A well-maintained landscape not only looks good, but it boosts property value. It also provides health and psychological benefits.
Landscaping Springdale AR includes trees, shrubs and flowers. A balanced mix of heights and colors creates visual interest throughout the year.
Inventory the existing landscape and note positive and negative aspects. Then, decide what goals you want to accomplish with the landscaping.
1. Curb appeal
One of the simplest ways to improve your home’s curb appeal is with well-maintained landscaping. Research shows that a well-kept landscape increases resale value by an average of 15-20%. A tidily manicured garden with flowering shrubs and well-planted lawn delivers a powerful first impression, making your home welcoming and inviting before potential buyers even set foot inside.
The best curb appeal landscaping ideas are those that integrate well with the architecture of your house and complement its style. A cottage-style garden enhances a country or farmhouse home, while a sparse and minimalist design suits a contemporary building. Using focal points such as a statue, fountain or garden bed helps to direct attention and focus on the landscape, creating a balanced and inviting space.
A smooth transition from the sidewalk to your front door is a key element of curb appeal landscaping. A curved pathway is visually appealing, while planting mid-sized shrubs and flowers around the walkway draws passersby’s attention and creates a welcoming entrance. Landscape lighting can be added to accentuate the garden at night and help to highlight the most impressive features of your property.
Hardscape elements such as pavers, pathways and walls, as well as decorative fence panels, contribute to the overall appearance of your outdoor spaces. These can be enhanced with lighting to make your property feel more inviting and increase safety and security.
Planting pollinator friendly flowers, shrubs and ground cover is an easy way to add year-round visual interest to your yard. You can also attract birds and butterflies with birdbaths, feeders and hummingbird houses. Adding weather-resistant art to your home and yard is another cost-effective way to enhance your curb appeal. These can include things like metal cutouts, sculptures and wind chimes.
2. Aesthetics
Landscape design can add beauty to your home and property. It can also help you relax and enjoy nature. In fact, studies have shown that when people spend time in nature, they feel more energized and happier. This is because spending time in nature can trigger the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals.
Aesthetics in landscaping involves incorporating the principles of balance, harmony, repetition and unity into your outdoor space. It also includes using color to create contrast and interest. Landscape designers can also use different textures and lighting to highlight important features of your yard.
In landscape aesthetics, order refers to a balanced distribution of plant and design elements. This can be achieved through symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance uses plants and design elements of equal height, width or shape on either side of an axis. Asymmetrical balance is more informal and natural, using different sizes of plants to create a pleasing visual composition.
Rhythm and movement are other essential aspects of landscape aesthetics. This can be achieved by introducing different elements into your landscape, such as curves and repetition. It is also possible to use different colors to create a sense of movement. For example, red flowers can pop out against a green backdrop.
Another way to add movement is through the use of focalization and hierarchy. Focalization is the act of drawing attention to a specific area by using features like water features, statues or plants. Hierarchy is the process of creating a sense of order and organization in your landscape by arranging plants in a particular way. For example, using larger plants at the front of your garden and then progressively smaller ones as you move towards the back of your property.
3. Functionality
A well-designed landscape adds beauty and value to your home. It also provides practical benefits like shading, creating privacy, and controlling erosion. It can also help reduce energy costs by buffering seasonal temperatures and making your outdoor living spaces more comfortable.
Form Follows Function: This age-old design principle says that the appearance of an object should reflect its intended purpose. Landscaping designers apply this principle by balancing the hardscape and softscape elements of your space. The hardscape includes non-living, non-permanent elements, such as patios, walkways, walls, and retaining walls, while the softscape includes plants, trees, and flowers. The right mix of both will create a harmonious balance and beautiful outdoor environment for entertaining, relaxing, or simply enjoying the outdoors.
Theme: A theme is the foundation that helps you express your style goals and guide your landscape designer. Some theme ideas include color mixes, textures, or forms that convey a specific style, such as formal, modern, rustic, or contemporary. You may also want to incorporate a particular geographic region or culture as inspiration. For example, if you love the look of a meadow or woodland planting, you can ask your landscaper to replicate it using plants that thrive in your local climate conditions.
You can even choose to include water features in your landscape, such as ponds, waterfalls, and streams. Whether you’re designing your landscape for aesthetics or functionality, your contractor will consider the overall layout and circulation of the space to make sure it flows properly and is safe for use. They will also use the best materials and practices to ensure your outdoor space is low-maintenance and long-lasting. Landscaping involves a lot of details, from assessing your site’s soil conditions and drainage to creating detailed plans for each part of your yard.
4. Energy efficiency
When incorporating green landscaping techniques, your energy bills can be reduced significantly. This is because the landscape will help shade your home and reduce the use of air conditioning and other electric appliances. In addition, the plantings will provide a cooling effect through evapotranspiration and evaporation. Native plants will also require less water and less maintenance, reducing your electric and water bills even further.
Proper landscaping can also reduce energy costs by modifying your microclimate, which is the climate immediately surrounding your house and property. This helps to control solar heat gain and thermal loss in the summer and wind velocity in winter.
For example, a deciduous tree placed to the south of your house can offer cooling shade in the summer and allow sunlight to warm your home in the winter. It can also act as a wind break in the winter, lowering your heating bills. Likewise, a conifer such as a cedar or a Douglas fir can offer an effective wind barrier in the winter.
Other energy-efficient landscaping techniques include minimizing grassy areas, using a low-water irrigation system, mulching and selecting the right trees, shrubs and plants for your region. Additionally, xeriscaping is a popular method of saving water by reducing the amount of water required for landscaping. This method involves limiting the number of grassy areas, using drought-resistant species and plantings, purchasing local plants to avoid green waste hauling, and using hand tools rather than power equipment.
5. Maintenance
A well-maintained property with a beautiful yard or garden adds to the value of the home. In addition, it provides a relaxing place for people to enjoy outdoor activities, whether it’s reading a book on a porch or taking a walk through the woods. Studies have also shown that being surrounded by nature can improve health, reduce stress and encourage physical activity.
Landscapers use their horticultural knowledge to design, install and maintain gardens, trees, shrubs, lawns and other plants. They also have construction skills that allow them to build retaining walls, lay pavers for walkways and driveways and construct structures like water features and fences. Landscapers must also have the ability to provide customer service and communicate effectively with clients.
Maintenance in landscaping includes a variety of services, from mowing and pruning to soil testing and aeration. It can also include weed control, pest management and fertilization. In addition, it may involve relocating or removing plants, adding mulch to garden and flower beds (to keep the soil healthy), and cleaning out water features like fountains and ponds.
Hardscape and softscape are both parts of the landscaping process, and both are important to creating a harmonious space. Hardscapes are man-made features that add structure to the landscape, including patios, decks, fire pits and stone walls. Softscapes are the plants and other organic materials that make up the landscape, including grass, flowers, shrubs, hedges, annuals and perennials.
The best landscapers will be able to incorporate both hardscape and softscape elements into the design to create a cohesive and functional space. They will be able to understand the client’s vision and provide recommendations on how to achieve it.