Few things are more frustrating than a messy front yard. In addition to disrupting your curb appeal, overgrown, messy landscaping can also harbor pests and make it look like you don't care about your property. Fortunately, tidying up your yard doesn't have to be difficult. I have spent years learning more about landscaping, and this blog is all about how to become a landscaping enthusiast. Check out these articles about fun topics like planting flowers, perfecting pruned trees, and decorating your yard with whimsical additions. After you know more about landscaping, your yard might become the talk of the town.
When you remodel your yard, you'll have to take the hardscaping, or the non-plant and dirt features of the yard, into just as much consideration as you would the plant life. Each bit of hardscaping, from pathways to benches to stone bed borders, has a big effect on how you use the yard. At first, you'll likely concentrate on how the hardscaping looks, but as you continue to redesign your yard, start to take these other issues into consideration.
Accessibility
Try to add pathways around the yard that make most or all of the areas accessible to people who don't have the best mobility. Even if no one in your home uses a wheelchair or has trouble walking, it can be nice to have a smooth, hard surface to walk on. Plus, if someone in your household gets hurt and needs to use crutches for a while, the path will let that person continue to use at least part of the yard. Aim for a smooth material like concrete or asphalt, rather than setting down gravel. You could look at pavers but be aware that if they aren't installed properly, the edges of the pavers can lift up, creating trip hazards.
Relief
You'll also want to have areas where people can stop and relax. This is partly because relaxation is nice, of course, but also because, if you have someone who doesn't have the best mobility, it would be nice to give that person a place to sit and rest if walking around the yard becomes tiring. A simple bench will do; you can have a concrete one molded and installed, or you can go to a home improvement center and buy a park-style bench that you can place wherever you want.
Good Drainage
Any pathway or area where people might congregate has to have good drainage. It doesn't do any good to have a wonderfully smooth pathway if that pathway is continually underwater or caked with mud. Ensure that any water that hits the pathway will run off to a drainage point away from the hardscaping. Benches, fountains, and other fixtures should also be in areas where water won't make it difficult to use those features. If the ground under a bench becomes oversaturated and boggy, that could make the bench tilt or even move when people try to sit on it.
The people who are helping you design your new yard can suggest plenty of options. Let them know what you'd like to try and see what possibilities exist. Contact a company like Rainey Nursery Co to learn more.
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