Best Ideas for Natural Landscaping..!

Any of these Nine (9) natural land­scaping features can add function, health, and value to your yard, as well as beauty.

Your yard is the first thing many people will see when they look toward your home, but developing landscaping for your home doesn’t have to be merely to impress your neighbors. It is a way to help you relax, to improve the value of your property, and to make it a healthier place to live. With so many land­scaping ideas popular right now, which would you like to see im­proving your yard?

aa Raised Beds or Raised Gar­dens..!

 A common motif of natural landscaping is the raised garden or / flowerbed. Usually, these are created by building a retaining wall to lift the planting bed a few feet higher than the ground level. Using rocks or / other materials, you can create a short wall that you fill with dirt & plant your garden.

Small trees can work in raised beds, and the variety raised gardens provide is not limited to plants - your selec­tion of building materials for the retaining wall also creates an op­portunity to add color and texture. These raised gardens provide more character to your yard by adding plants at various heights to engage the eye.

aaStone Pathways..!

 Another com­mon natural addition to many lawns & landscaping projects is a stone pathway. These can be wander throughout your lawn, reminiscent of stepping stones through an ocean of green grass; also, you can use them to replace cement to give the patio or / barbeque area a natural look and feel & to promote better drainage. As a variety of stones are available for projects, you can find nearly any color or / style to match your specific needs.

aa Natural Materials Patio..!

 By looking to nature for your building materials, you can create a lavishly decorated patio that looks as if it were cut out of the Earth. Stone steps & rock retaining walls can elevate the patio & give you the sense of sitting on top of a moun­tain peak.

This form of patio works exceptionally well if your lawn is at a lower level than the rest of the home. Many lawns slope up toward the house, so leveling it at a high point gives you a good start on laying this patio.

aa Waterfalls..!

 Every year, people invest in devices that sit on their desks & recreate the sound of a small waterfall in order to relax. Why not construct a larger one on your property?

Your waterfall could be a constant focal point for relaxation as you develop exactly what you want to see and hear using natural materials. You can lavishly decorate your waterfall with plants, creating a unique look that can remove pollutants from the air & water as it soothes.

Many waterfalls run on solar-powered pumps, as well.

aa Ponds..!

 Many people will construct small ponds in the yard to house koi or / other marine life to further accentuate the scene. A pond built with natural materials can give it a unique presence that will catch the eye of passers-by, without costly & unnatural chemicals. Some ponds are large enough that designers will even construct small footbridges over them to enhance the experience. With proper mainte­nance & design, if you choose to stock it with fish, you could have a reliable food source for years.

aa Natural Swimming Pool..!

 Why settle for a small koi pond when you can build a natural swimming pool for yourself and your family? The idea behind a natural swimming pool is to combine the manageable size & recreational aspects of a swimming pool with the natural appeal and plant and animal-life sustaining qualities of a pond. With good design, you can count on clean water filtered by plants & clay and gravel in place of concrete and fiberglass. As you might guess, natural swimming pools cost less, too.

aa Streams..!

 A live, running stream can produce an ambiance that is almost unpar­alleled. An active small stream that uses solar-powered pumps to move the water & runs across varying heights of stone in its bed creates a babbling brook effect.

Your pre­viously ho-hum lawn will take on a new life as a stream trickles down the rocks, around the yard, and then cycles through the pump. Besides provid­ing a micro-habitat for plants and animals in your backyard, streams can help with stormwater runoff and prevent flooding.

aa Native Flowerbeds..!

 Building a lavishly decorated flowerbed is probably one of the cheapest ways to enhance your yard. For less than $ 50 in seeds & materials, you can impress the neighborhood.

How­ever, choosing & planting native species allows you to do more than beautify. Growing the plants native to your area can better man­age stormwater, require less main­tenance, perform well from season to season, and support the insect life that supports native birds.

As well, the native plants that you grow will give your garden a sense of place.

aa Natural Barbeque..!

 Every year, millions of people will take to the backyard and start up the propane grill. However, a barbeque built by using natural materials such as stone that burns wood, a renew­able resource, can provide more than a way to cook food.

An open fire in the yard creates a gathering place and allows you to enjoy the outdoors on chilly spring and fall nights. Some outdoor kitchens can save you money and resources by functioning as well as the oven in your indoor kitchen.

Natural landscaping does not have to cost you a lot of money if you plan to do the work yourself.

How­ever, it will require patience & time as you grow seeds into flow­ers & sculpt rocks into fire-pits. Doing your own landscaping has hidden benefits, such as reducing stress & providing exercise. It is also a great way to connect with your kids, if you have those. Revamp your yard & take pride in your accom­plishments.

Source: http://buildipedia.com

Share: