Your Garden, Your Heaven

Design your Garden with latest trends

Good creative skills are essential for the specialised fields of garden design and landscaping. Consequently, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and be able to apply acquired skills in a theoretical and practical manner. Lifestyle Learning Direct., one of the Gold Coast’s premier online learning and correspondence course providers, suggests that in order to be a good garden designer or landscaper you need to be able to:

1. Evaluate a design project, have a clear understanding of a designer’s role, and be able to conduct a meeting with a client.

2. Be knowledgeable about the historical influences on modern garden design.

3. Be able to identify the various ‘hard’ components of landscaping and design, such as garden structures and walls, fences and gates.

4. Have a good general knowledge about soils and plants, and other landscaping products such as compost, gravel, sleepers, pavers, cement, sand, rock and slate, and so on.

5. Be familiar with the pricing structure of various landscaping supplies.

6. Have had practical experience in several areas of landscape design and its allied industries, such as nurseries and landscaping supply yards.

7. Have an awareness of different styles of gardens, as well as lighting and water features and the various types of surfacing materials available for use in garden design.

8. Be knowledgeable about earthworks involved in landscaping and garden design.

9. Have a broad knowledge on the basics of starting a business, business plans, market analysis and ongoing management.

How can you become a better Garden Designer and Landscaper?

To gain professional garden design and landscaping proficiency, it is best to undertake a specialised course that teaches you the essential skills. Lifestyle Learning Direct. is a leader in the provision of writing distance education courses that aim to give students a broad understanding of the industry competency regarding both the theoretical and practical application of this knowledge.

Apart from understanding the application of good garden design ideas and landscaping elements and principles, you need to be conversant with other necessary components such as earthworks, marking out and job costing, as well as basic drawing skills and client/designer communication. As a result, you should develop the ability to apply this knowledge in a broad variety of situations, as well as recognise and correct all manner of design errors.

If you dream of being your own boss, as well as the theory of garden design and landscaping you also need to know the practical aspects of how to set up in business.

For more information in relation to garden design and landscaping, please contact Lifestyle Learning Direct.

We will try to throw sufficient light onto the art of landscape design gardening in this article. We will review the basis, various stages and factors that need consideration in the process of landscape design gardening.

Landscape Design Gardening: Don’t rush to the store unless sure

Landscape design gardening is an activity that involves meticulous planning followed by step-by-step strict adherence to a plan. An ideal landscape design gardening plan comprises of four stages starting from planning, moving onto designing based on the plan, followed by implementation of the designs and concluding with the management of the whole project to ensure that the work is carried out in confirmation to the plan. When you’re involved in landscape design gardening, you should never feel overwhelmed by the many requirements that surface regularly, and rush to the store to procure them. Unless the materials find a mention in the plan, you must not go ahead and purchase them in a hurried manner.

All Terrain

Landscape gardening designs must be based entirely of the kind of terrain that is under consideration. Whether you are landscaping huge areas like acreage around a building or smaller ones like a households backyard, the type of terrain will determine the final look of the landscape design. If the terrain is large enough, one can play around with many options, however, smaller terrains have limited choices to work around with. The soil of the land under consideration can be rocky, sandy or even with a lot of clay. It can be a slope, raised or plain flat. All these factors will also play a significant role in going about the task of landscape designing.

Geometrical Considerations

When working on a landscape design gardening project, one can play around with a lot of permutations and combinations of geometrical figures to come up with the best overall look for the landscaped garden. Following are some of the sample shapes:

- Ponds and plant beds in circles

- Borders and paths in Curves

- Patios and plant beds in squares

- Walkways in a straight line

- Pruned bushes in the shape of a cone

- Elliptical plant beds

- Corner beds in the shape of a triangle

Order is the name of the game

One can venture into several gardening options at the time of preparing the landscape designs. However, it should be known that all such options may not necessarily be concerning the types of plants alone. When it comes to landscape gardening, the actual positioning of the plants is in fact more important than the plants themselves. One can either go about placing the plants in a planned manner or just randomly. There are few other questions that can also be explored when working on the landscape designs. They are: Whether there is a provision for walkways adjacent to low lying plants in the garden or not? Are the waterfalls natural or artificial in nature? If natural, are they running into ponds that may need to be populated with aquatic plants and animals? One just needs to run ones imagination to get creative with the landscape designs! However, if not worked on in an orderly manner, the landscape designs can go haywire easily.

If approached in a careful manner, landscape design gardening can reap rich dividends in the form of a prized look for ones garden. By paying attention to important factors like terrains, geometrical shapes, plant placements etc. the beauty of a garden can be multiplied many times. A well-planned landscape designing approach will always keep you occupied and enthusiastic to achieve the best results.

Roof deck gardens are becoming more popular amenities in the age of green living. Roof deck gardens have been around for decades but have not been constructed often due to maintenance and use of space. Maintenance issues will involve manpower and plant maintenance. Uses of space issues include the decision of architects to make efficient use of the roof deck to locate service or utility pipes including water or air conditioning.

Roof gardens today though, are proving to be efficient as well as environmental-friendly amenities added on top of residential condominiums, office buildings and malls. Promoting the use and construction of roof deck gardens can be done efficiently and directly through promotional print materials. Below is a list of materials that can promote the use of roof deck gardens.

Catalogs-Catalogs are comprehensive, informative, promotional materials for customers. Catalogs can feature a complete display of all the elements involved in the design and installation of a roof deck garden. These include types of outdoor furniture such as plant and tree pots, jars and boxes. It can display types of planting including grasses, groundcover, flowering shrubs, hedges, and trees. Catalogs can easily be custom designed and printed in standard sizes including 8.5×5.5, 8.5×11 and 12×12 inches. Customer can choose from wire-o or saddle-stitched binding.

Postcards-Postcards are a novel way to promote roof deck garden design services and installation. Famous and high profile roof deck garden projects can be used as postcard images. Postcard sets can be used as special giveaways or gifts to loyal clients. Postcards today can also be printed in front and back, full color using digital printers. Offset printers are used for wholesale orders.

Pocket folders-Pocket folders on the other hand, can be used to promote roof deck design and installation services during landscape design fairs, exhibitions, or trade shows. The pocket folders can include information and images. It can contain postcards and flyers.

When printing promotional materials, it’s also ideal to research around for local, high-quality, affordable printers. Social netowrking sites, blogs and review pages can contribute helpful information on commercial printing. Uprinting for example, is an online printing company that has pages in other popular social network sites including linkedIn, facebook, yelp, youtube, flicker and twitter.

Grow Landscapes was featured on the recent TLC special “10 Ways to Improve The Value of Your Home”. This landscaping was installed in McLean, Virginia. The garden was designed by Landscape Designer Paulo Trindade. … Lanscape Design landscaping virginia maryland DC MD mclean great falls grow landscapes Paulo Trindade.

You are more likely to achieve your landscaping goals by hiring a professional landscaper-no matter if your project is a themed garden, like an English garden design or a Mediterranean landscape design, a small garden design that only encompasses landscape planting or a complex construction project. A well-versed Houston professional landscaper will take into account not only your desires, but the specific challenges of this region: dense soil, weather conditions of the Gulf coast, drainage issues, and likely insect infestations and plant diseases.

Choosing a Professional Landscaper

Begin the process by distinguishing between off-the-shelf landscaping design services and a professional designer who can capture your vision for your landscape. During the preliminaries, visit the company website and ask to see a portfolio to determine if the design firm under consideration has a sense of style that complements your own. Ultimately, you want a professional who can design a landscape that reflects your home’s architecture and your lifestyle.

As you begin the early discussions, be as specific as possible about what you want the end design to look like. Perhaps you would enjoy hardscapes, like a well-thought-out patio design or pool design, eye-catching gates or interesting pathways. Maybe you like to entertain, something that calls for an outdoor kitchen. Understanding these landscape elements, their relationships to each other and the open space, and interpreting them well distinguishes a Houston professional landscaper working in the top echelon.

The Process

After selecting a landscape professional and the subsequent exploratory discussions, the next steps involve meetings, site analysis, program of uses, and use of the design professional’s expertise. During the conceptual phase, the landscape professional develops the overall design and puts it onto paper. The resulting documents will show such specifics as lawn areas, plantings, areas of general use and their sizes, irrigation systems and drainage systems, landscape lighting, and the projected overall cost.

Once you have agreed to the designer’s overall layout and made general material selections, it is time for the implementation and construction phase. This phase comes with its own set of landscaping design drawings for documentation purposes:

• For permitting.

• To convey final design intent and material selections for you and the installation contractors.

• To specify materials and installation methods. This paperwork is also known as construction documents.

In the permit arena, each governing body has its own set of requirements for landscape plan approvals. Usually a submittal of the permitting package will be accepted or rejected by a committee. This checkpoint illustrates why it is important to hire a knowledgeable professional, as they will know what information to include-items like engineered drainage plans, pool fencing layout, lot coverage ratios and specifications.

Taking the Long View

In choosing among Houston landscape designers, remember that it makes sense to use a design firm that also performs the project management and landscaping installation. Jeff Halper, landscape specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, “You want someone who not only has great ideas, but also knows local contractors and their methods of construction, the best use of materials and their availability, and overall budget development and containment. In other words, you want a landscaper who can bring you a landscape design that thrives in the Houston climate-and is on-time and on-budget.”

These companies offer a full range of landscape services including consultation, design, installation and maintenance. A landscape business will usually specialize in one or more areas and subcontract related installation elements such as outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, water fountains, outdoor fireplaces, and landscape lighting.

The Steps to Getting Your Landscape Started

When you decide to hire a landscape business, you typically begin with an initial discovery meeting where you have an opportunity to discuss your overall goals, control elements, design intent and the overall aesthetics. The next meeting may include landscape designs, landscape plans, permitting issues and cost studies. In providing landscape services, a good professional should work diligently to help you define the scope of your outdoor project, phasing, scheduling, coordination, selection of all materials and construction methods, and project cost.

Once you have approved the landscape design, the landscape company you selected can begin the installation. As mentioned earlier, many landscape businesses act as the general contractor and oversee the entire installation of drainage, irrigation and landscape lighting. The fees for these services vary for each landscape business; however they are normally charged as a percentage of the total cost of the work for the project. .

Installation phase

A landscape business will usually include all plant materials, irrigation, drainage, and landscape lighting in their contract. Once the irrigation and lighting contractors finish their work, the planting can be completed by putting in all shrubs, groundcover, and seasonal color. After this step, mulching and cleanup commence. The irrigation and lighting subcontractors then return for final adjustments and the installation is complete.

It is during the installation that the importance of tree preservation must be emphasized. Careful pre-construction activities include protective tree fencing, borer applications on sensitive trees, temporary drainage and elevated walks to protect tree roots. Proper grading and soil preparation around large trees is another delicate issue. The foresight to understand the impact of changing grades on mature trees is crucial, so make sure your landscape service company is well versed in this area of expertise.

Some homeowners want to act as general contractors for their landscaping projects in order to save money. This choice can lead to some real problems. Often confusions can arise from the misunderstanding of trade terminology, scheduling and coordination if the different phases of a project. A subcontractor will respond much better to a seasoned general contractor who understands the work to be performed and with whom they have a good relationship based on past experience. Many landscape businesses have years of experience to make sure the end results exceed your expectations.

The Art of Communication

There should be good understanding, communication and comfort level between you and the firm you hire. Remember, your attention to detail and expectations of the entire process are crucial in determining which landscape company to hire for your outdoor project

Finally, landscape maintenance is one of the most important ongoing services to insure that your investment develops into a mature and beautiful outdoor environment. A landscape business will typically include proper trimming of plant material and mowing of all lawn areas. Landscape businesses should have a methodical feeding program that boosts the varying plant health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. The feeding program may also include spring and fall aeration of lawn areas with the application of fall rye grass. Water management through continual inspection of the irrigation controller, heads, and seasonal watering times is the foundation for lawn, shrub and tree health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and continually proactive maintenance program.

Garden and landscape design is a relatively recent art form in a modern sense that dates back to the 14th century Italian villas of the Renaissance for its cognomen and spiritual center. Designing a good garden requires knowledge of several disciplines, including topography, land usage, horticulture and architectural elements.

Designing for a small, urban space requires focusing a design on one or two aspects, and aiming for the overall goal of a harmonious composition of topographic, architectural and horticultural elements. Because an urban garden lacks the space to subdivide it into “natural rooms”, and may have several competing elements from the surrounding city, wall fountains are a popular choice for any urban garden design. Get more information about incorporating wall fountains with your unique space at http://www.witch-crafted.com/garden8.htm.

Wall Fountains As A Design Element

Fountains are stand alone design elements (or abut the side of a building) that cycle water from a catch basin to the top, creating a sheet of water over a desirable surface – many designs include Indian slate for their backdrop, or granite, and even pebbled concrete fountains are used in some areas. The design goal of wall fountains in urban garden design is to provide the visual and auditory focus of the garden. They offer people visiting the garden an opportunity to listen to the sound of water rather than the bustle of traffic, honking of horns and the interminable chatter of cell phones carried by strangers.

Areas leading to wall fountains usually include a few key design elements – a walkway through the garden, and a leading tie in with trellis bushes and shrubs, which generally frame the garden. Planting beds, and regularly cycling through which bulbs get planted when, is a great way to keep your urban garden fresh in appearance and scent. And gardening and planting is a worthwhile hobby for many people. For a great resource on landscaping and wall fountains check out.

Choosing good wall fountains means choosing one that can stand up to the elements of your current climate. It needs to be able to handle sunlight. If you’re in a northern climate, it needs to be able to handle being shut off and drained in the winter. It’s very important to drain your fountain before it gets too cold. A frozen pump or water line can shorten the life of fountains so you should therefore make sure all the water is drained and removed from the fountain prior to temperatures dipping into the 30s.

Water Fountains For You

Fortunately, buying and installing wall fountains in your garden is affordable and a reasonably simple process. Hooking up the water and getting the pump started does not take that much time and before you know it, your new water feature will be the eye catcher of your garden design project. Make sure you take into account details like the lay of the land, drainage patterns, the placement of planting beds, sunlight, wind path and shade trees (or surrounding walls) when setting up your garden as well as setting up your wall fountains. Learn more about wall fountains at http://33isthenew23.blogspot.com/2007/11/looking-for-fountain-to-spruce-things.html.

Fountains offer the burbling of running water creating a nice peaceful atmosphere to your garden. Consider wall fountains as part of your next home and garden make over and so you’ll be sure to be adding design elements that are appealing and enjoyed by all who take a stroll in your urban garden.

Botanical Traditions – Landcape Architecture (Melbourne, Australia) At Botanical Traditions we strive to capture the imagination with landscape design that enhances the constructed environment. The goal of all our garden design is to maximise the quality of indoor and outdoor living while at the same time providing cost effective sustainable returns for our clients.

Professional Landscape and Horticultural Design Our landscape design team consists of designers, horticulturists and strategic thinkers committed to mixing art with design and technology. We pride ourselves on having a strong partnership with our clients and other related professionals, such as landscapers and paving firms, to create beautiful, functional landscape and horticultural designs that really are an asset to their surroundings and the garden and lifestyle of their owners.

The Roman Landscape [750 BMA - 400MA]

The Romans carried out landscape design on a scale not seen again until recently. They left a strong imprint on the land. The Romans designed large urban open spaces with perforated edges. These public open spaces were designed to keep the masses entertained – a point highlighted in the movie Gladiator. They combined garden and lifestyle ideas from the Greeks, Etruscans, Persians and Egyptians. In comparison to their public environments their residential site developments were typically inward looking.

The Greek Landscape [3000BMA - 31BMA]

Stretching over many centuries the Greek design style still has an impact on garden design today. Buildings were generally simple and symmetrical but many exhibited optical corrections. They also created optimum viewing points and used the proportions of the ‘Golden Section’. Typically a house was built around 1 or 2 garden rooms called a ‘peristyle’.

The Gardens of Islam [600BMA - 1700]

The Koran states that individuals should try to create paradise on earth and it defines paradise as a garden with shade and water. All Islamic gardens are enclosed and provide privacy. The gardens are typically square in plan and are entered through an impressive gate. There is usually a main axis which is often a body of water which can be crossed by other axis. The gardens never have any depiction of the human form but will use elaborate patterns instead.

The Gardens of China [1700BMA - today]

Chinese gardens typically have a strong natural character in many cases influenced by the natural countryside, painters and poets, mythology, philosophy and social background of the time. Chinese landscape design represents the longest period of continuous development of any garden style.

The Landscape of Japan [650 - 1870]

Japanese gardens are designed for repose. They do not try to copy nature but to idealise and abstract it. Typically they have no geometric order. They is carefull attention given to the transition between the inside and outside areas.

The Landscape of Renaissanc Italy [1400 - 1700]

During this period of time there were two distinct periods – the Mannerist and the Baroque. In Mannerist designs the aim was not to create harmony but to use tricks to create astonishing affects. Baroque design originated in Rome and was chiefly interested in creating spectacular displays.

The Renaissance Landscape of France

Many medieval built forms such as moats, corner towers and steep roofs were retained in France long after they had been abandoned in other countries. There were three distinct periods during the French Renaissance. In the early 16th century there was a strong Italian influence, followed by a brief period of transition and experimentation which resulted in a distinctive Baroque French Grand Style.

The Landscape of England

The English landscape has been influenced by the many different groups of people that have inhabited the land. Medieval developments in England were typically centred around the residential environment. During the 17th century ideas from Italy and France were incorporated into the English landscape on a small scale. It was not until the early 18th century and the emergence of the English Landscape School that landscape design was applied on a large scale. It was also at this time that the artistic ideas of unity, harmony, contrast, balance and focus began to be explored in landscape design.

The 19th Century English Garden

This period was one of rapid social change with the industrial revolution. The urban areas expanded and the provision of public recreational spaces became important. Botanical Gardens were established in most major towns and many royal estates were opened to the public. In the 1830’s gardening magazines emerged as did a wider selection of plants. There were many notable designers from this period and they include Joseph Paxton, William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. Some designers through this period searched for a local style which used indigenous plants to create a national character rather than relying on the many new introduced plants at the time.

The American Colonial Landscape

The English, French, Dutch and Spanish all had an influence on early American landscape design. There were three distinct phases in colonial site developments. The early colonial period was characterised by a strongly utilitarian style. This was followed by the Jefferson period which was characterised by eclecticism and palladianism such as Monticello. The last period lasted from 1800 – 1860 and was characterised by eclecticism and neo-classicism. Public open space was provided in towns.

The 19th Century American Landscape

This was a period of great change and expansion in the United States. There was a period of great social change and after the civil war there was a greater focus on providing public parks in cities. Two major designers at the time were Andrew Jackson Downing and Frederick Law Olmstead. There was a strong belief that the environment could influence human behaviour and the first state parks were formed during this period.

The 20th Century American Landscape

After WWII there was a change in the type of landscape projects that occurred. There was a large increase in the numbers of houses, schools and universities as well as the large scale adoption of the car. This meant that an increasing amount of work was carried out in the outer suburbs. This also coincided with the establishment of large scale firms with international offices and a turn away from the traditional approach of an individual offering a personal service to clients.

The Landscape Design Revolution

It was not until the 1930’s that there was a significant change in the design philosophies of the previous 100 years. This was the beginning of modernism. Modernism in landscape design was influenced by Modern Art (Cubist Garden, Hyeres, Gabrial Guevrekian), Science and the relationship between natural systems and human needs, Asian design and the technology and teaching of the Bauhaus. Fletcher Steele and Thomas Chruch followed by Garrett Eckbo, James rose and Dan Kiley practiced during this period.

Modernism, in the context of landscape design, is a result of forms and functions that reflect the need for outdoor living spaces that enhance contemporary lifestyles. As Garrett Eckbo, one of the central figures in modern landscape architecture, said, landscape design is the “arrangement of environments for people.”

Contemporary garden design tends to focus on scale as opposed to formal landscape designs that are based on axial relationships. It also foregoes the more classic landscape design forms and larger scale from Greek, Roman, and classical architecture traditions. This design motif became popular in the 1950’s baby boom, particularly in California where weather and lifestyle was very conducive to this innovative style.

In modern landscape design, boundaries between areas of color, textures and shapes are undefined-or conversely, sharply defined. Color and composition create the emotional response. Combining freshness and flair, these designs use dramatic geometric shapes to create a point of view that is fluid and natural. Water and light are often used, as in artfully-lit outdoor water fountains, to enhance the sensual loveliness and liveliness. The designs are arresting, both close up and far away.

Form and Function in Modern Landscape Design

As the maxim says, form follows function. Modern landscape design is an aesthetic that shows only what is necessary while often leaving surfaces exposed. The simplicity of modern design reveals itself in that every form has a function, even when that function is merely to engage the senses.

It is possible, sometimes desirable, to use modern design techniques without creating a high-tech look. That is, to make use of horizontal and vertical planes that manufacture a modern sculpture effect-and let colors and plantings evoke a warm, welcoming feel. It is that juxtaposition-hard and soft, linear and non-linear, energetic and restrained-that is the essence of modern landscape design. “Less is more” is the modern landscape design mantra. A huge plant palette is not necessary. Rather, it is how plants, materials, and textures are used and mass them together that create the contemporary effect.

The architecture of the house needs to be carefully considered when using a contemporary garden design. If the house is bold, the grounds need to be strong also.

The home and landscape can be tied together through selective use of plantings or the intelligent placement of a hardscape feature, such as an organic approach to the front door.

Using Today’s Technology in Your Modern Landscape

Naturally new technologies in building materials are a big component of modern landscape design, which can mean a new approach using old materials or a new approach using new materials. Often, it is the contrast of material usage that suggests modernism.

Concrete, with its sturdiness and malleability, has won a firm place in contemporary garden design. Its cool, gray color alone establishes its credibility. Its uses run the gamut from flooring to columns to stark, amorphous benches. In addition to concrete, advances in steel and glass technologies, plus construction methods, can be even further exploited within the modern landscape design.

Often materials, such as stone, metal, plastics, steel and glass, are left in an exposed or raw state. Part of the beauty of these materials derives from their interplay with nature-the way steel rusts to a warm, burnt look, for instance.

The Spaces of Modern Landscape Design

Landscape themes such as English, Asian, Zen gardens, natural, Japanese or modern identify not only your property but also your tastes and style. Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing those landscape design preferences.

Your choices can be demonstrated in the plants and hardscapes you choose. Beauty can be a maple imported from Japan. It can also be the wild grass native to the Texas coastal plains. You may have outdoor works of art to display in your landscape. Or you might use a stream that ends in a waterfall as an ever-changing sculpture of sound and movement. Landscape lighting is another crucial tool of contemporary garden design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy your landscape night and day.

Other uses of space in contemporary designs include:

• Outdoor rooms for living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. In this regard, this style is similar to a Mediterranean landscape design with its underlying principle that the outdoor living area should be just as enjoyable and functional as the home’s interior.

• Outdoor kitchens. The center of outdoor entertainment, outdoor kitchens provide a natural gathering place. Their design should complement both the house and the landscape. Above all, their design should be functional.

• Luxury swimming pools. When designed from a modern viewpoint, luxury swimming pools are anything but a boring rectangle or kidney-shaped pool. They become sophisticated and exciting, eye-catching and mesmerizing. Often, you can combine them with an outdoor water fountain that eliminates some redundancies while adding vitality to your overall design.

Thoroughly Modern

Modern landscape design is even more appropriate today than it was 50 years ago. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “Contemporary garden design has gotten only better with time. With today’s busy lifestyles, there is less time for gardening. Also, we need to use our gardens for multiple functions these days-sanctuary, entertainment, a place for children to play safely. Modern landscape design addresses all these wants and needs.”

Robert Irwin, the landscape architect of the Getty Center in Los Angeles, puts it this way: “…maybe the world is an art form [and] the gardening of our universe” reveals our participation in that work of art.

Landscaping your home is no small task, but that is not to say that it can’t be fun and rewarding as well. Assuming you have done your homework, created a landscape plan, a sound budget, and an affordable shopping list, it is time for your last step before you get down to the fun work; it is time to get your landscape supplies.

You always need the right tool for the job, and that statement holds especially true when applied to landscaping work. But before you run out and purchase a tool for every conceivable landscaping application, take the time to study your landscape plan to make sure you only purchase items that you will really need. Further, if you utilized landscaping software to help you create your landscape design you may have a shopping list function that is part of the software package. If so then creating your list of landscape supplies could be as simple as clicking a printer icon!

Different designs require different landscape supplies, but there are a few items that you are almost certain to need. Landscape fabric is a breathable layer of sheeting that acts as a base for areas where you are not trying to grow plants, grass or flowers, such as mulch or stone covered areas. The landscape fabric acts as a barrier that allows water to drain through it, but also prevents weeds and other undesired plants from growing.

The tools of the landscaping trade can be as varied as the projects themselves, but no list of landscape supplies would be complete without a few of the most basic staple items. Shovels, pruners, hoes, rakes, wheelbarrows, and trowels are must have items for any landscape project.

Additional supplies that you will likely need are things like grass seed, fertilizer, sprinklers, mulch, stones, plants, flowers, and shrubs. Add to that your basic lawn care items, such as a lawnmower, weed trimmer, and edger, and you have the basic landscape supplies you need to tackle most basic projects and maintain your work after it is completed.

Ultimately, the list of landscape supplies that you will need will be defined by the project you are undertaking and the land on which you have to work. A rolling property with natural tiers can make your job quite a bit easier, and your list of landscape supplies is sure to reflect that. However, a flat property with little in the way of defining characteristics will require much more work and materials to bring it to life. Naturally, if your landscape design includes things like lighting, water features, and pathways, the size of your landscape supply list can jump exponentially.

When it comes time to purchase your landscape supplies there are several options you may wish to entertain. The obvious choice is to shop one of the large home improvement stores that dot the current retail landscape. Not only do these big box stores have a wide selection and competitive prices, they also have helpful staff members who can answer your questions and get you off on the right foot.

Another option is to buy your supplies directly from a company that specializes in landscape supplies. Mulch, plants, stones, and pavers are just a few of the items that specialty dealers can provide, and they can often deliver those items to your doorstep at a competitive price as well. Lastly, your local landscape contractors may have excess supplies from their professional jobs, and they may be willing to part with those items at a deep discount. But no matter which direction you turn, remember that the best way to save money is to buy only what you need, so let your landscape plan dictate your list of landscape supplies; and then get to work and have fun!