5 Seasonal Landscaping Points To Never Forget
One of the most satisfying moments in landscaping is the point at which you stand back, and take your first look at a completed landscaping project. The way your garden edging choices create neat lines between the planted areas and artificial turf and the decking option being just right for creating a wonderful outdoor space for entertaining, without interrupting the aesthetic your chosen plants and rockery bring.
Before we approach this point, however, as landscapers, we must look at how the entire garden area will do everything that’s expected of it all year round and consider several seasonal landscaping points that can never be forgotten. The great British weather is infamous for good reason and there’s no ignoring it, especially considering how nature always has the final say on how anything in landscaping will turn out.
Regardless of the specifics in your plans for your next landscaping project, these five seasonal landscaping considerations should never be overlooked.
1. Choice of Landscaping Product & Materials – Great for Now, But Also Great in Six Months?
This is a common natural starting point for many landscaping projects. Choosing everything from artificial turf, decking materials, gravel colour can feel quite satisfying. If Summer is just around the corner, it’s natural to think about how the garden space will look with a backdrop of cloudless skies and a gentle breeze. However, as Autumn arrives, the role of your chosen landscaping products change significantly. How easy will maintenance and cleaning be for example, to avoid blockages or creating dangerous surfaces.
Security must be considered in the same way. Plants during the Summer that obscure views from the outside world may not do so in other seasons and instead open up an undesirable line of sight. This is where it’s important to consider the interaction of objects that may change throughout the year and other more permanent fixtures such as garden fencing.
2. How We Use Our Gardens Throughout the Year
In the UK, our lifestyles change considerably throughout the seasons and this should be reflected in your landscaping project planning. A great example of where this is considered is in garden decking options, which can become an impressive garden feature and create a space that is usable throughout the year.
Modern design takes into account the need for adequate drainage as can be seen in the MaxDeck Classic Charcoal Composite Decking Board, which is reversible, giving you the option of a narrow or wider groove making the practical choice one that doesn’t take away from the aesthetics. During wet weather, the usual slip hazard considerations will need to be taken into account, but this can be factored into your design and planning.
In contrast, traditional lawns are an example of a design element that doesn’t afford a great deal of flexibility and seasonality, which may be why artificial turf is seeing an uptick in popularity. Products such as MaxGrass Premium demonstrate how far technology has come in providing landscapers with a functional artificial lawn product that retains the aesthetics of a garden lawn, but makes all-year usage a possibility.
3. Nature’s Variation & Lifestyle Decisions
Nature is the strongest force in play when we consider any landscaping project over the long term. Modern landscaping products are typically advanced in their understanding of how the product will interact with water, animals and plant life, unwanted or otherwise. But, the way in which the product is used by us is equally important.
Weed control is a topic that dominates the conversation in controlling nature and products such as Groundtex Woven Fabric is one of many impressive geo-fabrics that create a physical barrier to control weed growth. Whilst the product is likely to do its job, it still comes down to us as landscapers to ensure correct installation doesn’t lead to weak points, particularly where the barrier ends and needs to be secured.
4. Living Things That Don’t Pay the Mortgage
We share our garden spaces with living plants and creatures, some of which will contribute to the aesthetic and others who will take away. Our job as landscapers is to choose:
- Which living things we’re going to bring into the design
- Which living things we’re going to try to keep out of the design?
- Which living things are likely to turn up, that we can’t keep out
Once we get this balance right and know what we can and cannot control, we now have a framework in which to plan our landscaping project.
Whilst the goal in landscaping projects typically places aesthetics and functionality at the centre, we can sometimes factor in how our spaces cater for the needs of the environment. Eco-friendly landscaping products are becoming more popular, and more on this topic can be read in one of previous blog posts: https://www.landscapes-direct.com/2022/04/25/environmentally-friendly-landscaping-doing-your-bit-for-the-planet/ .
Eco-friendly landscaping products are one part of the puzzle. Another part is how we use design elements and techniques that are better for the environment
As much as we develop technology and products become smarter, the way we embrace nature can make or break a landscaping project in the long term and striking that balance is where your judgement is important.
5. The Future
Bringing everything else together is the simple point that the area being landscaped will exist long into the future. But this is entirely relevant right now. It’s wise to consider:
- What may we want the space to do/look like five years from now?
- What direction will manufacturers take in future product design?
- Could there be changes to legislation that mean certain substances are no longer available, requiring a change in our approach to weed control for example?
- How will nature try to interact with our landscaping design? And can we influence this enough to ensure the product lifespan justifies its cost?
Landscaping can be incredibly rewarding, but thinking ahead ensures the garden space remains impressive for years to come, and not just in the coming Summer.
