An old maxim states that “clothes make the man.” This wisdom can very well be applied to houses. The land upon which they sit makes a statement regardless of how things look on the inside. Like it or not, curb appeal is a real thing and an unkempt, barren yard not only puts off passers-by, it also poorly affects the residents.
The good news is that an attractive and serene landscape is achievable without sacrificing environmental integrity. With the right design, a property’s landscape can convey both tranquility and sustainability. Even better, attaining this goal need not break the bank.
Landscaping Design: The Foundation of Tranquility
Your home is a refuge from the stresses and pressures of the world; a sanctuary where calm and peace reign. While reality sometimes gets in the way, that is the ideal at any rate. The inner self needs a place to regenerate and it should be at home.
Your home is not just a structure but a property, a space all your own. Among the principles that undergird this type of landscape design is the idea of balance and flow.
Colors should complement one another; no feature should overpower another; rigid pathway angles can be offset by curves; and each shrub or plant occupies space appropriate to its size. The general effect should avoid busyness. Limit varieties of plants and colors to a strategic few. Plus, include a modest presence of water if you can.
Choosing the Right Plants for Maintenance and Sustainability
Preserving the optimal landscape is as important as creating it. After all, there are some forms of flora, beautiful to look at, that take more from the soil than what they give back. This means more intervention by means of fertilizer and even re-planting.
Optimal placement with regard to sunlight also help plants flourish naturally — some organisms actually do better with less. Likewise, drainage is an important factor in areas of high precipitation. This is why opting for plants native to the locale is a key decision: they prove hardier against flood and drought, depending on where you live. Also, choosing shrubbery and flora that best resist weeds and pests shrinks the need for frequent application of chemicals.
Incorporating Natural Materials
Maybe you do not place plastic pink flamingoes in your yard. Maybe your lawn is lush and green. At the same time, what looks beautiful and pristine can be a net minus for both the soil and the surrounding ecosystem.
As noted above, the placement of species native to the region means a lower chemical footprint on the property. Likewise, stone structures and gravel pathways are preferable to concrete pavement and plastic decorations.
Not only do these elements blend better aesthetically, they bear up more robustly against the violence of the elements, e.g. scorching heat, freezing cold, rain and snow. In the same vein, less turf grass and more wild grasses can serve to better contribute to soil health. Overall, natural materials demand less irrigation and less intervention while creating peaceful, placid surroundings.
Design Ideas for a Sustainable Landscape
How does a property owner create a landscape that is low-input, low-maintenance, healthy and attractive? Begin with inputs, i.e. use water and energy sufficiently yet sparingly.
For example, a fountain, pond or other water feature adds to the serenity of the outdoor atmosphere yet require power to keep them flowing or refreshed. Acquiring that power through solar batteries lowers energy costs and complements the ecology of the outdoor habitat.
Creating a Harmonious Color Palette
The colors that we incorporate into a landscaping design are essential to making a tranquil setting. Understanding the relationship of primary colors — blue, red and yellow — to their secondary color derivatives of green, orange and violet helps to envision how they should appear for the most attractive effect.
These range from an ordered array of similar hues on the color palette to a “riotous” look of many shades in a freestyle arrangement. To achieve tranquility in the outdoor space, experts advise the use of softer, less intense colors to balance the bolder ones.
However, a landscape heavy in bold colors works better when there is a lot of space. Tranquility is often found in the leaves, rather than the flowers, of plants: softer, pastel colors can attract without assaulting the eyes in more intimate settings. Peach colors in flowers, as with the Firecracker Bush, and certain breeds of snapdragon are compelling yet easy on the eyes.
Enhancing Outdoor Living Space
Yet your yard is not just for show. Like the house itself, it is a place to live. Few indoor venues can match a well-landscaped backyard in terms of tranquility and renewal. Your purpose for living space dictates its design. The width and reach of pathways, the presence of ambient lighting; the selection of furniture and fixtures all center on whether the space will host social activities for friends and neighbors or serve simply as a family retreat.
Either way, you will face choices: what sort of shading will suffice for the heat of the sun? Umbrellas, awnings or roll-up shades? To what extent will there be food service? Will you need outdoor cooking facilities or will a simple drill do? Will tables be permanent or of the fold-and-put-away variety? Will you light pathways or not? For tranquility’s sake, each element should blend aesthetically with one another, and with the plants and grasses. Remember, the primary purpose of shelter is protection against nature at its worst. Outdoor living allows you and your guests to embrace it at its best.
Adding Water Features and Fire Pits
Nothing rings out tranquility like flowing water. Creating modest streams, fountains or even waterfalls brings a peaceful hint of the great outdoors to your little piece of it. For one thing, the sound of moving water is soothing and helps to blunt the sounds of cars and planes. Moreover, as with a birdbath, these bodies of water draw diverse wildlife to the local ecosystem. Once, installed, such features demand minimal maintenance. Likewise, fire pits take the chill out of crisp evenings, all the while generating a comforting — even spiritual — warmth to those enjoying its flames. Like a water feature, a fire pit keeps people outside longer.
Conclusion
Nature is both wild and peaceful. Developing those latter traits on your own property helps household members and their guests appreciate the salutary benefits of the natural world. Doing so in a manner that strengthens biodiversity while improving the appearance of lawn and landscape speaks into our deepest longings to live in harmony with our environment.
These ideas are front and center with firms like Tamate Landscaping. Engaging with our website will reveal imaginative and affordable ways to bring tranquility and sustainability to your surroundings.
