Getting the landscaping right makes a huge difference to how any site looks. It doesn’t matter if it’s your front yard or the local playground, there’s a lot more to it than simply cutting the grass or sprinkling some gravel on the floor.
What the Space Is Used For
The first thing you need to consider is what the space is going to be used for. For example, if you’re talking about your yard and have children, you’ll be thinking about a seating and entertaining area. It will also be important to have an area where the kids can play.
Once you understand what the difference sections of your yard will be used for, you’ll have a much better idea of how your space needs to be landscaped.
Create The Floor
Grass looks good but it is not always the most practical solution if you have children running around. Dedicate an area to your children and invest in some rubber playground flooring. It’s not just for commercial use. You can use it under swings, trampolines, and even to create a skating area. Your kids will thank you for it and you’ll know they are safe.
Equally, your entertaining area can be created out of decking. This is easy to create, regardless of the terrain underneath. It’s also easy to maintain and keep clean.
Connecting The Dots
With the main seating area attached to the house and the play area visible but at a reasonable distance, you have your basic landscape layout. You can now think about connecting to two areas.
Pathways can be as simple as stepping stones dropped into the grass.
However, you need to think about the children running up and down them. You may find it preferable to hammer a plastic border into the ground to create a path. This can then be lined with weed control fabric and covered in gravel.
The lawn Areas
The areas to the sides of the path will be lawns and flower beds. There are many ways to ensure these look stunning:
- Lights
Lights can be added to borders, set into flower beds, and even hung from any garden frame. They create a huge difference to the look and feel of your garden.
- Borders
Borders can be plastic, brick, stone, or modern fencing. The choice is yours but they are an effective way of separating areas of the garden.
- Planters
Planters are easy to add and look after. You should have a few on the decking and perhaps lining the path or even as window boxes. You can purchase them ready-made or make your own.
- Wild Area
It’s worth considering a wild flower area. Simply sprinkle some seeds in a designated area and see what grows. It can look stunning in the height of summer.
The secret is to consider what you want in your garden and develop that between the two key areas, entertaining and children’s play area. Then you’ll have cost effective and beautiful landscaping.
