Residential Landscaping Baltimore adds value to a property. Though not quantifiable like a financial investment, the benefits are wide-ranging.
There are three major areas in a landscape design: the public, private, and service areas. The public area is usually what visitors see first, and it can be used to direct people to the house through walks and plantings.
Trees
Trees are often the focal point of landscape designs. They offer structure and provide a visual anchor for the garden. They can also add privacy, shade and color. Properly placed trees can provide many benefits to the home, including providing a pleasant microclimate and reducing energy costs.
Choosing the right trees for your garden is key, and the selection process starts with identifying your goals and problem areas. There are many small trees that can accomplish multiple tasks, such as the native California Redbud (pictured above). The multi-limbed tree has beautiful spring flowers and foliage that provides shade and sun exposure. It also offers year-round texture and interest, plus it is drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Other small trees that can provide both beauty and utility are the Chinese Pistache, a fast-growing deciduous tree with dark green leaves changing to orange and red hues in fall. The Chinese Pistache can grow up to 20 feet tall and works well for creating a backdrop or focal point in the landscape. It is a great alternative to the traditional evergreen fir, pine or spruce.
A large tree can add height and drama to the landscape and help balance a house’s scale on a smaller lot. Framing a home can be accomplished by planting a symmetrical row of trees out to the front of the property or by creating an allee with trees planted along the driveway or entrance path. Using a variety of trees with different shapes and colors will add depth to the planting, avoiding making your house appear too dominant.
In addition to their aesthetic and environmental values, trees play an important role in supporting wildlife habitat. Adding the right trees to your yard helps create a healthy ecosystem by increasing the number and diversity of wildlife species that visit. Several native species are excellent choices, including oaks, cherry, plums and willows.
When selecting small trees for your landscape, consider the mature size, growth habits and shape of the tree you are considering as these factors will impact their future use and maintenance. Be aware that some trees have root systems that can uplift paving, damage foundations or stain masonry and should not be planted too close to structures or utility lines. Before you plant, contact your local public works department to find out if any underground utilities are buried in your area.
Shrubs & Bushes
Shrubs and bushes can be an overlooked aspect of residential landscaping, but they have a great deal to offer. They add texture and color to the yard, provide privacy from neighbors, and create a sense of structure. Plus, they’re easy to maintain, requiring less work than grass or flowers.
A shrub is a low, woody plant with several perennial stems that may be erect or lie close to the ground. They’re typically smaller than trees, with a height of about 10 feet or less and stems no more than three inches in diameter. Common shrubs include witch hazel, forsythia, holly, oakleaf hydrangeas, red twig dogwood, Stewartstonian azaleas, and roses.
One of the most popular uses of shrubs is to create a defining border around the garden, patio, pool, or other outdoor spaces. The dense foliage of the shrubs provides a sense of privacy while also helping to control weeds and deter wildlife from entering the property.
When paired with the right flowering or fruiting plants, shrubs can serve as a focal point in the landscape. For example, a lilac or rose of Sharon planted near a walkway will attract pollinators while adding a splash of color to the garden. In addition, a group of hydrangeas planted in the right location can add height and drama.
Well-manicured shrubs can also be used to create a layered look in the garden, creating balance between the taller tree elements and lower-growing ground cover plants. This can be particularly helpful in large yards where it can be difficult to establish a clear sense of direction and flow.
When selecting shrubs for this purpose, it’s important to consider what type of color and texture the landscape needs. For example, if you have a lot of green in the yard, consider adding some shrubs with rich burgundy or purple tones, like Japanese boxwood or ninebark. Inkberry, forsythia, and holly are other good options if you’re looking to add some red to the landscape. You can even find shrubs with mottled leaves or berries that change color in fall, such as spotted laurel, chokeberry, and St. John’s wort.
Hardscape
Hardscape is the non-living part of a landscape and includes things like patios, walkways, walls, water features, fire pits and outdoor lighting. It’s important to add hardscape elements to your landscaping because they offer a different texture, color and elevation to your space that can be used to complement the plants in your yard. They also help reduce maintenance as you spend less time working on areas that need to be cut, weeded or watered.
There are many different types of hardscape that can be used in your landscaping, including pavers, gravel, wood and bricks. Choosing the right type of material depends on your budget and what you want to achieve with your hardscape design. It’s best to use materials that blend in with the natural surroundings to ensure a seamless transition between the softscape and hardscape.
Adding hardscape features to your landscape makes it easier for you to enjoy your outdoor space even after the sun goes down. It’s a great way to extend your living space into the backyard and create an area that’s perfect for entertaining and spending time with family and friends. It’s also a great way to make your home more energy efficient as you use less electricity to light up your hardscape features.
Hardscape elements can also be used to create focal points in your landscape. They can be used to build steps, staircases and paths that lead to your favorite spots in the garden or to create a unique outdoor seating area where you can relax and enjoy the scenery. These features can add to the overall aesthetic of your property and enhance the curb appeal of your home.
Depending on the size of your yard and how you plan to use it, hardscape features may include retaining walls, paved patios, sitting walls, gravel paths, garden terraces and more. Retaining walls can be used to level out your yard, create planting spaces and protect your landscape from erosion. Garden terraces are a great option for creating a relaxing space where you can enjoy the scenery and wildlife in your yard.
Plants
Plants are the foundation of any residential landscaping project. They offer a wide array of qualities that can be used to express the principles of design, moderate the environment around your home, hide objects or serve as natural screens, provide shade and even add fragrance. A residential landscape should be visually appealing on multiple levels, soothe the eyes and ears, appeal to other senses and be functionally comfortable.
There’s also a lot of science behind the selection and placement of plants in residential landscaping. Every plant has basic environmental and maintenance requirements that must be considered before incorporating it into your landscape. By analyzing the soil, identifying potential weeds and insects, and knowing the mature size of a species you can make informed decisions about its location and use. This ensures your plant will thrive and help reduce the amount of pesticides and labor that are required for proper care.
One of the most common and effective uses of plants in a residential landscape is as a screening or privacy element. Evergreens are a great choice for creating a hedge that blocks both the view and the sound from outsiders. They can be planted close together to create a dense hedge or spaced further apart to let in light and maintain privacy. Similarly, other plants can be positioned to make a “natural” barrier by growing thick enough to block access or prevent people from peering over your property line.
Many residential landscape projects include the planting of specimen plants to add interest, color or texture. These can be placed prominently in the landscape to serve as focal points, or they can be strategically incorporated into other parts of the garden as accents or to provide contrast. Using them sparingly, however, is important in order to avoid overshadowing other plantings and to ensure the overall landscape unity.
Some homeowners opt to take on the task of developing their own landscape without professional assistance. This is an option that can save money, but it can also increase the risk of landscape problems down the road, such as poor site analysis, improper plant selection and installation and ineffective landscaping techniques.