Thursday 27 February 2014

Factors to consider while creating your dream landscape

Designing a landscape, irrespective of whether it is for a residential or corporate setting, can be a bit hectic. You must have heard terms like ‘analysis and inventory’ from landscaping professionals, but you don’t need to worry if you are not so familiarized with these technical terms. Because ultimately all that matter is having a fair knowledge of what you have to work with and what you want to in terms of end results. In fact, there are a number of factors that you need to consider before you design the landscape if you want to do it the right way and create a mesmerizing space that wows the viewers and acts as your own private area to relax and have some quality time with your loved ones. Listed below are some of these factors–
  • Structure or lay of the land – The lay or structure of the land are the primary things that you have to consider before designing a landscape. Check out if the area is sloping and decide whether you would like to install a pool or a grove of trees in the region, after which you can choose the garden design ideas accordingly. Before you make any design plans, ensure that you have reviewed the area from every possible angle to judge what best fits the place and would accentuate its beauty. Sometimes, certain design plans, which are especially meant for difficult land areas, might require a few days more than is normal to complete. So, it’s important to plan your timeframe for the landscaping project and adhere to the schedule.
  • Size of the area – This is one of the major factors that influence the entire landscape designing plan. While you can try out a number of things and experiment to a great extent with a large area, a small area has certain limitations in terms of what can be added and what can’t be installed. It might be equally difficult to plan something innovative for a small as well as a large area, which is why you need to plan everything in great detail, keeping the size and area of the land in mind.
  • Utility and purpose of the area – While designing a landscape, you must determine how you want to use the space and for what purpose you are going to use it. Usually, the common uses for outdoor spaces include cooking and dining, entertaining, swimming, relaxing, playing, gardening etc. So, deciding what exactly you want to do in the landscape well in advance will help you assess different landscape design ideas and take your pick from them based on what fits your needs the best.
  • Environment and the climate – The climate and the environment of the region you live in influences the landscape design ideas to a great extent. The design idea, which will be suitable for a sunny area, can’t be installed in a shady area. Therefore, consider the climatic factors like that of wind direction, views, water flow and drainage, overall weather etc before crafting your landscaping plans.
  • Nutrients and soil type – This is one of the most important factors that play a key role in choosing the right landscape design idea. Make sure the soil has all the required nutrients and will support the types of plant that you are going to select. Figure out the type of soil at the very beginning of your landscaping project and then decide which plants you should grow. Consider running a soil test and amending the soil, if necessary.
Creating your dream landscape takes time and proper planning. Considering the factors as mentioned above will help you get the plans right and achieve the desired end results.

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Understanding various aspects of walkway design

A beautifully designed landscape always adds an extra dash of elegance to your home and you may even elevate the overall beauty quotient by adding a walkway to it. Though some people consider walking on the grass to be a great option, at times, there are places in the garden where a walkway or a path adds both to the beauty and functionality of the space. One of the main advantages of installing a walkway in your garden is that you can walk through the landscape without disturbing the plants or flower beds. In fact walkways serve to be an integral part of your landscape design and can add another level of charm and appeal to the entire setting, when installed perfectly. Now, in order to ensure that a walkway is installed flawlessly, you need to do a lot of planning, observing and measuring before you actually start installing the walkway.

How to get started with the plan of installing a walkway in front of your house or in the landscape?
  • First of all, you need to take stock of the area where you plan to install the walkway and its surrounding settings to ensure that your walkway blends effortlessly. This becomes especially important if you already have an existing landscape and need your walkway to complement the elements that are a part of it.
  • Stand at one of the ends where the walkway would be placed and try to visualize where the people will walk, what would be the most convincing route between these two ends, what might come in their way while walking, when they might need to go around etc. While visualizing the path, also determine how many curves you will put in it. While adding a number of curves adds to the charm of the path, too many curves might prove to be annoying.
  • The next step while conceptualizing your walkway project is to draw a rough sketch of the existing plan on a paper. Consider using symbols like circles and squares to make the drawing accurate and use graph paper for perfection. Determine what materials you would like to use for building the walkway. One of the best ways to choose the material is to calculate the cost per square foot with different types of materials and take your pick from the one that suits your budget and taste. The most commonly used materials to build walkways include brick, paver blocks and concrete. You may even consider using durable and timeless porphyry granite to give your walkway a classic and one-of-its-kind look.
What you need to keep in mind while building a walkway?

The most important thing you need to keep in mind while planning the walkway design is that it must be in sync with the rest of the garden. You can either opt for a formal path with angles or an informal one with curves and meanders. Make sure the material you choose for the walkway matches the exterior of your home, and the width of the path suits the size as well as the layout of the garden. Design the walkway in such a way that the visitors are attracted to it. You can consider building a focal point along your walkway where they will pause for a moment. Also, consider installing appropriate lighting system so that you can use the garden comfortably at night and the appeal of the garden, too, is increased. You should make sure to you use the right plants to make a border to the path.

To get your dream walkway installed the right way, it’s best to hire a professional landscape company that has experts on board to handle the task efficiently.