We know that great customer service isn’t just about the hard work we put in. It’s also about a commitment to excellence and old fashioned virtues such as hospitality, discretion and professional behavior.

Many of those flowers you remember from the days of yore are back, and they still smell as amazing as it did all those years ago. Walking through your garden this summer may bring back so many memories. Your childhood in grandma’s backyard, her flower beds you had to stay away from and those beautiful ornaments.

You can create a new twist on your grandma’s garden design. You can do this by creating a nostalgic garden from scratch in your own backyard. Native plants are usually defined as those plants that were growing naturally in an area and it include all types of landscape plants, trees shrubs, vines, ferns, flowers and grasses. You can find all these plants and more at your local nursery or garden centre.

Plant a range of flowers like petunias, oriental lilies, eucalyptus near a paving stone pathway or under a window so you can take full advantage of the soothing smell drifting on the breeze. The most practical way for gardeners to create a nostalgic garden is to keep your garden as natural as possible with more traditional plants. With a heritage of common styles and era ornaments your garden will have a retro feel. One idea is to plant geometric flower beds with cobblestones in between them. Other ideas would be to plant colourful flowers in an old fashion styled bicycle, or place a sundial in the middle of the garden to create a nostalgic ambience.

Consider using trees and shrubs that have beautiful leaves and winter interest such as colourful berries and funky evergreens. Place paving tiles around big trees for an area where you can place a bench. That will definitely remind you of your childhood days playing hide and seek with other siblings. Birds and pollinators will be part of the environment too.

You can also plant some vegetables in your garden. A vegetable patch is becoming popular again with the cost of living increasing. In the olden days, vegetable patches were common and our great grandparents enjoyed using fresh vegetables from their own gardens.

Many gardeners and homeowners have realized that they don’t want gardens of the future with strange plants. They want grandma’s garden, created with love and that is native in appearance. Ask your local nursery for the best trees and shrubs that are available in your area and appropriate for the conditions at your home. Expand your palette by including plants that are colourful, fragrant, significant and, most of all, fun.

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Is there something missing from your garden design? Maybe you should consider a landscape bridge.

A landscape bridge is a nifty solution to a garden or yard that needs a little pizzazz. The benefits of a landscape bridge are many. When you install a landscape bridge you will enhance the beauty of your yard or garden. A landscape bridge will help to separate areas and spaces. A landscape bridge can be used over a pond or small stream.

You can find lots of ideas and photographs of landscape bridges in gardening magazines and books. Look for these books and magazines in bookstores or at the library. Garden centers and building stores may be able to offer a selection of landscape bridges. If you want to see a huge variety of landscape bridges in one place you should start your search by looking online. There are many sites that feature landscape bridges and other ideas for you garden or yard.

Take a gander at the space you would like to put the landscape bridge and figure out the size you will need. Also consider the style and function of the bridge. Think about the materials you want to use for the landscape bridge. Would you like the landscape bridge to be made of wood, stone or a galvanized material?

Think about how much you are willing to pay for the landscape bridge. Check with contractors or builders if you do not plan to build the landscape bridge yourself.

A landscape bridge will add beauty and value to your property. Even if you decide on the simplest of bridges you will be pleased with the lovely addition to your garden or yard.

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Ideas for small backyard patios are endless! Don’t be discouraged if your backyard is tiny and you think it cannot accommodate a hard surface seating area. A patio can be constructed in a corner with ease. Just think about how nice it would be to escape to an outdoor oasis in your own backyard.

Some things to consider when deciding where to locate your patio is what you are going to use the space for. Take note of where the sun is during the day. You don’t want to be seated directly in the sun if you prefer to be enjoying the shade. If you patio is located under trees or large shrubbery to enjoy that shade just be aware that there will be more upkeep as you will need to clear debris from the patio regularly.

Patios can be constructed from flagstone, pavers, even loose material such as pea gravel. It really depends on the look you want to achieve. Flagstone laid on sand produces a country look. It is a very hard and durable surface and is naturally slip resistant which makes it a good choice for outdoor installations. Pea gravel is easy to install and is great to create a cozy sitting area. It is a little harder to walk around on so if your intent is to use the patio for entertaining, it would be wise to put in a static hard surface patio. Pavers are very versatile as you can create many shapes and patterns with them. They also come in a variety of colours.

Small patio ideas are numerous! There are many things you can do with a small backyard.

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There are many options available to you if you are interested in obtaining landscaping services. You should never make the decision without taking time and careful consideration when choosing a company. You should make enquires at several places to try and get the best deal you can. You can ask your friend or neighbors, search the Internet, or go to one of the two specialized companies mentioned later in this article. With some time and research you can get excellent quality work within your budget.

Some Available Landscaping Services

One of the most popular landscaping companies around is Relms Landscaping Services. This is an extremely well known company that can create and build anything your desire. They can also help you with any landscaping project you need. They are experienced at maintaining gardens and yards, can help with additional plantings, build a pond, or form your own landscaping company. They deal with both residential and commercial landscaping.

Some of the services that Relms offers are landscape lighting installation, irrigation installation and maintenance, lawn/turf management programs, tree/stump removal, perennial cutback, tree/shrub pruning, walls, walks, patios, redesign, island beds, water gardens, foundation plantings and more. Many times landscaping companies can provide ideas that you may not be aware of to make all your space come together into a cohesive unit.

Northwest Landscaping also offers excellent landscaping services. They do an excellent job with maintaining luxurious flowerbeds, shrubs, lawns as well as weeding, fertilizing, planting and mowing. They feel that you should be proud of your lawn just as they are proud of the product that they supply. They are dedicated to creating and maintaining all of their properties to the highest standards. They are known for their unparalleled customer service and have excellent communication with property owners. All of their employees are trained professionals that are well qualified and have excellent experience.

This company has proven their work with over 140 years of experience. Over this time span they have achieved and maintained a respected reputation in the landscaping industry. No matter what services they are providing they are always professional and proactive. Their use of technology, efficient systems and competitive pricing will be sure to leave a lasting impression.

It does not matter which landscaping services company you choose as long as you take enough time to completely consider which company is the best for your landscaping plans. You need to feel comfortable with the landscapers and confident that they will work well with your ideas.

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While keeping your lawn clean and visually appealing could be an added value to your property, doing so may take much of your effort and time. Every season will definitely require a different type of caring. Come spring, weekly mowing is needed. Constant watering must be done during summer and proper fertilizing must be observed during fall. Herewith, subscribing to lawn maintenance services is the best option for you to take especially if you are inexperienced in getting these right.

Some don’t buy this idea because of the cost it might entail. In fact, many people do not want to spend on something they think can be done on their own. More so, they dread getting overcharged for regular services received. If only the importance of lawn care is perfectly understood, then there would be no reason for homeowners to disregard this insight. Following are some points which could help.

Possibility Of A Good Sale

Say, you are putting your property on sale. Let it be a reminder to you that potential buyers will not only scrutinize the interiors of your home or property but also its exteriors and landscape. Once they see that your garden is well-kept, they will have a good impression on how you take care of your possessions and consider your property as a good buy at the price you have set.

Great Landscaping Ideas

A healthy lawn is definitely achievable with constant watering and application of fertilizers. However, making it stand-out with grandiose in your neighborhood needs expertise and hard work. This is something that lawn maintenance services can provide. The good thing about this is that most provider companies have a set of unique designs that can match the overall theme of your household; thus, creating a more homey atmosphere for your family and visitors.

Acquisition Of Other Services

These other services may include trimming of the trees, gardening, planting flower shrubs, grooming the yard, fertilizing and watering. You can also request completion of other related tasks which could be helpful when you have cocktail parties, lunch get-togethers, dinner banquets and or when you are simply entertaining your guests and clients in your garden.

Savings On Utility Expenses

Besides the additional services mentioned above, you can also get sound recommendations on the installation of appropriate irrigation systems to your property. While this won’t lower the lawn mowing prices you will be presented with, it can reduce your expenses on use of electricity and water. As we all know, sprinklers and sprinkler systems are a must for the healthy existence of your lawn.

Getting in touch with the right company for this job is no longer as difficult as you might think. By simply launching a keyword search on the search engine of your choice, you can be directed to the website of related professionals with in your vicinity. Before making a deal with your prospect company, research on the standard services and fees that you should expect. Also, check on the feedbacks of their past and current clients posted in their lawn maintenance services website.

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Landscape Design tools and software helps make home owner landscaping a reality with the best resources available in all areas of landscape design pictures from landscaping ideas and design to finishing touches. Should it is for the Waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds or shopping centre, there will surely be available design tools/software which can be utilized to address the required landscape design and drawing requirements.

AutoCAD assists clients in their Landscape Drawing tasks by utilizing a wide variety of CAD software such as AutoCAD (Version -14 to 2005), Micro Station ADT, MDT, Inventor, Pro-E, Solid Edge, Solid Works, MS Visio, and 2020. Other than AutoCAD, other useful design tools which can be found are Coreldraw (CDR), Adobe Illustrator (AI), ArchiCAD, etc.

Landscape architecture design is an advanced and fresh concept in residential landscape architectural segment representing a mix of science, arts and technical values that addresses critical issues related to Earth’s landscapes. It also involves close study and investigation of the proposed landscape site.

The Key Benefits of Landscape Design and Drawings Services:

• High accuracy
• Competitive pricing
• High data security
• Helps clients to drastically reduce their operating expenses
• Quick Turn-around
• Advanced technology
• Highly skilled professionals with readily assessable expertise and skill sets

Some companies offer solutions in the field of Landscape architectural to others. These companies serve as a strategic partner to the companies as they have the experience, qualifications and skill which enable the effective solutions delivery to the landscape architects, developers & contractors within very demanding time and budget constraints.
These are some of the popular services offered by the out-sourcing partner,

-> Architectural renderings for various landscape amenities
-> Drawings for Green roof design & Tree preservation
-> CAD design for Drainage improvements, lighting, etc
-> 3D CAD modeling & drafting services
-> Compliance with local authorities & Coordination with your team
-> Elevations
-> Foundation Plans
-> Wall Sections, etc
>> Raster-to-Vector Conversion
>> Landscape architecture drawings
>> Interior rendering/planning drawings
>> Detailing of Interiors
-> Reflected Ceiling
-> Power distribution
-> Communication points
-> Plumbing, HVAC etc
>> CAD conversion services

Some companies have claimed that they would save up to 60% cost by outsourcing their CAD design and other landscape design needs to professional design service partner whom are equipped with the required skills to fulfill the required needs.

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Whether you plan to “borrow ideas” or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design.

Don’t feel that you have to apply every principle to every part of your plan. Just having an understanding of these principles can help you generate ideas and increase your creativity.

Great landscaping lies in the eyes of the its creator. So, while the principles of landscape design are great guidelines to follow, don’t feel like they’re the “have to rules” of landscaping. Abstract and creativity are allowed.

Unity should be one of your main goals in your design. It may be better understood and applied as consistency and repetition. Repetition creates unity by repeating alike elements like plants, plant groups, or decor throughout the landscape. Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole.

Unity can be created by the consistency of character of elements in the design. By character, I mean the size, height, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements.

A good example would be in the use of accent rocks and boulders. If you’ve ever seen a landscape design that had several different colors and sizes of boulders, then you’ve seen that unity wasn’t created by this particular element.

This is just one example but the principle applies to all other elements such as groups of plants and materials.

A simple way to create unity in your landscape is by creating theme gardens. Creating a theme garden is easier when it’s related to something you’re interested in or have a passion for.

If you’re interested in butterflies for instance, you could create a theme using plants that attract butterflies as well as using statues, ornaments, and other decor that are related to butterflies.

Unity should be expressed through at least one element in your landscape and preferably more. Using elements to express a main idea through consistent style and a specific theme is what creates harmony.

Simplicity is actually one of the principles in design and art. It’s one of the best guidelines you can follow as a beginner or do it yourselfer. Just keep things simple to begin with. You can do more later.

Simplicity in planting, for instance, would be to pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden or landscape. Keeping decor to a minimum and within a specific theme as well as keeping hardscapes such as boulders consistent is also practicing simplicity.

Balance in design is just as the word implies. A sense of equality. There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

Symmetrical balance is where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements, areas, and shapes of the garden design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share all or part of the same shape, form, plant height, plant groupings, colors, bed shapes, theme, etc.

You may remember creating something like this when you were a kid in art class at school. Where you take a piece of paper, splash paint on it, fold it in half, unfold it, and then it magically creates an interesting symmetrical design. So symmetrical balance or design is somewhat of a mirror image or reflection.

Asymmetrical balance on the other hand is one of the principles of landscape design that’s a little more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant to create some unity, shapes and hardscapes may be more random. This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of attraction.

Asymmetrical may be better understood as actually being unbalanced, abstract, or free form while still creating unity and balance through the repetition of some elements.

A good example of this would be where bed shapes or paths differ on both sides of the landscape dividing line while still sharing some of the same elements and plants. One side could be curved with a sense of flow while the other side is straight, direct, hard, and completely opposite. Again, unity and balance will be created through other elements.

Contrast can be very interesting and this type of form can create a neat contrast. Flowing lines are pleasing to the eye but the bold contrast of a curve combined with a straight line can be very interesting.

Asymmetrical balance isn’t dependent on the shape of your garden. It can be but generally it’s not.

An example might be where one side of the garden is mostly large shade trees while the other side is predominately a lower growing flower garden or even a mix of both examples. Like I stated earlier, the landscaping can be abstract while still maintaining unity through other elements such as rocks, plants, and decor.

Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. Fine foliage verses coarser foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves as well as color compliments and contrasts.

Plant height, color, and texture may be varied from one area to the next but each area should stay consistent within its own theme.

You’ll hear me talk about “themes” a lot. Many successful do it yourself designs follow a basic theme to achieve most of the principles of landscape design described on this page. It’s a simple starting point for do it yourselfers that can be added to later.

Color adds the dimension of real life and interest to the landscape. Bright colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward you and can actually make an object seem closer to you. Cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels seem to move away from you and can make an object seem farther from you.

Grays, blacks, and whites are considered neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background.

Colors can also be used to direct your attention to a specific area of the garden. A bright display among cooler colors would naturally catch the eye.

Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in your landscape design. Transition is basically gradual change. It can best be illustrated in terms of plant height or color but can also be applied to all elements in the landscape including but not limited to textures, foliage shape or size, and the size and shape of different elements.

In other words transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying textures, forms, colors, or sizes.

An example of a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. This example is where a little knowledge of proper plant selection would come in handy.

Transition is one of the principles of landscape design that can be used to “create illusions” in the landscape. For example a transition from taller to shorter plants can give a sense of depth and distance (like in a painting), making the garden seem larger than it really is. A transition from shorter to taller plants could be used to frame a focal point to make it stand out and seem closer than it really is.

Line is of the more structural principles of landscape design. It can mostly be related to the way beds, walkways, and entryways move and flow.

Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines have a more natural, gentle, flowing effect.

Proportion simply refers to the size of elements in relation to each other. Of all the principles of landscape design, this one is quite obvious but still requires a little thought and planning. Most of the elements in landscape design can be intentionally planned to meet the proper proportions.

For instance if you are creating a small courtyard garden, an enormous seven foot garden statue placed in the center would be way out of proportion and a little tacky to say the least. Or a small four foot waterfall and pond placed in the center of a large open yard would get lost in the expanse.

Don’t misunderstand this to mean that if you have a large yard you can’t have smaller features or garden decor. Proportion is relative and elements can be scaled to fit by creating different rooms in the garden. The goal is to create a pleasing relationship among the three dimensions of length, breadth, and depth or height.

A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or on the edge of a large area and becomes a focal point of the larger area while creating its own distinct atmosphere. An entire room, sitting area, or theme can be created around it. Other rooms and themes can be created as well. See small gardens for ideas on creating rooms and creating illusions.

Also, special consideration and study should be given to proper plant selection to avoid using plants that are out of proportion.

Repetition is directly related to unity. Its good to have a variety of elements and forms in the garden but repeating these elements gives variety expression.

Unity is achieved by repeating objects or elements that are alike. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned.

There’s a fine line here. It’s possible that too much of one element can make a garden or landscape feel uninteresting, boring and monotonous.

However, unity can still be created by using several different elements repeatedly. This in turn keeps the garden interesting.

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