Landscaping: 4 Styles to Create Your Dream Yard | South Salem NY Homes
Coined by a group of landscaping and water industry pros in 1981, xeriscaping was developed to promote water conservation following the drought of 1977. For many years, xeriscaping was confined to desert and high desert environments. However, the trend migrated further north as more and more individuals stared looking for low-maintenance, water-saving landscaping solutions.
It’s easy to look at a well-xeriscaped yard and be deceived by its simplicity. However, don’t get tricked into thinking you can jump into the project without careful planning. The trick to xeriscaping is to design a plan that conserves water but looks good doing it. To accomplish this, you’ll need to do a few things. First, you’ll need to properly prepare the soil to ensure it’s not too sandy or composed of heavy clay. Next, you’ll need to choose plants that work for your soil conditions, yard layout, and environmental factors. From here you’ll need to make sure everything is properly irrigated (yes, even drought-resistant plants need some water). Finally, you’ll need to lay down a ground cover to inhibit weed growth, minimize evaporation, and prevent the soil from crusting. Many homeowners opt for a combination of mulch and rock or gravel. Just make sure you don’t surround the plants with rock as it can make the area too hot.
It’s easy to look at a well-xeriscaped yard and be deceived by its simplicity. However, don’t get tricked into thinking you can jump into the project without careful planning. The trick to xeriscaping is to design a plan that conserves water but looks good doing it. To accomplish this, you’ll need to do a few things. First, you’ll need to properly prepare the soil to ensure it’s not too sandy or composed of heavy clay. Next, you’ll need to choose plants that work for your soil conditions, yard layout, and environmental factors. From here you’ll need to make sure everything is properly irrigated (yes, even drought-resistant plants need some water). Finally, you’ll need to lay down a ground cover to inhibit weed growth, minimize evaporation, and prevent the soil from crusting. Many homeowners opt for a combination of mulch and rock or gravel. Just make sure you don’t surround the plants with rock as it can make the area too hot.
Japanese gardening: Find your zen
The Japanese garden is all about capturing the beauty of nature and replicating it on a small scale. Japanese gardening traces its origins back over 1,000 years. Some are designed for aesthetic purposes, while others are designed to be places of contemplation and meditation.
There are many elements that compose a Japanese garden. The most fundamental of which are miniaturization, concealment, borrowed scenery, and asymmetric design. Together, these elements create an idealized interpretation of nature. Nothing in the garden exists without a reason for being there and every element is designed to complement the others.
As you might imagine, a Japanese garden involves significant planning. That said, for all its intricacy, a Japanese garden is actually quite simple. Keep things subtle and small. Forgoing boldly colored flowers and oversized trees for evergreens, grasses, mosses, and shrubs. Pathways also play a big role in Japanese gardens; so if you have the space, add one (stone, gravel, and decomposed granite are great options). Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention water. It’s essential. Don’t worry if you don’t have the space to add a pond. A simple stone-basin is all you need.
There are many elements that compose a Japanese garden. The most fundamental of which are miniaturization, concealment, borrowed scenery, and asymmetric design. Together, these elements create an idealized interpretation of nature. Nothing in the garden exists without a reason for being there and every element is designed to complement the others.
As you might imagine, a Japanese garden involves significant planning. That said, for all its intricacy, a Japanese garden is actually quite simple. Keep things subtle and small. Forgoing boldly colored flowers and oversized trees for evergreens, grasses, mosses, and shrubs. Pathways also play a big role in Japanese gardens; so if you have the space, add one (stone, gravel, and decomposed granite are great options). Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention water. It’s essential. Don’t worry if you don’t have the space to add a pond. A simple stone-basin is all you need.
French gardening: Formally romantic
Some of us see beauty in nature’s randomness; others see it in its order. For those, there is the French formal garden. Based on the principle of imposing order over nature, this style is defined by geometry, symmetry, clean lines, and constrained and directed vegetation. And while other garden styles orient the focus on a particular element within the garden (or nothing at all), a French formal garden uses the house as the focal point.
When designing a French formal garden, do so around a central axis that runs perpendicular to your house. Since French gardens are designed to look good both up close and from a distance, design it as if you’ll be viewing it from above. Use decomposed granite or stone pavers to create the pathways that will give your garden its structure. From here, you’ll use hedges and shrubs to define the space and guide the eye. Soften the sharpness of the garden by filling in the space with plants and flowers that skew towards the cool end of the color spectrum (white and lavender look great). It’s ok to mix and match, but don’t do so within a single space. Last but not least, don’t be afraid to add one or two decorative touches to serve as additional focal points at the center of the garden or end of the central axis.
When designing a French formal garden, do so around a central axis that runs perpendicular to your house. Since French gardens are designed to look good both up close and from a distance, design it as if you’ll be viewing it from above. Use decomposed granite or stone pavers to create the pathways that will give your garden its structure. From here, you’ll use hedges and shrubs to define the space and guide the eye. Soften the sharpness of the garden by filling in the space with plants and flowers that skew towards the cool end of the color spectrum (white and lavender look great). It’s ok to mix and match, but don’t do so within a single space. Last but not least, don’t be afraid to add one or two decorative touches to serve as additional focal points at the center of the garden or end of the central axis.
Cottage gardening: Cheerful and cozy
Where French formal gardening is all about imposing order over nature, the cottage garden celebrates its wildness with freewheeling abandon. Cottage garden design ditches the rules to create a charming space that is inviting, cheerful, and cozy. Packed beds of colorful plants and flowers should burst from the landscape, while curved paths and lines encourage visitors to venture deeper into the garden.
Despite its unplanned appearance, a cottage garden actually involves quite a bit of planning. The goal is to create a garden that is dense with vegetation, but not out-of-control. Plants should be tightly packed and planted in a manner than avoids sharp lines and obvious patterns. As far as plant selection is concerned, a cottage garden mixes brightly colored annuals and perennials, along with native plants, vines, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. But just remember one thing: the only rule about what you choose is that there are no rules. Plant what makes you happy.
Despite its unplanned appearance, a cottage garden actually involves quite a bit of planning. The goal is to create a garden that is dense with vegetation, but not out-of-control. Plants should be tightly packed and planted in a manner than avoids sharp lines and obvious patterns. As far as plant selection is concerned, a cottage garden mixes brightly colored annuals and perennials, along with native plants, vines, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. But just remember one thing: the only rule about what you choose is that there are no rules. Plant what makes you happy.
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