Landscaping Ideas

So you’re finished making the inside of your Orlando home just the way you want it…now it’s time to choose a Landscape Designer to complete your outdoor living space. He/she should be a skilled professional, who traditionally designs and maintains horticulture, nightlighting, sprinklers, etc. (basically everything an Orlando homeowner could want). You might stop and think…”hmmm… do I really NEED a Landscape Designer?” The answer is emphatically “yes”!

Sure…most Orlando homeowners have an idea of what they’d like to see their outdoor living space include; however, most have no idea of how to turn that vision into reality. Homeowners hire Landscape Designers because they provide expertise and knowledge. Just as you hire an accountant to do your taxes or a plumber to fix your sink, you need a Landscape Designer to complete your dream landscape. Planning is the key to a successful garden in Orlando and basically, everywhere.

What can they do for you? A good Landscape Designer knows the Orlando climate and can design and develop your landscape, plan your backyard to determine how the space will be used neatly and efficiently, arrange your trees, flowers, bushes, to be beautiful and easy to maintain, select and design plants by considering pest tolerance and ease of maintenance in the Orlando area, offer ideas for placement of landscape rocks, timbers, mulch properly, and outdoor landscape lighting.

Let’s face it…many times Orlando homeowners choose to design their landscape themselves, without the help of a professional. What happens? All too often the end result is a mixture of plants that do not relate to each other, are not right for the Orlando climate or become overgrown for the space, and must eventually be removed. Mistakes can be costly in terms of lost money, wasted time and the aggravation of the homeowner. Professional Landscape Designers help you avoid these mistakes when planning the landscape of your Orlando home.

The ideal residential landscape in Orlando stimulates the senses, appeases the soul, and meets your every need. Landscape Designers can show you how to create curb appeal and intimate spaces, while improving your property value.

To successfully design residential landscapes in Orlando, a Landscape Designer will evaluate the site and ask you how you plan to use it. The questions asked of you will include aspects of your family life, social use, your occupation and any interest you may have in gardening. Once a Landscape Designer obtains this information, he/she will begin the design process customized for your home.

Next, the Landscape Designer will help you select site materials and amenities for your Orlando landscape. Plants, garden elements, furnishings, pots and sculptures, are all vital elements in the design process. Most homeowners don’t realize that selecting plants is very challenging and takes a lot of thought and planning. Plant material makes up the most dynamic element in your garden. The goal is for a subtle progression of growth and a seasonal transformation that contributes to the beauty of the landscape of your home. The ability to envision a garden in 10, 20, or 30 years is what distinguishes a Landscape Designer as an expert in their field.

I think we can all agree that a well-designed landscape is truly a site to behold; however, it does not just happen. It is the accomplished vision, collection of ideas, acquired skill and patience of a good Landscape Designer. Careful planning can bring an Orlando homeowner’s vision into reality to create a beautiful garden that will be enjoyed for years to come.

There is a lot of information available on using different materials for landscaping on a slope. Landscaping on a slope can be daunting but it is possible to create a beautiful area in a place that was once boring. Your landscaping design should take into account any natural features present such as creeks, ponds, large stones, trees, and other such objects.

Landscaping on a slope will require a bit more planning and work than ordinary landscaping, in order to make sure the design works properly. Yards that have a grade of 4 percent or more can be quite daunting especially if you do not address some important maintenance issues before you begin your landscaping project.

A Few Problems When Landscaping On a Slope

Erosion is the largest problem to address when landscaping on a slope. Rain is your worst enemy as it can expose plant roots causing plant death as well as washing away topsoil. You can level up the grade of your slope in order to prevent erosion. Retaining walls that are both functional and decorative can be used to prevent erosion. Stones, railway ties, four by fours, and terracing are all feasible options; though remember to install drainage beneath the wall. You should consider staggering the wall to create terraces and display plants and remember not to make the walls themselves too high.

You will most likely need some sort of watering plan for a slope as the rainwater will not soak into the soil but run off. You need to make sure some water soaks in to the ground in order to irrigate any plants, shrubs and trees in the area.

Where you place plants is also important, as plants at the bottom of the slope will be supplied with too much water. Peat and sphagnum moss can be added to the soil to absorb water especially if you are not using terraces. These additives act like a sponge and hold rainwater. You should also add a dry creek bed or create another drainage source.

Adding fertilizer and mulch can also be a problem on a slope as the same problems associated with water also apply. Your fertilizer and mulch will end up at the bottom and those nutrients will not do their job, with all of the nutrients at the bottom of your slope. Lawn mowing can also be a problem as an overturned mower can be very dangerous; you may need to use a push mower instead of a riding mower.

A way to solve this fertilizer and mulch problem is to completely remove the grass and add ornamental grass or low-maintenance groundcover options. These types of cover will make your yard look lush and also solve many of the maintenance issues associated with landscaping on a slope. This will solve many a headache further down the road when implementing your landscaping design.