Garden Landscaping - Thinking About Umbrella Shaped Plants In The Garden Design

One of the factors behind a successful and satisfying garden composition is the intelligent use of trees and shrubs that have a definite and clear form. A pencil thin Cypress for instance, creates a clear vertical accent, and draws the eye upwards. A contrasting effect, horizontal in nature, is created by trees that possess an umbrella, flat-topped shape. In general, plants with a strong, definite line enhance both the sense of order in the garden, and its natural feel. Umbrella-shaped plants are therefore ideally suited to small home gardens. Two fine examples that stand out for gardeners in Mediterranean climates are Delonix regia and the Silk or Mimosa tree. (Albizia julibrissin)

Delonix is only suitable for warm winter locations. It has zero tolerance of frost, and is best avoided if the winter minimums reach below 10c. However, in the right place it can be one of the most unforgettable garden treats imaginable. In the tropics, where it originates, it grows to about 12 meters in height and as much in width, although in climates with cooler winters, it has a more squat, flat shape, being very wide, but relatively low. Delonix's leaf texture is delicate and feathery, but most people are struck by the spectacular red blooms that adorn the tree in the summer, followed by the dramatic looking fruit that hang from in long pods. Delonix is not suitable for planting as a shade tree near a house, as its roots are very aggressive and invasive.

Garden

The Silk tree cannot compare to a truly great Delonix, but as it can be grown in locations that receive light frosts, it is a far more viable option in many Mediterranean regions. Sometimes, the leading shoot has to be clipped, causing the tree to adopt the desired umbrella form. Mimosa's leaf texture, like that of Delonix, is light and feathery. It also adds color to the garden with its pin-cushion, pinkish red flowers. It associates brilliantly with Calliandra, a large shrub from the same botanical family, (Fabaceae) the latter's blooms being almost identical in color and shape. Mimosa is a slow starter tending to take a few years before growing fairly rapidly to 4-5 meters.

Garden Landscaping - Thinking About Umbrella Shaped Plants In The Garden Design

A number of shrubs and bushes can also be used for the purpose of creating a low, flat appearance. One of the best and easiest to grow in this manner is the Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus from West and Central Asia, or its Australian counterpart, Vitex trifolia. These plants can be limbed-up to reveal interesting branch architecture, while the tops can be pruned now and again to maintain the desired height. Furthermore, their addition to the planting scheme, strengthen the umbrella motif established by the trees.

Garden Landscaping - Thinking About Umbrella Shaped Plants In The Garden Design

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi.

I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Garden Landscaping - Planting

If you have recently invested a lot of time and money in your garden, maybe you have upgraded your fencing, installed new decking or had a new patio area constructed, maybe the next job on your listing is the planting. If so, do you have the correct knowledge and know how to choose the best type of flower or shrubs?

If you have previously spend time and money getting your garden just how you want it, plants and flowers in full bloom, it looks great and then suddenly there is a down pour of rain, or some bad weather and then all your hard work and effort is destroyed. Maybe your planting looked great for the first year however the following year it really paled in comparison. If so, then you will know first hand just how frustrating and disheartening this can be. However, this can usually be avoided if you have knowledge of what plants and flowers are the best for your particular garden and soil.

Garden

One way to avoid the above happening is to employ the services of a local landscape gardener who offer planting schemes. Maybe you have dry soil, your soil has a lot of clay or your garden may be is quite shaded. Whatever your particular situation they will be able to recommend plants, shrubs, or even vegetables that will thrive best in your particular garden/soil. Allowing your garden to look beautiful year after year.

Garden Landscaping - Planting

Maybe you aim is to create a theme, maybe you want to layer and have a graduated look, they will be able to help you achieve the exact look you want.

Of course as mentioned above it's not just plants and shrubs, maybe you would love to grow your own fruit and vegetables, maybe you have already tried and failed, getting the right advise up front can normally save you a lot of time, hard work and money.

Many people will admit that they don't have the knowledge but would rather give it a try then pay someone else to do it for them.This can however turn out to be fault economy, if you're lucky and your efforts work, then great, however more often than not this is not the case and you end up calling in the skills of a qualified landscape gardener, meaning your effort to try and save money, ends up costing you more in the end.

Summary: Whether you are looking for some advise or you want someone to undertake your planting needs for you, it makes sense to have a chat with your local landscape gardener. In the long term, it could end up saving you a lot of time, effort.

Garden Landscaping - Planting

Landscaping - Planting Schemes
Landscape Garden Design

Create Your Own Garden Gazebo Landscape with These Garden Gazebo Landscaping Tips

Landscaping around a garden gazebo is relatively easy. There are many resources and books available that have specific landscape designs and plans. But by following the principles of outdoor design and decor listed below, it is possible for you to make your own garden design plan for your garden gazebo.

Determine the size and shape of the area you have for your garden gazebo and surrounding garden. This goes a long way in planning your design, and should be the first step in designing your garden gazebo area.

Garden

Decide the type of gazebo placement you prefer. You can choose to have a symmetrical design or an asymmetrical design. A symmetrical design can be thought of as a mirror image. When symmetry is present, you would be able to cut the gazebo down the middle and everything would be the same on each side. This works nice for Victorian style garden gazebo placement, with the same plants on each side and paths coming to the gazebo at the same place on each side. With an asymmetrical design, the garden gazebo is placed on one side of the garden, and everything leads up to it from one direction. This placement works nicely with a smaller area.

Create Your Own Garden Gazebo Landscape with These Garden Gazebo Landscaping Tips

Make your landscape plan starting from the focal point of the garden gazebo and radiating outward. Begin planning what the immediate structures, plants, and flowers will be directly on and around the garden gazebo before you make the decisions about the perimeter area.

Become educated about the plants you want for your garden. Before buying any plants for your garden gazebo area, make sure that you know what type of conditions are ideal for each so that you avoid planting something in the wrong place. Also, be sure that you know the size the plants will reach, both height and width, to avoid having certain plants take over an area or crowd other plants or your garden gazebo.

Create Your Own Garden Gazebo Landscape with These Garden Gazebo Landscaping Tips

If you have enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about finding the perfect garden gazebo for your outdoor living area including information about hot tub gazebos, spa gazebos, Amish gazebos, and more, visit http://www.need-info.com/gazebo to get all the facts and info today.

Green Landscaping Trends For The Homeowner In 2011

The big buzz in home improvements over the past few years has been going green, and this trend is not going anywhere in the near future. How green something is considered, is now an important factor in most home-based choices. When buying a high-efficiency washing machine or energy-efficient windows, it is easy to know you are making a green improvement for your home. But what about landscaping, how do homeowners really know if they are making a positive environmental impact when it comes to landscaping?

Your best chance of making a net environmental gain with your green landscaping upgrade is by following the experts. Here are some of the green landscaping trends experts have identified for the year 2011. Most of which can be readily adapted for your backyard.

Garden

According to the Garden Writers Association, the prime garden trends for 2011 are:
-Gardening with a purpose
-Eco-scaping
-Sustainable containers
-Succulents
-Vertical gardening
-New urbanism

Green Landscaping Trends For The Homeowner In 2011

Unless you are planning to reclaim a vacant parking lot, or open an urban park, 'New urbanism' is probably best left to city planners. The rest of the items on the Garden Writers Association's list are plenty achievable for the home landscaper or homeowner.

Eco-scaping, defined by the GWA as, "The move to de-lawn large tracks of turf and transform lawns into sustainable landscapes..." is a great way to improve the look of your yard in a sustainable way. Installing a living wall made up of green retaining wall blocks is a great way to replace stretches of grass with eco-friendly plants that will both beatify your yard and save water.

Filling the green retaining wall blocks of your living wall with succulents, another of the Garden Writers Association's top trends for 2011, is your best bet to saving water over the long-term. Plants belonging to the succulent class retain water in their leaves, stems, and roots. Succulents thrive in a selection of conditions, and are considered by many to be some of the easiest plants to care for. Some recommended types of succulents to plant include members of the Euphorbioides family, Sedum sarmentosum, and Phedimus takesimensis.

Another trend identified by the GWA is that of sustainable containers. For smaller plants, this could mean something as easy and inexpensive as a reused food container. For bigger plants or blocks of plants, look to use containers made from recycled materials. As it turns out, while the building blocks of most living walls are made of poured concrete, those constructed from components that meet the criteria as green retaining wall blocks, should also contain a significant amount 100% recycled plastic.

Green has not just become a trend in home landscaping because it is seen as the popular or socially conscious thing to do. Both of these factors have led to the proliferation of green trends in landscaping; as seen in the examples above, green landscaping has become increasingly popular because it saves money in the long run. By choosing proven methods of green landscaping, your next outdoor home improvement project can reap rewards for years to come.

Green Landscaping Trends For The Homeowner In 2011

SmartSlope is an eco-conscious supplier of green retaining wall blocks. The green retaining wall blocks are used to form SmartSlope's innovative green living walls. Only the best living walls are created with SmartSlope's green retaining wall blocks.

Create Your Own Garden Gazebo Landscape with These Garden Gazebo Landscaping Tips

Landscaping around a garden gazebo is relatively easy. There are many resources and books available that have specific landscape designs and plans. But by following the principles of outdoor design and decor listed below, it is possible for you to make your own garden design plan for your garden gazebo.

Determine the size and shape of the area you have for your garden gazebo and surrounding garden. This goes a long way in planning your design, and should be the first step in designing your garden gazebo area.

Garden

Decide the type of gazebo placement you prefer. You can choose to have a symmetrical design or an asymmetrical design. A symmetrical design can be thought of as a mirror image. When symmetry is present, you would be able to cut the gazebo down the middle and everything would be the same on each side. This works nice for Victorian style garden gazebo placement, with the same plants on each side and paths coming to the gazebo at the same place on each side. With an asymmetrical design, the garden gazebo is placed on one side of the garden, and everything leads up to it from one direction. This placement works nicely with a smaller area.

Make your landscape plan starting from the focal point of the garden gazebo and radiating outward. Begin planning what the immediate structures, plants, and flowers will be directly on and around the garden gazebo before you make the decisions about the perimeter area.

Become educated about the plants you want for your garden. Before buying any plants for your garden gazebo area, make sure that you know what type of conditions are ideal for each so that you avoid planting something in the wrong place. Also, be sure that you know the size the plants will reach, both height and width, to avoid having certain plants take over an area or crowd other plants or your garden gazebo.

Create Your Own Garden Gazebo Landscape with These Garden Gazebo Landscaping Tips

If you have enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about finding the perfect garden gazebo for your outdoor living area including information about hot tub gazebos, spa gazebos, Amish gazebos, and more, visit http://www.need-info.com/gazebo to get all the facts and info today.

Green Landscaping Trends For The Homeowner In 2011

The big buzz in home improvements over the past few years has been going green, and this trend is not going anywhere in the near future. How green something is considered, is now an important factor in most home-based choices. When buying a high-efficiency washing machine or energy-efficient windows, it is easy to know you are making a green improvement for your home. But what about landscaping, how do homeowners really know if they are making a positive environmental impact when it comes to landscaping?

Your best chance of making a net environmental gain with your green landscaping upgrade is by following the experts. Here are some of the green landscaping trends experts have identified for the year 2011. Most of which can be readily adapted for your backyard.

Garden

According to the Garden Writers Association, the prime garden trends for 2011 are:
-Gardening with a purpose
-Eco-scaping
-Sustainable containers
-Succulents
-Vertical gardening
-New urbanism

Unless you are planning to reclaim a vacant parking lot, or open an urban park, 'New urbanism' is probably best left to city planners. The rest of the items on the Garden Writers Association's list are plenty achievable for the home landscaper or homeowner.

Eco-scaping, defined by the GWA as, "The move to de-lawn large tracks of turf and transform lawns into sustainable landscapes..." is a great way to improve the look of your yard in a sustainable way. Installing a living wall made up of green retaining wall blocks is a great way to replace stretches of grass with eco-friendly plants that will both beatify your yard and save water.

Filling the green retaining wall blocks of your living wall with succulents, another of the Garden Writers Association's top trends for 2011, is your best bet to saving water over the long-term. Plants belonging to the succulent class retain water in their leaves, stems, and roots. Succulents thrive in a selection of conditions, and are considered by many to be some of the easiest plants to care for. Some recommended types of succulents to plant include members of the Euphorbioides family, Sedum sarmentosum, and Phedimus takesimensis.

Another trend identified by the GWA is that of sustainable containers. For smaller plants, this could mean something as easy and inexpensive as a reused food container. For bigger plants or blocks of plants, look to use containers made from recycled materials. As it turns out, while the building blocks of most living walls are made of poured concrete, those constructed from components that meet the criteria as green retaining wall blocks, should also contain a significant amount 100% recycled plastic.

Green has not just become a trend in home landscaping because it is seen as the popular or socially conscious thing to do. Both of these factors have led to the proliferation of green trends in landscaping; as seen in the examples above, green landscaping has become increasingly popular because it saves money in the long run. By choosing proven methods of green landscaping, your next outdoor home improvement project can reap rewards for years to come.

Green Landscaping Trends For The Homeowner In 2011

SmartSlope is an eco-conscious supplier of green retaining wall blocks. The green retaining wall blocks are used to form SmartSlope's innovative green living walls. Only the best living walls are created with SmartSlope's green retaining wall blocks.

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Slope Or A Hill

Not every gardener is lucky enough to have flat property on which to garden. If you do have a slope or a hill, it is often very difficult, confusing and challenging trying to figure out how to landscape. There are many ideas and tips on gardening on a hill, which helps you deal with the special challenges and problems you are likely to encounter. If the garden slope is extremely steep, stay away from planting grass or gardens that need any kind of maintenance, as it can be hazardous trying to cut or look after them.

A couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to plant trees and shrubs. Their root system will slow water runoff, especially during heavy rainstorms, and anchor the soil. Tall perennial grasses also work well on hills and require no maintenance. If you like the natural look, sow wildflower seed over the area, which will look beautiful and keep the topsoil from eroding or washing away. Wildflower seeds are readily available in bulk at large garden centers and nurseries. For every square foot you need approximately fifty seeds. If you have a small area to seed, buy a small can, but for large areas, wildflower seeds are available in bulk. Make sure that whatever you plant requires no regular maintenance if it is a steep hill.

Gardening

In Pennsylvania I saw a beautifully landscaped hill planted with different colors of azaleas. The site in the spring and early summer was breathtaking. This was on a steep hill so it not only helped with erosion but was gorgeous too.

For shady areas, the tips on gardening on a hill are a little different. Most wildflowers require lots of light so a shady area is not a good choice. Instead, consider shade-loving ferns, perennials and low growing vines. Not only does the leaves slow erosion by catching the rain before it hits the ground but the roots help keep the soil from washing away. Another couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to create stair steps or terraces. This requires some work, as you need to do a lot of digging. You may need to construct a retaining wall, depending on how steep the slope is. A level area to plant helps with erosion problems and makes it far easier to work in your garden.

For anyone that has a few garden challenges, such as land that slopes, they are always happy to find tips on gardening on a slope. If you are lucky enough to have weathered or interesting looking rocks on your hill, then it is the perfect area to create a rock garden. It would be good to plant some low growing vines and perennials in your rock garden to add texture and interest to your rock garden.

Definitely come up with a plan before you attempt your hill garden. Ask your garden center for some advice about your garden; they will be of great assistance. As with all gardens it is most important that you take time to enjoy your gardens whether they are on a hill or in beds.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Slope Or A Hill

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Container Gardening and Gardening Outside
and Herb Gardening