Landscaping Harrisburg PA strategy is a plan that guides the development of a landscape. It can involve adding plants, changing the terrain, and constructing structures.

Using curves and rounded lines in a design helps it look more authentic and natural. Creating contrast between plant sizes, textures, and leaf structures adds visual interest to your garden.

As part of a landscaping strategy, plants are used to help achieve design goals. They provide color, texture, structure, and character to the landscape. They also serve functional purposes such as screening undesirable views and noise, creating shade or windbreaks, and providing soil protection. In order to make a functional plant selection, designers consider the height, width, foliage density, leaf color and texture, root mass, rate of growth, and ability to survive and thrive in the growing conditions on site.

The plant selection process includes the use of native and ornamental plants. It is important to choose a wide variety of species in order to provide the habitat required by wildlife. This will also allow for the replacement of some species as they complete their natural or effective life span. Plants that have completed their life span can be replaced with more desirable specimens to maintain the visual continuity of the landscape and reduce maintenance efforts.

A good landscaping company will incorporate these factors into the landscape design. Using plants that are native or adapted to the climate will reduce water consumption as well as pest control requirements. The landscape will be more attractive and inviting to wildlife and will require less mowing.

Landscapes can also be designed with the purpose of providing a habitat for local wildlife, including birds, bees, and butterflies. This requires a different set of principles than traditional landscaping, and it can be a challenge to balance the needs of wildlife with other design objectives. However, a good landscaping company will be able to create a beautiful natural landscape while maintaining the integrity of the habitat and satisfying other design objectives.

The key to a successful habitat landscape is to create an environment that is well-rounded. This means providing a wide range of food sources for wildlife, including fruits and berries, seeds and grains, forage (grasses and legumes), nuts and acorns, and shrubby buds and flowers. It is also important to provide water sources for wildlife, such as wetlands, ponds, and rain gardens. If these features are integrated into a habitat landscape, it will be much more difficult for wildlife to find food elsewhere, which will increase the health of the ecosystem.

Hardscapes

Hardscapes are the non-living elements of landscaping, including concrete, brick, stone, and wood embellishments such as retaining walls, patios, pergolas, and lounging areas. Water features are also considered hardscapes even if they move, such as fountains or ponds. Hardscapes are usually used to complement the softscape, and their appearance is often enhanced with landscape lighting.

While some hardscape materials require regular maintenance, well-chosen ones can reduce future landscaping costs. For example, a natural rock-like paver patio can reduce the need for weeding and lawn mowing, whereas a poured-in-place concrete patio will need ongoing sealing to prevent cracks and spalling. In addition, the type of paver or stone chosen can make a significant difference in how much maintenance is needed.

For instance, some textured paver products are designed to allow rainwater to filter into the ground, avoiding pooling and eliminating the need for a retaining wall. Other products, such as permeable pavers, have an organic look that helps them blend in and look natural. In addition, if you’re interested in working with a Belgard authorized contractor to install a sustainable paver solution, they can help you plan a budget and timeline before you get started.

As you begin to consider how you want to design your building’s outdoor spaces, remember that the tenants of your commercial property have a stake in their appearance as well. They want to enjoy a beautiful environment where they can relax and host friends and business associates with ease.

The best hardscapes will complement the surroundings and reflect your brand and the environment. If you’re located in a wooded area, for instance, an appropriate hardscape might include shade-loving trees and shrubs, a berm, retaining walls, and paths made with pavers that let the sunlight shine through.

Many hardscapes in cities are hidden from view, but urban ecologists who work to bring nature back into the city are reexamining their purpose and location. For example, a city’s tree grates, stormwater grates, water-clearing trench drains, and manhole covers all serve a purpose by keeping the pavement dry and creating habitat for urban wildlife. Stony-field refugia on rooftops, green walls, and connecting green space and wildlife corridors are just a few examples of how urban ecologists are rethinking hardscapes to promote biodiversity.

Lighting

Lighting is a great way to accent your hardscapes and landscape plants at night. It can also be a safety measure in areas where steps and paths are located. Many homeowners choose to integrate a landscape lighting system into their hardscape design as part of their overall landscaping plan.

While it is tempting to flood an entire area with light, doing so can be expensive and wash out your landscape. Instead, strategically illuminating certain features will give your space a warm and inviting feel that will be an asset when entertaining guests.

Focalization is one of the most important landscape design principles. It forces the eye to focus on a specific point in a landscape and establishes purpose and order in the design. Things like statues, water features, and ponds can be used to create focal points in your yard.

Repetition is another common landscape design principle that creates cohesion in a space. For example, lining up pots of the same size and shape along a wall can create a repetition that is pleasing to the eye. The use of repetition should be limited, though, as too much can be distracting.

Transition is another landscape design technique that creates smooth changes to a design. This is accomplished by using a variety of plant heights, sizes, shapes, and textures. Abrupt changes from a tall plant to a short one or from a fine-textured plant to a rough one can be disruptive and look messy.

Downlighting is a method of lighting the garden and hardscapes from above to mimic natural sunlight for a warm and welcoming environment. It is ideal for lighting walkways and other entrances to your home.

Uplighting is a method of lighting objects such as trees and other structures from below for dramatic effect. Using spotlights or well lights that are angled back behind the structure will highlight its form and show off its unique silhouette.

Shadowing is a technique that highlights plants and other dense landscape elements by casting unusual shadows on walls or solid surfaces. It is especially useful for highlighting the texture of cacti and other plants used in xeriscape designs.

Water

Water conservation has become a major concern in the landscaping industry because it can help reduce energy costs and environmental concerns. Landscaping designers can conserve water by reducing turf areas, designing and scheduling irrigation systems efficiently, and grouping plants according to their water needs. They can also use hardscaping materials that require less water, such as pavers and gravel.

A water-efficient landscape can be designed by using native landscape plants with low water requirements that are better adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the area. These are commonly referred to as “xeriscapes.” A xeriscape can be attractive, fragrant, and colorful with minimal maintenance if the correct plants are selected and watering is done properly.

To create a xeriscape, the first step is to develop a site plan with a scale map of the property. The map should include existing structures, trees and shrubs, utility lines, property lines, and the contours of the land. Then, the landscape designer can plan where to place new elements in the landscape based on those constraints.

Another way to conserve water is by using mulch that retains moisture. Mulches can also be used to control weeds and aerate the soil, which makes it easier to plant and maintain a garden or lawn. Landscaping designers can also install drip irrigation systems to minimize water usage and ensure that each plant receives the amount of water it requires.

Landscape designs can also be used to save energy by shading a home and acting as a windbreak. Trees and shrubs that are well suited to the climate zone can be strategically planted to deflect winter winds and block the hot summer sun. Energy-saving landscaping can significantly reduce cooling and heating bills in the winter and summer.