Modern Landscaping Tips

Modern​ ​Landscaping​ ​Tips Ross​ ​Causey

The​ ​best​ ​landscape​ ​considers​ ​the​ ​architectural​ ​style​ ​of​ ​your​ ​house​ ​and​ ​integrates​ ​that look​ ​and​ ​ambience​ ​into​ ​the​ ​front-yard​ ​design.​ ​ ​ ​A​ ​perfect​ ​landscape​ ​is​ ​really​ ​about balance​ ​and​ ​harmony.​ ​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​never​ ​plant​ ​clipped​ ​and​ ​manicured​ ​hedges alongside​ ​freely​ ​growing​ ​patches​ ​of​ ​wildflowers​ ​because​ ​one​ ​will​ ​look​ ​out​ ​of​ ​place​ ​in​ ​this clash​ ​of​ ​opposites.​ ​This​ ​set​ ​of​​ ​landscaping​ ​tips​​ ​then​ ​basically​ ​exhorts​ ​homeowners​ ​keep landscaping​ ​elements​ ​in​ ​harmony​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​using​ ​considerations​ ​of​ ​size,​ ​shape, color,​ ​texture,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​characteristics.

It’s​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​landscape​ ​that​ ​considers​ ​the​ ​view​ ​of​ ​and​ ​from​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​shade, balance,​ ​and​ ​harmony​ ​with​ ​other​ ​plants​ ​when​ ​mapping​ ​out​ ​where​ ​to​ ​plant​ ​trees.​ ​ ​Which particular​ ​area​ ​of​ ​the​ ​landscaped​ ​yard​ ​to​ ​place​ ​or​ ​plant​ ​the​ ​trees​ ​is​ ​important.​ ​You​ ​can do​ ​no​ ​wrong​ ​by​ ​doing​ ​a​ ​map​ ​that​ ​specifies​ ​where​ ​to​ ​plant​ ​trees​ ​in​ ​your​ ​yard.​ ​ ​Keep​ ​the landscape​ ​design​ ​unified​ ​and​ ​relatively​ ​simple​ ​by​ ​using​ ​only​ ​enough​ ​variety​ ​to​ ​sustain bloom​ ​and​ ​add​ ​visual​ ​interest​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​season.​ ​ ​This​ ​way​ ​you​ ​avoid​ ​the​ ​trap​ ​of planting​ ​one​ ​of​ ​everything.

Design​ ​your​ ​front​ ​yard​ ​landscape​ ​based​ ​simply​ ​on​ ​what​ ​the​ ​neighbors​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​or​ ​what the​ ​nearest​ ​home​ ​improvement​ ​store​ ​offers.​ ​ ​Most​ ​of​ ​all,​ ​determine​ ​how​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your family​ ​will​ ​use​ ​your​​ ​front​ ​yard,​ ​what​ ​will​ ​bring​ ​you​ ​the​ ​most​ ​enjoyment,​ ​and​ ​make deliberate​ ​strides​ ​toward​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​yard​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​enjoy​ ​for​ ​years​ ​to​ ​come.

Modern​ ​landscapes​ ​are​ ​known​ ​for​ ​having​ ​a​ ​clean,​ ​minimalist​ ​look​ ​with​ ​no​ ​clutter.​ ​In contrast​ ​to​ ​the​ ​naturalistic,​ ​wavy​ ​borders​ ​popular​ ​in​ ​many​ ​landscapes,​ ​this​ ​style emphasizes​ ​straight​ ​lines​ ​and​ ​geometric​ ​forms​ ​which​ ​better​ ​reflect​ ​and​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​the architecture.​ ​ ​Along​ ​these​ ​lines,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​choose​ ​pale​ ​colors​ ​for​ ​your​ ​modern​ ​landscape, which​ ​exude​ ​honesty​ ​and​ ​simplicity.​ ​ ​By​ ​using​ ​neutral,​ ​naturally-colored​ ​materials​ ​like ipe​ ​wood,​ ​limestone,​ ​weathered​ ​steel,​ ​concrete​ ​and​ ​pea​ ​gravel,​ ​you​ ​allow​ ​the​ ​sleek lines​ ​of​ ​the​ ​architecture​ ​and​ ​the​ ​landscaping​ ​to​ ​shine.

You​ ​may​ ​also​ ​choose​ ​plants​ ​with​ ​a​ ​distinct​ ​form.​ ​ ​Japanese​ ​boxwood​ ​is​ ​a​ ​favorite because​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​clipped​ ​and​ ​manipulated​ ​into​ ​shapes,​ ​but​ ​spiky​ ​plants,​ ​soft-textured weeping​ ​plants,​ ​and​ ​anything​ ​with​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​visual​ ​punch​ ​can​ ​create​ ​the​ ​right​ ​effect​ ​when used​ ​skillfully.​ ​ ​And​ ​see​ ​that​ ​one​ ​type​ ​of​ ​plant​ ​or​ ​one​ ​color​ ​takes​ ​center​ ​stage​ ​in​ ​your landscape​ ​design.​ ​ ​That​ ​goes​ ​well​ ​with​ ​the​ ​simplicity​ ​theme.

This​ ​theme​ ​goes​ ​out​ ​the​ ​window​ ​if​ ​you​ ​pick​ ​hot​ ​new​ ​color​ ​trends​ ​for​ ​any​ ​permanent element​ ​in​ ​the​ ​landscape.​ ​ ​Landscape​ ​architects​ ​note​ ​that​ ​using​ ​a​ ​trendy​ ​color​ ​on​ ​tile​ ​or other​ ​long-lasting​ ​features​ ​is​ ​a​ ​quick​ ​route​ ​to​ ​a​ ​dated​ ​landscape.

Other​ ​things​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​if​ ​you​ ​want​ ​a​ ​modern​ ​landscape​ ​include​ ​organic​ ​mulch​ ​in​ ​your garden​ ​beds.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​because​ ​the​ ​neutral​ ​color​ ​of​ ​pea​ ​gravel​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​contrast​ ​between the​ ​foliage​ ​and​ ​the​ ​ground,​ ​showcasing​ ​the​ ​minimal​ ​use​ ​of​ ​plant​ ​material.​ ​ ​You​ ​may​ ​also be​ ​tempted​ ​to​ ​use​ ​organic​ ​shapes​ ​in​ ​your​ ​pathways,​ ​borders​ ​or​ ​materials.​ ​ ​This​ ​is unwise​ ​since​ ​naturalistic​ ​curves​ ​do​ ​little​ ​to​ ​enhance​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​of​ ​the​ ​landscape with​ ​the​ ​architecture.​ ​ ​Even​ ​when​ ​choosing​ ​natural​ ​materials​ ​like​ ​stone,​ ​cut​ ​them​ ​into elongated​ ​rectangles​ ​or​ ​create​ ​a​ ​geometric​ ​pattern​ ​so​ ​they​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​the​ ​home​ ​and​ ​take on​ ​a​ ​contemporary​ ​look.