Asian style garden tips

asian style garden

Outdoor areas are often the last to receive design attention, but they shouldn’t be: What surrounds your home is just as important as what's in it. Whether it's a manicured front lawn, stone paver pathway or intricate garden design, these spaces benefit from the same attention to detail as any bathroom or kitchen. Well-designed landscaping ideas can complement your home's architecture and asian design, and the right plants, flowers and shrubbery can greatly enhance your curb appeal by adding color, texture and even fragrance to your yard.

Before starting your garden remodel, survey your space and browse landscape ideas to figure out how best to fill it. If you love working outdoors, a large rose garden or vegetable garden is the perfect way to use your space. On the other hand, kids might enjoy a large yard, along with a playground, swing set or pool. Think about what your family would use the most, as well as what would help boost your resell value in the long run. In the end, be sure to consider your front and back yard as separate entities; after all, they usually serve two very different purposes.

What should I add to my front yard?

When landscaping your front yard, think about curb appeal above all else. This space is your chance to make a great first impression, so it should be inspiring, well thought out and consistent with the asian style of your home. A flower garden is a great option, but if maintenance is an issue, you can simplify the process by opting for low-maintenance succulents, bushes or hedges instead. If you don't have a green thumb, stick with grass and use a gravel pathway, water feature, wood fence or stone wall for variation.

What should I add to my backyard or garden?

The backyard is for entertaining and playtime, so incorporate seating, dining areas, play spaces and sunny relaxation spots. A vegetable garden or rose garden is a common yard staple, especially if you add an interesting element like a pergola, arbor, raised bed, border, walkway or fence. You can even add fun accessories like birdbaths and feeders to aid with birdwatching. For the ultimate party house, incorporate a pool and patio or deck with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, barbecue and outdoor kitchen. If you're an active, sports-loving family, add a basketball court, volleyball court, bocce ball or croquet. And don't forget about outdoor furniture! A bench in a garden makes a great reading or meditation spot, while a weatherproof chaise lounge, sofa and chair are nice for taking in those sunny days.

Asian Landscape Design

Eight dos and don'ts for designing an Asian garden

The Asian landscape is known for a meditative feeling of serenity. Stone and natural elements invite contemplation, while carefully-shaped plantings show our human interaction with the land.

AJ Shepard, a landscape architect with over 35 years of experience, enjoys the influence of the Asian style because of its calming nature. He's traveled extensively in Asia, so his knowledge of the culture informs his design sense. Here, he shares his tips for creating an authentic Asian landscape.

Dos:

    Do incorporate art pieces into the Asian garden. "Art makes an important focal point, and adds another layer of interest to the garden," explains Shepard. However, use pagoda towers and other overtly Asian sculptures sparingly. "Softer and subtler Asian elements can set the scene without visually dominating the space."

    

 Do plan garden views by looking out your windows. "Use the sightlines from the house to place focal points or set a soothing scene to enjoy from indoors," says Shepard. "This creates an outdoor space you'll feel invited to explore."

    Do create meandering paths. It's believed that straight pathways allow malevolent spirits to go directly into the house, while a zigzag pathway hinders their movement into the living areas of a home.

    Do choose iconic Asian plants to set the tone. Plants like flowering cherry, Japanese maple, ginkgo, bamboo and mugo pine provide just the right atmosphere in the landscape.

Don'ts:

    Don't select white flowers for an authentic Asian garden. White flowers are thought of as a funeral flower in many Asian countries. Chrysanthemums in any color have a similar meaning.

    Don't fill the entire space. "Less is more," says Shepard. "Think of your landscape as having positive and negative space. Focal points such as Japanese maples or statuary are most dramatic when placed among low, carpet-like plants."

    Don't feature a Buddha's head statue. If you want to honor the Buddha in your garden, choose a statue that depicts the entire body of the Buddha. Otherwise, the effect is that of defacing a deity, and can seem disrespectful.

    Don't neglect outdoor lighting. There are many styles of lights that work well with an Asian theme or a Craftsman-style home. You can light a pathway, direct light onto sculptures or art, or use lighting to enhance a beautifully-pruned tree.

In any landscape, think about how you can create a space that people want to go into the garden to explore. As Shepard points out, "one of the best things a designer can do for you is to take an under-utilized area and make it part of the garden, either by making it functional or even into a focal point."

Asian landscapes lend themselves well to this careful use of space. A bare wall can become the backdrop for a special piece of statuary, and a skinny corridor can become home to a carefully-curated selection of stone and plants. Having a series of garden "rooms" can create ample opportunities for the calm contemplation the Asian garden is known for.

How to Landscape

A well-designed landscape can be inspiring. It can provide a sense of calm, a sense of awe, and a sense of balance. It can boost your spirits and give you solace. A beautiful landscape can also improve the curb appeal of your home and inspire other people in your neighborhood to turn their own yards into inspiring landscapes.

Landscaping and gardening are also ideal outlets for your creativity. Nature gives you an expansive palette of colors, textures, scents, and structural compositions to choose from. In a home garden, you can take these gifts from nature and combine them in any style you desire. But with so many landscaping options at your disposal, where do you begin?

Whether you want to create a sanctuary, a retreat, an entertainment area or any other environment, you'll get ideas here on how to do it. The photographs, expert insights, and troubleshooting advice in this section can help you create a landscape that suits your unique tastes and appeals to all your senses.

Get these tips
In this section, you'll find tips from landscaping professionals on:

    How to plan the perfect backyard, including ideas for layouts, design styles, outdoor rooms, patios, water features and hardscaping.

    Ways to boost the curb appeal of your front yard, including design ideas for driveways, sidewalks, front porches and courtyard gardens.

    Designing the perfect patio, with advice on sizing and placement, materials, patio styles, and patio layouts.

    Design ideas, planning tips and appliance options for outdoor kitchens.

    The most popular garden styles and themes, including modern, traditional, country, Mediterranean, tropical and desert.

    A look at award-winning projects from landscaping professionals across the country.

    Ideas for regional landscape designs suitable to the climates, available materials and plant types characteristic of different areas of the country, from San Diego to New York.

    Solutions for solving typical yard and landscape challenges.

    Advice on planting bountiful vegetable and container gardens.

    Ways to simplify your landscaping plan by choosing hardy low-maintenance plants, sticking with basic materials, minimizing complex details, and choosing straightforward uncomplicated layouts.

    The latest landscaping trends, including meadow gardens with native plantings, growing your own food, going lawn-free, landscaping as an art form, and planting gardens that attract butterflies, birds and bees.

Mother Nature gives you a bounty of beauty to work with to create the landscape of your dreams. A landscape designer can help you make the most of this bounty by steering you to the best plants, materials and garden layouts for achieving your goals.

Landscape plants

Deciding which plants to use for your home's landscape can be a challenge. Many factors must be considered, beyond simply choosing the plants you find to be the most attractive. You'll need to consider your climate and the amount of time you want to devote to maintenance. You'll also need to find plants suitable for exposure conditions, such as sun or shade or dry or rainy weather.

Additionally, you should think about what you want your plants to achieve. Are you looking to add shade or privacy to your property? Do you want something fragrant and colorful that will attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife? You should also select landscape plantings that reflect the style of your garden. Most plants suitable for a quaint cottage-style garden will look out of place in a garden with a sultry Mediterranean or tropical theme.

Get these tipsUse the plant lists at right to begin compiling ideas for what plants you would like in your yard. In this section, you'll also find tips from landscaping professionals on:

    Using gardening zones to select the plants most suitable for your climate.

    The main factors that affect plant performance, including the amount of sunlight and rainfall, the length of the growing season, average summer and winter temperatures, and elevation.

    The three most important rules to remember when choosing plants for a modern garden, including tips for grouping them.

    How to use succulents of all shapes and sizes to add drama to the garden.

    The most popular trees and plants to use in a Japanese garden.

    Preparing the soil and installing a drip irrigation system for a thriving desert garden.

    The best plants and ground covers for drought tolerance, including cacti, succulents, autumn sage, and Texas red yucca.

    Plant suggestions for creating a lush, tropical landscape.

    Desired plant characteristics for a Mediterranean garden.

    The favorite traditional landscaping plants, which are often characterized by strong structures and showy blooms.

    The main factors to consider when selecting plants for use around a swimming pool.

    The top 10 vines for accenting pergolas, patio covers, and arbors.

    The do's and don'ts for selecting plants for use around a patio, terrace or deck.

    The best plants for screening and creating privacy in your yard.

    Ideas for creating privacy with a bamboo screen.

    The top 10 trees for adding striking beauty in a landscape

    How to use shrubs and bushes to add structure and color to a garden.

    Enhancing the enjoyment of your garden by planting trees, vines, shrubs and perennials that produce edible fruit or herbs.

    Ideas for landscaping with olive trees, which grow especially well in the coastal areas of California.

Contact a professional landscaper to help you come up with a planting plan that will complement your home, lifestyle and climate conditions.

Lawn Types

Your lawn serves as the canvas for the rest of your landscape, forming a framework for garden beds, pathways and patios. It also helps to prevent soil erosion and provides a soft, resilient surface for recreational activities.

Because lawn landscaping plays such a crucial role, both aesthetically and functionally, many homeowners will spare no expense to grow and maintain a lush lawn. But before you outlay all those greenbacks for green blades, there are some important factors to consider to ensure that your investment grows and thrives. Learn about the best types of turfs for various conditions, how to maintain a healthy lawn, advice on choosing sod versus seed, and the basics of lawn installation.

Get these tipsIn this section, you'll find these tips:

    Selecting a lawn grass that will thrive in your local climate conditions and survive the intended use of your yard.

    The best grass varieties for sun and shade.

    The best grasses for cool-season and warm-season conditions.

    The top 10 turf grass varieties, along with an overview of each one's light requirements, drought tolerance, growth rate, traffic tolerance and unique care requirements.

    Why you'll find turf varieties sold under different names.

    How to improve lawn hardiness by mixing different grass varieties, such as Kentucky Bluegrass and fescue blends.

    The best types of lawn fertilizer and how often to fertilize your lawn.

    The best ways to water your lawn, and the five most common irrigation mistakes.

    How to set up irrigation hydrozones to avoid over or under watering.

    Why mowing your grass taller can help you reduce water consumption.

    How aerating your lawn alleviates soil compaction, which can slow water penetration and reduce root growth.

    Why it's important to establish a systematic lawn repair program.

    A checklist for identifying and fixing brown spots in your lawn caused by insect damage, lawn fungus, poor sprinkler coverage, or dog urine.

    An overview of the eight main steps in soil preparation and lawn installation.

    A step-by-step guide to laying a beautiful sod lawn.

    How to use hydraulic mulch seeding, or hydroseeding, as an economical way to seed large lawn areas, slopes and hillsides.

    The pros and cons of using seed or sod to plant a new lawn.

    Definitions of common lawn installation terms.

Growing a lush lawn requires good planning, a knowledge of the best grass types for various conditions, and establishing a systematic program of lawn maintenance and repair. While many homeowners prefer a DIY approach to lawn care, a lawn landscaping professional can often save you a lot of time and headaches.

Sprinkler System Design

Most homeowners take a well-designed and properly functioning sprinkler system for granted. Since sprinklers are all but invisible, until they turn on, it is easy to forget about how important they are to keeping your landscape looking its best. On-the-other-hand, if you’ve lived even a short time without automated sprinklers, you’re likely well aware of their value. Hand watering can be tiring and inefficient for the inexperienced eye.

A professionally installed sprinkler system will provide water for your lawn or plants on a schedule. There are two types of watering systems, overhead sprinklers and drip irrigation. Traditional sprinklers are widely used for lawns, while drip lines work well for garden beds. If you are especially concerned with water usage a drip system is a good option.

Before deciding on the type of irrigation system to have installed on your property you should think about what you will need to water. Watering needs are different for lawns than they are for shrubs or trees. If you have existing landscaping, sprinklers can be installed to support what is already there. If you are planning on installing new plants it is helpful to know the location of certain plant types so that your sprinkler installer can get the right heads or emitters in the proper place.

If your home has an existing sprinkler system it is important to make sure it is maintained and that water waste is kept to a minimum. The biggest signs of water waste are wet pavements and run-off. If you notice these problems on your property it is likely that the design of your sprinkler system is not appropriate for the size or shape of your lawn. The solution may be as simple as adjusting the position of a sprinkler head, but a professional can come evaluate your system and help you be more efficient with your use of water.

Having sprinklers installed is not something you should be overwhelmed by, there are many knowledgeable pros who can help you figure out the best system for your needs. Your sprinklers will be up and running in just a few days. All you’ll have to do is make sure the timer is set right and keep an eye out for any signs of problems.

Having underground sprinklers installed requires that trenches be dug. This may disturb your existing landscaping, so make sure you are clear with the installer about any plants you don’t want disturbed. A drip system is installed above ground so it is an easier process with minimal disturbance. If possible, most landscape contractors recommend installing sprinkler lines prior to any other construction work or planting. This way you don’t have to deal with running water lines under pavement or messing up a freshly planted lawn.

Sprinkler systems are a very convenient way to keep the plants in your yard healthy.

They can range from simple to high-tech or be designed to conserve water. Use the resources here to better understand sprinkler system options, design and maintenance.