Its one thing to dream up the perfect landscape design, but as many of you would know, it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to turning that dream into reality.

Here are some tips for turning an ordinary landscape into an extraordinary design.

Tip One: 

Planning, planning and planning! 

It can’t be stressed enough, but planning is essential when it comes to landscape design. Having the right plan in place will ensure a successful end result, and a very happy client! Be sure to include everything in the plan – the one thing that gets forgotten most of the time is exterior lighting. With outdoor lighting playing such a huge part in outdoor spaces these days, it’s not enough to just add lights in at the end. Exterior lighting requirements need to be accommodated for in the planning stages so that the overall design is cohesive. 

 Tip Two: 

Indoor/outdoor connection 

With the line between the inside and the outside getting more and more blurry, it makes sense to consider your interior when designing your exterior. Try to match your outdoor space to the architecture and style of your home. And where possible, create a seamless flow between the in and out – this will extend both spaces and as a bonus, make the areas appear larger than they actually are (this is an excellent landscape design tool when faced with small spaces). 

Tip Three: 

Hard and soft landscape elements 

A successful outdoor design has just the right balance of hard and soft landscape elements. Don’t create a concrete jungle – remember to incorporate all the beautiful elements of nature, such as plants and water. The essential hard landscape elements such as decking, bricks and pavers, and concrete are best complemented (and softened) with pot plants, shrubs and grasses, and water features. And if space is at a premium, get creative and incorporate a green or living all. There’s no excuse for not including greenery in your design. 

Tip Four:

Environmentally friendly

In this day and age, being environmentally friendly is a given when it comes to landscaping, however, it’s still worth a mention as you can never be too environmentally friendly! Choose the right plants for your climate, and be sure to include drought-tolerant plants. Make sure you include an irrigation system in your design, and if you have a water feature, make sure it uses water wisely. Get a rainwater tank and start recycling water. Every little bit helps and if we all do our part, then as a collective, we’ll really make a mark on the environment – in a positive way!

Tip Five:

Budget considerations

Your dream garden doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Be smart with your finances, and get creative with your resources, and this will make all the difference when it comes to landscape costs. Look at old things in a new way – recycled garden materials are all the rage at the moment, and in addition to looking good, they’ll save you money too. Be sure to create a low-maintenance design, that way you won’t be spending too much on maintaining it (and let’s be honest, we’d all rather spend our time enjoying our landscapes rather than keeping them in tip top shape).

Outdoor Design Source is a directory of products and services for the landscape industry, so no matter what you’re looking for – Landscape Supplies, Street & Outdoor Furniture, Timber Supplies, Water Features or Plant and Turf Care, you’ll be sure to find it in the directory.

 Happy landscaping!

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