If you have a new house, you might be looking at developing your yard area. One of your first considerations will probably be the size and shape of your lawn. Once you have laid some new roll-on turf your yard may still look a bit unfinished, and you might decide to add a few more landscaping ideas.
While the shape and size of your lawn is probably the most important consideration, you should think about what other features you want your yard to have. Things like rock walls or water fountains can be interesting additions to your garden, and you should definitely consider adding some edible plants or fruit trees.
Some great landscaping ideas for a perfect new garden include:
When it comes to landscape design, your options are almost endless. There are many, many things that you can include to improve both your life and the lives of your friends and family. One of the most popular garden design features for people living in hot climates is the swimming pool.
Pools are a great place for socialising, relaxing, and cooling off in the summer months. If you have the space and budget for a pool, you should definitely consider installing one in your new garden. Some of the reasons why you should add a pool to your landscape design include:
Pools are great for outdoor activities:
If you are an outdoorsy person who enjoys spending time in the sun, then a pool will be perfect for you. They are a great place for entertaining visitors, for socialising with friends, or even for having some fun with your pets. If you enjoy outdoor activities, then make sure that you include a pool in your landscape design!
Pools can create their own microclimates:
Depending on how you set it up, a backyard pool can help keep the whole area cooler. Many people plant a lush garden around their pool, which often contributed to shading the area and keeping you out of direct sunlight. Others choose to cover their pool with some sort of shade structure. In this case, the shading will help keep the surrounding air fresh and cool, helping you relax on a warm summer’s day. Note that you shouldn’t plant things too close to the pool, of they may intrude and make the water dirty.
Unless you have some sort of background in landscaping, designing your own garden or backyard can be slightly difficult. While a lot of people choose to use landscape designers, for this very reason, some people don’t. Some people can’t afford to use a qualified landscaper, while others simply look forward to the challenge of designing their own garden.
One of the most important things to consider when designing your own garden is your climate. You need to do a lot of research into what sort of climate you have – especially if you are new to an area – and what sort of plants grow well in that climate. Planning well before you start landscaping will save you a lot of time and money, and will make sure that your garden looks great year round!
Consider the following things when trying to design a garden that is right for your climate:
Your temperature range:
Obviously, one of the most important things to consider is how hot or cold it gets where you live. A lot of places have very high summer temperatures, which can severely limit what sort of plants you can grow. In the same way, anywhere with snow or regular below freezing temperatures is not going to be a good place to plant warm weather plants. If you aren’t sure what sort of plants are good for the temperature range you experience, talk to your local nursery or gardening store.
Landscape designers throughout the world are beginning to use artificial turf more and more regularly, especially in tough climates. Although traditional lawns are still widespread, artificial turf has a number of benefits which make it the favoured choice, especially for people who don’t have a lot of time or money to spend on lawn maintenance.
What is artificial turf?
Basically, artificial turf is fake grass. It is usually made to look and feel as much like real grass as possible, which is one of the reasons why it is rapidly growing in popularity. Although it’s usually made of some sort of plastic or synthetic material, it is often more environmentally friendly and a better option than real grass.
What are the benefits of using artificial turf in harsh environments?
Artificial turf is becoming a favourite for landscape designers who work in Australia’s harsh conditions. Unfortunately, regular grass needs a lot of maintenance to look good when it is hot and dry – like in the Australian summer – which means that it often isn’t a logical choice. Some of the benefits of using artificial turf include:
If you are building a new home or renovating an existing home, you may decide to take your improvements outside. Landscape design is a fun and interesting process, one which the whole family can participate in.
There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to designing your own backyard. Thinking about new infrastructure, what plants to include, and where to put everything can sometimes seem like too much. However, if you take things one step at a time, things should get a lot easier.
Why should you include native plants in your landscape design?
Australia’s climate can be tough, hot, and dry. Most overseas plants are not well adapted to our conditions, and they can therefore struggle. Australian natives have all the right characteristics to make the perfect low maintenance garden plant. They are often drought resistant, hardy, and are not harmed by a lot of native insects that can destroy common garden plants. Out top five natives to include in your garden include:
Eucalyptus:
Eucalyptus trees, or gum trees, are becoming more and more common in gardens throughout the world. Although a lot of Eucalyptus species are quite large, there are a variety of small flowering species which are perfectly suited to be the centerpiece of your garden. If possible, go for something which won’t grow too high, which has nice flowers, and which is suited to your climate.
Bottlebrush:
The bottlebrush is one of Australia’s most iconic plants, with its unique flowers and vibrant colours. If you are looking for a nice flowering native to put in your new garden, then the bottlebrush should be at the top of your list. Not only do they look great, but they attract a variety of native wildlife as well.
