Every year, Americans spend more than $80 billion on landscaping services. Building your dream home comes first, of course, and then it’s time to work on lawn and patio projects in your front and back yards. What experts are seeing is a new trend toward “hardscaping,” a term that refers to concrete or wooden outbuildings on homeowner’s property. Why waste time transporting a propane grill back and forth when you can install a permanent concrete grill that’s double the size? Homeowners who do a lot of entertaining need much larger grilling space, and may want to have contractors install built-in seating and outdoor walkways. What would your ideal backyard look like?
The first step toward designing the perfect backyard is to think about how many people will eventually need to be seated when you have a party. Luxury landscape design pros recommend carving your backyard into several outdoor living spaces, also known as entertainment zones. You’re going to need outdoor walkways, at least one deck, and a kitchen area close to the swimming pool and hot tub. LED lighting ideas for luxury landscape design can help bring a warmth to your backyard parties. Guests want to have places to sit, landscaping to admire, and easy access to swimming pools and outdoor kitchen areas.
Even if you don’t entertain too often, having a beautifully landscaped backyard can work to lower stress and to improve heart health. Experts say that spending time contemplating beautiful gardens and unique hardscapes like gazebos or ornate fences can immediately lower our “fight or flight” response. Natural beauty has an incredibly calming effect that homeowners who invest in outdoor landscaping services may find themselves able to reduce or eliminate their heart medication. Recent studies also show that children who grow up with a strong relationship to the outdoors make more effective leaders and develop fewer health issues as they get older.
At a loss for landscape planting ideas? You should find your local greenhouse store and talk to them. Do you want big swaths of color? Perhaps you should buy several varieties of lavender for their beautiful purple color and soothing smell. When the growing season ends, you can harvest the lavender and dry it in bunches; your home’s interior will smell wonderful throughout the winter. Are your landscape planting ideas more formal? Some homeowners prefer to plant ornamental shrubbery that they can sculpt: conical and spherical shrubbery can lend a majestic air to a formal garden. There are software programs available that allow you to see what your garden could look like; if you don’t like the look of a plan, erase it and start over.
For some homeowners, the best landscape planting ideas are the ones that involve birds and butterflies. There are specific plants that attract butterflies: red, yellow, and pink flowers are very tempting to butterflies on a migratory path. Home gardening experts also note that butterflies love plants that are indigenous to your local area; make sure to incorporate flat rocks for them to land on and rest. Outdoor living spaces are so much happier with hummingbirds. Hang a container of brightly colored sugar water for hummingbirds: you can find the container online and install it in just a few minutes. Once hummingbirds know that you have food for them, you should start to see them regularly.
Talk to gardening experts about your landscape planting ideas: you are only bounded by your imagination. Some homeowners prefer to plant xeriscapes, which are dry gardens. Rocks, stones, and cactus plants are what they require to feel relaxed and happy. Other homeowners are only content when they are surrounded by a wild rainbow of flowers: that’s fine as well. You can do whatever you want in your own backyard, from flowers to vegetables to succulent plants: gardening experts are ready to help you make your outdoor dreams come true.