Each home and landscape can be unique because of the design flair the homeowner brings to it. With many homes offering little more than a cookie-cutter template, it’s important to set your home apart – to make the home an expression of your personality. Modern technology and the documentation of trends old and new make it possible to create a unique home aesthetic. While the inside of the home is largely the focus, the landscape can be made to mirror the experience you enjoy indoors. When it’s designed with love and attention, the results can be stunning. Here are three landscape design ideas to take your landscaping to the next level in 2021 in Peterborough, NH.
Related: 8 LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING IN HOLLIS NH
A Retreat
As the world becomes more and more connected, it’s becoming increasingly important for a place to go and unplug. A backyard full of places to gather for the entire family might present endless social opportunities, but it’s good to plan for some quiet time as well. Designate one corner of the backyard or side yard to be a quiet place – one that is isolated from the party. Place a comfortable chair or a hammock here with a pergola to let in some sunlight but let it trickle in gently. Arrange tall grasses, cypress, or even a vine-covered trellis to create a green wall between this space and the outside world. Add in some creature comforts, and you’ve got yourself a proper oasis.
Harmony with Nature
One of the greatest responsibilities of the modern age is to address humanity’s collective impact on nature. Setting out to honor an eco-friendly design in landscaping is one of the best ways for a homeowner to make a difference. This means first planning on reducing the amount of water required in a landscape. The most effective way is to use native plants. These plants are naturally suited and perfectly adapted to use exactly the water available in the environment. Native plants are beautiful and ideally balanced with the surrounding ecosystem. Dedicate a portion of your landscape to native wildflowers to help attract pollinators. Plants from a different ecosystem certainly aren’t equipped to handle the climate without help from you, so it’s best to use ones that are perfectly adapted. This goes for lawn grasses too. Choose native grasses that are native to New Hampshire, such as big bluestem and little bluestem. Then, consider driveways and patio surfaces with permeable pavers that will allow rain runoff to simply soak into the soil instead of running off into the street.
Low-Impact Lighting
Three of the biggest problems brought from humanity’s reliance on electricity revolve around pollution. Conventional light bulbs that don’t last longer than a season need to be replaced more often and simply aren’t recyclable. They end up as more unusable glass in a landfill.
Inefficient lights and light bulbs use a considerable amount of energy, which likely comes from non-renewable sources.
Light pollution caused by inefficient light bulbs and poor lighting design can disrupt wildlife as well as humans.
Fortunately, landscape lighting has come a long way, and most fixtures now use low-consumption and long-lasting LED bulbs. Switching your outdoor lights to LED lighting can not only eliminate inordinate amounts of waste but can actually become a customizable system that breathes new life into your landscape, providing incredible ambiance as well as security and safety. The low impact of LED lighting can take your landscaping to the next level. Talk with a landscaping lighting specialist to come up with solutions that serve your needs while remaining eco-friendly.
Related: LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS FOR HOMES WITH A VIEW IN HOLLIS NH
