Planning your driveway and walkway can be tricky because they need to provide enough space for traffic, yet they should take up a minimum space to leave room for more attractive landscape elements. The garage should be close to or attached to the house, and near the street. The driveway should ideally be as long as your property allows, providing for off-street parking.
If you plan to have a lot of deliveries, make sure your driveway is strong. Most home driveways will crack after repeated use by heavy vehicles because the soil under the driveway becomes wet. Therefore, it is important to plan for adequate drainage.
The material used for your driveway should be stable, and unable to be washed away or shoveled up with snow. However, if you have a very long driveway that impacts your landscape, you may want to choose a material like gravel or crushed rock so that it will blend in with the rest of your yard.
When planning your landscape, you should ideally plan for well-designed walkways with tidy edgings, steps which appear to belong where you have placed them, and small footpaths leading deep into your garden. Your selection of materials is nearly as important as your selection of location. Concrete pathways and stairs, while very durable, can contrast too much with the surroundings. Other materials, such as flagstone, brick, or wood, may be a better choice. Be sure to pick the material to suit the rest of your home and landscape, because pathways should not stick out like a sore thumb amidst your landscape.
Water features are also important to consider when planning your landscape. Garden pools, a flowing fountain, or a stream running through your yard can add interest and movement. Water features can be added in any size, from very small fountains to large ponds. The sound of running water is very calming, and cool water is welcoming during the heat of summer, making water features especially popular in warm climates. When planning your landscape, make sure that the water feature is a focal point which can be seen from several areas of your property, especially from the best parts of your garden.
When planning your water feature, the same principles you considered when planning your walkways should apply. Concrete edging coupled with landscape rocks makes for a very formal edge, while other materials can lend a more natural feeling. Flagstone, brick, rock speakers, or tile are some of the many materials you can use for your pool. If adding a fountain or other feature, the materials are almost unlimited. Fountains are actually very easy to install and care for, because they require only a small amount of water, which can be recycled with a small motor and pump.
Planning your landscape before you begin changing it is very important, because you should be sure that it all flows together. Walkways and water features are too important features you should plan especially carefully.
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October 23 2008 | Landscaping | No Comments »
Five thousand years ago, people began creating elaborate palaces and other dwellings using the beauty of courtyard fountains and ponds. Some of these decorative landscape showpieces have been the pride of kings and queens of Asia and Europe, as well as the nobility of such societies.
These days, such handsome attractions are not used by just the upper levels of society. Although they may seem somewhat costly to build, courtyard fountains and ponds are now available at prices that more enthusiasts can afford. As a result, lots of people are beautifying their domiciles with these additions. Happily these enviable showpieces can add value to a home.
Courtyard fountains and ponds can be found in many shapes and sizes. The choices go from the simple to the complex, and a large number of materials are available. Nowadays, cast stone is the material of choice. This derivitive of concrete can form practically any custom shape. Still very popular are courtyard fountains and ponds made out of granite or different kinds of concrete and marble.
Installing Courtyard Fountains and Ponds
It is very possible to install your own courtyard fountains and ponds, but it is recommended that you don’t do this work yourself. Instead, hire a professional for this detailed kind of work. If you should decide that this is a project you wish to attempt on your own, you will find that kits for smaller fountains and ponds are quite easy to install. Also, they are usually available at home improvement stores. To be sure of a quality installation for your own fountain or pond, it is suggested that you do a few basic things.
Before you start installing your own courtyard fountain and pond, call the local electric utility company. This is essential. If you will not be using solar energy, these fountains will require electricity; and, their wires must be safely placed below ground. Since most people are not sure what is buried on every inch of their property, it is best to call and find out.
Next, you will need to clear out the area to be improved. The installation of a courtyard fountain and pond will be most successful if large rocks, plants and any debris is removed. Since the pond liner that you use may be somewhat fragile, you will help to ensure its integrity by getting these possible hazards out of the way ahead of time. You definitely don’t want anything falling into the hole and damaging the liner.
All fountains need to be level for them to function properly. For that reason, you will need to be sure that all holes under your courtyard fountain and pond are level. It is best to avoid positioning sidewall stones until the leveling process has been completed. Your new system will operate best when the water is level. This means that the pump can operate as it was designed to do. Leveling the holes is a very easy operation. Fill each hole with sand. Next, put a board on the sand and then put a level across the board. Keep tamping until you find the board is level at all angles.
Lastly, you will need to read and follow the directions that came with your courtyard fountain and pond kit. By being attentive and meticulous, you will ultimately achieve the spectacle you desire – a lovely courtyard fountain and pond of your very own..
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July 30 2008 | Garden Fountains | No Comments »