Landscape Design Tips

What Edging Selections Work Best for Garden Paths & Walkways?

January 21, 2015

Installing borders and edges in your garden and along pathways can easily update the look of your garden and draw attention to areas of note. Although edging can be used to beautify your space, it also has some functional benefits as well, such as retaining gravel or mulch used in your beds, holding back soil, and making mowing easier. Edging projects can be completed in hours or days, and costs range from free to very pricey depending on your choice. There are many edging selections for gardens and walkways to choose from.

Bricks
Bricks are a classic material used in garden edging projects. They are easy to install, however, installation can be time-consuming. They can be laid flat to create a wide border, often referred to as soldier edging; stood up on end to create a narrow yet prominent border, called a sailor edging; or laid diagonally to create interest. New bricks can be used for a crisp look while reclaimed bricks can add texture and interest.

Stones and Boulders
Although natural-looking placement can be difficult and heavy work, stones and boulders make great borders and edges. If you use locally sourced materials, your edging will look more natural and these types of borders work best with casual gardens. Many of our designs feature a crab orchard cobblestone edging, giving the designs a timeless look.

Cast or Poured Concrete
Edging selections for gardens and walkways are limited only by your imagination when using concrete products. There are pigments that can be added to create a wide variety of colors, textures can be designed, and added interest can be created by adding stones, glass and other items. Concrete is fairly permanent, so it is best to choose wisely.

Bender Board
Highly flexible and often made from recycled items, bender board makes a great border for your beds or edging for walkways. The material is extremely pliable which makes it easy to create meandering pathways or uniquely shaped beds.

If you would like help with your landscaping design, including edging and borders, Dargan Landscape Architects is here to help. We invite you to contact us to begin your design consultation to create your dream garden.

How Do I Prepare My Landscape for Winter?

December 31, 2014

You put too much time and passion into your garden to allow winter to destroy your efforts. Your delicate shrubs and plants cannot withstand cold temperatures without suffering damage, so they need protection. With weather becoming increasingly difficult to predict, prepping your landscape for winter will ensure that come spring, your garden will thrive anew. We have put together some great tips to help you get started.

Protective Fencing
While protective fencing is often used to protect plants along the edges of your property from salt or other melting products, it will also protect your gardens from animal activity in warmer climes.

Frost Protection
Frost can hit us at any time during the winter season, so it is essential to have frost protection fabric for your sensitive plants. If your daytime temperatures are warm, it is best to cover your plants at night when frost is expected and remove the coverings during the heat of the day.

Insulate with Mulch
To keep the soil temperature near the roots of your plants moderated, apply a two-inch layer of mulch at the base of your plants and trees. Mulch will also aid in water retention in dry winters and help prevent soil erosion in the event of a spring runoff.

Compost Protection
Some perennials that are limited in hardiness, such as roses, require compost to be mounded up to the crown to protect them in winter. Whenever possible you should use pulverized topsoil as it is less likely to cause root rot in the event of a warm, wet winter.

Pruning Tip
If you plan to prune any plants, wait until winter is almost over. By pruning later in the dormant season, the fresh wounds will not be exposed very long before new growth begins.

Prepping your landscape for winter does not have to mean an end to inspiration for your landscaping and garden wishes. Dargan Landscape Architects would be happy to meet with you to design your ideal outdoor space. View some of our project photos and contact us to learn more.

Can I Use Gravel and Stone for Garden Walkways?

December 30, 2014

When you think of a floor, chances are good you do not immediately think of your garden. By its very definition, however, a floor is a surface that is walked on. With that in mind, choosing the proper flooring for your gardens and their walkways is very important for both the function and overall appeal of your garden. Utilizing soft materials for garden floors can add to a tranquil setting and not take away too much attention from the work you have put into design and planting.

The first thing to determine is whether your garden is casual or formal. A general rule of thumb is to use loose materials for casual spaces and more structured materials for formal areas. The exception to that general rule would be maintenance. If you have many trees dropping leaves and seed pods onto your garden floor, loose materials can be difficult to keep clean-looking. The following are some ideas for utilizing soft materials for garden floors:

Flat pea gravel is a popular choice for both casual and formal spaces because of its compact size and versatility. It can be used for many applications such as walkways with edging, seating areas, and as filler between larger stone elements such as flagstone. Be careful not to put In too deep; we used a crusher run base of 3” and a 1” topping of gravel on the surface.
River rock is large stones that have been worn smooth from tumbling in a river. A natural-looking product, river rock can direct drainage and create dry creek beds for focal points. The stones can be difficult to walk on, so you may use them to edge a garden path rather than create main pathways.
Crushed granite can be used in both formal and casual gardens to create garden floors or pathways. The crushed stone is not smooth like pea gravel, however, the natural coloring blends well with most landscapes. It needs an edging of brick, metal or river rocks to hold it in place.
Soft-looking, smooth and fairly uniform in color, Mexican beach pebbles are a sophisticated choice for lining beds, walkways, and creating a zen-like atmosphere.

Let Dargan Landscape Architects design a master plan for your garden. View our past designs and contact us to learn more.

How Can I Incorporate Natural Elements into Garden Paths?

December 26, 2014

Garden paths may be functional and lead to a specific destination or they may be decorative and lend themselves to a stroll through your landscape. Regardless of their purpose, paths should always have a destination as a type of reward for whomever chooses to follow them. For a stroll-type path, the destination may be a beautiful centerpiece such as the one we created as a Dargan Landscape Architects project in this photo. Other destinations may be a sitting area or even a view of water. Incorporating natural elements into garden paths will ensure that whether the design is for function or fancy, they will still be beautiful and tie well into your garden’s overall design.

Once you have determined the destination, you need to assess what elements your garden path will pass through. When incorporating natural elements into garden paths, the idea is to keep them in character with the surroundings rather than having them clash or seem to be an afterthought. For example, a meandering pathway of variegated stones may not work well with a landscape that is ultra-modern and geometric.

To ensure the garden path is safe and comfortable for walking, stones or pavers should not have gaps larger than four inches between them and gravel-type paths must be secure enough to walk over without turning an ankle. Such safety measures do not have to impede your design, however. The materials you choose can be used in many ways to blend beautifully with your landscape. Irregular shapes can be used to create interesting walkways with live plants or pea gravel as space fillers. Uniform shapes can be mixed and matched to create interesting patterns or a cobbled look.

Before beginning construction on your garden paths, you should determine the end result you wish to achieve and create a plan. You can get some inspiration from our Dargan Landscape Architects photos or contact us to help you design and build the perfect pathway for your landscape.

Blending Design & Shapes Into Outdoor Seating Areas

December 12, 2014

As a career landscape architect and gardener, I’m very aware of the positive effects a landscape has on its owners. Your beautifully landscaped outdoor areas may be the only space to escape the trials and tribulations of daily life, as you breathe oxygen-rich air, surrounded by beautiful growing, living things.

Enhance the Holistic Benefits of Your Landscape by Blending Design and Shape into Outdoor Seating Areas

One of the best ways to reap the holistic benefits of your landscape is to add seating areas where you and guests can take a moment to comfortably soak up Mother Nature’s splendor.

Rather than plopping a few chairs or lounges down, I recommend integrating your seating areas by blending both their design and the shape into your existing landscape. Here are some examples of how to do so.

Use boundaries. Timeless cottage gardens have always used boundaries, both hardscape and natural, in order to define different landscape areas, whether they be winding walkways, raised kitchen gardens, or – yes – various seating areas. Larger spaces may be bordered using existing architectural walls or fences. If you are planning on creating a smaller or more intimate seating area, use a trellis, shrubs, or a small section of fencing to create a bit of privacy.

Consider circular or rounded additions. A rounded or circular shape can facilitate the flow of conversation in a particular seating area, as well as its aesthetics. Your rounded or curved seating area will also make a nice change if the majority of your landscape is portioned out in square or rectangular patterns. The addition of an arch or a trellis can also add the curved juxtaposition you’re looking for while serving as a focalization tool, guiding the eye to carefully proportioned and positioned table and chairs.

Use attractive flooring materials. Enhance your seating area’s design by using attractive flooring materials, like natural stone squares or pavers, that can be used in different colors and patterns, augmenting their visual appeal.

Blending design and shape into outdoor seating areas will make them as pleasant to the eye as they are to the soul.

Contact Dargan Landscape Architects to help you enhance your outdoor areas.

Landscape Design Tips

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