The Beginner’s Guide to Landscaping Design: 7 Tips for New Homeowners

Published on: 06 June 2019 Last Updated on: 12 September 2024
Landscaping Design

Buying a new home has to be one of your greatest achievements. But with owning a new home comes a lot of responsibility. Aside from the renovations and paintings, you surely can’t forget your garden. After all, people do first see the exterior before actually entering your home. And you want a stunning yard that matches your exquisite interior, right?

If you’re new to landscape design, you might find the whole process intimidating. But we’re here to assure you that the creativity you displayed when arranging your rooms, is the same you can use outdoors. Below are a few ideas.

What are Your Needs as a Family?

You need to establish what your landscaping needs are as a family. Do you have any young children? If yes, then you need to ensure that you make provision for a kids’ play area. You don’t want all the space to be taken up by flowers, fountains, and trees.

Do you plan on doing a lot of gardening? Then you’ll have to create ample space for your gardening projects.

Use the Correct Equipment

landscaping equipments

Make sure you use the correct equipment for the job. You may be a DIY lover, but chances are you may not have the right equipment to undertake the necessary project. This is when you can consider equipment hire.

Seek the advice of reputable manufacturers to give you the best advice regarding the type of equipment you’ll need for a particular project.

Location is Important

The next thing you need to do is to determine the location where you want to place your different features:

  • Where do you want your fountain to be?
  • Do you want in a central position?
  • Where will you place your patio?

Before picking a specific location, it’s important to consider the weather and sun elements. Do you prefer having sundowners on your patio as the sun is going down? It’s a wise idea to first study how the position of the sun changes throughout the day. This way you’ll know where exactly to position your patio.

You Can’t Do It All at Once

It’s important to remember that the landscaping design process takes time. You certainly can’t achieve your desired landscape vision in as little as three days. So why not take it one step at a time? Start with a small bed of flowers then move on to the bigger tasks like creating a fountain. Creating several goals will let the project seem less overwhelming, especially if you’re doing this for the first time.

Establish a Focal Point

When it comes to landscaping, it’s important that you establish the area where you want to draw attention to. Rather than going about it in a haphazard manner, why not add a few stunning items to shift the focus to. You can incorporate the following ideas:

  • Adding a stunning piece of sculpture
  • An exotic plant
  • A bunch of bright and beautiful colors
  • An eye-catching pavement
  • Terraced stone steps

Coordination is Important

You may probably have many ideas regarding what you want your yard to look like. But what’s important is to make sure that everything is coordinated to avoid your backyard from looking chaotic.

You want to end up with a well put together look and you can try the following to achieve that:

  • Design experts say that there’s something attractive about coordinating different shapes and sizes. This means you should avoid planting plants of the same size throughout your yard. Why not place tall plants behind a flat flower bed?
  • You can also create a footpath that features a stunning combination of granite and marble.
  • Make sure you have a theme in mind with regards to the color and type of flowers you use. This means you must ensure that you repeat certain colors and plants throughout your yard to achieve a coordinated look.

But while coordination is important, the last thing you want is to make your yard monotonous. Here you can consider adding some unique pieces that are totally unique so that they can stand out. This can include anything from:

  • Fire Pits
  • Outdoor showers
  • Stone fireplaces

Budget-Friendly Plants

You don’t always need to spend a lot of money to design your garden area or front porch. To save on costs while creating a stunning yard, you can incorporate the following ideas:

  • Opting for heat tolerant plants that won’t wither away prematurely after being exposed o extreme heat.
  • Purchase plants that have low water requirements. In other words, opt for plants that don’t need regular maintenance like watering. These types of plants will definitely last you longer than some others.
  • Install pavers in the middle of your lawn. This means you don’t have to water as much of the surface area.

Final Words:

We’re certain the above-mentioned tips will give you the head start you need to embark on your landscaping journey with a positive mindset. Always remember that landscaping takes time, so a lot of patience is required on your part.

Also, your tastes and preferences are likely to change as time goes by. A plant you thought was beautiful when you planted it may not look so appealing after a few months—and that’s okay. Be open to change and enjoy gardening for as long as you have the pleasure of staying there.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Content Rally

How to Bring Summer into Your Space

With the winter far behind us and the cheating half-rainy half-sunny spring about to leave, it’s finally time to welcome the most beloved season of all – the summer. Although this is the period when we spend most of our time outside, it would only be fair to show our house some sweet summer love and refresh it with joyful and bright elements. For too long your home has been burdened with heavy fabrics, shut windows, heating systems, and all the other remnants of the harsh winter. It’s the time to bring spring cleaning to shame, by giving your house a complete summer facelift. Here are a couple of tips that should help you to do that. De-Cluttering Summer does not stand layers and clutter, not in clothes and surely not in the house. So, just like your summer outfits are lightweight and minimalistic, your home décor should also be. One way of de-cluttering is to get all the stuff out, and then put back in just the things you need. If your home is not that burdened with clutter, you can just remove the items you don’t need, or store them into boxes, bins, etc. Deep Cleaning If deep cleaning was not a part of your spring endeavor, then you should consider doing it now, so that your home would be fresh and breezy. Some of the things/places that should be deep cleaned are under the sink, oven racks, the oven, the freezer, the curtains, the carpets, the windows, and the furniture. When cleaning the windows, do not forget to clean the blinds too. Don’t use harsh chemicals. Most of the cleaning can be done with DIY cleansers (baking soda, vinegar, lemon, etc.). The carpets and furniture can be cleansed with steam vacuums, so you don’t spread dirt and allergens throughout the air. Getting Rid of the Wintery Fabrics The last things you want to look at in your home are layers of heavy and dark fabrics and textures. Replace them with lightweight materials (e.g. heavy drapes with sheer curtains). Get rid of blankets and knitted items. If you have to cover your furniture, use slip-covers in light summery colors. Letting the Air and the Light In This is easy – just open your windows and let some air in. Remove curtains for a day or two, just to allow clear passage to sunlight. Afterward, you can use the sheer curtain so that you always have sufficient light. Seasonal Products as Decorative Elements If someone were to ask us what is the most beautiful thing about summer, we would instantly reply strawberries (well, right after the beach). So use them and other fruits and vegetables as home décor. Arrange some colorful fruits and vegetables in baskets and bowls and use them as centerpieces. Fresh flowers are a great alternative. Grow Fresh Herbs There is nothing more delicious than fresh basil in a salad or on a homemade pizza. So, get creative and make yourself a wall-mounted container garden, where you will be able to plant and plunk herbs. Not only will you add a touch of greenery into your space, but you will always have fresh herbs within your reach. Outdoor to Indoor Create a connection between outdoor and indoor by adding some elements you would normally use on your terrace or in the backyard, such as a jute area rug, plants (palms, bamboo, etc.), and some cane and wicker furniture. Pops of Color Summer home décor is not as hard to pull off as you might think, basically everything is the same as in fashion. Think about styling your outfit with a colorful accessory, and translate that into your home by adding pops of color in each room. Those can be vases, bed coverings, curtains, rugs, etc. You can start small by adding subtle summer shades like an orange rug in the living room or a teal table runner in the dining room to add a summery pop of color to your home. Pantry and Refrigerator Do-Over Here, you really need to give it your best shot. First, get everything outside the fridge and pantry, check the labels for expired items and throw them away. Also, if some products have been opened and not used for an extended period, you should throw them away, even if the expiration date isn’t due yet.  Once you are done, put everything back, but arrange the products into groups and types (e.g. dairy goes in the door, cheeses on the upper shelf, meat products on the lower, etc.). Turn all labels facing out, so that you could always see which product you are taking and is it expired. Summery Scents All-Around Start with your skincare and hygiene products. Replace the wintery aromas of chocolate, milk, honey, etc. with refreshing scents of fruits and flowers. Move on to air fresheners throughout the house. Go fully natural with homemade fresheners. Some of the common ingredients are lemon, rosemary, orange peel, essential oils, lavender, basil, etc. As you can see, summer is not reserved exclusively for the outdoors. If you try, you can bring it inside your home. Spring cleaning is so last season. Read More: How To Choose The Right Containers For Your Container Garden Grow These Flowering Plants In Your Home Garden To Remove Vastu Related Problems 3 Amazing Flower Street Garden – How To Design

READ MOREDetails
Advantages of Autumn Weather To Replace Your Windows In Etobicoke

5 Advantages Of Autumn Weather To Replace Your Windows In Etobicoke

Ontario's need for windows and doors services from Vinyl Light are growing yearly. A great number of requests are coming for window replacement Etobicoke area. Etobicoke and its surroundings often need new window installation for newly built houses and older homes with poorly maintained windows. Government rebates for energy-efficient home improvements, such as vinyl windows and sliding door replacements, may also affect the windows and doors market. Homeowners are often more inclined to invest in these renovations when there are such financial incentives available. Autumn in Etobicoke may be the ideal time of the year to replace windows for a variety of reasons, such as: Autumn Brings Increased Energy Efficiency  New windows have the potential to significantly improve your home's energy efficiency by sealing off air leaks and drafts. Replacing your windows in autumn can better prepare you for the harsh winter months. As a result, your family may be more comfortable and you may spend less on heating. Increased Coziness In Autumn Replacing your windows in autumn can increase the comfort of your house by eliminating drafts and ensuring a consistent interior temperature. You'll immediately notice the difference and be better prepared for the winter. Extended-Term Strategy Replacing your windows in the fall will help prepare your home for the impending winter. You'll feel better knowing that your Vinyl Light windows are well-maintained and ready to survive the harsh Canadian winters. Autumn Window Replacement In Etobicoke Will Have An Improved Curb Appeal Your house can appear more appealing from the outside with new windows. You can prepare your Etobicoke home for the holidays and ensure that it looks good for visitors and potential buyers should you ever decide to sell it in autumn. Autumn Availability And Installation Scheduling Fall is a slightly slower time of year for window replacement companies because it occurs in between the busiest months of the year, which are summer and winter. This makes it more likely that you will be able to discover an installation date that fits within your timetable. Here are even more reasons why to replace your windows in fall: Autumn UV Protection Role Sun in autumn can still be rather intense, and new windows can provide better protection from UV rays. This keeps your furniture and floors from deteriorating and also improves the indoor air quality. Increased Coziness In Autumn Replacing your windows in the autumn can increase the comfort of your house by eliminating drafts and ensuring a consistent interior temperature. You'll immediately notice the difference and be better prepared for the winter. Learn More About: Additional Ways to Keep Your Home Warm 5 Tips to Safeguard Your Home From Intruders How To Install Artificial Grass In Your Garden – Installation Guide Step By Step

READ MOREDetails
Water Filter Pitcher

The 5 Best Brita Alternatives For Water Filter Pitchers

A water filter pitcher is something everyone should have in their home. It’s one of the simplest ways to guarantee that the water you’re drinking is clean, safe, and deliciously chilled. Unfortunately, getting a great water filter pitcher isn’t as easy as you might think. Popular brands like Brita do a great job of filtering out substances like chlorine thanks to their activated carbon filters; however, they’re far from comprehensive. The fact is, mass-produced, store-bought water filtration systems are a far cry from true filtration options. They’re limited by their simple filter media and only work when it comes to high-turbidity contamination—lots of suspended solids. These filters do almost nothing to neutralize VOCs or microbiological threats. If you’re on the lookout for a water filter pitcher, you can do better than Brita. Here are a few of the best Brita alternatives for water filter pitchers and why they’re worth the investment. 1. Aquaspace® Carafe® Pitchers You might not even need to finish this list, because we’ve put the very best Brita alternative front and center, right at the top. There’s simply no beating the performance of Aquaspace® Carafe® Pitchers! Not only are there options for specific filtration such as fluoride, but there are also alkaline options for those who prefer the benefits of water with a slightly higher pH. The specifications of these filters are second-to-none when it comes to filtration capabilities. First, there’s an amazing 500-gallon capacity on Aquaspace® filters—as opposed to a meager 40 gallons on most Brita systems. On top of this, there’s filtration power to consider. The Aquaspace® filter goes above and beyond any activated carbon filter, to deliver comprehensive filtration that spans both organic and inorganic compounds. Need more proof that Aquaspace® comes out on top? Look at the pour-through funnel to the filter media, which ensures powerful filtration, instead of pass-through sieve filtration. If you’re going to spend the money on a water filter pitcher, there are few better options than Aquaspace®. 2. Pūr Classic 11-Cup Pitcher One of the competitors to Brita that you’re likely to find in stores is Pūr. This brand is mass produced, but its filter media is a step above others on the market. It doesn’t just rely on activated carbon media; its MAXION® filter technology also addresses pharmaceuticals and industrial pollutants to provide a more encompassing level of cleanliness to water. Like other store-bought filters, Pūr has some bells and whistles that make it worth looking at—including the LED filter indicator. While the filter lifespan is only a meager 40 gallons, an LED reminder will let you know when it’s time to swap in new media. Moreover, the filters themselves are relatively inexpensive. One of the best things about this water filter pitcher is its convenience. It has a relatively low cost of ownership and is easy to fill, pour and clean. It’s also BPA-free. If you’re shopping in-store, it’s hard to do better than Pūr. 3. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter If price isn’t an option, the Travel Berkey Water Filter is worth a look. We’re not kidding when we say it’s pricey, though—you’re looking at a $250 purchase price and $120 replacement filters. If you’re reading this aghast, take a moment to consider the benefits. First off, the Travel Berkey Water Filter and its filtration media will cleanse up to 6,000 gallons before you need to replace the filters. This is enough to justify the cost of the filters themselves. As for the cost of the unit, it’s probably the most well-made on this list and features stainless steel that’ll last you a lifetime. The system itself is also a gravity-fed setup, which means you can expect superb filtration and extremely clean drinking water. Outfitted with the right filters, it’ll eliminate just about any contaminants in your water, including arsenic. The downfall of this system? Well, it’s not exactly a pitcher and you can’t keep it in the fridge. It’s meant as a countertop option that holds 1.5 gallons, which makes it equally as convenient. 4. ZeroWater 6-Cup Pitcher If you live in an area with heavy lead content in the water supply, this pitcher is an upgrade over Brita filters. While it only boasts a 6-cup capacity, the filtration power of the ZeroWater filter pitcher is well-worth the extremely affordable $20 price tag. Thanks to its five-stage filtration capabilities, this pitcher does what only activated carbon filters can’t. Aside from the usual hard water culprits, this system also filters out compounds like fluoride, nitrates and other inorganics. This, in conjunction with its ability to filter out most unwanted organic compounds like arsenic and mercury. It’s one of the best filtration systems for the cost. The unfortunate aspect of the ZeroWater filter pitcher is its 20-gallon filter lifespan. If you’re relying on it frequently, you could end up spending a fortune in filter replacement costs. This is an option best left for those who also have some point-of-use filtration system. 5. Clearly Filtered 10-Cup Pitcher While its claim of being “the most powerful water pitcher on the market,” might be a little dubious, the Clearly Filtered pitcher is certainly a leader in its class. Sure, you’re going to spend more than the off-the-shelf filters on this list, but you’ll also get better performance. First, you’ll love the 100-gallon filter capacity on this model. This, in combination with its powerful filtration capabilities, makes it a great everyday option. Its 10-cup capacity means you’ll need to replace the filter roughly every 10 times you refill it. When it comes to filtration quality, expect this system to remove more than 230 unwanted organics and inorganics, including fluoride, lead, plastics, hormones, and more. It’s a truly encompassing filtration option. The only real downfall of this pitcher is that it’s a bit bulky and can be difficult to fit into a small fridge. Replacement filters aren’t cheap, either ($50), but they do offer good value thanks to their longevity. Pay Attention to Pitcher Performance When selecting a water filter pitcher, the best way to understand what you’re getting for your money is to look at the specifications of the product. What type of filter media does it use? How quickly does it filter? What’s the filter lifespan? These factors all matter when it comes to the clarity and safety of your water. At the end of the day, a water filter pitcher is all about convenience—and health. When you pull that pitcher out of the fridge and pour yourself a refreshing glass of crisp, cool water, you should be able to enjoy every sip. It starts by having confidence in the filter pitcher you’ve chosen. Looking for the best water filter pitcher available on the market? Look to Aquaspace for all your filtration needs! Read Also: How Many Jobs Are Available In Real Estate Investment Trusts? 2021 0123Putlockers And Servers – Watch Movies Online

READ MOREDetails