Tips for Designing Your Landscape

Looking for great ideas to design your landscape? By simply upgrading your yard, you can give your home a facelift. The best part is that designing your landscape isn't all that difficult or expensive. However, when so many landscaping techniques are available, you might find it difficult to decide which one is right for you.

Here is a quick overview of the hottest landscaping trends that are going to define your yard this spring and summer:

Boxy borders to make a comeback

Landscaping experts have started using plant borders all over again. Plants grown in attractive geometric shapes will give your yard a dramatic appeal. While last year, round corners were more popular, this year boxy borders are all the rage. You can create these borders using low maintenance shrubs. Complement them with stacked containers and green walls.

Add a dash of color

Expect to see a riot of colors this year. More and more landscaping projects now incorporate all colors of the rainbow so plant colorful grasses of all varieties. You should also blend your exotic plants with annuals that require less maintenance. You can expect to encounter containers sporting bright colors like yellow and red. You might even find some metallic shades.

Vertical gardening and green walls

Vertical gardens are already popular in small communities. This trend will only grow in 2014. These gardens are walls of living plants. They also help create a private space in your yard. You can add them to your existing landscaping to give your property a unique visual appeal.

Sustainable landscape plants

Many homeowners now add a mix of vegetables and fruit to their yard. Previously the trend was to use standard landscape plants. Now more people are adopting sustainable lifestyles.

Don't just use ornamental plants for landscaping. By growing herbs, vegetables and fruit you can make the best use of your space. Besides giving your backyard a unique look, vegetables and fruits also provide nutrition to the people who occupy the property.

Incorporate outdoor entertainment technology

Consumer technology is advancing by leaps and bounds and this has started invading our outdoor space as well. People are exploring ways to integrate landscaping and outdoor entertainment. And possibilities are endless. You can, for example, use fountains with sound activated lighting. Many people also use in-built surround speakers. Motion sensor technology lets visitors explore lighted paths. Wireless speakers can be mounted on trees.

Outdoor space to become an extension of indoor space

People now see their yard as an extension of their living space. This encourages them to explore all possible ways to make their outdoor space more functional.

Outdoor furnishings have already become an integral part of landscaping. Many people are also keen on designing play areas in their backyard. A well-designed backyard can even increase the value of your property. In fact, statistics reveal that homes that have an attractive landscape get sold faster. They also command higher prices.

While designing your landscape try to incorporate elements that will increase your enjoyment of the space.