1. Rather than using an unpleasant a blank wall or fence to block an
unpleasant view, try a screen of latticework or a free-standing trellis,
planted with a flowering vine or an espaliered shrub.
2. A garden should appeal to all five senses. Devote space to a vegetable
garden, install a birdbath and/or pond, use some strongly scented flowers or
herbs,
and plant prominent specimens as focal points.
3. When landscaping, start with a small area. Add space and plants as
time and money allow. Start close to the house so you can enjoy your
daily progress.
4. Ivy is one of the easiest and most successful container plants. It can
be trained as a topiary, or left to fall naturally from baskets.
5. Use a lawnmower to layout the shape of new beds, forming curves that
will be easy to maneuver.
6. Take advantage of existing landscape features. If large trees border
your property, plant to match, blurring the borders between properties.
Avoid blocking great views with new plants.
7. Attractive landscaping has variety and balance: consider density,
size, and shape. Remember that contrasting colors stand out.
8. For
harmony, choose a single color and plant profusely. The monochromatic
garden can be either dramatically bright or soothing.
9. Weeds are normally unwelcome in gardens, but many of them attract lots
of birds and butterflies with their seeds, nectar, and insects they
attract.
10. Fences, pergolas, arbors, walls, and pathways provide somewhat
permanent "bones" for our gardens for continuity through seasonal changes
and visual stability year-round.
11. A garden living space needs a floor. Consider some slabs of stone,
brick pavers, gravel, wood chips, patio stones and wood.
12. While
planning your landscape remember, expansive green lawns show off the
house, making it stand out. Large trees and thick vegetation have the
opposite effect.
13. Another way to make your garden interesting is to
create a garden skyline by incorporating raised beds, pedestals, and
containers that lift plants, flowers, and small trees up.
14. To promote beautiful color in your garden, pair hues that harmonize
or contrast with each other. Use a color wheel if you need the help.
15. For continual blooms, container plants need a lot of fertilizer.
Water almost every, day, but since watering washes out nutrients, this
can present a problem. Use your own
compost as a
top-dressing.
16. Use low maintenance bird feeders that are easy to
fill and clean. Make sure they have bird-friendly features such as
perches, an overhang to keep seed dry, and drainage holes.
17. To
prevent birdseed sprouting under your bird feeder spread the seed on a
cookie sheet and bake it for about 5 minutes in a 300 degree oven.
18. The sound of running water from a fountain or pond will attract birds
to your yard to bathe and drink.
19. Placing bird feeders throughout the yard will give both passive and
aggressive birds a chance to feed. Put them in areas that offer good
viewing.
20. Consider getting a bat house. Most North American bats feed
exclusively on insects, eating more mosquitoes and other insects than
birds and bug zappers combined.
21. Some plants are good butterfly "feeders", meaning butterflies lay
their eggs on them and the larvae then eat the plants before maturing.
These include the leaves of Queen-Anne's lace, dill weed, and fennel.
Growing these in your garden will attract butterflies.
22. Provide
cover for the birds as they enjoy their birdfeeders by planting dense
shrubs and evergreens nearby for natural cover.
23. If possible, keep a
brush pile in your yard. Birds love deadfalls, the tangle of branches and
twigs provides protection from cats or hawks.
24. Birds are messy feeders. Put bird feeders where scattered seeds and
hulls won't be a problem. You may not want them on your front porch, or
sprouting in flower beds.
25. Bat houses are more likely to attract
bats when they are placed in a sunny spot, elevated 12 to 18 feet.
26. Protective cover is crucial to birds while sleeping or waiting out
bad weather. Conifers and evergreens, as well as dense deciduous plants,
shelter birds from predators and weather.