From Flat to Fabulous
Enhance your landscaping with shapes and textures.
Among homeowners who pride themselves in knowing that their pool is perfectly maintained and the surrounding landscape accouterments have been freshly mulched, a certain satisfaction comes from knowing everything is ready for that perfect afternoon of entertaining. Indeed, the luxury of your own private pool set among
With the exception of a few areas on the North Shore, Long Island is, well, pretty flat. And that’s why most designs fail, according to Timothy Barry, senior designer at Dodds & Eder landscape design of Oyster Bay.
No matter how creative or expensive, landscapes that just follow the terrain or simply outline the pool don’t stimulate the eye and are unsuccessful at creating a sense of depth and layering.
What’s needed, says Barry, are a few subtle design cues that can go a long way towards seamlessly blending your pool into a more natural landscape. Creating berms behind or alongside the pool, using curves and soft plantings that create gentle borders and adding stones or brick for texture are three ways your poolscape can quickly go from flat to fabulous.
And remember, making an investment into the improvement of your landscaping not only has an immediate visual effect, but also boosts residual values as well.
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Stonework adds texture and impact
Beware of too much of a good thing, warns landscape designer Timothy Barry. Although large expanses of hardscape materials may work in a commercial setting, residences require only subtle touches and details of stones and bricks to tie a landscape into the overall design. If too much masonry material is used, the changes are too severe and don’t carry over the themes and style of the house into the garden.
Hills and berms increase planting space
Hills and berms can dramatically alter the feeling of a garden space. The magic happens when a subtle hand puts together different types, sizes and quantities of plant materials to impact a space, says Barry. The layering of plants can help achieve soft borders, and the growth habit, texture and color palette all play a role in achieving the look of a successful garden.
Connect with Dodds & Eder www.doddsandeder.com
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