Custom Patio Blog

Every home is different, and the same applies to most residential landscaping projects.

If you decide on designing your own landscape, there are numerous concepts from which you can glean ideas; or you can try drawing up your own unique landscape design that meets your need and fits your personality.

With a professional landscaper, it is possible to achieve your dream landscape; however, it is a creative adventure to know what other people out there are doing with their landscapes. Knowing this can enable you to improve your concept. Here are the most-popular landscaping ideas this year:

1. Create an outdoor lounging / dining area

Most people love the idea of a dining area outside the house, or simply spending a few hours relaxing on the lawn. This dining area is ideal for use on weekends when you invite guests over, or when you want to have a campsite experience at home. This also goes well with a comfortable seating area where you can use old or new outdoor furniture.

2. Beautifying the landscape with flowers

Nothing makes someone feel welcome or at home as flowers do. You can go all out on your favorite blossoms, but make sure to consider perennial blooms or plants. Creating a walkway with different flowers on either side creates an illusion of greater distance.

3. Recreational facilities

You can add a swimming pool in your back or front yard as many new homeowners with enough land space are doing. A pool is always inviting, and it helps people to relax in the water; it helps others keep up with their fitness goals, and you will love to hold parties and other fun poolside activities. Although the trend of having a pool has been there for a while, it still seems to be fashionable to have one.

4. Plant a fruit or vegetable garden

A fruit or vegetable garden is one of those landscaping ideas that will not only add beauty to your lawn, but also one that will benefit your kitchen pantry. Experiment with growing various fruits and vegetables that can be of use in your kitchen.

5. Build an outdoor kitchen

This is quite trendy, especially in homes where the owners love hosting parties to spend time with friends. An outdoor kitchen makes it possible to cook and participate in fun activities at the same time. Also, when grilling or roasting meat, you do not need to worry about the smoke or the size of the flame.

6. Professional lighting

Lighting your landscape is one of your best ways to bring out the beauty of your landscape because you can play with the lighting in different and exciting ways. You can choose to use spotlights, ground lights, up lights or down lights. You can also opt to combine a few types, just to make your lawn stand out, especially at night.

A simple and beautiful landscape project can easily get messed up by an unreliable landscape contractor. So, how does one find the right professional?

The following are tips on how to choose a good contractor:

1. Ask friends and family
   Ask people who have done landscaping before These people already have the experience in locating a good contractor. They will always want to share, whether the job was good or bad. If the landscape project went well, you will hear a lot of praises. If the work was badly done, they won’t hesitate to tell you.
2. Look at previous jobs
   Landscaping contractors with experience will provide potential clients with a portfolio of their previous jobs. If you notice a good landscape, you will want the contractor who did the job to work on your landscape. So, it’s important to assess the previous work carried out by the contractor before hiring the service.
3. Experience
   A good landscaping contractor values their lifelong customers. Contractors who have several years of experience are capable of handling big tasks and still deliver quality work. This is because they have kept up with the changing times without compromising their values.
4. Web presence
   A landscape contractor that has a website has nothing to hide. It is easy to get all the information you need from the website. Their rates will be indicated so you can estimate how much you will be spending. A professional contractor is one who gives you the opportunity to get the information you need at the right time.
5. Designs
   Different contractors are known for their signature designs. This is because they have spent time and resources to perfect these skills. As much as the contractor may impress you, look at their successful design and see if that is what you want. A good contractor will either
   • Refer you to another contractor who can work on the design you want.
   • Or factor in your preferences and sketch a design that you want.
6. Training and certification
   Certified landscape contractors are the best because you can rely on them to do a good job. To get the best landscaping services, hire a professional contractor who has the necessary skills and equipment to accomplish the task.