Land of opportunity: tight budget? A sophisticated backyard is do-able if you make the most of hardscapes and plantings

Landscape plantings can increase a property's value year after year. So it's important to balance the hard costs--such as hot tubs, arbors, furniture and retaining structures--with a good choice of woody plant materials, trees and shrubs that will complement and reinforce the design.

In many cases, plants are a more inexpensive way to capture an effect. For example, try using an evergreen hedge instead of a wall or fence. Sometimes a deciduous tree is nicer for summer shade than a timber arbor. In autumn, when the sun is welcome again, the tree will lose its leaves.

Here are four ways to achieve natural and attractive landscaping:

1 Avoid unnatural plant groupings.

The most common design error in home landscape is to automatically place all the improvements around the edges. For example, shrubbery tightly hugging the house walls or flower beds planted in farmlike, straight rows around the property line can appear unnatural.

Thus, proper plant spacing is essential. Too many houses become swamped by shrubs and trees that were put too close and grew too large.

2 Get oriented.

Position the deck or patio for view, privacy and comfort. You want to step onto a deck or patio that is at the same level as the house. If there is a grade change, the deck's descent shouldn't begin at the house wall. If it is on the south or west side of the house, you'll need to provide shade with either plants, structures or both.

Be sure to provide clear access to the side or rear property, and place screening or barriers only where needed. The landscape elements should look their best from the home's windows and outdoor use areas, not necessarily just from the neighbors' perspective.

3 Hide unsightly elements.

Houses in subdivisions are rarely oriented for optimum landscape use, but tend to be laid out at the center of the most economical lots. This can result in mostly unusable side yard areas. However, this gives you a place to put the unsightly elements--trash containers, HVAC units, pool equipment and the like.

Avoid showing or highlighting the more utilitarian components such as edgers and drainage ways. It's not ideal to have PVC or metal edgers sticking up above grade or when swales cut across a landscape feature. Maintenance can be made more difficult as well.

4 Use the right ground cover.

Don't succumb to the trend of using "mulch" as a permanent cover instead of plantings. Sure, it's quick and easy, but it decomposes (as it's supposed to do) and provides ideal conditions for weeds. Use evergreen or flowering ground cover instead. Both will improve with time and tie the landscape together.

Lawns are the most labor-and cost-intensive part of any landscape. Use turf as an area rug, not as wall-to-wall carpeting.

Remember, designing a residential landscape is like furnishing a family or living room. The largest elements are purchased and arranged first, while the less essential follow naturally.

ShowTime

Who: Martin F. Quigley

What: "Hardscaping Ideas for Innovative Landscape Design"

Where: 2005 International Pool & Spa Expo, Orlando, Fla.

When: Wed., Nov. 2, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Attendees will learn how to make hardscapes better support the landscape environment and its plant life. Tips for creating beautiful and "sustainable" designs will be offered. Other topics include how to prevent hardscapes from swamping a budget and more. APSP Certification: CBP, ASLD-Design, ASLA, AIA; 200 Level, 2.0 Technical Credit Hours

Martin F. Quigley, MLA, Ph.D.

Quigley is a licensed landscape architect, ecologist, horticulturist and botanist. He is also director of the Arboretum at University of Central Florida in Orlando.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Hanley-Wood, Inc.
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