Rock Landscaping Rocks!

We always like seeing the humble rock get its fair due in landscaping discussions. There is so much more to landscaping with rock than just dropping a few boulders around – a well-thought-out landscape design that incorporates rock is a work of art. You can invoke a quiet mountain stream, a rough desert canyon, a natural grotto, a magic troll forest, or anything else you can imagine.

Healthy Home Smart has some tips on getting started with rock landscaping. And now for some decorative ideas: Check out these photos from Rock & Rose for just some of the expression that rock can do. Here’s a tip on how to make moss grow on your landscape rocks and garden statuary. And one last bit of inspiration, how to use rock landscaping to deal with run-off water and be beautiful at the same time.

Tags: landscaping discussions, rock landscaping
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Landscaping and Living ‘Green’

At the end of the day, we all want to escape the clamour of our daily lives and enter in to a pure sanctuary of relaxation… and no, this is not an ad for a new resort in the Himalayas. The truth is that an aesthetically accurate landscape design can and will help you achieve this in your very own front yard.

Incorporating flora and fauna in to a landscape is an essential factor. There are many types of plants and trees that can not only help the environment that you reside in but also give you produce that is enough to sustain you and your family. Edible landscaping or the landscaping of trees and plants that bare edible produce is an ideal example of how the plant life in your landscape can sustain you.

The living green of any landscape is also a uniquely refreshing spectacle in comparison with the monotony of steal and cement in any urbanized area. The beautiful splattering of colour on a lush green plain can only be achieved by a successfully implemented landscape design that utilized relevant greenery.

Going wrong with plantation in a landscape ruins the whole balance of the landscape design. Therefore it is essential that you know your plants and where to incorporate it into your landscape. They are an essential part of any landscape and therefore deserve to be put to use in the best possible manner.

Tags: landscape garden, landscaping discussions, living green
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Landscaping and Global Warming

As we all know, rising of the earth’s near-surface temperature, is commonly referred to as global warming. Modifying the visual features of a plot of land is called landscaping. So what connection does landscaping have with global warming? – To be honest, a lot more than you think.

Deforestation is thought to be a major cause of global warming. Planting trees would directly contribute to minimize this effect, a thought to keep in mind when landscaping. Also, in hot summer months we all turn on the air-conditioning for our comfort. However, a simple, long term solution would be to grow some trees, if space permits. Trees will give you the much needed shade, but its uses stretch far beyond this, as trees directly help in the process of “evapotranspiration”.

When landscaping, you can consider the possibility of having your own kitchen/herb garden. This way, you can not only consume fresh home-grown vegetables, you can also reduce the need for transportation of items, some which are even brought down by air, thereby saving fuel and oil consumption; which is another indirect way of lessening global warming,

Global dimming too, has played its part in global warming, and one cause of this is pollutants. When landscaping, if you choose plants that are more pest-resistant and use an effective pest management technique, instead of turning to insecticides; you have proven yourself to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible. So hats off to you!

Tags: landscaping and global warming, landscaping discussions
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How to Landscape Your Garden in order to Benefit Your Kids

You might enjoy taking a stroll down your yard sometimes, or perhaps engage in some gardening when time permits. However admittedly, it is children who most enjoy outdoor play, so when you landscape your garden, it is wise to keep their needs and safety in mind, whenever possible.

In a large garden, a small play-area can be included for your kids’ benefit. It can have simple items like a sand-pit or a swing; or something more elaborate like a mat-slide or a trampoline. It all depends on the extent of land you have, how much you are willing to spend and of course on how old your children are.

Safety is of paramount importance whenever small children are around, so if your garden has a swimming pool or a large pond, you should seriously consider putting up a fence or some form of barrier around the water-body, so that your kids will have access to that area, only when an adult is present, so that accidents can be minimized.

Also, small children in their eagerness to explore, would have no compulsion in tasting some of the pods, leaves or even flowers that are there in your garden, be they edible or not! Mostly, this would just leave a bad taste in their mouths, but there are poisonous plants around, so it is best, if you avoid having these in your garden, especially if small children (or pets) are around. After all, “prevention is (always) better than cure”.

Tags: landscaping and kids, landscaping benefits, landscaping discussions
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