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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Front Yard Landscape Plans Things to Consider in Designing Your Yard

So youre contemplating on building a Landscape in front of your house. Well, you should do well by keeping in mind that front Yard Landscape Plans are way different than backYard landscaping. And in this article, Ill explain to you why.

It is only in recent years that front Yard landscaping has become popular. Before, it was always the backYard that has gotten all the attention when it comes to landscaping. These days, however, the front Yard has gotten some attention as well.

The fact that the backYard area is the widely Landscaped portion of your home is due to the fact that most gathering as well as leisure activities are done in the backYard. It simply makes sense that much of the landscaping efforts should be done there.
Nonetheless, in recent times, front Yard landscaping has gained popularity as well. And rightly so. As it is the part of your home which sets the overall look of your place to those who are passing by and most especially to your guests.

For this reason, we look at the elements which could add allure to your Yard surroundings. Some of these are:

Walkways and Driveways

Much effort should be spent in seeing to it that the panorama creates an ambiance thats very welcoming. And the best way to do it is to have the driveways as a focal point of the Landscape. Or at the very least, you could have some sort of walkways which leads up to the house to achieve a very warm and welcoming atmosphere at your front Yard.

This being the case, all other designs and fixtures should complement and revolve around the walkways or driveways. Even your choice of plants and its placement should blend as well.

Plants and Ornaments

Since the front Yard generally represents you and your family to your guests and those who just happen to drive by, it is imperative that you choose plants and ornaments that has every bit of your personality. No matter how simple the ornament or fixture youre going to place in front of your house, its bound to make impression to the people who are merely passing by.

For example, some people go for a relaxed or laid back atmosphere. Or it could convey a very formal setting. And other still would opt for a more natural ones. Just so you know, the choice of plants and ornaments has a lot to do to achieve whatever you want to achieve in your front Yard Landscape Plans.

Personally, Ive been using a resource which has lots of landscaping ideas. You may be interested in checking it out here:

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Focal Point in the Garden

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica Glauca Pendula)

One of my all time favorite evergreens in the landscape is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’. Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is a conical evergreen known for its graceful flowing nature and beautiful silvery blue-green needles. It is a focal point and specimen in the garden and quite the conversation piece for its shape and irregular weeping pattern resembling a cascading waterfall. Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ is hardy to USDA Zones 6-8, prefers an acidic-slightly alkaline well-drained loam soil and location in full sun (6-8 hours sunlight). They are tolerant of many soil types but will not fair well in soils with poor drainage such as clay.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Zones 6-8

Use this beautiful evergreen as a specimen planting where it will not be crowded and has plenty of room to spread. Depending on the structure of your tree it can reach a height of 10-15 feet and a width of 8-10 feet across and would be difficult to transplant once established. As your tree matures its cascading branches will drape down to the ground giving your tree grace and charm.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica Glauca Pendula)

Generally the trunk of a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar can be trained as a spiral, grown horizontally or in a more upright form; therefore, they can be purchased at a variety of heights and shapes and will stay around the height at which they were trained. To prune the tree wait until late October-early November (mid-Fall) to clip off any weak or bent branches which are resting on the ground to an inch or two above the soil. The branches look best when cascading to the ground but it is recommended to perform this routine pruning in order to prevent any fungal disease that may result from the branches resting on soil. Branches that reach out beyond a desired point can also be pruned back to give fullness and strength to the structure of the tree. Other than that Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar do not require much pruning.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar takes on its own unique shape .

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is not prone to any particular pests or diseases. Another plus is that they are also deer resistant! They do benefit from an early spring feeding and should be protected from strong winter winds. If you have clay soil break up the soil and add gypsum, which will help to improve drainage, or if the clay is very compact use a post-hole digger to dig down and add gravel to help water flow. When planting, allow this specimen plenty of room to grow so that it can reach its full potential.

If you are looking for something different, this specimen tree will highlight your landscape and bring you many years of enjoyment. Its silvery-blue needles and beautiful weeping habit make it an excellent addition as a focal point in the garden…an attribute that will only improve as your tree matures in age.