A beautiful landscape is a wonderful addition to your home. Whether you want to create a flower garden or an exotic outdoor garden, there are many ways to bring out your design personality.

The architecture of your house can inspire your landscaping style. Consider a cottage-style garden to complement a rustic or farmhouse house, or a spare landscape to set off a modern building.

1. Plants

A beautiful landscape includes a mix of plants that provide color, texture and shade for the yard. Plants like perennial flowers, shrubs, and groundcover can be used in various ways to enhance a garden design, and they should always be selected for their ability to thrive on the site. This means considering factors such as soil type, the amount of sunlight received, and how fast a plant will grow to its mature size.

To draw attention to a house with a low profile or small front lawn, plant a colorful border of annual and perennial flowers. In this front landscaping idea, hydrangeas and cascading petunias provide plenty of summer blooms to enliven the entryway. The use of a few evergreen bushes provides year-round greenery to frame the entrance and tie the garden design together.

Plants can also be a great way to hide unsightly structures like sheds and garages. They can also add character to an otherwise flat yard with a few decorative trees or shrubs that complement the style of the home. To add a natural feel to the area, try planting flowers, such as the ‘Crystal Fairy’ roses and lamb’s ears, that attract butterflies.

Another important factor to consider when selecting plants for the landscape is how long a species will live and how it will respond to the environmental conditions of your region. Choosing species that are resistant to disease, pests, heat or cold can make your gardening much easier. Additionally, you will want to consider if a specific plant can tolerate air pollution or soil acidity. These are considerations that our landscape designers will help you address when developing a landscape plan.

2. Lighting

Having beautiful plants and shrubs in your yard is one thing, but to truly enhance your curb appeal it is important to add lighting as well. This is not only a great way to illuminate your property at night, but it also helps keep you and your guests safe from tripping or falling over things in the dark. Additionally, highlighting certain areas of your landscaping with lighting is a good way to highlight their beauty during the daytime as well.

A sweeping front garden of roses, hydrangeas, and other flowers makes this cottage-like home feel welcoming and inviting. The rough flagstone pathway and wide flower beds add a rustic charm that works well with the pink roses. Evergreen bushes help give structure to the landscaping.

To add some drama to the entrance of this ranch-style home, an ornamental arbor and fence make it stand out among the greenery surrounding it. The flowers used in this landscaping idea are all cold-tolerant, extending the blooming season of this garden even into autumn.

The use of flowering perennials and shrubs framed by decorative kale and a white picket fence is a nice contrast to the dark eaves of this house. This is a simple front yard landscaping idea that could work with any type of home.

For this backyard, landscapers opted to skip the grass and instead used pavers, gravel, and planters to create a fun outdoor space for entertaining. The use of oversized agave plants and barrel cacti provide an interesting texture to the landscape. The stacked fire pits and raised vegetable beds also help give this backyard a custom look that is both unique and functional.

3. Hardscaping

The elements of hardscaping add unique textures to your yard and contrast with the greenery. They also create focal points, directing the eye to a destination and drawing it in. Many homeowners like to coordinate their hardscaping with the exterior of their home, ensuring that the two environments blend seamlessly together. The shapes and colors of your hardscaping should also reflect the tone and theme of your garden. For example, a front garden idea with a city motif might feature large pavers and plant small trees and shrubs in the shape of a skyline or building.

Stairways, walkways, bridges and paths are common hardscaping features that help you move through your garden without stomping on the plants or getting too dirty. Other hardscaping options include retaining walls that allow you to plant on sloped areas or flatten them for lawn space, and water features that introduce movement to your landscape. These can be as simple as fountains or concrete garden streams, and can also take the form of waterfalls, ponds and even rain barrels.

While these hardscape elements are important to consider, it is just as important to plan the placement of your plant and flower beds, which will make your outdoor space more functional and enjoyable. For example, a large cactus in the front garden creates height and drama, while softer plants like purple lantana add color and a calming vibe.

While landscaping is all about enhancing the beauty of your property, it’s also an investment in its value. Hardscapes such as stone walkways and brick patios will stay with your property after you sell, and they’ll be appreciated by the new owners who are willing to pay a premium for a well-endowed backyard.

4. Water Features

Water features are a popular landscaping element that add visual and aural intrigue to your home and garden. The sounds of flowing and trickling water can be relaxing or invigorating, depending on your mood and the setting. These unique landscape elements can also serve as focal points, making them ideal for residential and commercial properties.

There are many different types of water features to choose from, so it’s important to find one that fits your style and needs. For example, a waterfall can be dramatic and flowing, while a fountain is more soothing and quiet.

A pond can become its own ecosystem that is bursting with life, and a statue fountain offers a striking focal point for any yard or garden. Ponds and water features are easy to maintain, but it’s important to consult a professional before you make a decision.

In addition to their aesthetic value, water features also promote a healthy habitat for wildlife on your property. Many different kinds of birds, dragonflies, and other animals will be attracted to your new water feature. They will spend more time on your property, helping to keep the soil aerated and promoting cross-pollination amongst plants.

Water features also mask or cover unwanted noise, such as the noise from a busy road or your neighbors’ voices. It doesn’t take much to block out this kind of noise, and a water feature is a great way to accomplish this goal.

5. Outdoor Fireplaces

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are a great addition to a home’s landscape. Not only do they provide extra warmth, but they also allow homeowners to enjoy their backyards earlier in the year and later into the fall. Throw on a cozy sweater, get a fire going and your backyard can easily turn into the perfect place to stargaze as fall turns to winter.

A fireplace draws the eye and elevates the look of your patio and landscaping immediately after installation. Whether you choose sleek concrete, classic brick or a modern steel design, a well-designed fireplace will stand out from your other hardscape and landscape features.

An outdoor fireplace allows you to use your backyard space for entertainment and relaxing long after the sun goes down. This feature will make your backyard feel like an extension of your living room, allowing you to spend quality time with family and friends. It’s a great way to entertain and unwind after a long day.

A well-designed outdoor fireplace also increases the value of your home. This is because it creates a unique space for entertaining that is not available in many other homes on the market. It’s also a feature that will be highly desirable to future home buyers as they tour your house. So if you are thinking about selling your property in the near future, a well-designed outdoor fireplace is definitely worth considering for your landscaping project.