How to Make the Difference Between a Good Landscaping & a Great Landscaping

Priorities

• The path from good to great starts with a site analysis. Assess sunlight exposure, climate moisture, soil conditions, prevailing wind direction, drainage patterns, downspouts and above-ground and underground utilities. Think about using existing trees and man-made structures in unusual ways. For example, removing decking on an upper-level attached porch and using the remaining framework to create a vine-draped pergola eliminates winter snow pileups and provides a shady summer hangout.

Lively Layouts

• Polling household members helps to define specific activity areas, from a raccoon-proofed waste-can enclosure to an elegant poolside dining space or an abstract play structure for the kids. Let form follow function, such as a western-facing seating area for sunset lovers, a Zen stone-and-pool garden for morning meditation and an herb garden just off the kitchen. Indoor views shouldn't be neglected. Let windows frame the four-season pictures you most enjoy, from brilliant fall foliage to the first blossoms of spring. Great landscaping is also realistic. If you have no time to mow grass or water garden plants, then consider using grass alternatives and drought-tolerant native plants.

Hardscape Heroes

• Walls, walkways, decks, porches and other structures form your landscape's permanent canvas. Don’t skimp on core stability, such as retaining wall bases, which should be at least 24 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Sidewalks should have a 4- to 6-inch-deep base. Whether doing the project yourself or using a contractor, confirm standard measurements; for instance, a 4-foot-wide sidewalk accommodates two people walking side by side. Also, use adequate materials as well as correct grading. Patios and walks, for example, should slope away from your home at a 1-inch grade every 15 feet. Install built-in lighting and plumbing early to save the cost and mess of afterthoughts.

Focal Points

• Choose an overall theme that fits your home's architectural style. A rustic motif suits a mountain cabin, for example, but knotty-pine planters brimming with purple-and-yellow bedding flowers would jar the eye at the formal entrance of a Greek Revival-style home. Whether the style is casual or classic, ethnic or eclectic, situate one major piece for maximum impact. It could be a large tree, flowering shrub, whimsical gazing ball or gaping gargoyle. An archway, a gazebo, a pond, a trellis and a metal sculpture are other options. Artful lighting in a few areas, such as by a specimen tree and the home's entry, improves visibility and security but avoids the airport-runway lights effect.

Color Splashes

• Work with the colors ever-present in nature -- tones of sky, earth, sand, water, trees, stones and soil -- for the most expressive results. Emphasize one or two main colors in massed plantings, furniture and other decor. Nothing is boring about an all-green, creamy white or pink-and-purple garden, but you can add pizazz with a few pops of a third, more dramatic accent color, perhaps even a bold metallic color, on cushions, planters, shutters or railings.

Professional Advice

• Contact your state's department of natural resources for environmentally permitted projects, such as a deck-dock combination near a lake or other waterway. Consult a licensed landscape engineer when dealing with unstable ground, drainage issues, steeply graded or terraced areas, walls taller than 4 feet and other challenging situations. A certified arborist can help if you plan to do in-depth digging or other renovations around mature trees.

Maintenance of Greatness

• Upkeep is necessary for optimum landscape appearance and performance. Power-wash exteriors, and stain decks as needed. Pools and fountains need to be cleaned, and trees and bushes must be kept pruned. Check periodically the structural integrity of porches, fences and walkways. Examine lawns and gardens often for signs of pests and diseases. Detecting and resolving issues early prevents unsightly and expensive problems.