The weather has become nicer, and after a cold winter all you really want to do is liven up your yard with some landscaping plants. However, just one visit to your local garden center revealed to you that there are many choices, so you need some advice when it comes to choosing the right landscaping plants.

About Landscaping Plants

The first thing you need to think about is the effect that you want the landscaping plants to have. Do you want landscaping plants just for aesthetic purposes, or would you prefer to have landscaping plants that are more for privacy?

If you want landscaping plants that provide privacy, you need look no further than the ivy vine. If you are unfamiliar with the ivy vine, you have probably seen it in movies or in quaint cottage depictions. This vine is quite hardy and requires only a fence or the side of a house to climb up of.

The thing that you might have to consider is the rate at which the ivy plant grows. You see, when you first purchase the ivy plant at your local garden store, you will notice that it is relatively small.

However, you might find that over the course of a night the vine will have grown by several inches! Thus, keep this in mind, because otherwise the ivy will eventually completely cover over the area that it is placed upon.

If you would rather use flowers as landscaping plants, you have to consider the overall climate in which you live. Tropical flowers that you see in your garden store can only be placed outside if the climate is temperate throughout the year. Otherwise, they are meant as indoor plants.

Thus, if you live in a climate that had four definitive seasons, you should consider a flowering plant that is known to be quite hardy, and those generally are Impatiens or Chrysanthemums. Both flowers do require watering, but only every other day. They require a mix of sun and shade as well.

If you are hesitant about buying either of those kids of flowers, be aware of the fact that these flowers are available in a variety of different colors. If you would like more information about landscaping plants, be sure to ask for advice at your local garden center. You can also search the internet on reputable gardening websites. You are sure to find the right information about landscaping plants with the proper research.

You just fulfilled your dream of putting a swimming pool in your backyard, and you can already envision the amazing pool parties and neighborhood get-togethers that will fill your summer weekends for years to come. Only one thing stands between you and your first big party: the challenge of landscaping your swimming pool area. Staring at the blank canvas of yard around your pool can make swimming pool landscaping seem like a daunting task, but if you follow these easy tips, your poolside will be gorgeous.

Swimming Pool Landscaping Begins With The Right Fence And Decking

Fencing a swimming pool is a major safety precaution that every pool owner needs to follow. In fact, many cities require fences as a part of getting a swimming pool permit. Since your fence will be a major focal point around your pool take the time to choose one that will look attractive next to your house and provide a great backdrop for swimming pool landscaping. Don’t make the mistake of placing your fence too close to your pool, or you won’t have room to place plants around your pool.

Depending on the type of pool you have, the way that you surround your pool will vary. Above ground pools often have wrap around wooden decks and in ground pools are often wrapped in cement sidewalks or flagstones. Choose decking that compliments the shape of the pool, type of fence surrounding it, and the type of swimming pool landscaping you want to pursue.

Swimming Pool Landscaping And Plant Choice

When you are landscaping your swimming pool area, sometimes the plants you don’t choose are as important as the plants you do choose. Many people like the idea of shade around the pool, but planting trees around the pool means you will be cleaning leaves out of the pool on a regular basis. If you want shade choose evergreen shrubs, such as junipers and you will have a cleaner pool.

It is very tempting to plant highly fragrant or flowering shrubs next to your pool. As beautiful as a flowering bush can be, it can also be a haven for bees. If you don’t want to deal with bee stings at pool parties, skip the types of shrubs that attract these insects.

A great way to bring foliage near your pool, with the ability to keep things portable, is to plant shrubs and annuals in containers and spread them out around your swimming pool.

One way to keep your landscaping looking neat and uncluttered while making it appear full is through the use of landscaping stones. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes they can also be used to separate different types of plants and work for soil retention in wet climates. Many times landscaping stones can also be used as stepping stones to get through the area for weeding or other maintenance chores without slogging through the dirt and getting your shoes muddy.

Landscaping stones are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors enabling the homeowner to use them in many different ways, Some larger stones can be as dig as a small car and can be useful in preventing unauthorized access to your yard by motor vehicles. However, before placing any of these larger landscaping stones along the yard make sure they are not encroaching on any rights-of-way that may have been granted for underground utilities.

Many choose to use landscaping stones, such as marble chips, in lieu of mulch in flower beds. The opportunity with this decision is that any replanting may involve the need to remove all the stones before working on the flowerbeds later. White marble chips can lighten an otherwise dark area of the home’s landscaping, but before putting them in place, make sure all the flowers are in their final resting place and the appropriate steps have been taken to stop any weed growth.

Using Stones To Outline Planting Areas

One of the more popular uses for landscaping stones is for outlining flower beds either next to the house or in isolated parts of the yard. Some stones, originally meant to used as retaining wall, used in one or two layers can set off an area of the yard, isolating it from grass or a driveway. By using appropriately size stones, the bed can appear as totally separate from the remainder of the landscaping.

Depending on the color scheme of your outdoor living space, different colors are available that can either compliment or contrast with the color of the home. While some prefer the landscaping stones seem to disappear when put into place, others appreciate the contrasting colors. Using brick-colored stones adjacent to a brick house can separate the bed while still blending in with the home’s exterior.

Other designs of landscaping stones can be made to fit together like a puzzle to create a walkway around or through planted areas. Surfaces can be either smooth or rough depending on your intention of the path’s purpose. For walking on, rough surface stones can help prevent slipping in wet weather.