Do you need a change of scene in your landscaping? Or are you moving to a new house and need ideas? Do you want your landscaping to stand out in your neighborhood? If yes to either, then look much further than your neighbors and immediate locality for inspiration.

Over the last few decades, landscaping seems to have become formulaic in the urban and suburban areas, insofar that the shrubs and trees are placed at regular intervals around the house to form a stern border with not much imagination - much as if sentinels were guarding the house. More often than not, landscaping resembles a flatland with rigidity in form, color and structure.

This was in keeping with the way houses were constructed - elevated a few feet above the ground so that the surrounding shrubs looked like they were keeping the house fixed to the ground. But landscaping has gone through a sea change since then. Thinking out of the box is the order of the day. New-age landscaping is far more imaginative and has a freedom of expression that is mirrored in the style of the houses being built now. Expansive French windows are common, so lining up shrubs around the house would kill the very premise of having tall windows in the first place.

Though some landscapists still choose to think the old-world way, they are more open to ideas and experimentation now more than ever. Experts say that you need to break out of the mold, quite literally. You will need to pay as much attention to the landscaping as you would your house. Impulsive shopping for shrubs and plants is a big no-no. It needs careful and strategic planning. You can give your imagination a good run once you have all the materials, though.
You will first need to determine how the landscaping would affect your family. If you have children, you might need a play area with minimum shrubbery. You can plan for a kitchen garden to grow vegetables or space to entertain outdoors. You might want to throw in a fountain or a birdbath in the same. You can also use plants like Burford hollies as a screen to ward off nosey neighbors!

When planning landscaping, you may want to complement the plants with architectural features like arches in the front decorated with evergreen vines. You could also include little potted plants along the pathway to the front door. If you live in an urban area, you could demarcate the front yard with a fence or closely planted shrubs to form a fence or boundary. But regular trimming is very important, or it could spoil the look.

If you would much rather go the whole hog and have an extensive garden in the front, you will need to commit to its maintenance. This will require even more time and care as it is visible to the outside. If your house is on a busy street, you can cut out traffic and make your garden private with tall flowering plants like azaleas which can grow to several feet. Any which way, remember that maintenance is key.

If you like Vegetables....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also See:

Allergy Free Garden Design, Choosing Color Combo,Desinging with Seasonal Flowers, Design an English Garden, Garden Design Project, Gardening in Small Spaces, Complete Garden Makeover, Napa Garden Design, Favorite Plants for Landscaping, Perk Up a Flower Bed, Natural Garden Design, Using Pathways in a Garden, Design a White Wonder Gardens, Your Own Outdoor Coffee House, Designing to reduce noise, Designer Lanscape ideas, Do it Yourself Lanscape Design, Garden Design Foundations, Keeping Your Garden Size in Check, Gardening With Little Space, Outside the Box Landscape Design, Side Yard Design Ideas, Stone Patio Design, Theme Gardening, Trends in Landscape Design, What to Plant on a Slope, Winning Landscape Design