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Modern Landscape Design Ideas for creating your own modern garden





If all you do while watching AMC's Mad Men is lust after their homes, furniture and clothing then a modern landscape is for you. Modern garden design has its roots in the 1950s and '60s, a time that was all about bold geometry and linear designs.
Modern landscaping is known for its streamlined aesthetic and sleek sophisticated style. Overall the garden will feel controlled and organized. Typically, the focus is heavier on hardscape and structures than it is on plants. Modern plants are usually green and selected for shape and texture. Pops of color are then added with furniture cushions, planters or a painted wall.
Popular materials used in modern landscaping include concrete, metal and wood. Many designers opt for leaving concrete surfaces their natural grey, however it can be stained a variety of colors. Metal, especially weathered corten steel, is a common accent in modern gardens. It can be used as planters, as a privacy screen or even as small retaining walls. Wood decking is also common in modern yards. The wood of choice is usually Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood with a rich color.
One of the main goals of modern design is to create contrast. For example a large massing of ornamental grasses pops out against a grey concrete wall, orange cushions draw your eye when placed on otherwise simple patio furniture and a fire pit filled with colored glass demands attention when set amongst a bed of bluestone. It is important to be selective when creating contrast, too much can be overwhelming and make the space seem disjointed. Pick two or three spots in your yard and focus on one contrasting element for each.
A trademark of modern landscapes is a paved area planted with a grid of greenery. This can be paving stones with grass growing where the grout would traditionally be, or concrete poured in sections that allows thyme to grow in between. However, grid patterns are not the only way to achieve a modern look. Landscape designer and author Maureen Gilmer suggests using plants that are architectural and have interesting textures as well as using containers.

Plant ideas needed for biodiverse lawn




 
 
Like other members of this group, I believe that the contemporary model of lawn has got to go. It does have its virtues, though we critics tend to overlook them. For example, traditional lawn provides a relatively inexpensive and easy way to maintain large expanses of the landscape in a green and domesticated cover – I can think of no other landscape treatment aside from meadow that can cover an acre or two of sunny ground and demand only a couple of hours a week of maintenance, and though I prefer the beauty and biodiversity of a meadow, it is not appropriate for heavily trafficked areas. Lawn also provides a nearly ideal play space for children and a relatively tick-free zone – an important benefit where I live, 30 miles from Old Lyme, Connecticut, the original epicenter of the Lyme Disease epidemic.
 
What if we could eliminate many of the environmental defects of lawns while preserving its benefits? That was the question I asked myself 5 years ago, and one that I have been exploring ever since. Other types of cultivated landscape used to be environmental disasters but have since been updated. When I began my career as a horticulturist 40 years ago, rose gardens were toxic from the constant application of pesticides, but that has changed with the introduction of disease- and pest-resistant cultivars, and a more environmentally sophisticated style of design and maintenance. Likewise, the average vegetable garden was dependent on constant inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides a generation ago. Could the lawn be similarly updated, I wondered.
 
My first pursuit was to identify types of grasses that in the Northeast where I live that are less demanding of mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and pesticides. A few emails put me in touch with turf breeders at Rutgers, Cornell, and the University of Connecticut who very generously shared the under-utilized low-maintenance turfs that they had created. A visit to Dr. Stacy Bonos at Rutger’s turf-breeding station was particularly eye-opening.
I soon came to focus on mixes of different fine fescue cultivars as the most promising alternative for my purposes. Once established on a site, such blends require mowing no more than 2-3 times a year, they are drought-resistant and much less hungry for nitrogen, and, if the cultivars are chosen with care, naturally weed- and insect-resistant. However, I found these blends challenging initially because they are slow-growing (that’s why they require so little mowing) and so slow to establish.
 
It has taken several years of experimentation, but I have developed a routine that will convert a conventional lawn to fine fescues in just 6 weeks at a price customers can afford, and which, with occasional interventions, produces an mature, mostly weed-free lawn within 6 months.
 
By “weed-free” I do not mean that such a lawn is a grass monoculture. In fact, the sustainable lawn model I have been seeking demands a more diverse flora. In this case, I am defining “weeds” as plants that make the lawn unsightly, increase the need for mowing, and which will overrun their neighbors. The best way to keep such plants out of the lawn is to fill their niches with other, more turf-compatible plants. My inspiration for this came from first-hand experience, of course, but also readings in guides to lawn maintenance dating back to the pre-chemical-care era – one such book from the 1920’s, for example, included more than two dozen flowers it recommended including in the lawn.
 
Gardening can be a rewarding hobby that creates beauty from soil, plants, water and sunshine. Creating the garden of your dreams may be built on hard work but it also requires planning. Garden planning can be an off-season activity. It also can include a few trips to the garden centers in Florida to scout out the newest and latest in garden plants and accessories.
 





 

Define Your Dream Garden

Different people desire different things in a garden. Defining the goals for a dream garden should be the first step. Choose plants that grow well in your area and are suited for your garden location. Your dream garden on the north side of a house, for example, won’t look much like a dream if planted with sunshine loving plants. Southern exposures often are best for plants that like a lot of sun and heat during the growing season.

Plan for Caring for Your Dream Garden

Not everyone wants to spend a lot of time watering and caring for their dream garden. Gardens planned around low water consumption are referred to as xeriscape garden. These gardens use specially selected plants that thrive in dry conditions. The gardens can also use mulch to conserve what water is in the soil. Gardeners who have a dream of a beautiful garden with little work and a small environmental footprint often find this type of garden best. Study sources such as the county extension office and retailers like the garden centers in Florida for information on the best xeriscape plants for your dream garden.

Accessorize the Garden

Adding accessories can pump up the attitude of any dream garden. Gazing globes are among the most classic of all garden accessories. This shiny ball allows the gardener to see the reflections of the blooming plants, insects and even gardeners. Fountains and statues are other common garden accessories. Check your local garden center for ideas and suggestions and choose an item that fits with the size of the garden and the style of the gardener.


Keep it Growing

A dream garden requires a good deal of work as well as proper planning. Lawn care companies in Florida can help keep everything trimmed and neat as well as handle some of the fertilizing chores. Many gardeners choose to do at least some of the work themselves. This gives them a chance to spend as much time as they desire in their dream garden.
Common chores for the gardener include pulling or hoeing out weeds. Deadheading, trimming the remnants of the blooms after the flower begins to fade, watering, fertilizing and trimming back any plants that are creeping or spreading beyond their allotted space

Very Decorative Accessories for your Summer Garden

In your garden, don’t depend only on furniture to create a nice decoration; accessories are the key that easily changes the whole look in a moment. So, you must be aware of the newest garden accessories and decorative items to add to your outdoors a trendy yet fabulous atmosphere. Discover this collection of the most fashionable garden accessories and decorative ideas that can transform your summer garden into an irresistible place. To bring a sculptural look in your garden, pots are a good idea; choose modern pot models in very large sizes to give volume to your outdoors. To make a little bit of a change, you can choose to install a real sculpture as you would do in a living room. If your garden takes an exotic spirit, choose a Buddha, for example, to create a Zen atmosphere. To give a festive atmosphere to your garden, play with accessories that illuminate at night; you can install some colorful lamps above the table and decorate the table itself with candles in many colors.
Whether in the terrace or in the garden, you can always add cushions on the floor not just to add color to your outdoors, but also to provide a friendly & comfortable atmosphere. Luminous furniture created recently without doubt a great difference in outdoor decorations, but not only furniture, now you can get this lighting effect in outdoor accessories like pots that provide not just light but also a nice place for your plant in a very stylish look. To create a pleasant atmosphere in your outdoors, you can place many candles all around your garden, and to prevent them from going out with the wind, place them in decorative lanterns.
To bring a seaside ambience in your terrace or your garden, consider adding few shells on the floor, also to set the tone of the outdoor table, place the shells as a table runner. To protect your garden from the sun while giving style to your outdoor look, you can choose a decorative solution. For example, you can stretch a canvas over the terrace in a bright color that will set the tone. If you appreciate nature and wildlife, go for a little bird house that will be nesting in your trees. Not only will this accessory decorate your garden, but it will also be very useful for birds. How would a garden be enjoyable without the famous barbecue grill? But to keep on the aesthetic look, the focus is on the flower pot containing a barbecue. This two-in-one accessory is an excellent choice; once used, the grill returns into a flower pot and goes unnoticed.










 


How to Choose Plants for Container Gardening

Container gardens offer you the ability to garden in a small area and the flexibility to rearrange your plants in countless interesting variations. Container gardens also give you more freedom in choosing your plants, since you can take tropical plants inside during freezes and cool weather plants in during heat waves. The downside to having so many options, however, is that it can be difficult to choose your plants. Carefully consider your space, climate, gardening skills and decorative needs to pick the best plants for your container garden

Instructions

    • 1
      Choose plants that fit into your space requirements. For a windowsill container garden, you may be confined to herbs, air plants, small cacti and other small plants. In a living room container garden, by contrast, you may have room for ferns or even small trees and, on a patio, you may be able to accommodate medium ornamental trees such as Japanese maples. Also, consider whether you plan to move your containers around frequently. Large plants in large pots will be much more difficult to rearrange than smaller ones.
    • 2
      Pick plants suitable for the microclimate you are growing them in. Water plants, fruiting vegetables and flowers require eight hours of daily sunlight, rooting veggies need six hours and leafy veggies, four. Other plants such as ferns and other understory plants require indirect or filtered sunlight. If you are growing your garden indoors, the window space you have available for your garden will determine what plants you should grow there. Also, consider humidity. If you live in a climate with cold winters, your house will be dry inside during the winter. If your garden is inside, you will have to run a humidifier or build a miniature greenhouse to nourish plants that crave moisture.
    • 3
      Choose plants that fit with your diligence and skill as a gardener. If you tend to forget about your plants, restrict yourself to plants that handle neglect well such as cast iron plant and mother-in-law tongue. If you are a more attentive grower, however, you can chose plants that require frequent watering, fertilizer and care as well as plants that don't.
    • 4
      Chose plants that complement each other. The University of Illinois Extension, recommends that a container garden have a combination of tall plants or "thrillers," round plants or "fillers" and overhanging plants or "spillers." In addition, chose plants with different leaf shapes and textures. This variety will provide visual interest in your container garden. Also, choose plants with pleasing colors. Use an indoor container garden to accentuate the colors used to decorate the room, and an outdoor one to harmonize with the landscape.




 


Espaços de contemplação
Um Jardim Japonês ou Nihon Teien é parte integrante da tradição nas casas do Japão, nas proximidades de parques, nas cidades, em templos budistas ou xintoístas, e em locais históricos, tais como antigos castelos. Muitos dos mais famosos jardins japoneses do Ocidente, e também no próprio Japão, são os jardins Zen. Como a tradição da cerimónia do chá, os jardins japoneses constituíram uma característica bem peculiar, uma reminiscência do Japão feudal.
Os jardins japoneses e os seus desenhos intrigaram e foram objecto da curiosidade dos visitantes ocidentais desde que os portugueses visitaram o Japão pela primeira vez, no século XVI. Os jardins de pedra e sem água inspirados em Zen são bastante conhecidos, mas não são a única espécie de jardins nipónicos, pois já existia um conceito estético do jardim muito antes de terem sido introduzidos no Japão os ensinamentos Zen. Este movimento apenas acrescentou novas dimensões estéticas.
Um convite a contemplação, o jardim japonês transmite paz e espiritualidade. Os aspectos visuais como a textura e as cores, num jardim oriental são menos importantes do que os elementos filosóficos, religiosos e simbólicos. Estes elementos incluem a água, as pedras, as plantas e os acessórios de jardim.
Para a cultura japonesa, o paisagismo é uma das mais elevadas formas de arte, pois, consegue expressar a essência da natureza num limitado espaço de forma harmoniosa com a paisagem local.
GartenArt1 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming Pool
With climate change; Britain is warming up, and more people are taking another look at that long abandoned swimming pool in the back yard. It could get more use in a warmer future.
And with that new look comes a new way of thinking about a swimming pool. Instead of fighting nature with chlorine and harsh turquoise concrete surroundings, as we did back in the 20th century… how about a a 21st century retrofit that makes a pool into a natural one.

GartenArt2 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming PoolGartenArt3 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming PoolGartenArt4 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming PoolGartenArt5 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming PoolGartenArt6 Before and After – Making a Natural Swimming Pool

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