Believe it or not, landscaping can be an important part of a good home security plan. A burglar who is “casing the joint” from the street will choose the house with tall shrubs and trees that provide hiding places. Homes with little or no outdoor lighting are preferred targets as well.
So, how can you landscape to protect against burglars while still creating an aesthetically pleasing yard? Here are a few tips:
You don’t need to eliminate trees, but keep them trimmed back from your house; tree branches can be used as a ladder if they are next to a window or skylight.
Mow your lawn regularly; an unkempt lawn can suggest to a thief that the owners are away on a trip.
Store ladders, lawn chairs, and picnic tables out of sight lest they be used as a means to reach high windows.
Trim back shrubs growing near doors and walkways, keeping them 3 feet or shorter in height. Also, don’t allow shrubs to block any of your windows.
Adding gravel under windows makes for noisy footing for would-be thieves.
Consider planting thorny bushes (of the low growing variety) around windows. Some examples are: Hawthorne, Rose Shrub, and Barberry.
Forgo privacy and keep your trees and shrubs trimmed back in order to allow a clear view of the outside of your house. Having neighbors that can see your doors and windows can help deter thieves even if you happen to be out of town.
Keep your yard well lit. Motion-detecting lights make decent choices; body heat-triggered sensors are even better (less likely to be triggered by a waving branch or a passing animal).
Dogs are not a complete home security plan, but can make good home protectors because they have keener hearing than humans, along with a propensity for barking at strangers. Dogs training can help your dog learn exactly what you want him to do.

Landscaping design may be compared with landscape architecture because the process is similar as well as the rules. While the latter focuses on the structure and the engineering of the project, the former considers those as well plus the artistic look and feel of the project.

But in determining the factors one might consider in pursuing with a plan, both the design and architecture process should take into account the type of soil in the property, the climate or weather that the place is seeming to have, the drainage system and other factors that constitutes for the plants to grow in the area.

Plotting the Project
Everybody, when starting out a landscape project, has an idea in mind. This idea has to be put on paper or on the computer using a designing software. This can only be done after thorough inspection of the place where it is to be implemented. Consider everything first before coming up with the simplest ideas so that minor changes would only be needed as the project push through.

But even if you’re not a professional, designing could be done considering some of the following.

Year-Round Consideration
The four seasons is important to be considered when choosing the materials to be placed in a landscape design. During the spring through the summer, it is good to have flowering trees. Shrubs would also be fine during the said seasons. Fall foliage, on the other hand, is what one should think about first during autumn. And you need an excellent structure in the winter.

To achieve the abovementioned, thorough research is needed about the ornaments that you plan to include when implementing the design.

Incorporating Some Hardscapes
The design is not limited to plants and ornaments, structures like fences, walls, even decks, arbors and patios provide not only beauty but also serve as framing structures for the project.

Water Features
Installing one may look complicated, but with some research or just by asking around, you’ll be surprised to know that this is easy to do. Aside from being pleasing to the eyes, the sounds that will come from such is soothing and will add to a calming effect of your landscape. You may start first with a simple pond and after successfully accomplishing such, you may opt for waterfalls and the likes.

This could even be the highlight of your project. Know the trends regarding water features and choose what best suits your landscape design.

Flower Types
Consider the space for the project before choosing the type of flowers that you’d want to see in it. Match such ornaments according to colors and sizes. But first, you have to know well about the lighting conditions of the place and the type of soil in it so that you’ll never go wrong with the purchase that you’ll eventually make regarding the plants, especially the flowers that you’d want to see as part of the landscape.

Low Maintenance
One should also look into placing elements in the design that would be easy to maintain. What is a very pretty landscape when the owner would always be tired cleaning it up. It is for your own advantage that you should look into this and decide on the materials according to this idea.

Landscaping design is easy once you are prepared with researched information about the place and equipped with the right materials to initiate the project.

Landscape designs serve as good reference to those who want to make something of their land. There are pictures and articles written about these in magazines while some are posted on the web.

When you are looking at these landscape designs, keep in mind of what can and cannot work for your home or office. This will help you make a shortlist of what lighting, plants and trees you will be using. You may also want to use some metal, rocks and wood since this adds depth to the garden.

After some time, you will surely find a design that you think looks best. If you feel like incorporating everything here, see to it that the size of the work done here is similar to your land size. Otherwise, you will have to make some adjustments just to get most of it in.

You can also discover some more landscape designs by acquiring software that can help you design from scratch. All you have to do is input some information and the program will do the rest.

So it can work on your computer, you have to first check if the system fits the requirements. You can easily check this by looking at the packaging which will let you know immediately if this is compatible with your hardware at home.

It may eat up a lot of memory so be prepared by getting an upgrade for your hard drive or creating space on your current one.

Creating your landscape design using a computer is best if you are able to inject pictures into the program and if it can show a three dimensional perspective of the land you are working on. Not all programs can do this and you need to take a tutorial first to understand the system.

When working on the landscape design using either a pen and paper or the computer, take into account where the sun is and the type of soil you are dealing because these are things you cannot change and you have to adapt to them.

After putting all these things into consideration, you should now be able to transfer this from paper to the actual thing. Since you cannot do this alone, you will probably have to get help by talking to a contractor.

Given that you are not an expert when it comes to landscaping, the contractor should be able to fill in the other blanks. This includes providing proper garden drainage and in some cases, installing a system that will prevent muddy areas in your garden.

If there are steep slopes that make it difficult to retain the topsoil, they will also need to build a retainer wall so the garden is always leveled.

This is something of course that they should be able to input in the plan you have made. They will then be able to tell you how much the entire project will cost. If after doing a background check this company appears to be legit and they happen to be better than the others who have submitted their proposals, it is time to sign the document so work may begin.

No landscaping design appeared out of thin air. It requires planning on your part and then execution with the assistance of a reputable contractor. As a customer, do your share so the professionals will be able to take it from there.

Most homes have a few trees in the yard. Since they provide shade when it is too hot outside, it is only right that you landscape around the trees to make part of the beautiful scenery.

So how do you do that? The first thing you have to do is get in touch with arborist, a horticulturist or a forester. This is because planting around trees the wrong way can damaged the roots and kill the tree. Once they have established a protected root zone, you will be able to plant flowers and shrubs without any problems.

Instead of planting these on the ground, you can use planted boxes which does a great job of reducing mower damage. If you do decide to use these, be sure to maintain the soil at the original level and that the installation edging materials do not cut the tree roots.

The water requirement for plants and trees are also different. For instance, grass and plants have to be watered daily or three times a week. While the tree on the other hand only needs one application.

To prevent this from happening, you should also construct an irrigation system that is able to cater to the needs of both. You can make this happen by putting the water lines in one corridor outside the protected root zone.

But if it has to go through, make sure bore a hole only two feet below grade. Again, the improper way of doing this will compromise the tree’s stability and health.

But what if you suspect that something is wrong with tree? For that, you will have to inspect the base of the tree.

All trees have a natural root flare located at the base. If there is no flare and there is an excess fill, this has to be removed in order to save the life of the tree. Some of the work can be done by hand while the rest is done with a machine.

So if you want to landscape around trees, it is best to lay a 2 to 4 inch later of organic mulch at the base of the tree and then extend this outward to the protected root zone. Examples of these include wood chips and shredded bark. They must not be piled up against the tree trunk because this keeps the bark wet that leads to the growth of bacteria and fungi.

You must not also use landscaping fabrics or sheet plastic underneath mulch because they prevent oxygen and water going to the roots of the trees.

It is advised to prone out dead, low and rubbing branches. You must never pull on the healthy ones because this will reduce the tree’s ability to withstand heavy winds.

Irrigation must be done in the absence of precipitation. This should be done regularly during the fall until the ground freezes with periods that allows the soil to dry.

If you follow the tips mentioned, you will soon have a nice yard that surrounds a tree. Of course landscaping around trees is just one way to make your yard look good. But as this case has shown, planting flowers or shrubs into the ground and watering them is not as easy as it looks because you also have to pay attention the needs of the tree so both will be able to live.

Landscaping in Florida is not that different compared to other places in the US. This is because companies who offer their services will still mow the lawn, plant trees and do everything else to keep the garden well maintained.

As a contractor, you should know what plants work best depending on the region and know the best places to put them. Since Florida is prone to hurricanes, you should know how to water them properly and be able to protect it.

You should also be able to attract wildlife to the garden. Some plants that can make this happen include the Gold Lantana and the Dwarf Fire bushes that are known to attract butterflies which add beauty to the surroundings.

Don’t forget to use fertilizers for the garden. In Florida, this is very important because soil is a major problem. Most of the time, you will encounter soil that is too sandy which also lacks the necessary minerals for plant growth.

One tree that will never go out of style in Florida is the Sabal Palm that is native to the area. A lot of people decide to plant one in the front or backyard because this compliments Florida’s landscape which people want a part of even in their homes.

When you plant this, remember that this should be placed a few yards away from the house so that in the event that a super hurricane comes again, it will not cause that much damage to the home.

Since most homes in Florida don’t have walls or a gate, you will also plant palm trees to give the homeowners some privacy. Some say this is more effective than putting up a fence because the leaves provide more coverage.

You can plant shrubs and other smaller plants near the house. These are ideal to hide the air conditioner and other things that may not look very attractive to those who drive by. The general rule of course when planning what flowers to use is to make it go well with the color of the house which shouldn’t be a problem if you use native species that are accustomed to the climate.

For people that like to go organic, you can also make your own vegetable garden. Given that soil is a problem, it is best to build a raise bed and then put a layer of erosion cloth so it can deal better with the water coming from the plants. Some vegetables that are perfect for Florida’s weather include herbs, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

The condition of the soil may be a challenge for contractors who still service clients but those who are able to surpass this will be able to do a lot of business.

Those who are starting out should offer their services first in the neighborhood and then expand this to get more clients. Advertising will be important here so they should post flyers, maybe put an ad in the paper or pay for a print ad.

You will be able to succeed should you decide to open a landscaping business in Florida. Just remember to use the plants and trees native to the area so you don’t have to worry about what other species have to be bought in and wonder if this will be able to withstand the hot climate.

One of the benefits resulting from the diminishing rainfall now being experienced Australia wide is the growing realisation by the community that there are alternatives to the vast areas of lawn traditionally found around suburban houses.
The new trend toward smaller property sizes has also caused people to look at more practical uses that could be made of the surrounds to their homes.
One of the fastest growth areas experienced over the past 5 years has been the increased usage of decorative pebbles. Landscapers and homeowners basically have two main sources for these pebbles and stones.
Natural coloured stones can be sourced throughout Australia, under licence, from old river and creek beds where their removal does not harm the ecosystem. These stones are quarried, then tumbled to give a smooth rounded edge which adds a touch of class wherever used. Local decorative pebbles are increasingly being used throughout the landscaping of new display homes to provide a low maintenance, low water requirement home environment. Attractive exterior inorganic mulches like pebbles suppress weeds and retain soil moisture when applied over already moist soil. They don’t break down over time and with the wide range of colours available can look great providing a modern stylish garden appearance.
The alternative source of decorative pebbles is the growing range of colours and sizes available in the imported pebbles. Whilst the initial major source of these was from non enviro-friendly areas of beaches and rivers in India and Indonesia, the recent trend had been to the wide range of natural coloured pebbles which are manufactured particularly in China and Italy. The two types of pebbles sourced are either polished and waxed or are manufactured stone that is tumbled from quarried rock to the desired size.
Polished pebbles are sourced from huge mounds of pebbles produced as a by-product to sand mining operations. Stacks up to 4 metres high and covering areas as large as a football field provide the pebbles that are hand picked for the colour required (usually black). These pebbles are then taken to local villages where they are polished by tumbling, then waxed and bagged.
Imported decorative pebbles are increasingly being used in a wide variety of applications including interior and exterior landscaping, roofscaping and the latest trend in decorative concrete – “seeded exposed aggregate”.
One of the many aspects drawing landscape architects and designers to this finish is the complete versatility in design and colour produced by the product. With over 100 different colour oxides available to select from for the concrete colour the wide range of over 40 different colours pebbles available provide a limitless colour combination to work with.
Apart from colour selections, designers can also incorporate exciting features in the project works. Polystyrene cut-outs which are set in the concrete when the initial pour is done can be subsequently removed and replaced with a contrasting feature concrete/pebble combination. Side borders can vary, from the many decorative pavers and bricks available, to hand laid pebble borders using any of the 100+ colours and sizes available.
A particularly popular range of pebbles are sourced from an Italian marble manufacturer who tumbles marble off-cuts to provide a colourful range of smooth edged marble pebbles. These environment friendly pebbles contain all the variations naturally found in marble providing an exceedingly decorative and appealing appearance.

There are three things to think about when you are planning pool landscaping. It has to offer privacy and safety for those who are there as well as beautify the surroundings.

This can be done by putting plants around the swimming pool because it helps make the pool blend in with the environment. If the plants are tall enough, these are able to block “peeping Toms” from watching whoever is at the pool.

When choosing plants, it is best to select those that require low maintenance so that you don’t have to fish the leaves or petals that are blown into the water. One good option is to use a broadleaf evergreen such as a holly.

Since you want people to relax when they are by the pool, you can also use tropical looking plants like the aspidistra, aucuba, banana tree, caladiums, elephant ears, cyperus, Fatsia japonica and palms.

You must never make the mistake of putting plants with thorns near the pool. It could also injure someone or tear off the fabric of their clothes, swimsuits or towels.

Instead of planting flowers in the grass, you can also do so by putting them in containers. The advantage of doing is that you can move these indoors when it is too cold especially during the winter and then bring them back the following spring.

You should avoid planting fruit trees by the pool because they could dirty the surrounding area and also attract bees. Surely, you do not want any of your guests to get stung. Another reason is that their roots will soon damage the tiles o f your swimming pool.

Homeowners should also avoid evergreens like oaks and pines because they don’t only drop leaves but also acorns, leaves and needles.

But don’t all trees shed their leaves? They all do but there are those that drop their leaves for a short period of time like the forsythia and maples.

Safety for those in the pool can be done by putting up a fence. If the metal bars are an eye sore, grow vines around them. If you have guests that will be swimming in the evening, make sure there are lights around the perimeter and in the water.

Another safety that you can be around the pool is a patio because it has a non-slip surface for which people can walk on even if they have just come out of the pool. You can also create the same effect by using bricks as long as the surface is rough.

So guests do not enter the house with their feet still wet, it will be a good idea to have a closed gazebo nearby so they can change and at the same time relax in the shade. Those who want to sunbathe can sit on a lounge chair or on an Adirondack chair.

Reading about this should already teach you a few do’s and don’ts with regards to pool landscaping. For those who want more information, it is best to read some books, do some research online, talk to someone at the local nursery and get advice from a professional.

All of this input will ensure that your swimming pool will look good all year round so your guests may drop by anytime and take a plunge.

There are many advantages to participating in the practice of edible landscaping. As one might imagine, edible landscape elements are those that can be used for food, as well as for ornamental beauty. Vegetables, herbs, and fruits can add variety and color to the landscape, and if well maintained, they can also look very attractive and even elegant in many cases. Most people prefer to keep the edible elements of their landscape to the back portions of their property. While this may be reasonable for a more conventional garden plot, a well placed squash patch in the front yard or beautiful raspberry bushes against a fence can look very attractive anywhere on a piece of property, and fruit trees are always welcome. Strawberries and herbs make excellent ground cover, and peppers and tomato plants make excellent accents in flower gardens. Here are some of the advantages of incorporating edible landscape elements into your environment.
Less effort on the lawn. If trying to keep a manicured lawn is a daunting task, you can reduce the amount of lawn that you do have by adding more edible elements. If you pay someone to keep your lawn for you, it can become quite expensive. Edible elements are excellent ways to reduce you’re the area of your lawn, making the upkeep easier, without having to spend a great deal of money.
Increased quality of life. You can experience a better quality of life as taking care of these edible elements in your landscape leads you to more exercise and more time in the fresh air. Inside of offices and homes the air does not circulate as well. Sick building syndrome is an actual condition that results in respiratory problems associated with being indoors too much. Sometimes, with all of the dust, and other small particles constantly floating through the house, the air inside a home can be more polluted than the air outside the home. Being outside can help alleviate much of the problems of this nature.
Experts agree that exercise is important, and tending your edibles can be an enjoyable way to get some physical activity. You feel better when you exercise, and your body is healthier. Increased physical wellness also results from the fact that you can choose not to use pesticides and thus grow food that is better for you. There are also mental health benefits associated with tending plants. Additionally, the satisfaction one feels from growing something for one’s consumption adds to feelings of self worth.
Quality family time. Taking care of an edible landscape makes a great family activity. A family can spend time together, and children can learn the value of hard work as well as learning to respect and enjoy nature. These days, with so many distractions tempting the family in all different directions (or even to just sit in separate rooms watching TV or playing on the computer), working together for a common goal can really help family members discover each other.
Environmental benefits. You can help the environment by growing edible elements in your landscape. When you eat what you grow, you decrease demand for factory farming and processed foods, which in turn helps the environment. Additionally, if you choose to shun harmful chemicals like pesticides, you are decreasing dependence upon harmful products. Additionally, you are also helping reduce the demand for transporting produce to stores, thus affecting truck emissions.
Financial benefits. And one cannot forget the pocketbook. Edible landscaping provides food for your family, allowing you to save money at the grocery store. If you have enough room, it is even possible to grow enough food to freeze or can some of your food for winter. This can result in great savings. With berries, apples, and crabapples, it is also possible for you to rather inexpensively make your own jellies and jams. During summer months, it is possible to purchase almost none of your produce at the store if you have properly planned your edible elements. Although items like citrus fruits and melons may not grow in your climate, most vegetables and berries grow almost anywhere. This means that you can buy a very few items of desire, and grow most of the rest of your produce.
The great thing about edible landscaping is that you do not need everything in the same area. There is no reason to put all of your vegetables in the same place, like a traditional block garden. You can spread a great many of them throughout the landscape for more dramatic and aesthetic effect.

There are thousands of plant combinations, companion plantings, and color combinations that will work well in landscaping and garden planting schemes.

And form a beginner or do it yourselfer standpoint, simplicity and repitition in planting is a good starting point that can be added to later. I usually say to pick a color scheme of two or three colors and repeat it throughout the garden.

For more curious, experimental, or advanced home landscapers there may be a feel for planting in masses or even random, assorted, and wildflower and ornamental grass beds.

In any instance, there’s always a chance that even the best of planting intentions can disrupt harmony, balance, and unity in the garden instead of creating it.
Periodically adding a neutral colored plant throughout your landscape can help unify planting beds that differ in color, texture, and even height.

Silver or gray plants such as Lambs Ears, Artemesia, Dusty Miller, Santolina, Sage, Horehound, and others are considered neutral colored.

Using white flowers as a neutral also works very well. Anything white is a natural focal point and especially in the garden. In a mass of green foliage, orange flowers, mixed flowers, etc., white always draws our eyes to it. Using it throughout the garden will create a sense of unity.
Use white sparingly. Too much of it tends to feel cluttered.

Unifying a garden that’s out of sorts is really quite simple. As well as moving and matching existing elements, try adding a neutral color plant to the different planting areas.

Separating or “buffering” beds from each other can be as simple as adding a neutral or group of neutrals between colors or beds.

A complete makeover of your home’s landscape may not be possible. After all, there is no surprise that if you choose to completely re-do your landscape you will spend a great deal of money. However, there are surprising hidden costs in nearly any landscaping project, even some of the small ones. It is important to be aware of some of the costs that you might not normally think of before you begin a project. Otherwise, you will find that the project’s true cost is much more than you thought it would be, and you may discover that you might not have been able to afford your landscape change after all.
Perhaps the most hidden of landscaping costs involves features that require lighting and water. Many people think only of the cost of the equipment, and the cost of putting it in (which is minimal if they put it in themselves). They fail to consider how much money they will spend in the form of paying for increased energy and water usage. With outdoor lighting, it is possible to mitigate this cost somewhat by buying more energy efficient bulbs, or by confining the use of outdoor lighting to times when there is a special occasion. There is no reason for the lighting if you only use it so that the neighbors can admire your landscape even at night. Reserve the use of your outdoor lighting for times when you are entertaining people out of doors, or when you are sitting in your yard at night, and may need the light. Water features are a double whammy, as they require energy and water. Using a feature that reuses its own water can cut down a little bit on your water usage (although there will always be water lost to evaporation), and it is now possible to find some features that use less energy. However, if you must have a water feature and are afraid of the costs you will incur, you can always choose a very small pond or waterfall.
Related to the issue of water features is paying for water use when you water the lawn. Setting up sprinklers on a timer will ensure that you do not have to rely on your memory to remember to turn them off. It is important to note that most people water their lawns two or three times more then they need to. The average lawn actually receives about the same amount of water as a tropical rainforest. This is not necessary for your lawn. Watering each part of your lawn for 15 minutes two or three times a week (depending on climate) is usually sufficient, if it is not new sod (which requires a good soak every day the first week). Additionally, it is a good idea to take into account the amount of extra water you will be using to help sod or a tree establish itself. This can add up to be quite a bit of extra water, and if you city charges more money once your usage reaches a certain point, it can be even more costly.
Also, you may not realize how much money you might spend if your soil is poor. Before being in raptures about a particular plant, determine what kind of soil it needs to thrive, this will make a difference in whether your plant lives or dies. The costs of adding fertilizer to sandy soil or gypsum to clay soil can begin to add up. This problem can be remedied, however, if you examine what plants grow natively in your region. By choosing plants that grow well in the soil you have, or in near conditions, you can save a great deal on soil amendment. Most local master gardeners will give you guidance on native plants for free, or for a very small fee.
Just as there are hidden costs in nearly everything, landscaping, too, has hidden costs. The key is to be informed about the various consequences of your landscape choices, and to be careful in what you decide to do. While the up front costs may not be too unreasonable, you may find that as you continue to enjoy your new landscape, the later costs may be more than your landscape is worth.