| 1. Planning your landscape is like painting a picture on | | | | main point of interest, don't center them in your yard. |
| canvas. Just like your art teacher in high school told | | | | It's far more interesting to place them a bit off |
| you - have a main point of interest and add several | | | | center. Don't choose a huge, overpowering tree; the |
| sub points to make your beautiful landscape more | | | | tree should have a good shape, with something |
| interesting. You imagine it in your mind, draw | | | | interesting about its bark, leaves, seed pods, flowers |
| sketches and fill in all the details that you've dreamed | | | | or fruit. Tip: while the poplar is a striking tree and a |
| of. Keep revising your sketch until it looks like the | | | | rapid grower, it sheds its leaves early and so is left |
| picture you have in mind. | | | | standing with bare branches in early fall. The poplar |
| 2. Not feeling very artistic? If you're a more | | | | makes a better choice for a backyard tree or when |
| 'concrete' person, try laying out garden hoses or | | | | creating a dividing space between your yard and |
| heavy string in your yard to get a feel for how and | | | | your neighbors. Good choices for trees are the |
| where you want to divide up your space. Remember | | | | mountain ash with bright berries, the brilliant leaves of |
| to think balance, not symmetry. Some people think | | | | the sugar maple or the bark of the white birch, which |
| that they have to plant trees and flowers in straight, | | | | all add interest to your total landscape. |
| boring rows. Tip: pick an odd number when planting | | | | 6. It is always best to choose trees and shrubs that |
| trees or flowers. With flowers, plant several of the | | | | thrive in your local climate. It's tempting to choose |
| same plant in groups to make a large color splash. | | | | something exotic out of a catalog but you'll be |
| Better to have a few, well chosen, bold splashes of | | | | unhappy if the tree you choose is not right for your |
| color than to have tiny spots of color spread all over | | | | climate. Trees are a big investment, choose wisely. |
| a large area. | | | | 7. Flowering vines can also be used to create interest. |
| 3. If you're having a hard time thinking of what your | | | | Whether you choose an ivy to climb the bricks on |
| chief point of interest can be, close your eyes and | | | | your house or a trumpet vine to wind around an old |
| think about what you like most about your yard. Is | | | | weathered fence along side your house, both can be |
| there a tall, solo pine tree, a grouping of birch trees, | | | | used as sub points to accent your main point of |
| a rocky ledge, an old weathered fence or something | | | | interest. Tip: perennial vines can be used to form a |
| else that catches your eye? If you can't find | | | | permanent addition to your landscape scheme. The |
| something of interest that's already in place, think | | | | Virginia creeper, wisteria, honeysuckle, a climbing rose |
| about adding something that you admire from a | | | | or clematis all make excellent choices for creating |
| picture in a magazine or something that caught your | | | | interest and can be used to minimize minor |
| eye when you were driving through a beautiful | | | | imperfections in walls. |
| neighborhood. Tip: do NOT copy something that your | | | | 8. And for a final flair, add a colorful flag to your |
| next door neighbor is doing. They won't appreciate it | | | | landscape design. Whether you choose a whimsical, |
| and it won't look nearly as special if both of you are | | | | garden flag or a majestic, patriotic American Flag, |
| going for the same effect. | | | | both will create interest and add color to your |
| 4. Still can't think of a chief point of interest? What | | | | landscape. Tip: choose polyester for greatest |
| about creating a spot for a water fall? Not a pond - | | | | durability of a flag that is flown daily. Choose nylon |
| that's old news! With a re-cycling water fall, you don't | | | | flags for flying in the lightest breeze. There are |
| have to worry about standing pond water or algae. | | | | several new, flag hanger styles available if you don't |
| Just pick some interesting rocks or boulders of | | | | already have a flag pole in your yard. The spinning |
| varying sizes, arrange them to cascade down a | | | | flagpole mounts on your house, deck or mailbox |
| slope, add plants and water. Viola! Or, how about a | | | | post, and is designed to keep your flag from |
| rock path winding through your yard? Or a rock wall | | | | wrapping. And the telescoping flagpole easily extends |
| of native stone to create interest? | | | | up to 20 feet in seconds or down to 7 feet for |
| 5. If you choose a tree or group of trees to be your | | | | portability. |