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August 19, 2009

Landscape Water Feature Design Tips

Filed under: Landscape Design & Installation, Water Features — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Kathleen @ 8:51 pm

Here at Enhancescape, we’re big fans of landscape water features. We’ve worked with clients all over the country to install everything from fountains, to waterfalls and ponds and have seen how they can transform a hum-drum landscape into an oasis.

Dallas water feature, Atlanta water feature

Dallas Water Feature, Waterfall

There are so many different ways to use water to enhance your landscape, with options for every landscaping style and budget:

  • In a more formal setting, fountains can be added to create drama and elegance as a focal point for your landscape. Fountains are closed systems that recirculate water with an electric pump, so they can be used anywhere, including places such as Dallas or Atlanta, where there are seasonal watering restrictions. Manufactured fountains are available in a range of styles (including rising jets and downward falls) and materials (masonry, rock, slate, and marble are but a few) and costs vary widely.
  • Waterfalls make a beautiful addition to a terraced backyard or as part of your pool setting or a garden wall. When designing a waterfall, be sure to consider property slopes and architecture, connecting ponds or pools, and water flow. A common mistake is to build a tall waterfall – while dramatic, large waterfalls may seem out of place among your existing landscape, whereas smaller designs give you the sounds and visual pleasure you want while providing better balance and harmony with your existing landscape design. Manufactured landscape waterfalls can be specifically designed to fit your property in just about any material
  • Ponds do a great job of attracting wildlife and injecting a note of tranquility into your garden, but must be located in well-drained areas that get at least six hours of sunlight daily (to ensure that aquatic plants thrive). And remember, aquatic plants should cover at least half of your pond’s surface in order to control the buildup of algae. A good variety to begin with includes Water Lillies, Duckweed, and Anacharis.

Water features can be constructed using either natural or architectural materials. Natural stone will blend beautifully into the surrounding landscape, while materials such as concrete block or pavestone can be used to ensure that your water feature is seamlessly integrated with your patio.

Regardless of how you design your water feature, it will bring sound and movement to your landscape, adding new dimensions to your plants, trees and lawn and creating a tranquil environment in which to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

July 9, 2009

Building Shade Into Your Dallas-Area Landscape

Filed under: Garden Arbors & Pergolas, Landscaping/Outdoor, Services — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Kathleen @ 10:12 am

You’d be surprised how many people forget to incorporate shade into the design of their landscape when first getting started, especially when doing the work themselves. A professional landscape designer would not make that mistake. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s hot climate, unless you want to spend hours admiring your landscape from your home’s air conditioned interior, some form of enveloping shade is a necessity to truly enjoy it.

dallas arbors, dallas patios, dallas firepit

Dallas Patios

There are a number of ways to build shade into your landscape. Three of our favorites include:

  • Trees: Most people tend to plant ornamental trees and shrubs first for their beautiful blossoms and/or foliage. But a good shade tree – or several – is more important and should be one of the cornerstones of your landscape design. Located appropriately (i.e. the southwest corner of the dwelling), trees can not only impart shade, they can also be used to reduce temperatures inside the home – and that can make a big difference to your utility bill.
  • Pergolas: In addition to trees, there are other, man-made options that will create shade as well as enhance the overall look of your garden. Pergolas are a very popular solution for those who want some relief from the sun, but not necessarily total shade. Because pergolas provide shade while allowing some sunlight to come through, they help define an outdoor space without constraining it. Pergolas can be add-ons to your existing architecture at entryways or over decks, or they can be designed to emulate a room. Take a look at the pergola we put in over a Dallas-area patio. Not only does it create a shady spot for the homeowner to enjoy, it creates an outdoor dining room right in the backyard!
  • Arbors: Arbors are open frameworks designed to offer shady resting places in a garden or yard. Arbors are often made of rustic work or latticework which serves as a trellis on which climbers may grow or on which creepers may be trained. Because they are free-standing structures, arbors can be placed anywhere in your yard to highlight your landscape, create a nook for sitting or dining, or offer support for a prized climbing vine.

However you choose to create shade in your landscape, it will be well worth the time, money and effort spent the very first time you sit in your cool, shady, comfortable outdoor space.

 

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