Basic Landscape Design Principles

May 8th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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Designing and installing an attractive landscape involves more than randomly planting colorful flowers and shrubs around your yard.  A beautiful landscape starts with a careful landscape design. Whether you plan to tackle the job yourself or to hire a landscaping professional, understanding the basic principles of landscape design will help you achieve the results you desire.

Keep in mind that these principles are guidelines rather than rules.  Ultimately, your landscape design should reflect your creative process and if you are happy with the results, then the project was a success.

Unity is an important element of any good landscape design.  There should be something that ties the project together.  It could be consistent use of color, height, shape, texture, or a theme that is reinforced throughout the design.

Most good landscape designs are simple.  Simplicity can be achieved by avoiding trying to do too much.  Cluttering up the landscape is distracting.  Try to stick with two or three colors and keep in mind that “less is more.”

You should work to achieve balance in your design.  Balance can be symmetrical such as equally sized shrubs on both sides of an entryway.  It can also be asymmetrical which is harder to achieve, but involves including similar elements of a design in differently shaped and sized garden beds on opposing sides of the landscape.

Smooth transitions from one element to the next create a pleasing landscape.  Abrupt changes should be avoided.  Instead, establish gradual transitions that lead the eye naturally from one element to the next.

Take care to ensure that your elements are in the proper proportion in relation to each other.  Hardscapes, waterscapes, and statuary should be in proper proportion to the area they are located.  Similarly, trees and shrubbery should be proportional to their location. They should be sized to create a pleasing relationship with their surroundings.

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Energy Efficient Landscaping

May 8th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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Did you know that you can reduce your home’s energy consumption for heating and cooling with a well-designed landscape?  When you think of reducing your heating and cooling costs, most homeowners naturally think of installing energy efficient air conditioning and heating systems and improving their home’s insulation and weather stripping.  However, according to the Department of Energy, landscaping is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling while providing other benefits to you and your community.

As few as three properly placed trees can reduce a household’s energy consumption by up to 25%.  With a savings of up to $250 per year, the average well-designed landscaping plan can pay for itself in less than 8 years and continue to provide savings for 20 to 30 years or more.

Deciduous (leaf shedding) trees are effective energy savers year round.  In the summer, the trees provides shade and evapotranspiration to keep the area around the trees cooler.  Studies have shown that well placed trees can reduce a home’s air conditioning costs by as much as 50%.

In the winter, the trees shed their leaves and admit sunshine and light to reduce heating and lighting costs.  The trees also block the wind which helps reduce the wind chill effect and reduces heating costs.  The combined beneficial effects of sunlight and windbreak can reduce heating costs by up to one third.

Proper landscape design is important for maximum energy savings.  Trees and other elements have to be placed where they will provide the most benefits. Talk to your landscaping professional about designing an energy efficient landscape for your home

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Eliminate Excess Water With a French Drain

April 24th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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Too much water around the foundation of your home can cause serious damage to the foundation and flooding of your basement or crawlspace.  In addition, poorly draining areas of your yard can result in soggy lawns and difficulty growing trees and shrubs due to excessive water around the roots.  Standing water is also a breeding ground for mosquitos and other insects.

Your landscape professional can help solve your drainage problems.  They can identify the source of the problem and suggest solutions such as grading your landscape to redirect water flow or installing drainage ditches or French drains.

A French drain is an effective drainage solution for many drainage problems.  A French drain is a sloping trench filled with gravel surrounding a perforated pipe.  A French drain can be very effective with only a slight slope.  A slope as little as one inch for every eight feet is enough.

French drains rely on the principle that water flows downhill and will always choose the easiest route.  Water flows easily through the gravel into the perforated pipe where it is directed to an appropriate area. By creating a sloping, easy route for water to travel, a French drain can be used to direct water away from your foundation and to drain low areas of your yard.

Shallow French drains can be used to drain low areas in the yard or areas where surface water accumulates.  Deeper French drains around foundations or behind retaining walls protect against water intrusion, erosion and hydraulic pressure.  Your landscaper can design and install a French drain to help solve your drainage problems.

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Planning Your Outdoor Lighting

March 28th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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Outdoor lighting is an important element of any Johans Creek, Georgia landscape design.  Outdoor lighting can add accents to your landscape, accentuate desired features, and contribute to safety.  Properly done, outdoor lighting adds beauty and value to your home.

Randomly adding lighting to your Johns Creek landscape rarely achieves optimal results.  There are many different types of lighting and to get the effect you want, you should consult with your landscape design contractor and create an integrated outdoor lighting plan.

Lighting effects can vary greatly depending on the type of light and the way it is used.  Lights angled upwards from below is called uplighting.  Downlighting and crosslighting are similar except that the lights are mounted to the sides or above and point across or down.  Accent lighting, silhouetting, shadowing, spread lighting, and graze lighting all have different effects and when skillfully employed, they create a unique look to your landscaping.

Lighting can also be used to light pathways, stairs, and entryways and to provide light and ambiance to outdoor entertainment areas.  Start your outdoor lighting plan by drawing a diagram of the layout of your landscaping.  Include your home and any outbuildings, shrubs, trees, gardens, flowerbeds, walkways, fences, driveways, hardscapes, waterscapes and outdoor entertainment areas.

As you and your landscape designer inspect your landscaping, add the light features you and your landscape designer determine will best achieve the results you desire to your drawing.  Once the type and location of all the fixtures have been identified, your Johns Creek landscape designers can help you determine where to run wiring and switch placement.

After installation is complete, you may need to make some adjustments and fine tuning to finally get the perfect outdoor lighting for your home.

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Why You Need a Professional Landscape Designer

March 28th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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Whether you are starting from scratch or modifying an existing Cumming, Georgia landscape, there are many reasons why you should use an experienced Cumming landscape designer or landscape architect for the design of your landscaping project. A beautiful landscape doesn’t happen by accident.  It needs to be carefully planned and properly executed to achieve the results you desire and to complement your home.

Trying to piecemeal your landscaping by adding a feature here, a garden there, and some trees and shrubs over there will result in a landscape that does not appear to be in harmony or that make the best use of your property.

Cumming landscape designers have the experience and training to design a complete landscaping plan that harmonizes beautifully and achieves the result you desire.  Some homeowners want the landscape to primarily provide aesthetic appeal.  Others want to incorporate outdoor living spaces and entertainment areas.  A good landscape designer will take your dreams and make them into reality.

There are also practical considerations for depending on a landscape designer.  Whatever your budget is, your landscape designer will be able to maximize your value while keeping your project under budget.  By planning and designing the project in advance, you will be able to control costs and ensure the completed project is within your budget.

Even more importantly, your landscape designer will be able to help you envision what the final result will look like.  Before the first shrub is planted, you will have a clear picture of how the finished project will appear.  You can avoid the disappointment of a look that is not quite right and cost of tearing out the landscaping and starting over by working with an experienced landscape designer on your next landscaping project.

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Choosing a Landscape Designer Or Landscape Architect

March 28th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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When it comes time to plan your Atlanta landscaping project, most homeowners will need a good Atlanta landscape design contractor or landscape architect for all but the simplest projects.  Adding some color to your flowerbeds or planting a tree doesn’t usually involve a redesign of your landscaping, but for a the design and installation of a harmonious landscape, you will need a landscape designer or landscape architect to handle the project.  Attempting to handle full landscaping project could turn out well, or the results may be disappointing.  Avoid disappointing results -  hire a professional landscape design contractor or landscape architect.

First you will need to decide whether you should hire a landscape designer or a landscape architect.  Landscape designers are very creative people who are excellent at taking a homeowner’s concept or idea and turning it into an attractive finished product.  They may or may not be college trained and their experience can vary widely.  There are no specific licensing requirements for landscape designers.

Landscape architects all have college degrees and are professionally licensed.  They have extensive training and education in landscape planning, drainage, and structural issues.  Hiring a landscape architect will be more expensive than a landscape designer, but if your project involves extensive grading, use of large retaining walls, and other heavy construction, you may be better off with a landscape architect.  For advice and consultation on planning and installing your landscape with relatively few structural issues, a landscape designer can probably do the job just as well but at a much lower cost.

Whether you choose a landscape architect or landscape designer, ask to see a few successful projects.  Do a drive by of these projects and see if the project appears to be well thought out and executed.  Every project is different and the designer or architect is working within the constraints of the client’s desires and budget, but you should be able to get an idea of whether the person has the talent needed to handle your project.

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Plan a New Landscape Design for the Spring

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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When it comes to landscape design, the only limitations are how much room you have and what you can afford. Waterfalls, fireplaces, ponds, fountains and lighting are all ways to turn a dull landscape into an exciting outdoor scene.

Of course, like most designs, you need to start off with a plan. You need to figure out what you want your backyard and/or front yard to look like. If you do not have any ideas or are unsure what will work best with the space you have, you can get assistance from a landscape design professional. They know how to achieve the look you want while keeping within your budget and your space. If you do have an idea of what you want, sketch it out if you can to make sure everything will look the way you want it to so you do not encounter a problem during the process.

One thing to remember is that you do not have to get fancy in your design. You can add one feature that you want to highlight and set your design around it. A water fountain is a great addition to a landscape because it provides a visual as well as the sound of water which many people find soothing. If you have a pool, you can work your design around that. Find a focal point and use that for your design.

Do not forget that your choice of plants, trees, and flowers are also important. But do not overpower your design with too much. Some of the most elegant landscape designs are the ones that are kept simple. By adding stones, bricks or pavers, you can create an expensive look while still keeping within your budget. Just be sure to start off with a plan. After that, the sky’s the limit.

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The Critical Need For Landscape Design

February 28th, 2012 Posted in Landscape Design
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You wouldn’t think of beginning to build your home without first having the plans drawn up that show the full scope of the completed project, yet that is how many people approach their landscaping. They create a patio, a pathway or flower garden without having mapped out how that one piece fits into their existing landscape and what they may plan to add in the future. A professional landscape design will provide that comprehensive look at your outdoor space and accomplish much more besides.

A truly professional landscape plan will look at things like grading to allow for proper drainage away from the home, screening along property lines, outdoor lighting and how your family intends to use its outdoor spaces for entertaining and recreation. In addition, an experienced landscape design contractor will suggest layouts and vegetation that will allow your nurtured landscape to blend with the natural surroundings and provide additional curb appeal to the exterior of your home.

Landscape designers also work with the selection of shrubs, trees and flowering plants to make sure that your landscape includes varieties that are appropriate for your climate and that each variety is placed in an area of your landscape where it will thrive the best. Color and foliage or blooming times will also be taken into consideration so that your outdoor space looks its best in every season of the year.

All these areas should be considered, along with the integration of the irrigation system, water features and any existing trees on the property before you begin the work of landscaping around your home. The final result will be a landscape that flows together with a natural beauty and a functional layout for your outdoor space.

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Comparing Landscaping Estimates

February 28th, 2011 Posted in Landscape Design
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For routine landscaping work, hiring a reputable landscaper that you are comfortable with will usually give you a good result at a fair price.  But if you are planning a major landscaping project, it’s a good practice to obtain estimates for the work from several landscaping professionals prior to selecting the landscaper to do the work.

The process of obtaining estimates can help you evaluate the landscaper, define the scope of the project, and ensure that you get top quality work for a reasonable price.  You also get the benefit of getting input from each landscaper as to what approach they would take to compete the landscaping project and any ideas or suggestions they may have.

The first step in comparing estimates is to make sure that they cover the entire job.  Each estimate should have a breakdown of the cost of materials and labor, and provide for clean up and disposal of waste and the cost of obtaining any necessary permits.  For any estimate that is missing some part of the job, you will need to either make an adjustment or get a new, more complete estimate from that landscape contractor.

Next you should compare the cost of materials and labor.  Be sure the estimate provides for sufficient materials and that they are of similar quality.  Labor costs can vary somewhat, but you want to make sure that each landscaper has budgeted some amount for skilled, experienced labor. Some unskilled labor is OK with landscaping, but you don’t want the entire crew learning the job on your project.

Once you have compared all of the estimates and made any necessary adjustments, you are ready to choose the landscaping professional for your project.

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Planning Your Landscaping Project

February 20th, 2011 Posted in Landscape Design
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A well designed and executed landscaping plan will add visual appeal and value to your home while providing you and your family with a beautiful area for entertaining, relaxing, and recreation.   Whether you are starting from scratch with a bare yard or redesigning an existing landscaping, before you purchase the first shrub or flower you need to take stock of what you have and design a master plan for the entire yard.

Some people think of landscaping as a work in progress as they complete a component of their landscape design every few weeks or months until eventually the plan is completed.  Others take the plunge and complete the entire landscaping plan in one continuous effort.  Either way, you need a plan before you start so that the result will be a beautiful, unified landscape instead of just a bunch of plants and shrubs you bought at the local home improvement store.

When you are creating your master plan, you should draw a rough sketch of your entire yard and include each of the landscaping elements you plan to incorporate.  Try to draw the sketch to scale as much as possible.  It will help you visualize how the finished product will look and can reveal flaws in the plan such a swimming pool that is too big or a tree in the wrong place.  These flaws are much easier to correct on paper than halfway through your landscaping project. 

To get ideas for your project, you can find books and magazines at home improvement stores, peruse the internet, or look around friends and neighbors’ yards that you find attractive.  At any point in the project, consider consulting with a landscaping professional.  They can help with the design of the plan and the installation of some or all of the elements.

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