How To Design A Pond – Planning A Pond Or Water Feature

Executive Summary by: Butch Kuhl

We’ll talk about planning and basic construction methods for water ponds.

pond water

During the planning phases, you’ll need to decide what type of pond you’ll be building. The difference being a water feature without any fish or plants can be designed to use chlorinated water, which will keep the feature pretty clean.

A pond that is sued to house fish or plants cannot have any chlorine in it because that chemical will kill both plants and fish. Using a UV filter will also help keep algae growth down in a pond too. Salt levels can be kept higher, if you’re not going to have any plants in the pond or water feature.

Once you know what direction you plan to take with your pond, you’ll have to evaluate the surrounding in which you plan to place the pond. This is a crucial step, because not only will you need a place to put the pond, you’ll need a place to house any equipment that will run the pond.

It is also advisable to check with your City’s planning department and acquire the necessary permits to install the pond, especially if there is digging involved. Have you considered what the pond or water feature will look like? Do you plan to landscape lightly or more heavily around the pond?

A more formal pond might consist mainly of a structured material like concrete and stone.

Waterfall Ponds Bring Sounds Of Nature Closer To Home

Executive Summary by: Bruce Lin

Before you get too far along, have an electrician install the right outlet you will need to plug in the water pump for waterfall ponds.

Sand Can Help Level And Protect Liner. One, it can help protect the waterfall ponds liner from possible damage from any rocks in the bottom of the hole.

The route designed for the water to flow must be carefully thought through and a means to recapture the water will help keep water bills down and the area surrounding the waterfall ponds dry.

In general, listening to the sounds stemming from waterfall ponds can be soothing experience that you may want to share with friends.

Also, check out my other guide on gardening care

Italian Garden Design – Why Use A Garden Designer To Create An Italian Garden

Executive Summary by: Jonathan Radford

Garden design is an art-form, specific to each country and Italian garden design is clearly of no exception.

garden design

A professional garden designer can prevent the homebuyer in Italy from making some socially embarrassing and even expensive errors when designing his or her Italian garden and a good garden designer should complement the existing architecture of the house with intelligent garden design.

The Italian property market still harbours some great investments and an Italian garden designed in the correct manner will make a major difference to the value of any Italian property, rendering it automatically attractive and pleasant at first sight.

The garden designer will also provide consultation and general good advice for the aftercare of the garden, which will aid in establishing the garden.

Modern garden designers are now placing a much higher emphasis upon low-maintenance garden design that still manages to retain strong structure, form and overall harmony within the garden space yet increases property value.

Garden Designer – How to Find the Right Landscaping Designer

Executive Summary by: Jim Carpenter

What you will soon learn is that each landscape designer you contact will have their own particular, methods, techniques and styles.

When looking for a landscape designer you have a number of options available to you.

Once you have a short list of landscape designers you should arrange to meet with them.

It is important when you are interviewing any potential landscape designer for your Tampa garden you find out exactly what training they have undergone, where they did their training and what experience they have.

Even if the first Tampa landscaping designer you interview seems to meet all your particular requirements, you shouldn’t cancel the rest.

The final thing you do before employing any Tampa landscaping designer is to carry out some background checks on them.

Check out my other guide on garden flowers and landscape designs

Designer Gardens – Better Homes & Gardens Architectural Home Designer

Executive Summary by: Candis Reade

Designer Gardens: Whether you are considering a quick and gentle garden makeover or a total home design, the Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer package from Chief Architect will be of great use to you. At the moment you can chose from suites 6, 7 or 8.

garden design

The Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer has been compiled by people who are very experienced in the world of property design and the concept has been taken from professional design software.

Even if you use a template you will be able to personalize your design and make adjustments.

Kitchen planning, room arrangement and bathroom facilities are straightforward to add and then alter. Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer does not expect you to come up with a perfect design with your first ideas.

You can imagine the time and money that you can save by using Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer for the initial design work of your new property. Within the restraints of building feasibility the design can fulfil you dreams.

Multi-Gardens: The Latest In New Garden Design Concepts

Executive Summary by: Anne Clark

Alter the ambiance of your home outdoors with more than one separate type or style of garden design.

From simplistic gardens to complex, high maintenance gardens, there are many choices both simple and delicate, and everything in between. Plan the perfect garden for you with the very best garden accessories and equipment available on the market today.

Talking about designer gardens, there are new, creative and impressively artistic ways to design gardens becoming popular among gardening enthusiasts everywhere – not just multi-gardens, but art and what are basically sculpture gardens, new styles of pebble gardens, and more.

If one garden is a prized, outdoor delight for you, then more than one garden could be even better.

At the end of the bridge, a blur, or transition between the flowerless water garden and the colorful display of my floral garden is eased by the porch area and garden furniture.

You may want to check out my other guide on garden bulbs and grow lights

Garden Plans – Plan For Your Garden With Garden Planning Now

Executive Summary by: Rhonda Cossey

Garden Plans: The time for garden planning is now. You have to know where you will put your garden, and find all the barriers to success that must be dealt with before planting time. Is the ground going to be fertile and open for planting and maintenance?

garden plan

Did you plant your cover crop in the fall for the added nutrients and soil lightening qualities it provides?

The soil must be prepared before the planting begins, so now is the time to find out how to maximize the soil you will be using to grow those picture perfect flowers and vegetables.

Are there varieties of plants that you can plant later, perhaps when an earlier crop has finished for the year? Is your gardening season that long?

If you find yourself in this position maybe it would be time to request a trade from your neighbors and friends that do not have the space or tools to garden for themselves.

Wild Flower Garden – Yours to Design and Plan

Executive Summary by: Gabrielle Bennett

Garden Plans: As I said, whatever style of wild flower garden you want, it can be yours. You can make this a reality if you plan the work, and work the plan.

Consider the purpose you want your garden to serve and your budget as well.

If you decide to go for a small wild flower garden, then using pencil and paper to create your design is fine.

Your choice of wild flower garden will most likely be inspired by the region you live in e.g. from a cottage garden in cooler regions to a tropical garden in hotter climes.

So let your imagination run riot, plan your dream garden and then start refining.

Also, check out my other guide on garden fountain and pond plants

Garden Plan – Tips on How to Plan a Harmonious Family Garden

Executive Summary by: Paul Curran

• Identify exactly what you want from your garden
  • Do you want to entertain a lot; barbecues etc?
  • Do you need somewhere for children to play?
  • Are you planning on having garden furniture?

garden plans

• Design your garden accordingly
  Remember there are no rules here. Most problems arise between children playing and adults wanting to garden or relax. Use the space inside for relaxing or eating.

• Take advantage of plants in containers

With some pre-thought you can plan a garden that will suit all members of your family and accommodate visitors when you are entertaining. Work, rest, and play-  all at the same time…. Honest!

5 Revealing Secrets On How to Plan a Backyard Garden That Will Be the Envy of Your Neighborhood

Executive Summary by: Steve Kent

• Garden Plan Secret 1

First start out with a good plan for your gardening project. How much sun and shade does your garden area have? You will need to prepare your soil type prior to planting.

• Garden Plan Secret 2

As you consider your plant selection, remember in sheltered areas with low sun exposure, shade type of plants will do better. For poorly drained areas you can plant swamp type plants.

• Garden Plan Secret 3

In order to have a healthy garden your soil should be slightly acidic but then some plants also require an alkaline soil for survival.

• Garden Plan Secret 4

Organizing and grouping your plants and flowers is an important decision in beautifying your garden.

• Garden Plan Secret 5

As you view the color combinations in your garden palette, pay particular attention to color and texture clashing.

Also, check out my other guide on garden fountain and landscape ideas

Patio Designs and Creative Patio Design Ideas

Executive Summary by: John A. Voight

Here are some patio design ideas you should consider:

patio designs

• Seated Walls

Instead of building a flat patio, consider building up portions of the patio to include a seat wall, which adds some depth to the patio.

• Built In Fire Pit

Before placing stones or bricks, it’s important to mark off the area where the fire pit will go and begin the patio there. Most fire pits are built in a circular shape, so this will have a large impact on the bricks or stone patio design as well.

• Garden Feature

There are several ways to incorporate a garden into your patio. This may include a raised garden area built with stone or brick pavers, a portion of the patio left unpaved to incorporate a small garden, or weaving a garden around the borders of the patio.

• Water Features

Although it may be more difficult for a first time do-it-yourself patio installer, a water fountain or waterfall as a centerpiece to a patio can add beauty and tranquility to a variety of patio designs.

Patio Design Tips – Design Your Patio in the Winter

Executive Summary by: Bruce Lipski

Believe it or not, winter is the perfect time to plan and design your patio. During the summer, the patio gets used a lot and there is little time to start rebuilding or making modifications to the patio.

Your patio is an extension of your house and should flow well with your home’s style. The garden area around the patio is also an instrumental part of creating the “feel” of your patio and giving it a unique style.

Do you want to add a cover to your patio? Many people like to include a hot tub on or near their patio.

The possibilities for great patio designs are endless and Fall and Winter is the right time to start getting your ideas together.

Check out my other guide on gardening nursery and patio designs

Creative Garden Ideas – How to Have a Stunning Garden That Makes Your Friends Jealous

Executive Summary by: Costas Peppas

Garden Ideas: The first eyesores I notice with lots of gardens is plain property borders and hideous looking walls or barbecue pits. I know one couple who created an amazing looking shade garden for relaxation purposes. Another who created a butterfly garden that’s absolutely gorgeous!

gardens ideas

Did You Know There’s An Ideal Fruit Tree For Most Areas?

Talk to your local nursery about finding a nice apple, cherry, plum, pear or peach tree and plant one (or more!) as part of your garden, would be one of great ideas.

Tree sizes are actually pretty standard across the board: semi-dwarf is for medium yards, 6 – 9 foot dwarfs are for small yards, and standard for large yards!

Most people’s yards have trees or object that case shade and that area tends to be avoided by the gardener.

Well, here’s an idea if you’re into vegetable gardens: why not plant asparagus roots?

Patio Garden Ideas

Executive Summary by: Albert Lee

There are a number of plants and ways to make a patio a lot more closer to nature, as well as giving it a more home feel when it comes to patio garden ideas.

Plants would come in all shapes and sizes, but the ease in maintenance would allow a better chance for a patio garden to flourish. A few trees would suffice in this case, but grass does not always make a patio garden since most patio owners would only be concern on what is surrounding it at eye level.

Foliage and hedges need not be tall when it comes to having a patio garden, thus to ease on maintenance needed.

Clearing the area with unwanted plants like poison ivy and dead leaves, if patient enough, can enhance the quality of the patio.

Also, check out my other guide on garden fountain and garden plans

Japanese Garden Landscaping – More Than Just Flowers

Executive Summary by: Milos Pesic

When it comes to gardens, the Japanese are one of the finest designers. Truly, one cannot deny the fact that Japanese garden landscaping is awe aspiring.

garden landscape

Japanese garden landscaping is categorized into three types.

• A Tsukiyama inspired garden is basically a garden with contours and hills.
• The different category of Japanese garden landscaping is called the Karensansui or dry landscape gardens.

Gardens of this type are associated with people who practice Zen Buddhism.The rocks usually symbolize the Japanese islands. Unlike a Tsukimaya garden, a Karensansui garden is to be viewed from a single, seated perspective.

• Lastly, the third category of Japanese garden landscaping is the Chaniwa.

This type of garden dates back to the 14th century. This tea room is called Chaniwa, hence, the name of the garden. Usually, Chaniwa gardens are not open to the public.

It is worthwhile to see these types of Japanese gardens.

Attracting Butterflies Through Effective Butterfly Garden Landscaping

Butterfly garden landscaping works by growing plants that attract butterflies.

The first thing to do in butterfly garden landscaping is to locate a sunny spot in the garden. Butterflies need the sun’s warmth for their wing muscles to work efficiently.

The next thing to consider in butterfly garden landscaping is to choose the plants well. Butterflies are attracted to bright colors and strong fragrances.

Second, the plants should produce nectar since nectar is a staple food for butterflies. Nowadays, nectar producing plants are easy to grow. Furthermore, it ensures a steady supply of food for different species of butterflies.

Effective butterfly garden landscaping will reward the gardener with a beautiful view of these lovely creatures.

You may want to check out my other guide on water garden features and garden care

Landscaping Supplies & Services – Not Just Sticks and Stones

Executive Summary by: Ashley Conner

Landscaping supplies and services provide the manpower and materials in designing open spaces for homes and buildings.

Landscaping services are available for both residential and commercial structures. The landscaped gardens of the Romans were designed with mosaics and water fountains.

landscape supplies

Aside from landscape designing and architecture, landscape services offer assistance in the following:

• spring clean up - yard cleaning, lawn thatching, yard raking, cleaning of flower beds and bushes, removal of all debris
• fertilization - crabgrass preventer, lime application, insect control, grub control, winter fertilizer
• lawn maintenance - cutting of lawn, trimming edges, sweeping walks and driveways
• mulching

Landscaping supplies are available if you want to design the landscapes in your home yourself. Landscaping supplies products available include:

• retaining walls - bricks or stones to create walls for plants and flowers
• stones, rocks and sandstones - essential materials for any landscaping
• treated timber - helps structure to be sturdier and lasting
• cobbles, pebbles and boulders - decorative and will help your landscape to hold the soil and plants
• fertilizer
• plants and flowers

Landscaping Supplies – Hard Landscaping Materials

Executive Summary by: Milos Pesic

In architecture and landscape design, hard landscaping material is referred to material that is used for construction by an architect or designer to develop his landscape design. The materials that come under hard landscaping materials are bricks, gravel, stones, glass, concrete and the like. Plants come under soft landscaping materials.

Pavers are commonly used in landscaping supplies. Pavers may be made of brick, concrete, stone, grass and any other material. The most common choice is crushed volcanic rock.

The most valuable material for hard landscaping supplies is soil. The varieties of hard landscaping materials that are available are so many that choosing the product that will suit your need can be confusing and overwhelming.

Choosing the right and the most apt hard landscaping materials is very important to you and your designer. The hard material used for landscaping supplies must enhance the surroundings.

Also, check out my other guide on guide books for gardening and garden gifts

Landscape Designs – Home And Garden Ideas

Executive Summary by: James McDonald

Landscape designs can be planned out in a variety of different ways, and there is no right or wrong way to design your own. Go ahead take a chance and be as creative as you wish with your design, incorporating many ideas into the final product.

landscape design

With a little planning and a lot of creativity your visions of a beautiful landscape can be achieved. An important factor to great landscape designs is finding something that catches everyone’s attention, which will become the focal point in your design. An important part of your landscape is accessibility and functionality.

If the space you are creating is used for a peaceful getaway, then your design should include less space with more soothing features such as plants and flowers. There are some other excellent places to find even more great ideas. You can also look at other landscaped designs to help you come up with that perfect layout you are searching for.

You may want to take pictures of different landscape designs throughout your community and incorporate your favorite looks into one magnificent design. If you are planning on designing and constructing the landscape yourself remember to leave yourself time for creativity.

English Garden Landscape Designs – The Mystery and Romance of a Secret Garden

Executive Summary by: Allen Quay Materials, accessories, and, of course, appropriate plant life are all important aspects of a romantic cottage style garden design that brings elegance and beauty to your outdoor space, as well as your home.

• Building English Garden Paths

Secluded walkways with graceful curves and abundant, free-flowing plant life are the foundation to creating a genuine English landscape designs. Garden paths meander through the landscape, allowing peaceful enjoyment of nature’s pleasures. Combine stone, gravel, and brick materials for a more genuine English garden landscape designs.

• The Charm of English Garden Accessories

Gazebos, quaint foot bridges, and rustic fences can also add the charm of your country style garden.

• Wildlife’s Role in the English Garden

Traditional English gardens were abundant with a variety of insects, birds, and other wildlife that only complements the natural beauty of this landscape style. Garden accessories, like water gardens and rustic bird baths or feeders, are one way to attract a number of species to your outdoor living space. Plant fragrant lavender, clover, and small bushes with bright colored berries throughout the garden.

• English Garden Plants

English garden landscape designs provide unique outdoor living areas with a fun and whimsical atmosphere. Your design firm can also offer advice on the best country garden style for you and your home.

Also, check out my other guide on gardening art and container garden