Backyard Landscape Plan - Think About Your Family's Lifestyle First

!±8± Backyard Landscape Plan - Think About Your Family's Lifestyle First

If you've been considering changing you're home's landscaping, don't forget to consider your family's lifestyle as you create your initial plans. Everyone's routines and daily activities need to be considered before you make any significant changes.

For instance, if you put a flowerbed or shrub in the middle of your backyard, will that hinder your children from playing various games? You want to encourage your kids to play at home and to invite their friends to join them, so it's important not to do anything that will adversely affect the space where they usually play.

Another example would be planting a shrub along a route that someone in the family likes to walk on a regular basis. It can be something as simple as the route to the mailbox, or something as elaborate as a path that someone likes to walk every afternoon to commune with nature. Either way, planting something that alters their enjoyment of that simple routine wouldn't be a good idea.

Consider Benefits in Relation to Expense

You may also want to consider what adding a particular landscaping element would do to enhance your family's living experience. Would adding a hot tub to a proposed new deck be something the family would use enough to justify its expense, or would it be enough just to add the deck and use it for barbecuing and getting together with friends?

Plan Ahead

You might also think about future additions to the family when making your landscaping plans. For example, even though your own children have grown up and moved out of the house, you might think about adding a sandbox to your landscaping project, so your grandchildren will have a place to play when they visit over the weekend.

As you think about what you might like to incorporate into your new landscaping project, it's a good idea to start keeping a folder where you can stuff pictures or ideas. You might also want to keep a journal, jotting down ideas of possible additions that come to you from time to time. When you finally sit down to create your formal plan, you can dig these out, and you may be surprised at some of the things that caught your imagination as you mulled over your landscaping project.

Regardless of what you finally decide to include in your landscape remodeling project, it's important that everyone in the household be considered. It's their home, too, and they have the right to be given the maximum amount of opportunity to enjoy it.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Backyard Landscape Plan - Think About Your Family's Lifestyle First

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Stand Alone Landscape Design Elements

!±8± Stand Alone Landscape Design Elements

When designing a landscape or garden, most folks tend to consider the details only after the shape and plantings have been defined. Considering some of your details, accents, and decor through the entire design process can help you figure out how to use your spaces in tasteful ways. Adding focal points and decor accents will often also create a need for more design spaces.

Miscellaneous Focal Points - sundials, outdoor fireplaces, mailboxes, garden carts, sculptures, lamp posts, benches, weathervanes, chimenea, wagon wheels, & more: Focal points not only guide the eye near or far, they can create a sense of depth, fill in a 'don't know what to do here' spot, and become beautiful and/or useful components in your yard. Use your imagination to extend past simply functional items: a partially embedded wagon wheels provides a rustic backdrop for a mini-garden as well as a place for flowering vines to thrive. A wooden or wicker bench in front of a water feature or in the shade offers a separate outdoor area while complementing the whole. An old garden cart can be used as a planter... you get the idea.

Ornamental Boulders: Large boulders can be used effectively as an accent. They are attractive when interrupting the edging of beds or walks and when included in Japanese garden and in berms. Try for boulders that exhibit unique character: unusual shapes, coloring, or edges that will complement your gardening scheme. Partially embed boulders in the soil for a more natural effect rather than simply sitting them on the ground.

Patios and Decks: Patios can provide a perfect solution for private relaxation or for entertaining. A favorite of many people is using flagstone. The pieces should be spaced so that groundcover plantings or sod can be planted between the stone. Other patios that work can range from brick type pavers, exposed aggregate concrete, concrete created with a pattern and/or colored, and square concrete pavers placed within timber borders. With decking, choose a shape and style that will complement your home, landscape, and personal needs. Ask our experts for advice on the shape, materials, and style features that will best suit you.

Pergolas, Gazebos, and Lanais: In sunny areas, structures that provide a bit of overhead shade shelter are as functional as they are lovely. While offering comfort from the heat, they are also good props for hanging plants and climbing flowers and vines. Usually made of wood, pergolas and lanais are most often added above patios and have lattice work overhead so that sunlight can filter through. A gazebos can be used as a focal point while providing a wonderful, stand-alone option that create a private, special garden spot for sitting, dining, or relaxing.

As always, be sure to include design elements that you love and that will complement your desired overall effect and goals.

Stand Alone Landscape Design Elements

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