Ideal Small Backyard Landscape Ideas

With funds tight these days, maybe buying a large jungle gym or swing set for your child isn’t feasible. However, it doesn’t mean that your backyard needs to remain a vast wasteland either. Below you will find a few ideas to transform a piece of your small backyard landscaping ideas.

Small Backyard Landscape Ideas

The sunflower fort is a great idea for people who have a relatively flat and grassy backyard. When the sunflowers have finished growing, your children will have a secret garden to play in that allows for both shade and sunshine landscaping ideas

Sunflower Fort

Germinate the seeds 3-4 days prior to planting by placing seeds between a few damp paper towels. The seeds that have started to germinate after 3 or 4 days are ready to be planted. Outline a square in a sunny area of your backyard, preferably on flat land, at least 5 feet on each side. You could also outline a rectangle.

Create a 2 foot wide space on one of the sides of the outline. Plant sunflower seeds in a straight line. Water the seeds as necessary.
Tips: Plan in advance, as you’ll need time for the sunflowers to grow. When the back of the sunflower turns brown, harvest the flower for seeds!

Reader’s Corner

If your child likes to read and the weather is amenable, creating a shady little reading nook for your him or her would be a welcome surprise. A simple set-up such as a child sized blow-up chair, some bottles of water, a tin of cookies, and a blanket are a perfect set-up. Complete the area with some of her favorite books and let her know that is her space for reading.

Hammock “Tent”

Usually the space beneath your hammock is much good for anything except for grass. A 6-7′ foot pole can be used to transform your favorite napping place to a wonderful “tent” for little ones. It’s a simple matter of securing the pole into the ground in the middle of the hammock, then gently letting the hammock fall on top of the pole. This works by itself for a canvas hammock, but if you have a net hammock, use a pillow between the hammock and the pole.

Tree House

The ultimate in childhood fun has become more rare these days largely due to homeowners insurance regulations. However, if you have a sturdy tree worthy of a house for your little ones to safely play in, nothing beats a tree house. A quick search on the net will provide you with loads of blueprints and plans to build your child’s dream “tree” home.

You may pay a bit more for a tree house, but the rewards are certainly worth it, and a well-made tree house has a lot more character than an assembly line jungle gym/swing set.…

Designing a Above Ground Pool Landscaping

Above Ground Pool Landscaping

An above ground pool landscaping is quite different from an ordinary landscape. Unlike an ordinary landscape, a swimming pool landscape has some limitations in the planting area. Aside from the fact that you cannot plant directly on the ground when you’re planting in and around your pool, you also need to put up with some width and height limitations that wouldn’t otherwise have existed. Here are some tips that you can follow if you are planning to design your swimming pool landscaping ideas

Do your Research

Your end result will work out better if you do some research before you proceed with landscaping. Aside from looking for above ground pool landscaping ideas online and in magazines, you should also look into which kinds of plants you want to include and what kind of soil you’ll need as a result. If you know someone who has a swimming pool landscape then make sure to chat with them as they can probably give you some more great tips.

Know your Flower Beds

You should also have a clear picture of how you ant your flower beds to look before you begin. First, you should know the measurements you want for them – their exact length, width and depth. If they have some curved areas, you should also take note of that and make an estimate measurement. Additionally, measure your desired distance between the fence or screen and the flower bed. Do this for all the flower beds in the swimming pool area.

Plan the Landscape

Now that you know the exact measurements of your flower beds, it is time to plan your landscape. By now, you should have some ideas on which plants can grow near your pool. You should now plan which plant species will go in your flower beds and how you’ll arrange them. If you can, make a rough drawing of how the plants will look.

Know your Plants

It may help to research the background of each plant that will go into your landscape before you begin. Aside from knowing how to maintain them, you should also know how big they can grow. Many do-it-yourself landscapers are surprised to learn that plants which look good in pictures grow too big or don’t work with the shape of the pool when they’re full sized. Don’t let this happen to you.

In the same way, you should also take note of other things that may harm you or your above ground pool landscaping. Does it constantly shed leaves? This can clutter your pool. Does it have thorns or spikes? This is not good if you are going to have children around the pool. Does it multiply on its own? This can be a problem if you have limited planting space. Always research your plants before you use them in your landscape.

Decide on a Landscape Dressing

Once you have decided on your plants and have planted them based on their size and growth habits, it is time to finish the landscape with some dressing. Decide if you will use lava rocks, plain dirt or lava rocks to cover the soil. Some creative landscapers may even want to use shells.

If you’ve done all this then congratulations, you’re done! You have just successfully designed your own swimming pool landscape.…

Ideas for Green Thumb Landscaping

Green thumb landscaping is landscaping without the use of dangerous chemicals or harmful methods that will destroy the environment. Green landscaping helps to restore all the natural resources back to the earth that has been taken away by misuse.

Green Thumb Landscaping

Most of us have become aware of the damage that chemical products have done and are now trying to do our best to use only natural products. We have also started using less water on our gardens for conservation. We also realize that many of the chemicals we use are probably a big cause of the climate changes around the world. Now is a good time to research ways to help and creating a green landscape would be a great start.

There are a few things to consider before thinking about any green landscaping ideas. The first to consider is the climate in your part of the country. Temperate climate zones will tolerate a wide variety of plants but an arid climate zone will only support a smaller variety. In either climate zone you want to conserve water and it is better to select plants that drought tolerant and still be able to handle their own climate environment. The second consideration is the elevation such as high mountain areas, rocky areas or marshy areas with heavy water content in the soil. Whichever area you reside, it is best to purchase drought tolerant native plants.

In most cases it is how you water the landscape not how often to water. The majority of sprinkler systems spray water way too high and the water ends up on the sidewalk or driveway and not on the landscape. This water gets wasted and finds its way to the sewer. The best way to water your landscaping is by using a drip irrigation system where the water spray is low to the ground and goes right to the plants’ roots. Another good way to water is by using soaker hoses, these hoses sit on the ground and seep water directly the plants’ roots. Both these irrigation systems work very well on individual plants, trees, shrubs, and lawns in your green thumb landscaping.

If your family uses environmentally friendly shampoos, soaps, and detergents you can hook that gray water to your drip irrigation system; this will save you money on your fresh water usage. Another green thumb landscaping tip is to use collected rain water to water your green landscape and to conserve water usage for your home. Many people collect rain water from their roofs each time it rains by directing their gutters directly to one or two rain barrels. You would be surprised how much water comes off a roof and how much money you can save.

There are a number of components that will help with green landscaping namely compost or natural fertilizers, mulch, native plants and ornamental grasses. Your grassy landscape can become very dependent on water unless you water less often; keep the grass at an optimal length and mulch. During hot weather the length of the grass should be a little longer in order to keep the soil cool and to retain moisture. Even better start mowing with a push reel mower, this way you will keep harmful pollutants out of the atmosphere; you not only will be cutting down on noise but will maintain your muscles.

Natural Materials

Another way of using natural materials on your lawn is to use a mulching lawn mower that will chop up grass clippings; by leaving the chopped up grass clippings on your lawn it will begin to decompose and fertilize your grass. If your grass is long just bag the clippings and add to the compost pile. Another way to conserve water, prevent weeds and cool roots is to use organic mulch around the plants. These are just a few things you can do when creating a green landscaping.…

Evans Landscaping Projects For Spring

As Summer grows nearer for the residents of Arizona, we begin to think about those tasks that we would ideally do prior to the arrival of the real heat to Arizona. The next two months will be ideal to carry out those changes that you’d like to make to your garden and evans landscaping prior to the more heated days of the summertime.

Evans Landscaping

Your garden and landscaping in Phoenix are a big deal to you because the outside is where we choose to spend a great deal of our time in the summer. Not only does it offer a greater amount of comfort to us in the evening, but spending time cooking outdoors means that we don’t heat up the kitchen and the entire home when we make a meal.
The cooler spring days such as are arriving now are the ideal time to begin taking out lawn furniture and other items that you may have stored for the season. Arranging the items on the patio, beginning plants indoors that you will transfer outside in a few weeks should also take place.

Herbs may safely be planted outside now and achieve full growth early on when you’re dealing with Phoenix weather and landscaping. In addition to these tasks, now is the perfect time to assess the things that you want to add to your yard or garden and to begin planning with your Phoenix area landscaper. Phoenix weather is perfection and spending the time outside to take advantage of it means that you’re going to want added features in your garden landscaping near me

If you’re considering an outdoor kitchen or a grilling area off the patio of your Phoenix home, there is not a better time than now to get that accomplished. Likewise that pizza oven outdoors that you’ve always wanted will be easily accomplished in the springtime months and be ready for your use when the real heat rolls into your evans landscaping

Phoenix landscape

With the ground truly thawed now, excavation can begin for your raised bed planting, as well as for any water features that you’ve been considering. Consulting a Phoenix landscaper to assist you in the planning as well as the implementation of any new items that you’ve been considering is in your best interests.

You will want to add your home improvements to your Phoenix yard before the summer heat makes it harder to work outside. Likewise you’re going to want them to be ready to use when those summer evenings are in full swing.

Consulting a landscaper and beginning to plan your Phoenix area evans landscaping projects now means that you’re going to be ahead of the game and ready to relax in your outdoor paradise well before summertime.…

Your Guide to Brightview Landscape 

Brightview Landscaping lights are a great way to light up paths and walkways around your residence or business at night. These lights come in all different styles and are made by many different manufacturers. They are environmentally friendly and require no electricity to operate.

Brightview Landscape

hese sources of landscape lighting need to have the sun’s full light during the day in order to operate well. Solar landscape lights use small solar cells to charge their batteries which are built into the actual light fixture. You do not have to run wires for solar landscape lights since they operate from their own batteries. By receiving a full charge from the sun all day, the battery is able to provide enough of its own electricity to illuminate the lighting after the sun goes down. Most of them can stay powered for up to twelve hours.

Brightview landscaping lighting can be set-up in the ground, but they can also be installed or mounted on walls, fences, decks or patios. They can be placed on a hanging post along your walkway or path. Along the walkway or sidewalk, they help to light a safe walkway path. They can be used to light up parts of your garden as well. The key factor in purchasing any type of solar landscape light is the PV panel.

Landscape Features

This is what charges the battery and needs to be in a spot where it will receive the most sunlight. If there is too much shade surrounding the PV panel by trees or buildings or maybe landscape features, the battery will not charge properly if at all. The winter time can change the number of hours of sunlight you will have during the day by up to fifty percent. The battery’s life will be reduced if there is not enough light in the day time to power the lighting landscaping ideas

Before you purchase any type of brightview landscaping, find out from the store sales clerk or the manufacturer of the lighting if you are able to buy replacement bulbs and batteries. Solar lights have come a long way from when their earlier versions. They still do not produce lighting that will be as bright as a traditional lighting with low voltage. The best types of solar landscape light are durable, stainless steel and weather resistant. They have advanced battery cells that store more energy more efficiently.

Solar landscaping lights provide added security to your home by brightening darker yard areas. They accent your garden by adding charm, especially in rock gardens or flower beds. They add beauty and style and can be incorporated into any landscape design. Solar landscape lighting can decorate any yard. They come in colors like red and green for Christmas, and pastels for Easter. You can also get party lights in solar form for evening gatherings to use around the yard. Solar landscaping lights are easy to put together and easy to install and do not require any type of maintenance. These make a great way to show off your yard.…

All Seasons Landscaping

Now that the fall has passed and the winter is in full swing in Arizona you’re starting to look forward to those milder temperatures that are headed into our direction in February and March. Starting the planning of your landscaping begins in these more temperate climates before the temperatures start to kick up into the mid-nineties. Before you begin to order those all seasons landscaping and to begin too many new projects you’re going to want to take a long look at what you can do during different times of the year in Arizona and climates like it.

All Seasons Landscaping  Maintenance

This time of the year, the late winter and early spring is the time when you’re going to want to really start looking at projects for early spring and summer and to begin projects that will bear fruit in the later summer and fall. This is the perfect time for you to be considering plants and planting all seasons landscaping that are going to be flowering and offering their best look months away from now in the late fall of next year.

Believe it or not, the coming two or three months are the best time for you to be considering, ordering and even planting things that aren’t going to really show up until August or September. If you want to have blossoms during the fall months, ordering them now and getting the beds ready, then planting in March is about the best time for you to be accomplishing these things if you live in a more arid climate such as Arizona.

Planting Plans

ou will plant early in the spring so that they are in the ground for a long enough time span prior to blooming in the fall. Along the way you might want to consider adding some trees or flowering shrubs such as the Arizona yellowbells or the African sumac to your planting plans all seasons landscaping at this time of the year. If you plant those during the early portions of the spring time when there is no danger of any type of frost, they will have time to really set their roots well and to get well set up prior to the high heat of the summer months and the very cool winter temperatures so they will avoid damage.

In addition to ordering bulbs and other items this time of year and planning your beds for springtime planting, you will also want to start your cacti inside if you’re planning on adding new succulents to your garden this year. The cacti or succulents can be a very brilliant addition to a desert garden and offer you a great way to give blooms while saving water and avoiding using plants that are not native to the desert area. Late winter and early spring garden chores do exist, even in the desert areas.

ake sure that you’re doing what you need to, or ordering those things that you are going to want to add to your summer and fall garden, now and in the next few months so that your garden is a blaze of color in the late summer and early fall.…