Landscape Design Tips: Factors to Consider When Aiming for a Low-Maintenance Landscape in Bernardsville, NJ
When you think about refreshing your Bernardsville, NJ, landscape, consider the merits of low-maintenance, native plants that add all the gorgeous beauty without the need for constant watering. Here are some factors to consider when choosing an easier care outdoor space.
Look to Sustainable Landscaping
When you want to have a swoon-worthy property, sustainable practices can fill that need. Many homeowners love a native landscape for its eye-catching beauty and year-round appeal. Here are some approaches to a landscape that will result in a reduced need for upkeep:
Less grass: The truth about grass is that while it is beautiful, it also requires precise care to thrive and stay lush. Your landscape contractor can help you keep your grass but allocate it to strategic spots amid your hardscape features.
Creative approaches to mulch: While many homeowners love mulch, replacing mulch with small, round river pebbles can be even more attractive when the light colored pebbles contrast with the bold green coloring of the shrubs and flowers. Once the river rock is in place, there is no need to do anything else since it does not decompose and stays in place to hold in moisture for the plants.
Large natural stone: Oversized natural stone can give you a big bang for the landscape and act as a focal point in a landscape bed. When your landscape professionals group several stone slabs together, it can have a real impact on the visual appearance of your beds and other areas.
Native plants that require less water: Many native plants have bold green leaves that stay that way all year, and many have colorful berries that lend color in a winter landscape. The flowers may include multiple colors, and when bordered by ornamental grass, the overall look of your native planting choices can be breathtaking.
Herbs as optimal sustainable plantings: Growing herbs in the landscape beds and in a nearby garden can give fresh taste to your dishes, and they can also look pretty as part of freeform bouquets.
Groundcover instead of grass in some areas: Try having your landscaper use ground cover instead of grass for interesting spaces like under a shady tree. With groundcovers, you get the green of the plants and tiny flowers that draw the eye and invite you to investigate.
A rock garden: Your landscape specialist can create an entire garden space with rock where flowers and plants spill over the edges for a showpiece that returns year after year. Best of all, you can keep adding to the rock garden for a different mix each blooming and growing season.
An expanded hardscape: When your landscaper adds a fire feature or a water feature to your backyard, not only does this cut down on the number of plants you need but it gives you a spot to relax after a long day. A fire pit can be nestled in a corner of the yard where you access it by a pea gravel pathway from the patio. You can meander there and take your time admiring all the sustainable beauty along the way, and find delight in the warmth of the fire no matter the season.