When you consider the fact that people need to see the path they’re walking upon, you see that a little low lighting can be an effective and necessary addition to your garden. Solar landscape lights are a great addition to ensure that your guests won’t trip on their way from your house to their cars in the driveway. Be sure that the light is shielded on top to ensure that the light will be directed down, and your guests won’t be blinded. Keep the lights spaced just far enough so that there is no chance that your guests will be able to see the path clearly.

When you’re lighting an area with a larger fixture, be sure that you don’t light the source of the illumination; keep the fixture itself camouflaged with plants or stones, and if the pole is going to be visible, ensure that it’s painted a matte black or slate color–that will ensure that it remains inconspicuous. Glossy fixtures are very conspicuous, and it can draw just as much attention as having a light directed on it.

If you’re trying to highlight flowers, you’ve got some options, but the best way to do it is to mount your light from above; it will replicate the natural light that occurs in the daytime, and you can mount a spotlight from the eaves of your house, the side of your chimney, or form a nearby tree, which would provide natural camouflage.

In general, it’s much easier to adapt your landscaping to your pet than to try to adjust your pet to your landscaping. Sadly, dogs don’t generally work well with traditional lawn grass. It’s best to do your best to avoid grass as much as you can in your landscaping; mulch is helpful, as is a nice and spacious flagstone or concrete patio. The less grass you use in your landscaping plan, the less likely you will have problems with bare spots in your lawn due to urination.

If you must use grass, it’s best to learn which kind grass is hardier. A tough grass will definitely hold up better to the foot traffic affiliated with dogs. If you’re concerned about the dog spots, or the yellowing caused by the salts and nitrogen found in dog urine, then you might consider planting clover in place of grass. It’s lovely and green, and it’s less likely to show signs of your dog’s bathroom habits.

If you’re concerned about the state of your shrubbery or your trees, you can protect them with carefully placed wire fences that can keep any of the dog’s urine from reaching the trunks or even the roots and causing damage. This isn’t the most attractive option, but it can help to rescue your trees from problems. It’s also possible to try train your dog to restrict its activities to a certain space in the yard. You can ensure that this particular part of the yard is clean-up friendly with a dirt or gravel surface.

First and foremost, sit yourself down and think about what you want from your landscaping. Take a pen and make a simple sketch of where you want plants or any other features, and make a general list of what materials you feel you need. Invite your family into the process, and discuss what they want from your landscaping as well. Perhaps you can all look at magazines together, and create the look you want from the pictures you see.

Once you’ve decided what you want, create a budget for what you can afford to spend for your landscaping. This is a wise thing to do before you even begin so that you don’t get yourself into a deep financial hole. To ensure that your budget is reasonable and will accomplish your goals, do a little bit of research on the internet to get some estimates on the supplies you will need. Shop wisely, and consider the timing of your purchases. If you know that there’s a sale coming up at a landscaping supplier, wait to make your purchase until you can get the discount. Seek coupons, discounts, and deals of any variety to keep your budget in line. You can get deals on all the basic gardening tools as well as the plants you will need for your project.

If you find a plant or shrub that you truly love, be sure that you understand how the plant behaves once it’s out of season; you won’t love that tree as much when you find its flowers or its leaves clogging up your pool filter on a daily basis once the spring has passed. If you’re spending all your time cleaning your fantastic landscaping out of your pool you might find yourself angry and regretful. Also, this can start to affect the function of your pool and its equipment, so even if you’re not doing all the labor yourself, it’s still wise to ensure that your plantings are congruent with your climate.

You don’t need to restrict your landscaping to plants and trees and shrubs; you can also include “hardscaping” in your plans. This includes such features as flagstone, rock, or patio pavers that will provide a path or a walkway to your swimming pool. Concrete has become very creative as well, with potential for any number of designs that can really enhance the appearance of this relatively inexpensive material.

Outdoor lighting is also an important factor for your poolside landscaping. Solar options are both attractive as well as sustainable, and they can be money saving in the long run. Outdoor lighting around your poolside is pivotal for anyone who wants to entertain after the sun goes down, and the sky is the limit in this aspect.

Above all, you must consider the safety of your pool. You should consider fencing around your pool area, particularly if your state has laws regarding pool fences.

Nationwide, from 2001 through 2005, an average of 58,423 drivers were involved in 38,505 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes that resulted in 42,886 deaths each year.

Overall, an average of 8,030 drivers who were definitely or possibly driving with an invalid license or no license (13.7 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes) were involved in 7,679 fatal crashes (19.9 percent of all fatal crashes), which resulted in the deaths of 8,801 people (20.5 percent of all deaths occurring in motor vehicle traffic crashes).

© 2008, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

So you’re probably asking what this has to do with hiring a landscaper? While unlicensed pesticide use may not produce the same results in the type or degree of damage, there are considerable risks when applied improperly by unlicensed applicators. Pesticides have a definitive place in the landscape when used per label specifications. The proper control products used in the right way can help keeps lawns green and Crepe Myrtles beetle free. Many millions of dollars annually are protected through responsible use.

When pesticides aren’t employed as required by labels or are applied by unqualified individuals, significant damages can occur. Under diluted weed controls can cause destroy lawns overnight. Many applicators who have not undergone the training required to obtain a license have little appreciation of the safety measures and procedures required for successful application. The difference between massive failure and success are measured in tenths of ounces. It’s unreasonable to expect unlicensed applicators to follow proper use guidelines when they have not taken the steps to obtain a license. Inexperienced or untrained applicators seldom adhere to proper techniques mean to avoid trans location of pesticides such as wind drift. Timing of applications is incredibly important in reducing the amount of product required to obtain the desired results with fewer applications. Targeted, effective use translates to lower volumes of pesticides being required to properly maintain a landscape.

A landscaper who goes through the training and steps necessary to be licensed by their state is much more likely to give your landscape the proper attention it needs to be pest free. Would you want an unlicensed doctor performing a triple bypass? While rules, regulations and licenses are there to protect landscape clients, a certain amount of responsibility falls in the hands of the property owner. Ignorance won’t bring back your shrubs damaged by herbicides. Take the extra precaution and ask for a copy of a landscaper’s license before hiring them.

A swing set is a quick and easy way to increase the fun factor of your backyard. There are sets available in most any size, from the extra large complete with swings, slides, and built-in forts, to the smaller scale with just a swing or a see-saw. If your family enjoys building together and you have the appropriately-sized tree, design and build your own tree house. It can provide a sense of camaraderie as well as a fun place for your kids to seek shelter in inclement weather. A playhouse is an excellent option for yards without a large tree. Sandboxes are fun for all ages, and you can adapt the toys that go in the box to the age of the kids that are playing.

A game area is ideal for the whole family. A part of the yard that’s designated for lawn games can be a lot of fun; anything from badminton, horseshoes, or croquet, or a tether ball area or a basketball hoop can provide an excellent foundation to teach your children about sportsmanship. If your kids aren’t into sports, you can provide a space for gardening.

For those who are concerned about the state of the actual landscaping, consider planting a hardy strain of grass. This can cut down on the wearing down of the grass due to foot traffic. You can also consider putting down some pavers, particularly in the area around the new sandbox; this can prevent the death of your grass due to overenthusiastic sand flinging.

The most vital consideration before you begin to landscape your yard is your climate’s temperature. Different plant species have different temperature requirements, so you should consult a heat zone map of some sort to determine the average temperatures in your particular area. Any plant you purchase will probably have the average temperature tolerance marked on the package, so you should be sure that you’re planting something that will be able to survive in your climate.

Moisture is very important to plants; some plants require more water than others, so if you’re living in a particularly dry part of the country you will want to avoid these plants as they are very labor-intensive as well as not terribly conservation-friendly. Mulch can help an arid climate retain some of the water that is generally so quickly evaporated. Another major factor of climate-based landscaping is the soil. You really need to keep the conditions of the local soil in mind as you choose your plants; pH rating is very important and the plant’s requirements are on the packaging with the plant. If you need to adjust the organic materials to meet the needs of the plants you may, or you can simply try to adhere to the limitations that are part of your climate.

A gardener must also contend with the vagaries of the insect life in their particular climate as they consider landscaping. Most of the insects that people have to deal with are benevolent, so gardeners need to figure out how to attract the best insects for their climate.

When someone looks at your house, one of the first impressions they get is of your front door. You can make your entryway look more appealing with some simple, easy plant choices. Tall, slim shrubbery on either side of your front door can make a striking statement as can a bright and vibrant color on your front door. This can distinguish your house from the others in the neighborhood, and add a little personality to an otherwise staid exterior.

Your walkway can give you a chance to use your creativity. It serves a practical purpose, preventing the trampling of grass and providing a stable path for people to walk upon as they approach your house, but you don’t have to approach it traditionally; you can make it narrow or wide, straight or curvy, and you can use the material of your choice. Pave it, make it out of bricks, or even stepping stones can make your walkway stand out.

You can add beautiful splashes of color to your yard with well-placed trees, flowers, and shrubs. Raid your local garden center to find the right mix of color and green to boost the appearance of your front yard. These plants can serve a purpose beyond the aesthetic–you can plant shrubs to protect privacy and trees that will eventually provide shade for your porch. Fragrant flowering trees can give your yard an intoxicating aroma as well as a beautiful appearance.

You’ve got several different options when you choose to undertake Japanese-inspired landscaping: the Zen garden, the tea garden, the landscape garden, the promenade garden, and the courtyard garden. You can commit wholeheartedly to one style, or you can pick and choose different elements from each of the styles. You can go with a few elements of Japanese-inspired style, such as lanterns or cut shrubs, or you can choose to landscape your garden entirely with the style of your choice. Zen gardens utilize such elements as sand and rocks to create a visual representation of the philosophy of the Buddhists in the outdoors. Tranquility and serenity are the keywords in this variety of garden, and a visit to a couple of Japanese-inspired gardens can provide you with the inspiration you need to create this in your own backyard.

There are a few elements that are characteristic in Japanese-style landscaping; moss is a big feature, and Japanese gardens usually have odd plays on perspective. Asymmetry is common, and plants are very specifically and intentionally placed to add to the pervasive feeling of harmony. Certain plants are favored by Japanese-inspired landscaping, and each plant has specific meaning. Lichen evokes the past, and the bud and the button are symbols of the future. An open flower is symbolic of vitality while bamboo is evocative of prosperity. Evergreen plants are symbols of nature’s dominance and immortality as opposed to that of man. Peach blossoms are symbols of womanhood and pine is emblematic of manliness and virility.

First and foremost, you must decide where you want your pond to be. An open and sunny part of the yard is ideal to keep your pond clean–overhanging trees are likely to shed leaves and sticks, which can clog your pond. The sunshine will provide a deterrent against mosquitoes because the sun will heat up the water to the point that the mosquito larvae won’t survive. You should also consider the overall theme of your existing landscaping, and try to find a spot where your pond will look natural.

Your landscaping will be impacted by the size of the pond; if your pond is enormous and your garden is small, it will look unbalanced and ridiculous. Conversely, a huge garden will swallow up a minuscule pond, making it pointless to put forth the effort of installing the pond. If you want to add fish to your pond, you will need to consider what type of fish will be suited to the space available in your pond. The bigger the fish, the more space you will need in your pond.

The pond shape is your chance to express yourself in your landscaping. Commonly, pre-fabricated ponds are available in four shapes: rectangle, kidney-shaped, round, and oval. These strict shapes are more suited to a formal garden setting, and free-form shapes are more compatible with a natural-looking garden, particularly those in which wildlife is encouraged to take part in the pond. These are easy to create, and specialty liners can be purchased to form these particular ponds.