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Archive for the ‘Landscaping’ Category

These days, lighting up your garden has gotten a lot easier with the advent of the new solar lighting methods. Even those of us who are beginners in the landscape lighting arena can install it in a very short time.

A breeze to set up and to install, you will find that in just about a half hour you can bring a soft glow to your yard or garden, or offer your family security lighting. All of this and be accomplished without the need to run wires or make connections. That means that it’s not a time consuming or arduous task to get the effect you want from your landscape lighting.

For beginners, or those of us who aren’t electricians and don’t know a great deal about landscape lighting, we can still get the appeal of that subtle lighting that we love. Designing the lighting for your garden or yard has never been as simple and easy or as much fun as it can be today.

Before you begin, take stock of the areas of your yard that could use some additional lighting. Perhaps under stairways, lighting them gently from the underside, to assure the means to see the steps and ascend them in safety.

Find the areas that could benefit from landscape lighting and assess the best methods of lighting them. Assess any areas of your yard or garden that you particularly like. Find any type of element or inclusion, such as a fountain, statue, or natural elements that you think would make a good focal point for your garden.

In addition, find the areas that are particularly dark and could cause security problems, offering places for an intruder into your yard to find cover. Those areas too could benefit from some lighting. Contrary to most people’s understanding of security lighting, most yard areas will be more secure with a softer, more understated lighting such as a solar type lighting. The reason for this is that very bright security lights tend to cast even more shadows offering better places and better means of concealment.

Lighting up your yard or garden should offer visual appeal, safety, and include artistic elements. Landscape lighting will actually give your home more curb appeal if done correctly. Consider the style of your home, the overall design of the yard or garden, and any elements that are part of it that you might like to stand out just a little more.

Some landscape lighting ideas for beginners that are easy to accomplish are:

Installation of solar lighting along a walk way. This can be helpful to find your way in the darkness, as well as to offer a subtle glow and highlight a flower garden or border along the walkway as well.

Subtly lit outdoor furniture-these are new items in outdoor furniture that are actually lit from inside themselves. They offer softer lighting at the base of an outdoor table or beneath a chair.

A single solar spotlight that is installed directionally. It may point to a tree, a fountain, or a particular statue or garden element that you love and would like to make an accent area in your yard. This is actually very effective in the cooler months, where highlighting a bare tree or even a bird feeder hanging from it is a point of interest.

Make a seating area at some aspect of your yard. Below an awning, in a gazebo, or even under a tree. A single bench and some soft lighting makes a lovely spot to sit and visit in the late evening. Take a look around at your yard and find the best areas to install the lighting. Your lighting can be unobtrusive, but also offer security and visual appeal at the same time.

People landscape and decorate even the outdoor area of their residence for various reasons and purposes. Among the cogent reasons and strong forces that drive the homeowner to improve and landscape the yard is to make the idle area functional and useful. In doing so, certain specific outdoor design concepts and styles are implemented and applied in order to give the backyard its best and elegant look. This endeavor to give the outdoor space such amazing and gorgeous look is performed not only for the purpose of beauty and functionality, but also and most importantly for fortune and good luck. Although there are some non-believers of good luck and fortune coming from the harmony of nature and surrounding, one can always give it try since beside there is nothing to lose but has something to gain should it prove itself to be effective in attracting good vibes and fortunes to one’s life. This is not magic. This is called feng shui.

Doing feng shui for outdoor landscaping and decorations follow certain similar rules as those applied in interior design and decorating. Some of these rules provide that certain areas of your garden or outdoor landscape exude positive energy, good luck, and fortune to every particular aspect of your life. Hence, it is believed by feng shui experts that the southernmost corner of the outdoor space or garden attracts recognition and fame. The southwestern side governs the strong matrimonial bond and its prospects and marital happiness while the westernmost corner gives abundant offspring and fertility. Helpful people and mentors are governed by the northwestern part of the area while the northernmost corner of the garden governs those professionals who are very much concerned with their careers. Family relationships and the well-being of every family member such as their health is found on the easternmost corner of the garden while the southeast should be as green and lush as possible to effectively attract wealth and prosperity. This circular arrangement of plants, objects, and furnishings outdoor is patterned to the feng shui bagua that is believed since the ancient times to have brought great things to those who believe and apply such principles.

From the foregoing discussions, it is apparent that the placing and locations of every object, decoration, plants, and colors as part of the outdoor landscaping and decorating must be in perfect harmony with each other as well as with the wind, water, fire, and earth elements of feng shui. These elements must necessary be complete at the area since each of them feeds the other thus giving way to the perfection of the promise of feng shui, such as, good fortune, strong spirit, happy and prosperous life, both for the person and the family. Although these things remain to be a belief for some, one cannot deny the fact that their popularity and following have reached all corners of the world. Simply put, feng shui would not gain such worldwide popularity if it were not for its remarkable success and truthfulness as regards the effects of harmony of all the elements that attract positive luck and good fortune.

Lawns are beautiful and traditional, but they are also difficult and expensive. A large lawn can require daily watering and the use of weed killers to maintain its appearance, plus regular mowing. Alternatives can be more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and an all-around better choice for some.

Ground covers are low-growing plants that cover the ground, as indicated. They come in all different colors and sizes, and some are perennials while others are annuals. Ask your local nursery to recommend one or more that fits your needs, and choose those that need little watering. Native plants often need little watering because they are adapted to the local rainfall.

Clovers are green like grasses, cheap and hardy, though not as tough as a traditional lawn. A small amount of walking and playing on top of them is possible, however. They are great for the soil, and can be turned over into it for regular fertilization, if you so desire. Besides these attributes, the plants don’t need mowing, and rarely need watering.

Flower beds are a great visual alternative to lawns. Carefully selected flowers can be very environmentally friendly, needing little watering and requiring few or no pesticides. You can choose low-maintenance types, which are appropriate for people who don’t want to do a lot with their plants, but enjoy the view.

If you must have grass, consider choosing a native or ornamental type that doesn’t need herbicides or frequent watering. Native grasses might not stay green year-round, but they will be considerably better for the environment than a conventional lawn. Ornamental grasses can be a variety of interesting shades, and some have pretty flowers, too.

Consider decreasing the size of your lawn, if you can’t part with it altogether. The shape is also important, because efficient watering with a sprinkler system requires that the entire lawn be easily reached, but not overshot by the spray. Try to avoid the use of herbicides and other pesticides, because these can get into the soil and are bad for the environment. Water during the evening or early morning when the ground soaks up more than during the hotter parts of the day.

Use organic fertilizers for all of your plants. It will provide just the boost that they need, without sacrificing the environmental health of your yard and the surrounding areas. You can even make your own compost with a composting bin and your leftovers, if you are so inclined.