landscape a nature retreat

(NU) - If you have ever attempted to transform your backyard into a beautifully-designed paradise, then you have probably planted, trimmed, and dug your way into a few minor frustrations along the way.  Despite these setbacks, creative landscaping provides many benefits to the homeowner, including being a hobby or avocation that offers great rewards and, for those efforts, a possible stress-reducing, relaxing retreat to escape the troubles of the day. And there’s another important consideration.  A Clemson University study found that landscaping around the home can sometimes result in a return of 100% of your investment! 

While good landscaping can vary by degrees depending on budget, skills, and climate, there are a few easy things you can do in order to be proud of your landscaping without paying an expert. 

The following tips from Rochester’s Miller Brick will guide you on the right path to do-it-yourself landscaping:

* Always layer your planting beds. Layering in three rows, begin with your tallest plants in the back row, next tallest in the middle and your shortest plants in the front. And don't just plant one bed; putting another elsewhere in your yard will help provide a sense of harmony.

* Calm your yard with water features. Providing focal points in your landscaping work is a must, and one great way is to incorporate water features such as ponds and simple waterfalls into your landscaping. They both look appealing and add an attractive element to your yard, the calming sounds of moving water.

Utilize retaining walls. If you are planning on protecting the fragile landscaping work around your home, it's a must to construct a strong retaining wall. Erosion-prone areas in your yard will benefit greatly by incorporating segmental retaining walls.  Depending on your structural needs, a number of materials make good choices when building retaining walls.  These include brick, landscape timbers, or concrete.

* When planting flowers, go with annuals. To have a continuous sense of color throughout your yard, plant annual flowers alongside your favorite perennials. Research and lay out creative flower combinations that make use of both kinds of flowers for year-round beauty.

* Think year-round. One of the biggest flaws one can make is only providing one or two seasons' worth of eye-catching landscaping. Plan for having plentiful trees and shrubs during the springtime, fall foliage during autumn months, and good, visually interesting plant life in the winter, such as holly shrubs or bayberry bushes.

For more information, visit www.millerbrick.com.

ROCHESTER RESOURCE
Miller Brick
734 Ridgeway Ave.
Rochester        458-7745