Basic Planning

• A rectangle of lawn is ordinary and boring, so give it shape with flowerbeds that curve into the grass. Not only is the effect more attractive, you'll have less lawn to water and maintain. Ornamental grasses arranged within the beds add texture and variety to a landscape's design. Add a natural wood stump affixed with a birdbath or bird feeder to attract your feathered friends. Hang melodic wind chimes near the front porch to create an inviting welcome for visitors.
  
  Be careful not to plant large trees in front of windows because they will block the view to outside as well as partially hide the front of your house. Plant short shrubs in planters that won't overwhelm your home's architectural design. Cover areas next to walkways and the driveway with flowering groundcover that bloom in colors to go with the color of your house.
  
  Garden art, like decorative planting stakes, add personality to any landscape, front yard or back. Artistic statuary of birds and animals can complement a landscape's theme. Place a wrought-iron or wooden bench beneath a shady tree for a spot to relax during hot summer months.
  
  

Rock Gardens

• Rock gardens are popular because they're easy to create and require low maintenance. Construct your garden on unusable ground where plants may be hard to grow. Just make sure there's good drainage because the types of plants you'll grow won't do well in waterlogged soil. Plant your rock garden on a slope where surface water can run off easily.
  
  A well-planned combination of rocks and flowers create a colorful display. Terrace your garden with large boulders that help slow runoff, which will allow proper saturation for plants and their roots. Design your garden by placing light-colored rocks among dark foliage as a way to draw attention and create focal points.
  
  Select low-growing plants that have a habit of clumping. Perennials are most commonly used in rock gardens. Select hardy plants that cover the ground, produce colorful flowers, and have interesting textures. For example, carpet bugle spreads blue or purple flowers from May to June, and mountain alyssum grows as gray foliage from April to May. Add snowcap for bright white flowers that bloom in the spring.
  
  

Water Features

• Either in-ground or above-ground, water features have are popular additions for landscape designs. In the front yard, they add curb appeal. In back, they create a tranquil space where sounds of trickling water complement the peaceful scents and colors of a flower garden. Portable fountains are easy to install and bring nature to a deck or patio. Position potted plants around your water feature for an outdoorsy look and feel.
  
  

Container Gardens

• Add potted plants to your deck or patio to expand your landscape's design. Good potting soil is a key ingredient and must be a mixture that combines proper drainage with aeration. Select compatible plants with the same needs in terms of light, water, and growing conditions. It's never a good idea to mix a water-loving plant like impatiens with a dry and sun-loving plant like thyme. Mint, for example, is an aggressive grower and needs a pot of its own.
  
  Dress up a small side yard with a container garden and add an above-ground water feature for a complete outdoors effect. Urban residential landscapes benefit from potted greenery that soften a cement or graveled ground.