Landscaping Springdale AR is an increasingly popular way to improve the look and value of homes. In fact, professionally landscaped yards are often the rest thing potential homebuyers notice.
Many people want to create a balance of hardscape (patios, walkways, walls) and softscape (trees, shrubs, flowers). They may also want to incorporate a specific garden style theme.
A good landscaping plan will help you achieve your desired results and make the process of changing your landscape easier. A well-designed landscape will take into account how you, your family and pets use the area as well as how you want to utilize it in the future. It will also include your maintenance preferences (hands-on or not) and the budget you have to work with.
A beautifully landscaped home can enhance curb appeal and increase resale value. It also makes your outdoor spaces more enjoyable to spend time in and can be a source of family memories that last for years to come.
Landscapes are made up of both hardscape and softscape, with hardscape being anything that is not green, such as decking, concrete or paving. Softscapes, on the other hand, refer to all the natural elements in your landscaping, such as trees, shrubs, flowers and lawn.
When choosing a landscape design company to work with, find one that is experienced and has a reputation for quality work. They should have a portfolio of previous work to show you and should be willing to discuss your ideas and preferences. They should also offer a free consultation.
There are many reasons why you should consider investing in professional landscaping. Besides the aesthetic benefits, they can also improve your outdoor living space, increase energy efficiency and promote environmental health. For example, plants and grasses naturally produce oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide levels in the air, while providing a natural cooling effect that can lower your energy bills. Landscapes also reduce soil erosion, manage stormwater runoff and provide a habitat for wildlife. For these reasons and more, a professionally-designed landscape is a great way to add value to your home.
Plant a Variety of Plants
When landscaping, it’s important to plant a variety of plants. It adds depth and texture to your design, which in turn draws the eye throughout the yard. It’s also a great way to bring in color and to establish a theme for your design. When planting, use a mix of shapes and colors, choosing from both warm and cool shades for visual contrast.
Plants have a lot to offer your garden, from their structure and form to their function and aesthetic value. They can help protect your home, reduce energy costs by providing shade and lowering your need for air conditioning, and they can even attract wildlife!
While it’s true that not all plants are suitable for every location, there is always something to grow in the right place. The key is finding the best fit for the climate and soil conditions at your property. To do so, prepare a plot plan by mapping the area and note the environmental assets (such as sunlight or wind conditions) and constraints (like property lines or existing trees).
Landscaping involves both hardscape and softscape elements. The former refers to non-living, manmade components like paving materials, walkways, patios and walls while the latter includes all the botanical elements of your outdoor space, such as trees, shrubs, flowers and lawn. Incorporating a variety of plant species into your softscape helps ensure that there are always flowers in bloom, grasses growing thick and green and leaves changing to match the season.
It’s also important to consider your water usage when designing a landscape. You can reduce your reliance on irrigation systems by selecting drought-tolerant plants, scheduling your irrigation system efficiently and grouping plant species according to their water requirements. This type of landscaping is often referred to as xeriscaping and is an excellent option for areas with limited water resources.
Create a Focal Point
Focal points are a key element in any landscape design that can add structure and interest to your property. They create order and hierarchy and draw the eye around the landscape to ensure that it isn’t too chaotic or overwhelming. They are also a great way to draw attention to specific areas of your landscape, such as a flower garden or water feature.
They aren’t just limited to plant features either, they can include anything from a statue or sculpture, a large tree or boulder, a decorative trellis, or a seating area. Focal points should be strategically framed to maximize their impact and create an inviting space for guests to relax and take in the landscape. Adding contrasting colors, textures, and heights will help your focal point to stand out and catch the eye of anyone who walks through your yard. Using a wide range of plants can help you achieve this too, including both evergreen and deciduous varieties to provide year-round interest.
Creating pathways and walkways to your focal point can make it appear more inviting to those visiting your landscape as well. Choosing curved lines for your pathway can create an organic feel and give the eye a natural progression to your chosen destination, while straight lines can be more direct and structured. You can also use your lighting to create a more dramatic effect on your focal point, illuminating it to really bring out its best qualities and capture the eye of those visiting your home.
Regular lawn maintenance and seasonal additions can help your focal point stay vibrant throughout the year as it changes with the seasons. Adding fresh mulch or planting annual flowers is an easy and effective way to keep your focal point looking its best.
Plan for Movement
The way that you move around your landscape impacts the ways that you experience it. Having well-planned areas that encourage movement and provide access to different parts of your property will make your landscape more livable and lifestyle friendly. This can also help to improve the resale value of your home.
One example of this is adding a series of walkways that connect different parts of your yard. This can help to improve the flow of natural light throughout your yard, making it more visually appealing. Another example is incorporating decorative displays of seasonal flowers. These can give your landscape a more vibrant look, increasing its curb appeal and helping to attract attention from potential buyers.
A professional landscaper will also work with you to create safe walkways and driveways. This can include adding intuitive wayfinding features that direct people to safety zones, or installing landscaping lighting that improves visibility while highlighting the surrounding plants and hardscapes.
Landscaping is a time-consuming process, so it is important to plan ahead. It is best to start in the fall, when weather conditions are more suited to plant growth. This can allow your landscape to mature by the spring, making it ready for outdoor living and entertaining.
Once you have a good idea of what you want your landscape to look like, the next step is to create a base map. This can be done on paper or with an online program. On the base map, draw blobby areas (also known as bubble diagrams) to represent different features you want to add to your landscape. For instance, you might draw a circle for the kids’ swing set or a square to mark where you would like a new flowerbed. Then, for each of your ideas, create a bubble and label it with its intended function. This will help you create a cohesive design plan that incorporates each of your goals and needs.
Add Lighting
Landscape lighting adds to the beauty and usability of your home’s outdoor spaces. It highlights a variety of textures, height differences and other dynamic elements in plant beds while also providing safety by illuminating walkways and driveways. Proper maintenance of your lighting system can help it last longer and perform better.
For example, periodic cleaning can prevent dirt and debris from building up on fixtures, diminishing their brightness and efficiency. Changing bulbs on timers and adjusting them for daylight savings shifts can also help reduce energy usage. Smart home integration systems allow you to adjust lighting settings, schedules and colors with a touch of a button or voice command, increasing flexibility and convenience.
When installing a landscape lighting system, you’ll want to map out your design and identify fixture locations, ensuring uniform brightness throughout the area. Mark Piantedosi, owner of Commonwealth Landscape Lighting, recommends keeping light sources no closer than 20 feet apart to avoid glare and create pools of light that guide the eye.
Other landscape elements such as patios, pavers, retaining walls and stairs can be illuminated for both aesthetic and practical purposes. Uplighting emphasizes a textured surface such as stucco or brick, while wall washing highlights vertical surfaces such as fences, walls and flagpoles. Path lights can highlight dynamic elements like grasses and cacti and safely guide visitors to your door.
A well-designed and maintained landscape can have several health benefits, both physical and psychological. Research shows that exposure to greenery improves attention and memory, while walking through a garden reduces blood pressure and stress levels. It can also enhance your home’s value by improving curb appeal and increasing its marketability.