A beautiful landscape doesn’t have to be extra fancy, or difficult to maintain. It really is true that sometimes, “less is more.” You will be more likely to enjoy your outdoor living spaces when they can retain their beauty with a minimal amount of maintenance on your part, and when you have designated spaces for different activities. Here is how a landscaper can simplify your outdoor living in Hollis and Amherst, NH, areas.
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A landscape designer can help you make sure that the features and structures being used in your landscape are both beautiful and purposeful. With a simpler landscape, you can bring more focus to your home or to your favorite parts of the landscape. Simpler landscapes often require less upkeep, which gives you more time to enjoy them.
Visually Simple
The appeal of a simple landscape is that it’s visually appropriate, not overwhelming with too many colors and features. Sometimes a one- or two-color approach is wise, with solid, simple colors for installations such as walkways, benches or paver patios. Dark or light grey, neutral hues, or a combination of black and white are steadfast choices that can be used in versatile ways, and can be tastefully complemented with solid, simple colors.
Focus on installing features that give the impression of opening up space, especially when working in smaller spaces. Large, square pavers used in walkways or patios will create the feeling of being in a larger space. One elevated area, such as a pergola, large tree or patio feature, will add a simple element of vertical dynamics.
Designated Spaces
When planning and constructing simple spaces, also focus on creating boundaries and borders with symmetry and straight, clean lines. Too many curves and dynamics in a design can be visually overpowering when the goal is to keep it simple. Especially in smaller spaces, straight lines also give the appearance of more open space. Set boundaries and create symmetry with a patio installation, privacy fence, stone walkway or masonry benches that separate two main sections of the yard.
Easy Upkeep
One of the perks of having a simple landscape is the small amount of maintenance required to keep it looking nice. It is much easier to enjoy a landscape that you don’t have to constantly worry about and work on with upkeep! In the garden area, and in garden beds adjacent to your home, use stones instead of mulch as the top layer for garden beds, as it will not only look elegant but also last from year to year. The added benefit of using stones in the areas around your home is that moisture will soak back into the ground, and not collect in the top layer of mulch that is touching your house’s foundation. In yards with large areas of grass, replace sections of lawn with hardscape features, such as a stone patio, or a permanent fire pit area with masonry benches.
Simple Gardens
Planting a simple garden will actually reap more benefits than planting a large, complex, filled-to-the-brim garden. It will take a bit of planning to get a simple garden started, but once it is set up you will have to do very little to take care of it. First, be sure that your plants have enough space for their roots to spread out and not become entangled and root-bound. Explore companion planting for vegetables, and plant flowers and shrubs with similar sunlight and water needs in the same areas.
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