Free landscaping ideas | landscaping advice | landscaping designs | landscaping tips | modern landscaping ideas | sustainable landscaping ideas
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Free landscaping ideas and designs that are modern, easy-to-maintain and suitable for a dry climate.
Free landscaping ideas | landscaping advice | landscaping designs | landscaping tips | modern landscaping ideas | sustainable landscaping ideas.
Landscaping attractive gardens is a very effective way to add to the value of your home and provide with a natural beauty that you can be proud of.
Below is a resource list of landscaping products that you can use to create your own landscaping haven:
Quality imported and enviro-friendly landscaping decorative pebbles: 100+ colours & sizes
Stone wall cladding | Natural Stacked Stone
Natural Australian Pebbles: bulk river pebbles
Artifical lawn: almost realistic
Recylced coloured glass 30+ colours: ideal for landscaping as decorative mulch
Natural crazy paving- no cutting requiredPlanning your landscape
Important things to consider when planning your landscape design
When planning what design to choose for your landscape, there are some important things to consider. The difference between a bad and a good garden can make a big difference to how much you enjoy it and in relevant situations to the property value.Even though sometimes we may be tempted to rush into things and create the garden we dream of as soon as possible, it is important to be aware that the success of your landscape design depends on how much time you spend on planning your landscape.
Before you start designing your landscape, think about how much space you currently have and how to best use that space. How will this influence the landscape design? Also, think about the characteristics of the land and whether there are any physical constrains?
Who else will be affected by the garden design or rather who or what else may impact upon the landscape design? Some of the other important elements to consider are:
+ budget
+ time
+ children
+ pets and animals
+ purpose of the garden: entertain, relax, garden
+ What type of garden? xeriscape,
+ What style of garden? Australian garden, Zen garden, rock garden, vegetable garden, etc; you get the picture.
+ If you are to build say a xeriscaped Australian garden, do you know what plants to include?
+ How much time are you prepared to spend maintaining the garden?
+ Do you wish to have any lawn areas?
+ Are there currently any trees that may affect the layout of the landscape?
As you can see there are many things that may potentially dictate on the landscape design that you can select. I think that one of the most important things to consider is how much space you have and how to best utilise that space? This is especially crucial if you are limited by a small space. Although, this does not necessarily mean that small scale gardens are so limiting that it is impossible to have a beautifully landscaped garden. If you have a small area, more is less. If you are blessed with a large space, it might be a good idea to create 'rooms' in that area.
Landscaping design ideas
More images of very unique landscaping designs
Sometimes words are simply not enough. I have found more images of landscape designs that may indeed inspire you.
Landscaping with native plants
benefits of landscaping with native plants
Many of the native plants found in Australian ecosystems can flourish in your own garden. Using Australian native plants for landscaping can greatly benefit the local environment. Native plants are absolutely beautiful and resilient. Once established, native plants require much less maintenance and water than their exotic counterparts. Using native plants in your landscaping design provides food and habitat for native fauna, which is always good for the natural ecosystem.Benefits of landscaping with native plants
Landscaping with native plants helps our fragile environment. We all know that native plants are resilient because they adapted to the regional and local weather and conditions. Keen home gardeners who have used native plants in their landscaping, tell me that they use much less pesticides,fertilisers and much water.
This is good for the environment and for your pocket.
Landscaping Design Ideas
When words just aren't enough...
Everyone needs to see images of landscaped gardens to be inspired.
Landscaping Plans
Thought it might be a good idea to get some landscaping plans images from Flickr Photos. These will give you an idea of what professional and amateur landscape do before they embark on a landscaping project.
Landscaping Videos
These landscaping videos might be a source of inspiration....or help
Landscaping with hardscapes
Elements of a landscaped garden
Landscaping a garden includes many elements. One of those elements is hardscapes.Generally rocks and stones are used to draw attention to the garden architecture, create borders or garden rooms, use stones to create a border around paths and much more. Other hardscapes include stone walls, paving, water features, lighting, patios and decking.
No landscape can be completed without the use of landscaping stones. Including landscaping stones in your garden designs accentuates the natural elements of the garden such as plants, flower, grass etc. Not only that but adding landscaping stones to your designs is visual and can even be practical. Stones are an ideal way to incorporate decorative mulch into your garden designs, and rocks do not degrade like traditional mulch.
Landscaping with native plants improves air quality
sustainable landscaping
Native landscaping practices can help improve air quality on a local regional and global level. Locally, smog (ground level ozone) and air toxics can be drastically reduced by the virtual elimination of the need for lawn maintenance equipment (lawn mowers, weed edgers, leaf blowers, etc.) which is fueled by gasoline, electricity or batteries. All of these fuel types are associated with the emissions of the following air pollutants:+ carbon monoxide (CO)
+ carbon dioxide (CO2)
+ nitrous oxides (NOx)
+ sulfur dioxide (SO2)
+ VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
+ and air toxics such as benzene.
Gasoline lawn and garden equipment, on average, produces 5% of ozone-forming VOCs in areas with smog problems. This equipment also emits toxics and particulates.
Regionally, the NOx and SO2 released from lawn maintenance equipment react with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain.
Globally, native landscaping practices help to combat global warming in two ways. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas and by reducing the use of lawn maintenance equipment, the associated CO2emissions are also reduced. Native plants help to reduce the amount of CO2in the atmosphere by taking in CO2and storing the carbon in the body of the plants, roots and soil. Native plants work much better than traditional mowed grass as a carbon sink due to their extensive root systems and increased ability to retain and store water.
Source:http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/
PS: I have included more links to explain some of the terms
Landscaping Design Links: Free landscaping design software
Free landscaping design software
A list of free landscaping design software.
- Free landscaping software: Showoff.com
- Easily create your own beautifully landscaped yard! Start with our model yard or a photo of YOUR OWN YARD! Add shrubs, trees, annuals, hedges and more. You've just designed a realistic, printable image of your finished landscape!
+ Easy to use-runs under Windows or MAC!
+ Like having a designer at your fingertips!
+ Uses real color photos, not illustrations
+ Includes a photo library of real homes-or use a photo of your own!
+ Select your hardiness zone
+ Watch the plants grow in one year, two and five years!
+ Includes today's most popular materials
+ Video tutorial
+ It's easy to put pictures of your home in Showoff.com - Easy Landscape Design Software
- Landscaping Design Software: Free Trial
SmartDraw is the World's Most Popular Business Graphics Software that helps you create perfect landscape, garden, deck, and patio plans-even if you have no drawing skill at all! SmartDraw includes thousands of ready-made graphics that you simply stamp to create your drawing. It's fast and easy!
Easily Create Plans for: Landscaping, Garden, Patio & Deck, and Much More!
Landscaping with decorative concrete
landscaping design with decorative concrete
One way to enhance your landscaping design is to include decorative concrete.Using decorative concrete in your landscaping design, you can accomplish a multitude of stylish finishes when combined with decorative pebbles.
This proces is referred to as seeded exposed aggregate,which is an exposed aggregate concrete featuring a selected pebble or stone which is 'seeded' into the concrete surface, then exposed and sealed to provide a long lasting, maintenance free surface. It is ideally suited for commercial flooring applications.
Seeded exposed aggregate uses the natural textures of pebbles and stones in the concrete to embellish the surface and give you a unique surface finish. The use and applications of seeded exposed aggregate are flexible enough to allow for very detailed and intricate designs as well as more natural looks.
Whether creating broad areas or minuscule details in your landscaping design, seeded exposed aggregate lastingly captures the elected look. Applications can range from commercial to residential landscaping applications, with practically no boundaries in design.
Landscaping with decorative concrete
Landscaping design with decorative concrete
Enjoy these images of decorative concrete that I got from Flickr Photos. As you can see, decorative concrete when combined with pebbles and even crushed glass is a beautiful addition to your landscaping design.
Seeded Exposed Aggregate using imported decorative pebbles that are seeded into ...
Seeded Exposed Aggregate using imported decorative pebbles that are seeded into ...
Seeded Exposed Aggregate using imported decorative pebbles that are seeded into ...
Seeded exposed aggregate created using imported decorative pebbles that are 'see...
Seeded exposed aggregate created using imported decorative pebbles that are 'see...
Seeded exposed aggregate created using imported decorative pebbles that are 'see...
Seeded exposed aggregate created using imported decorative pebbles that are 'see...
Seeded Exposed Aggregate using imported decorative pebbles that are seeded into ...
Seeded Exposed Aggregate using imported decorative pebbles that are seeded into ...
New Del.icio.us bookmarks
- Home Landscape Design Software for Garden and Decorating ideas-Showoff Virtual Landscape Designer
- Landscape Design - DIY Landscaping Ideas - Garden Design
- Landscaping Ideas | Landscape Design | Landscaping Pictures
- Gecko Stone Tessellated Interlocking Pavers, LightweightConcrete Houses, Architectural Design, Imagineering
Landscaping with water features
water features as part of landscape design
We are always looking for ways to distinguish our landscapes and make them very unique. One element that can be added to your landscaping design are water features. Water features can add a focal point to any landscape, assuming that you choose the right one to complement your landscape design. I have selected a few images of water features from flickr, to give you a few ideas.
Landscaping design ideas: building a water pond
Adding water to your landscape designs
Some of us like our landscaping designs to include a significant amount of water. In other words, we like water to be the focal element in our landscapes. Below is a list of links to websites that show you to build a pond and integrate ponds and water into your landscape designs.- + how to build a water or fish pond
- info on how to build a water or fish pond
- + how to build water gardens
- Great resource!
- + planning & building a water garden
- building ponds for dummies
- + all you need to know about garden ponds
- all you need to know
Landscape designs: Japanese garden
Zen garden
One of my favourite landscape designs are Japanese rock gardens, karesansui or zen garden. A zen garden is an enclosed shallow sandbox containing sand, gravel, rocks, and occasionally grass or other natural elements. The main elements of karesansui are rocks and sand, with the sea symbolized not by water but by sand raked in patterns that suggest rippling water. Plants are much less important (and sometimes nonexistent) in many karesansui gardens. Karesansui gardens are often, but not always, meant to be viewed from a single, seated perspective, and the rocks are often associated with and named after various Chinese mountains.
Images of Zen Gardens
Landscape Images: Japanese Gardens
Creating Japanese Gardens: Elements of a Zen Garden
How to create Japanese gardens
There have been many attempts to explain the Zen garden's layout. Some of these are:+The gravel represents ocean and the rocks represent the islands of Japan
+The rocks represent a mother tiger with her cubs, swimming to a dragon
+The rocks form part of the kanji for heart or mind
A recent suggestion by Gert van Tonder of Kyoto University and Michael Lyons, of Ritsumeikan University, is that the rocks form the subliminal image of a tree. This image cannot be consciously perceived when looking at them; the researchers claim the subconscious mind is able to see a subtle association between the rocks. They believe this is responsible for the calming effect of the garden and is also made to have a quiet place for meditation.
Source: Zen Gardens on Wikipedia
For more info click on the link:elements of a zen garden: Great website that provides info on elements of a zen garden. Includes illustrations of various elements, including paths, bridges, lanterns and rocks. Worth checking out.
Garden pots as part of garden landscape designs
Container gardens
Another landscape design that you may choose to be ideal for your is a container garden, which is ideal for individuals who have a small space or prefer low maintenance landscape designs. Pots in the garden can create lovely effects in your landscape design in numerous ways. Depending on the pots that you select, they can add an array of beautiful colours or a focal point to your garden design, garden pots can extend garden space into outdoor living areas diminishing the boundary between the indoor and outdoor space. One great thing with garden pots is that you are able to either match or contract the colour of the pots to the colour of the plants put in individual garden pots.Generally, keen gardeners select colours that provide a contrast between the garden pot colour and the flowers and/or foliage. When selecting a colour for your garden pot, you may want to be careful and avoid choosing a very colour pot containing very colourful plants. The aim with garden pots is to complement and enhance the look of the plants, not to compete with the plant colours.
So remember, select a garden pot with a neutral colour to show off colourful plants or foliage, or a very multi-coloured pot to display green plants or foliage.
Ceramic pots in your garden designs
Beautiful garden designs for small spaces
Terra cotta has a natural warm colour that matches well with most plant colours, but its porous nature means that it saturates water and the potting mix can rapidly dry out. Other issues are caused by algae and discolouration from salts leaching to the surface.Glazed ceramic pots have a very ornamental glossy, smooth texture that is fantastic for showing off plants. Depending on your liking, the pots may be plain or patterned, in single or multi colours.
Concrete pots are enduring, strong and weatherproof. They can be painted in brilliant colours to enhance their look but they may need to repainted every year or two as the colours may fade or the paint may peel and crack.
Ceramic pots | garden pots | landscaping pots | flower pots |
Below are some images of ceramic pots to give you an idea of what of pots you may want to choose or may need.
using colour in landscape design
colour and landscape designs: part 1
Colour is an essential element to any landscape design. A lot of keen gardeners who are very serious about using the right colour in the landscape designs tend to use colour theory. I will provide you with some helpful resources on the colour theory.Colour is not only one of the most essential elements in a landscape design, but is also one of the most basic landscape design elements. What colour you decide to use as part of your garden design, should not be decided upon in isolation. It is very important that you consider how colour interacts with other components in your landscape design.
Accurate use of colour can impact upon mood and perception. For example, it is a largely accepted fact that the colours yellow and orange are considered as warm colours. Orange blends the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. Orange is associated with joy and sunshine. Orange symbolises passion, enthralment, happiness, creativity, inspiration, success etc. Orange stands out a lot as it has a high visibility, so you can use orange to seize attention and emphasize the most crucial elements of your landscape design. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and is associated with happiness, energy and intelligence. The colour yellow creates a warming effect, stimulates joyfulness and energy. Try not to overuse the colour yellow in your landscape design as that may lead to a rather distressing effect. Also, if you decide to use colour in your landscape design note that yellow can disappear into white, so you need to ensure that you surround it with darker colours to highlight it. Also, don't use different shades of yellow as that may look a bit dirty and shabby.
flickr images of yellow flowers
Landscaping with natural stone
Enhance your landscape design using natural stone
Landscaping stone is one of the most wanted choice of materials for landscaping architects as there is no other landscaping element that can equal its durability and magnificence. Natural stone is an affordable way to bring life to any landscape design. Natural stones provide structure and charm to any landscape design. Deciding where to place landscaping stone in your landscape design is one of the most crucial things to consider. Where and how you place the landscaping stones in your garden can make all the difference. Another important thing to consider when choosing the right natural stone for your landscape design is the type of stone you select. The aim is to select a landscaping s tone that will accentuate your landscape design. The landscaping stone that you select should work well with the plants in your garden. You need to decide whether the colour of the natural stone should have a complimentary or contrasting colour. One thing you should be aware of that the colours of the landscaping stone tends to change or rather darken when it gets wet or rather when it rains. Landscaping Designs in arid climates: What do with water-thirsty lawns?
The issue that is of major concern here in Australia is lawn. Almost all landscape designs have lawns as a major landscape feature. So what do you when you are living in an area that is characterized by drought and harsh water restrictions?Currently, the Australian Environment Minister wants to see the end of lawn, a great feature of the Australian traditional front yard. Big lawns are very much obsolete and no longer sustainable in most parts of Australia's arid climate. What he refers to as "vanity projects" is no longer a suitable feature of a landscape design. The good thing is that many Australian home owners have acknowledged the fact that it is no longer sensible or even affordable to have huge areas of lawn. The Environment Minister urges people to consider water-saving alternatives such as pebble gardens, paving and natural vegetation. Another solution to this issue would be the use of artifical lawn in landscape designs. Apart from obvious environment benefits, having artificial grass ensures that kids still have an area to play, where they can roll around without being injured.
Landscaping with decorative pebbles
set in stones and pebbles
Pebbles are a favourite with landscape designers and architects in all kinds of landscape designs. Naturally coloured and shaped pebbles can be sourced under licence from unused river- and creekbeds where their mining does not harm the eco-system. Alternatively, decorative pebbles are often by-product from larger stone and sand quarrying. There are many possibilities to utilise decorative pebbles in landscape designs.
Pebbles between Pavers: Pebbles can be used to create a feature in a paved area by hand laying pebbles in wet mortar. Ideally pebbles of same size should be used to obtain a simple effect. You can use either a complimentary coloured mortar or choose a colour that brings a contrast depending on what look you want to accomplish with the pebbles.
Inorganic Mulch: Pebbles are a great alternative to organic mulch. Pebbles are able to suppress most weeds while maintaining soil moisture when laid over moist soil.
Now be nice and give me some (nice) feedback
Got an opinion? share it please
If you feel you have got something to add to this lens, please do share it. If you are compelled to criticize this lens...well by all means. I will try my best to use that information to make the lens more useful to YOU!
GaryM1 wrote...
A lens chock full of information on almost any garden I can think of. Thanks for sharing.
Posted August 17, 2007
emmas wrote...
hi decorpebble,
fantastic effort. 5 stars
I am about to build a lens on exotic flowers, maybe we could liaise?
Posted July 17, 2007
Lensmaster
98rt** wrote
found the article on pebbles and concrete very interesting.
Posted July 09, 2007
by decorpebble
DecoR Pebble Aust Pty Ltd is Australia's leading brand name in decorative pebbles and stones that are ideal for landscaping design, xeriscaping and gr...
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