|
|
Gardening, Hobbies, & Travel
|
|
||
Back yard landscaping... some observations.People are so use to having a lawn that they automatically put one in. If you have kids then it is not a bad idea. But if the kids are grown up and left the nest there are other and better choices... unless you are frequent and serious badminton player or crocquet fan. Also if the weekly mowing and edging a lawn has become more a chore than fun then perhaps a less time consuming plan is in your future. Picture this... just outside the backdoor is a patio for relaxing and watching the butterflies and birds . (Note that a lawn does nothing to invented these guest into your yard) Also the patio used for playing cards , Monopoly or chess with family and friends. It might have a Bar=B=Q and ice chess too. Between the patio (which should not be too small) and the backyard fence is a landscape that is not a formal one as seen in French and English graders but more natural looking like you seen all though Asia. You still have the tallest plants at the back and then less tall and then medium size and at the front the smaller plants. You could plan to have a miniaturized forest for your viewing pleasure. Only with some modifications ... It is a tad boring if all you see are green leaves even if they come in different shapes for variation. You need some color from flowers and seasonal leaves. On the other hand if you go whole hog on flowers and spring/fall leaf color then you winter garden is going to be very bleak with all those bare branches to stare at though the winter months. There are bird houses and bird baths to consider to attract your feathered friends. They can be made to blend in with your landscape or stick out like a soar thumb. If you do want a bird bath then you must be responsible for keeping it full with fresh water. A fish pond sounds good with gold fish and water Lilly pads but this is not a maintenance free project and often gets neglected and ends up looking woebegone . So I would say scrap this idea. Have an indoor aquarium if you like fish. If you go for a natural looking landscape that does not look completely wild and unkept ...I suggest you consider putting in a dry creek. It is not free but it will save you money in the long run plus add to the interest of your landscape. Plus it cuts down on the cost of plants and their upkeep. Asians hand set the various sizes and colors of river rock to ' show the flow ' of the water on the dry creek rocks. Larger rocks of various sizes line the edge of the dry creek. In its curves and meanderings it also adds depth to your landscape and stops it from looking "too flat" like a photo snapshot. What ever you do be sure it is YOU.... something you really like... something you are willing to see for a very long time... and then there is a commercial point to make also.... if done right it will add value to the house. and if you really like gardens then it will add value to your enjoyment as you live in the backyard or just see it through the windows inside. One last point here.... watering and lighting fixtures are easier and cheaper to do first before planting. Hence a well thought out plan and blueprint is a must... and not some off the cuff ideas that you constantly change as the project gets started. I hope this was useful to all who read it. ***PinewoodsBear*** |
return to message board, top of board |
Msg # | Subject | Author | Recs | Date Posted |
5173 | Re: Back yard landscaping... some observations. | B.O. Plenty | 0 | 7/18/2019 10:09:41 AM |
5174 | Re: Back yard landscaping... some observations. | hipshot | 4 | 7/18/2019 11:47:58 AM |
5209 | Re: Back yard landscaping... some observations. | PinewoodsBear | 3 | 9/18/2019 9:57:28 AM |