Every new gardener wonders how to be their own landscape designer. Stop being overwhelmed and start getting simple instructions with Home Landscaping, a photographed guide to yard planning by Creative Homeowner.
Yard Planning
All good things begin with a plan. In order to be happy with gardening results, it's best to map things out in advance. This chapter will help to create a master plan, and develop an overall landscape design.
Remember to make a plan that includes the following:
- Lot Boundaries
- Underground Utilities
- Overhead wires
- Slopes
- Downspouts
- Puddles
- Erosion
- Solar outdoor lighting
- Both undesirable and desirable views
- Existing trees and garden plantings
Soil Preparation and Site Planning
Learning to examine the soil can make the difference between starting out successfully or fighting a frustrating failure. Learn about soil improvements, drainage, how to create a terrace, provide irrigation and add attractive outdoor lighting.
Designing Walls and Fences
Create privacy and separation in a garden by designing walls and fences that work for the space. Add gates and trellises for beauty and function. Whether done by a professional or attempted alone, this informative chapter will keep mistakes to a minimum. Remember to consider pool fence design or a dog fence.
Trees and Shrubs
Planting trees and shrubs are often overlooked by new gardeners, but their long-term effects can have the most impact on a yard. Learn about pruning, how to choose the best trees and shrubs, planning for seasonal effect, adding hedges, purchasing tips, caring for new plants and the proper way to stake.
Lawn Care
Learn to plan or renovate a lawn, add ground cover, and maintain an established lawn.
All About Flowers
Add beauty to a yard with flowers, including a clipping garden that can benefit an indoor landscape as well. Add borders and beds, design with perennials, supplement with annuals, design with bulbs and care for flower gardens.
Special attention is given to:
- Adding borders and beds that are fragrant and colorful
- Gathering plants that will make an attractive border
- How to design a border with the proper height, color and bloom
- Sample plans and perennial borders
Garden Design Basics
Getting started when presented with a blank landscape can be overwhelming to a new gardener. Many garden books are too all-encompassing to be helpful to the beginner. Home Landscaping is an excellent choice for creating a basic garden design. New home gardeners can benefit from the easy-start methods described in this gardening guide.
Summary
Home Landscaping appears light in size, but that is a good thing for new gardeners who can be easily overwhelmed with hefty gardening tombs. This sleek 96-page guide to landscaping covers a lot of ground with many helpful pictures, useful sidebars and how-to diagrams.
Title: Home Landscaping
Author: Creative Homeowner Editors
Publisher: Creative Homeowner, 96 pgs., $10.95
ISBN: 978-1-58011-421-9
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