Top 3 Landscape Design Tips to Get the Outdoor Oasis You Deserve
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Whether you’re interested in turning a drab and overgrown backyard into an outdoor oasis or you’re building a custom home and want a custom outdoor living space, you’re smart to do your homework before spending a penny. Knowledge is power. Learn more about landscape design, and follow three basic tips to get the quality results you deserve.
What Is Landscape Design?
The field of landscape design combines art and science. Any landscape design incorporates landscaping elements – live plant material and hardscaping elements – made of stone, wood, or manmade materials. Creating a landscape design involves several steps, including:
- Analysis of your property, finding problems and opportunities
- Creating site-specific solutions and design elements that solve problems and take advantage of opportunities
- Implementing the design
A well-executed design will increase your enjoyment of your property and increase the amount of usable outdoor living space.
Tip #1: Learn the Lingo
When you’re looking to upgrade your outdoor living spaces with a new, cohesive landscape design, it’s helpful if you know some of the common industry terms. If you learn some of the industry jargon, you can communicate your ideas clearly, whether you’re talking to the local garden center staff or getting design quotes.
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Tip #2: Work with Landscape Design Professionals
We alluded to this a second ago. If you want a high-end landscape design that complements your home and includes elements such as a patio, outdoor kitchen, inground pool, and lush landscaping, hire experienced landscape design professionals.
Choosing the right landscape designer is essential to enjoying your outdoor living space for years to come. You will want to hire professionals who have been in business for a number of years. Check out their portfolio and ask for references.
Make sure they are experienced in both landscape design and building the hardscape elements that go into a great design. This can include retaining walls, pathways, patios, pools, terrace gardens, and more.
Do your homework, and interview several landscape design companies. Each consultation should help you narrow down who you would like to work with. Finally, hire a firm, and let the adventure begin!
Tip #3: Use High-Quality Materials
If you’re investing in a professional landscape design, don’t try and pinch pennies when it comes to plant material and hardscape elements. Bargain basement plants from a home improvement store may not do as well as plants, shrubs, and trees from a local nursery. Buying bigger specimen trees or shrubs and plants in larger pots may cost more, but it will help your landscaping look lusher and fuller from the beginning.
Use concrete pavers and natural stone for hardscape elements such as your patio, pool deck, pathways, and even your driveway. These materials are available in a wide array of colors, shapes, and textures, and they’re much more attractive and durable than stamped concrete.
A slightly smaller patio or pool built with high-end materials will bring more joy than a larger outdoor feature that deteriorates quickly. Your landscape designer can help you choose materials that fit your aesthetics and budget.
Dream It. Build It. Live It.
If you’re dreaming about turning your property into an outdoor oasis full of garden beds and functional yet beautiful outdoor living spaces, we can help. We create beautiful and innovative landscape design plans for our clients that incorporate a variety of plant life as well as hardscape elements such as custom pools, patios, and more.
Check out our Portfolio for examples of our work, and to gain inspiration, and then contact us for a design consultation. We work with homeowners throughout the Capital Region, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
