Creating an aesthetically appealing backyard design will dramatically increase the value of your home. The yard is an integral part of any property, and offers the opportunity to create a great deal of beauty. You can reap the rewards of this later on should you decide to sell, as well as day to day.
When it comes to backyard design, the garden is key. Greenery and flowers used in an artistic fashion can create, in your own backyard, a veritable paradise. This is not to neglect the way that cunningly placed architecture can create a truly dynamic space for socializing or leisure.
A quality backyard design will please the eye from indoors and outdoors alike. Careful attention to what can be seen from the window-line, from the balcony, and so on, will help create the perfect view.
First, we will take a look at how to create a garden that is truly extraordinary.
To begin, consider some classic garden designs. Perhaps you will wish to go with one of these.
The City Garden Design
As the name implies, a city garden refers to one constructed in an urban area. In a location like this, there is limited space and perhaps limited privacy. This in mind, a city garden is designed in a minimalistic way, with a few plants that really catch the eye as well as some to enhance privacy. A city garden can change a home from a sterile urban environment to one of green serenity.
The Coastal Garden Design
Simply put, coastal gardens are those planted on the seaside. Mostly these require native plants and grasses that can handle changeable weather and salty sea-spray. These unique, wind-tossed gardens are breathtaking to see.
The Formal Garden Design
A formal garden, true to its name, utilizes geometric shapes and symmetry. There is often a focal point, like a fountain or an arbor. Well-trimmed hedges are often used, and pleached trees are another popular addition, placed in neat rows. Formal gardens express elegance and dignity.
The Rock Garden Design
A rock garden is made up of rocks, with soil in the crevices and cracks. One of the ideas of this garden is to reflect the conditions of alpine meadows. Small plants, as well as trees and shrubs that do not grow very tall, are ideal for this design.
The Japanese Garden Design
A Japanese garden is all about balance. A combination of stones, sand, water and plants are used to create an environment of tranquility. Lanterns and other pleasant decorations are often included to please the eye. Japanese gardens are usually very eco-friendly.
The Cottage Garden Design
Cottage gardens are very simple in nature. They use long, rectangular rows, and allow plants to grow well-tended, but organically. This means there may be some wildflowers allowed to stray across a trail, making for a very peaceful environment.
Getting Started
Once you have decided on your basic garden design, it is time to really get planning. This is the stage where you will want to make a blueprint, to give you a better idea of how things will work, how they are going to look, and so on. To craft a quality blueprint, there is some important information you will need to know.
Where is there a lot of sunlight? Shade? Before you choose plants for your garden, you must see what sort of conditions are available. If you are thinking of a sun-loving selection of plants, make absolutely sure they are placed somewhere sunny. Along with this, what type of soil is there? You can discover this while you weed, till and prepare the space. You can choose plants to accommodate the soil there already, or even add different soil for a certain plant variety.
Decide if you want a spring-blooming garden, or one which will provide color all year. The latter can be accomplished with a combination of bulbs, trees and bushes with colorful foliage, and flowers that bloom in spring, summer and fall, respectively.
Of course, you may wish for some pathways to be more intimate with your garden. A view from the house or yard is lovely, but little compares to walking down a flower-scented path on a warm summer day.
Consider stone pathways, or those of gravel. Maybe leave a clearing or two for lounge chairs. Patios are a convenient way to view your garden comfortably. You may even host a summer dinner or two outside, amid the beauty.
You can doubtlessly see how a stunning garden can improve the value of your home drastically. The investment you put in initially will be well-paid with years of your garden’s beauty, and a higher market price should you decide to sell eventually.
This in mind, you may wish to take extra measures to protect your even more valuable home. Home insurance is a wise way to go about this. While you prepare for the addition of a garden to your home, can also take a look at home insurance quotes from Allstate insurance or another provider. Remember to add the replacement value of your beautiful new garden to your policy, in case the worst should happen.
