered view. Instead of evergreen trees, use groups of multi stemmed trees. Multi stemmed trees have numerous smaller trunks and create a density which a tree with a single trunk does not. In between groups of these multi stemmed trees, place tall shrubs to add interest. Add perennials in large groups to the front layer.

You might also be interested in reading about Outdoor Garden Rooms, which can be private areas on your property to meander to and enjoy.



Front Foundation Plantings - Landscaping Ideas

Use the right plant for the right place. If you have a window which is 3 feet off the ground, only place plants under that window which will get no more than 3 feet at their mature size. This provides for a low maintenance design also...no trimming!

Try to keep mostly one kind of evergreen shrub as the background layer for unity. If you would like to add an additional variety, place this group towards the center. Example - Use a group of China Girl Blue Holly on either end of the house, with a group of Rhododendron between them.

Place lower shrubs in groups of a minimum of 3 (preferably 5 or more) in front of the taller background shrubs. Again, don't get carried away with varieties...there is strength in numbers. Use just a couple of types.

Place perennials in the front layer. Use 5 to 9 of each kind. One Daylily in bloom is ok, but 7 really make a statement! Groundcover can be used with perennials or alone for lower maintenance.

Place trees at house corners and one tree near the front door. This is very welcoming. Consider shade trees in the lawn. Red Maple 'October Glory' or 'Red Sunset' will provide shade and also present a magnificent show of red color in the Fall.

Think about textures when selecting plants.

Plants will stand out when they are near another plant with a completely different texture. For example, Ornamental Grasses look nice against Blue Holly or Inkberry Holly because of the differences in the leaf shapes and patterns.

There is no reason not to create a flower garden in the front of your house. It will certainly provide color, and if designed nicely, make your landscape enchanting. Please visit my page of flower garden design.



Low Maintenance Plantings

• There are plants to choose that will help keep your landscape maintenance to a minimum.
• If you have a deer problem, use deer resistant plants.
• Make sure the mature height and width of the plants you select are what you ultimately want.
• Let shrubs grow in their natural pattern. Don't trim to a shape, unless you want a formal look, as with Boxwood.
• Consider a rain garden design in your landscaping ideas for a drainage problem solution.
• Choose perennials that have foliage that looks good throughout the season. Many late blooming perennials have this feature.

Emphasizing the driveway entry is a landscaping idea that is a very welcoming feature.

Entry piers can be used, with or without connecting walls. Lights may be placed on top of the piers. Piers can be made of many materials, including brick, stone and stucco. Bluestone caps are often used.

Entry plantings are a nice landscaping idea, with or without piers. Sometimes I like to use ornamental trees, one on either side of the driveway. In other designs, I might introduce a group of trees, placing two trees on one side and one tree on the other side. Read more about driveway landscaping here.

Shrubs and perennials can be added or the trees can be used alone.

Another way to use trees and to make both the entry and the driveway itself stand out is to use an allee of trees. This is where the trees are placed along the driveway on both sides for most of the driveway length.

You might be interested in a good landscape design or plant book. If so, please visit my page, Garden Design Book, where I have a few recommendations and reviews. I have also written an interesting page on garden ornaments, including such things as sundial clocks and bird bath fountains. And for the very curious...I have even written a page on green roof systems which is very interesting and "green".

All of these landscaping ideas follow principles of good landscape architecture, with my own personal twist. Try using them in your landscape design and I think you will find that your garden will be above and beyond the ordinary!

Do you have a Landscape Design question or a situation that you would like some help with? Patio design questions? Paving material confusion? Flower garden design advice? Just ask me! I only ask that questions be design related...thanks!

I decided to create this section due to the many questions people have regarding Landscape Design.

The idea is - Ask one, or Answer one!

You may ask a question yourself, comment on or answer questions of others, and rate comments too. All helpful comments will be greatly appreciated!

Click below to see questions and answers from other visitors...

Front Yard Foundation Plants 
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 in ...

Landscape Tree Ideas 

I have a ranch home and I wanted to plant some small trees or small to med. pine trees in a few spots but I don't know what would look good. I ...

Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' / Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' 
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 foothill ...

Blending Retaining Walls and Fencing 
We just put a retaining wall in front of our house, but on the side of the house we have a chain link fence. How do we blend together a fence on the side ...

Landscaping a Sloped Back Yard 
What do I do with a section of my backyard that is sloped?

It isn't awful to mow, but an inconvenience when walking up, especially when carrying something....

Drainage Swale 
We have a swale at the back of our yard that doesn't grow grass. It is rather "mucky" and very unattractive. Any suggestions to make it look nice would ...

Swimming Pool Flowers | Sun 
What type of flowers can withstand direct sun around a pool area?

Creating Privacy From the Road 
I have four Maple Trees (two red and two green) planted 10 feet apart in a straight line in front of my house at the end of the lawn near the road.

What ...

Circular Driveway Planting Design 
We are going to have a teardrop area in a "circular" driveway and need design ideas. We have a very large 2-story house that is behind the driveway, so ...

Steep Front Slope Landscaping 
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 front ...

Concrete Or Vinyl Pool 
Hi Susan,

What a great website!!! I loved exploring it. I wonder if you would share a bit of your expertise with me?

I live in a condo complex ...

Shady Grass Areas 
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 side ...

Landscaping Along A Fence 
Susan,
I was wondering if you could make some suggestions on how to spruce up my backyard with some landscaping beds that include low maintenance shrubs ...

Landscape Grading Near House 
Because of the large amount of snow we had this past winter, we had water seep into the garage floor in areas. If I slope the earth away from the garage,...

Landscaping Slopes 
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 ...

Landscape Trees - Grouping 
I would like some advice on how to plant 3 Dogwood Trees together in a grouping at the corner of my house. How close do I plant them and how do I connect ...

Front Yard Landscaping 
I am working on re-doing the landscape in our front yard. I have a ranch style red brick home.
Our front small porch is a concrete stoop with a side ...

Leyland Cypress and Shrubs 
Hello,

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

Retaining Wall Safety 
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, and ...

Foundation Plants 
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 different ...

Need Help with Landscape Ideas 
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 pretty ...

Accent Shrub for Shamrock Inkberry 
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 ...

backyard bird feeders 
Could you please give me suggestions for creating a backyard lawn island, perhaps raised, to accommodate bird feeders and/or bird baths? I would like to ...

Brick Pool Coping Choice 
I have a 30 by 50 foot in-ground concrete and plaster pool we installed ourselves on top of a mountaintop in WV. Is there any brick coping that will not ...

Parking on Concrete Pavers 
I was told that concrete pavers can "sink" if you park on them every day - and that you still get weeds (one of the things I am trying to get away from)...

Landscape Design Ideas For A Slope Near a Pool 
We have a swimming pool that's fairly flat on one side only. The other 3 sides gently slope downward to the fence about 6 feet. At the present time we ...

Replacing Pool Coping With Concrete Pavers 
We have a vinyl liner pool with cantilever coping. The pool is 30 yrs old but has a new liner. We want to install pavers all the way to the edge of the ...

Help With Planting Beds Near House Entry 
My house, built in 1896 is a mix between prairie style and victorian. The entrance faces south and is offset from the center and flanked by a large covered ...

Backyard Landscaping Help 
Hi Susan,
I'll try to make this as short as possible. I live in Ohio and have a yard that is in desperate need of work. Besides wanting to save some ...

Yard too tailored! 
We are moving into a new home soon. The backyard, while enticing, is too tailored. We have a gorgeous view from the deck to the west, north, and east and ...

Landscaping for the country yard 
Nice site Susan.

Our dilemma is this. We have too much space!

We have a large several acre area around our home, and our problem is that it is difficult ...

Courtyard Driveways 
We have a modest house (2600 sq. ft.) that is on a long narrow lot. The only solution seems to be a courtyard drive. What would you suggest as a focal ...

Defining My Backyard Without Obstructing the View 
From our back porch we look out over the back pasture and enjoy watching the goats and an occasional deer. However, our backyard landscaping is pretty ...

Low Maintenance Plants for Front Foundation Planting? 
Hello,
I was wondering, in your opinion, what are some low maintenance shrubs that I can use for the front of my house? Blooms are not important. The ...

Using Fake Grass | Rabbit Solutions! 
I have a backyard that's always being eaten by rabbits. The grass looks terrible. Is it a good idea to put fake grass there? I was just wondering if anyone ...

Return From Landscaping Ideas to Home Page