Saturday, March 29, 2014

Simple Landscaping Ideas With Rocks

By Darren Hartley


By breaking down ideas into individual ideas, simple landscaping ideas are brought to life. For bold interest, one of the simplest landscaping ideas to implement is the planting of big swaths of the same plant. This avoids the hodgepodge look that comes out of planting one of everything.

The same colors, shapes or plant varieties can be reused in plantings, as suggested by simple landscaping ideas. To make the most of a yard with limited space, plants that serve more than one purpose are taken advantage.

Simple landscaping ideas encourage the creation of contrast. This is one of the easiest and most basic of landscaping ideas. Colors paired together are much more effective than a color that is used alone. Simple landscaping ideas also take advantage of lines, shapes and angles in the layout of the yard to add drama and impact.

The enhancement of what plants do naturally is another of those simple landscaping ideas. With some training and pruning, a simple shrub can go from ordinary to extraordinary. With some pruning once or twice a year, a simple shrub can make a big impact on the yard. To add a level of interest on the yard, a variety of materials can be incorporated. This mixture of plant and non-plant materials then creates a balance between the landscapes and the hardscapes.

Landscaping with rocks involves natural stone which is one of the most versatile elements available for a landscape makeover. Other than adding texture and contrast, rocks serve as a durable groundcover that requires little or no maintenance at all.

What is required in landscaping with rocks is the choice of the right rocks for the landscape. The tone for the rest of the garden is set by the right rocks. Warmth is added by tawny beach pebbles or river rocks while brightness is provided by white marble chips for the shady landscape areas.

A minimalist modern landscape or a Polynesian themed garden is created by black lava rocks. Complementary to a tropical landscape are flat terracotta stones. These stones, however, appear out of place when installed in a more formal garden.

As a groundcover, mulch can be replaced with rocks. Mulch needs replacement every season. Rocks last the lifetime of the garden. Landscaping with rocks may be more expensive. However, rocks are more durable.

Pale colored stones have the added advantage of providing striking contrast against deep colored foliage. They also aid in brightening up shady corners of the landscape. By surrounding a favourite shrub or specimen tree with medium-sized river stones, the effect of a living sculpture is created.




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