Most Japanese gardens require little maintenance because the components that are used are things like gravel, pebbles, stones, wood, water and occasional, carefully-chosen and well-positioned shrubs or small trees.

The Garden Design
It is important to create a sense of tranquillity and if possible provide areas for contemplation in the garden. The design should be kept quite simple and uncluttered, focusing on outline, shape and contrasting textures, the use of plants is restrained, resulting in a garden that satisfies the senses but requires minimum aftercare or maintenance.

Creating Focal Points
Features like rocks and stones have an important role in many Japanese gardens. They can be set in an area covered with fine pebbles, which are an ideal labour-saving ground cover. When wet, they change colour and catch the light beautifully.

Pick some special stones of varying size, colour and character, and arrange asymmetrically in one or two areas in uneven numbers. Traditionally, the pebbles are raked into variations of parallel lines and snaking spirals centralised on the main rock features. Gravel can be substituted for pebbles as a cheaper option. You can inset a walkway of large paving slabs or sawn tree-trunk pieces in the gravel.

Minimalist Planting Methods
In an authentic Japanese stone garden, the only plants might be mounds of green moss providing a softening contrast with the stones and rocks, but other types of Japanese-inspired garden include a few more plants, chosen for their interesting form or grace. These can be planted in between the pebbles or in large containers. Mosses thrive in moist conditions out of direct sun, but if they cannot be encouraged to grow, try moss like plants as an alternative, such as Sagina Subulata, S. Procumbens, or, in mild areas, the ground-hugging carpeter Soleirolia Soleirii.

Water Feature
Water, the essence of life, should always be present in a real Japanese garden, normally it would be fresh running water, but for the low maintenance approach even a simple bowl filled with water would be calming in a garden and offers birds the opportunity to drink. A bubble fountain washing over pebbles or a running stream effect would be an ideal feature.

Traditional Japanese Ornaments
In far eastern philosophy, the traditional garden features have their own significance within the strict rules and special meanings of the garden design. Bamboo wind chimes create soothing sounds, while a rounded lantern and a linear bridge are pretty, and useful for introducing contrasting shapes. You could introduce different ornaments to suit your own taste and garden size.

Try some of the low maintenance tips above and see if you can create your own slice of Japan, but without giving up your free time!

Andrew Lawrence
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/create-a-low-maintenance-japanese-garden-86791.html

Technorati Tags: Essence Of Life, Feature Water, Green Moss, Ground Cover, Japanese Garden, Japanese Gardens, Japanese Stone Garden, Large Paving Slabs, Low Maintenance, Mild Areas, Moist Conditions, Outline Shape, Parallel Lines, Pebbles Stones, Rock Features, Rocks And Stones, Sagina Subulata, Uneven Numbers, Wate, Water Feature

Tips for good garden design and landscaping

Good creative skills are essential for the specialised fields of garden design and landscaping. Consequently, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and be able to apply acquired skills in a theoretical and practical manner. Lifestyle Learning Direct, one of the Gold Coast’s premier online learning and correspondence course providers, suggests that in order to be a good garden designer or landscaper you need to be able to:

Evaluate a design project, have a clear understanding of a designer’s role, and be able to conduct a meeting with a client.

Be knowledgeable about the historical influences on modern garden design.

Be able to identify the various ‘hard’ components of landscaping and design, such as garden structures and walls, fences and gates.

Have a good general knowledge about soils and plants, and other landscaping products such as compost, gravel, sleepers, pavers, cement, sand, rock and slate, and so on.

Be familiar with the pricing structure of various landscaping supplies.

Have had practical experience in several areas of landscape design and its allied industries, such as nurseries and landscaping supply yards.

Have an awareness of different styles of gardens, as well as lighting and water features and the various types of surfacing materials available for use in garden design.

Be knowledgeable about earthworks involved in landscaping and design.

Have a broad knowledge on the basics of starting a business, business plans, market analysis and ongoing management.

How can you become a better Garden Designer and Landscaper?

To gain professional garden design and landscaping proficiency, it is best to undertake a specialised course that teaches you the essential skills. Lifestyle Learning Direct. is a leader in the provision of writing distance education courses that aim to give students a broad understanding of the industry competency regarding both the theoretical and practical application of this knowledge.

Apart from understanding the application of good garden design ideas and landscaping elements and principles, you need to be conversant with other necessary components such as earthworks, marking out and job costing, as well as basic drawing skills and client/designer communication. As a result, you should develop the ability to apply this knowledge in a broad variety of situations, as well as recognise and correct all manner of design errors.

If you dream of being your own boss, as well as the theory of garden design and landscaping you also need to know the practical aspects of how to set up in business.

For more information in relation to fashion design and dressmaking, please contact Lifestyle Learning Direct.

Robyn Lee Burrows
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/lifestyle-learning-directs-garden-design-and-landscaping-tips-and-tricks-95459.html

Technorati Tags: Allied Industries, Correspondence Course, Course Providers, Creative Skills, Distance Education Courses, Earthworks, Fences And Gates, Garden Structures, General Knowledge, Industry Co, landscape design, Landscaping Products, Landscaping Supplies, Landscaping Supply, Landscaping Tips, Ongoing Management, Pavers, Sand Rock, Specialised Course, Specialised Fields

Integrating stone into your landscape design can add depth, texture, seating and even a sculptural element to your garden. Stone has other important functional qualities as well, such as, strength and stability. Stones give a sense of permanence to a garden. As a landscape design element, stones are unlike plants in that they possess wonderful sculptural characteristics. When designing your landscape, consider the use of stone for walls, paths or just as aesthetically pleasing accents within the garden.

Stones are the most sturdy of all garden materials. They’re ideal for creating paths, terraces, accents and garden walls. They’re also useful in the water garden where they can edge a pool or be incorporated into a waterfall design.

Stones found locally in the native landscape will generally work best in your garden. Large stones, which are great for creating focal points in the landscape, should be set in the ground so they’re perceived as though they’re part of the natural landscape. Simply dig a hole about the width of the stone, set the stone and backfill around its base. This will make them seem as if they belong in the garden as they blend in with the surrounding landscape.

Large boulders placed along paths or adjacent to patios are wonderful way too add provide seating in the garden. Stones used in such a way should be set in the ground to ensure stability. Though everyone is different, as a rule of thumb, a comfortable height at which to sit is 18 inches.

Stones in the garden become more prominent during the winter. After the leaves have fallen from the garden plants, ivy covered stone walls become a focal point and provide a garden with structure.

There are many kinds of stones to choose from. The following is a small list and their descriptions.

Large boulders can be used for marking a driveway or for the entryway to a garden. They can also be used as a focal point in the rock garden or water garden. Stone with interesting color, textures or shape are great for specimen stones.

Fieldstone is ideal for garden walls and stepping stones and garden paths. Fieldstone is effective when used as stepping stones through a perennials garden.

Bluestone is wonderful for formal patios and paths. Bluestone is cut to various size squares and rectangles which can be arranged in any combination. The color and texture can vary from stone to stone.

Cobblestones are perfect for edging gardens or for small, informal patios and paths. They’re not, however, suitable for large patios since cobbles have an uneven surface and setting a table level is difficult.

Flagstone is suitable for walks and patios Its irregularly shaped, thin, smooth and available in various colors and sizes.

Look around for stones in the landscape to see which type will work best in your garden. If you can’t find one which suits your needs, most garden centers and nurseries sell garden stone. Stone is extremely durable and when incorporated in your garden design stones will provide your garden with a lifetime of year-round interest.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-use-stone-in-the-garden-94033.html

Technorati Tags: Backfill, Boulders, Color Textures, Entryway, Focal Point, Functional Qualities, Garden Materials, Garden Plants, Garden Stones, Garden Walls, Landscape Design Element, Native Landscape, Natural Landscape, Permanence, Rule Of Thumb, Sculptural Element, Stone Walls, Water Garden, Waterfall Design, Wonderful Way

What makes a garden look good? Generally, you want shrubs and trees, plus grass to soften the hard, angular lines of your house and lot. Some people eliminate grass altogether and use a patio surrounded by beds. However, a flat sea of green grass add contrast for your shrub beds. Grass is also good if you have kids. Cool grass on the sole of a bare foot in summer is a much savored treat.

A few very tall things are essential to put your house in scale, or set it off, especially if it’s a tall or big house. But you don’t want so many tall things that they block all the light. A tall tree takes up a lot of space but it adds the element of ‘grandeur.’ A big tree goes on the south or west side to protect you from the blazing hot sun. It also adds habitat for kids and songbirds.

Carve out your beds in gentle sweeps around the outside perimeter. Make them three times as big as you think you need them. The amount of grass you need is really quite small, maybe enough for six chairs and a picnic table or perhaps three beach towels. A 50/50 ratio of lawn to beds is recommended. If you are lucky enough to have a lot of land, you may wish to break it up into ‘rooms’ with shrub bed peninsulas or fences, the path winding from one ‘room’ to another. These rooms are not square, they are just spaces that are separated, more or less.

One of the most pleasurable gardening experiences is that of mystery, as when you catch a glimpse of more garden around a corner or through a gate. To acquire this inviting air of mystery to your house, plant up the outside corners with your tallest trees and shrubs and have them descend to the entry to the street. This will mean that your landscape cups your house like an open hand. The broad openings, however, will invite you in and let in light.

Another good thing to incorporate in your yard is having a truck access. At some point or another you will need to get a big couch to the back door or a cement truck or 6 yards of mulch. Even if this is a giant gate in your fence, which you open once in six years, be sure you have it. If the access is not big enough for a truck, then make it at least wide enough for a wheelbarrow. Having a hidden utility area is also a very good idea.

If your house is up a steep hill, you will want to build a rockery, which you can make special with good plant choices and stepped back rocks that leave you places to plant. If your whole area slopes steeply, you should seriously consider terracing, or rock or wall reinforcements. When landscape architects tell you the ground-cover will spread and hold the bank, they lie. All landscaping needs maintenance, or else the weeds will invade and prosper until you have a blackberry patch. And if it is too steep for you to walk on, this is what will happen. Also erosion occurs with undeniable regularity on steep slopes.

Keep in mind that gravity always wins. Having steep slopes means that the summer irrigation water runs off before it sinks into the soil. Steep slopes mean that all that expensive mulch that you spread to keep the weeds down will migrate down to the bottom in about a year, leaving bare spots above and a useless thick pile at the bottom. Invest the time and money to fix your steep grades now before starting your garden.

Paul P. Duxbury
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/what-makes-for-a-beautiful-garden-86834.html

Technorati Tags: Angular Lines, Back Door, Beach Towels, Beautiful Garden, Big House, Cement Truck, Fences, Grandeur, Green Grass, Hot Sun, House Plant, mulch, Peninsulas, Perimeter, Picnic Table, Shrub Beds, Shrubs And Trees, Six Chairs, Trees And Shrubs, West Side

Few homes stir the typical notion of lush gardens that an English cottage house plan can invoke. English cottage house plans bring to mind storybook fantasies of roses covering a trellis and climbing on thatched roofs. However, thatched roofs aren’t practical or allowed construction material in many places. But for those who think the best part of the home is the garden, an English cottage house could be a dream home.

Beautiful English cottage house plans cry out for well designed landscaping plans that match the cottage feel you are trying to attain. Custom gardens designed by a professional landscaper will complete the English cottage charm. Professional landscaping plans will assure you that the garden plants are well suited to the climate and housing style. However, cost may be a stumbling block as landscapers tend to be quite expensive.

Pre-designed garden plans can be adjusted for your property and this type of approach is more affordable. The downside is that pre-designed garden plans won’t give you the customized look you are seeking. But, if gardening is a beloved hobby for you, then consider designing custom garden plans yourself to match your English cottage house plans. Designing your own custom garden plan would be a time consuming task, but no one else would have a garden like yours.

Begin with an aerial drawing the property. Use the house placement as your starting point. Gardening magazines and books can give you lots of ideas. Study garden themes such as rock gardens, herb gardens and shade gardens. You can also research design principles such as symmetry, color and height coordination.

When all is said and done, the choice is still up to you. Build your English garden to match your English cottage house plans the way you see it in your mind and the result will be perfect as long as you like what you see.

Rebecca Welch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/the-garden-is-the-heart-of-english-cottage-house-plans-139007.html

Technorati Tags: Beloved Hobby, Construction Material, Custom Gardens, Design Principles, Downside, Garden Plants, Garden Themes, Herb Gardens, House Plan, Landscapers, Landscaping Plans, Lush Gardens, Professional Landscaper, Rock Gardens, Shade Gardens, Storybook Fantasies, Stumbling Block, Thatched Roofs, Time Consuming Task, Trellis

The style of garden generally referred to as a “Japanese Garden” is a garden based on the traditional Japanese style gardens of ancient Japan. Tracing its origins back to the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Japanese gardens can now be found in many backyards, public parks, schools and retreats around the world. The most common style of garden found around the world as well as in Japan is the famous dry or rock gardens which are gardens that contain very little in the way of vegetation traditionally called Karesansui.

The tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony and the beliefs of tea masters have encouraged the creation of Japanese gardens of a completely different style. The tea masters have a trademark styles that evokes of a sense of rural simplicity as well as tranquility and consolidation.

One thing that is common throughout all Japanese gardens is the presence of water containing an island with a bridge to it, a stone lantern and a teahouse or sitting pavilion. The elements aren’t necessarily real they can be of a symbolic nature. Gardens can also be designed for several viewing styles including from a boat, porch or veranda and for walking through and exploring.

A famous style of garden that most people may be familiar with is the karesansui or “dry landscape garden. This garden originates from the Zen temples of Japan, most recognizable for their lack of water and few plants. The feeling of water is achieved through the use of pebbles and raked gravel instead of water. Perhaps the most famous example of a karesansui garden is the Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto.

Plants in Japanese gardens consist mostly of bamboos and evergreens such as Black Pine and the famous bright leaved deciduous Maples trees. In cooler climates ferns and mosses can be used as ground covers and thrive in the moist conditions.

Ideally a Japanese garden should provide the visitor with a wholesome environment that allows them to see beauty, relax and find inspiration. One of the greatest cultural practices to make itself into the western world the Japanese garden is truly a thing of beauty.

Andrew Patterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/rules-and-traditions-of-a-japanese-garden-140302.html

Today’s successful water garden usually is designed as an ecosystem that uses a balance between fish, plants and bacteria keeping the water clear. The type of pond I’m talking about is self-contained (not fed by a spring or stream) and between 100-900 sq ft; a backyard water garden that is easy to maintain and adds value to your lifestyle and property. 20 years ago the typical do-it-yourself water garden was a muck-filled cesspool waiting to happen, while the successful koi pond required deep water and unattractive out of the pond filtering equipment. Thanks to a better understanding of the pond ecosystem and some equipment ideas borrowed from the pool equipment industry, anyone with the ability to dig, make things level, and move rocks and dirt around can create a beautiful living water garden if they use proven equipment and methods.

Now I will admit that there are other ways that can work; But none of the other pond construction methods have the successful track record I’ve seen with pond installs using this system.

The basic elements for this system are underlayment, liner, rocks and gravel, skimmer, fill valve, pump, plumbing, biological filtration, plants, fish, and bacteria.

Here’s a simplified explanation of how this works as an ecosystem. Fish eat insects and plants and then the fish waste spreads through the system . The skimmer draws water off the top layer of the pond helping with circulation and aeration while trapping floating debris in a net. The pump is situated under the net in the skimmer and pumps up to a bio-filter. The bio-filter is often designed to be incorporated into a waterfall. The water enters the bio filter and rises up through filter media that is colonized by bacteria. The bacteria converts the waste into forms less harmful to the fish and less conducive to excessive algae growth. The waterfall or stream add more aeration that the bacteria and fish need. The plants uptake more of the nitrogen and some oxygenate the water. The rocks and gravel provide more area for bacteria and protect the liner from UV rays.

Sheesh! Every time I set out to give a simple explanation of a pond ecosystem it still takes 10 sentences. Suffice it to say that all the parts work together to make your pondkeeping easy!

I use the word easy as a relative term. Compared to the work and rebuilding you may experience with other methods this is the easiest way I know. But there is still a good deal of work in pond construction. Obviously you need to dig and shape a hole in the ground and move some heavy items around. A well trained crew with everything needed on-site can install a pond in a day. It may take a few weekends for a homeowner to do the job himself, depending on their ability, time, and conditions.

Some key points:

Size: It’s best to have it at least 6 ft across. Bigger is better. 16 x 11 is a good medium size. Generally people regret not making the pond larger when they are done with their first one.

Location: There is a tendency to put ponds in a place where water already collects in the yard. This isn’t always the best idea. Groundwater running into the pond can create problems. If possible bring it right up near the patio where you can enjoy the fish and flowing water everyday.

Electric and plumbing: Don’t overlook the need for a GFI outlet near the pump and a water source to keep the pond topped off. Most kits for some reason don’t include a fill valve, but it really is important since on a windy day a pond can easily lose an inch of water. Left unattended this can lead to the pump running dry in the skimmer for a long period causing possible damage. The ponds level of course won’t drop below the skimmer opening.

Lets go over the basic steps for installing this type of pond system.

Decide the size of the pond and order a kit with all the necessary components. Layout the shape of the pond with something like a garden hose. Leave it out there for a while, move it, think about where the falls and different plants will be. If you are building a stream do the layout for it too. Level ground isn’t a problem since you will be excavating enough soil to buildup around your waterfall filter. Paint an outline with orange marking spray paint.

Make arrangements for getting the variety of rock and gravel you will be using.

Position your skimmer and BioFilter. The skimmer should be on the opposite side from the falls or stream to create circulation. Then lay the flexible PVC, or kink-free pipe between the skimmer and waterfall filter. This is so it can be covered during excavation instead of trenching it in.

Establish a firm compacted and level base for the Waterfall filter, perhaps leaning slightly forward, depending on it’s design. If you have help they can be working on digging the pond while you get this right, or vice versa.

Hook up the plumbing to the filter and backfill around it. It’s a good idea to have someone stand in the filter while it is being backfilled to prevent it from shifting out of position on the base.

Examine any slope of the land and establish where the water level will be; usually a couple inches below grade. Finish digging the pond relative to the water level. A rotating laser level is the ultimate tool for this, though they are expensive to rent. Patiently checking string levels in all directions can get the job done also. Include shelves for marginal plants and keep the sides and shelves level. The deep part of the pond should be around 2 ft or a little less. Any deeper and most towns swimming pool codes kick in with fence requirements. Unless you intend to keep a great number of koi this will be plenty deep for your fish. Planting pockets for water lilies can also be dug now. These pockets create a plantable depression in you liner for later. You can either plant directly in these pockets or hide your planters in them covering with gravel creating a more natural looking pond.

Excavate the position for the skimmer so it will be on a firm level base that gets it into correct position relative to the water level. Recheck everything. All the measurements and levels. Make sure the pond is free of sharp objects and unfold the underlayment into it. Start in the deep area pushing the underlayment into all the shelves and pockets. The EPDM rubber liner is then installed in the same way, making sure that it extends far past the waterline (settling will occur) and above the openings on your skimmer, filter, stream etc.

Add rock and gravel. Pre-washing the stones can help with a clean install or you can hose them down in the pond while pumping out the dirty water. Use larger stones at the base of each wall that forms a shelf, building up with smaller ones. Cover flat areas with 1″-2″ gravel…absolutely no more than that. If you have extra gravel don’t be tempted to just use more in the bottom of your pond. This is for biological reasons I won’t go into now. The rock should have your liner pretty well pulled into position now so you can make final adjustments on your skimmer and attach the liner to it according to the manufacturers instructions.

Start filling the pond. Now the fun of building the waterfall and stream. Make sure you have plenty of slack running up to the falls opening before you attach it and make any cuts. Also take care to avoid folds in the liner as you twist downstream. Folds in the stream liner are a common source of leaks and why a very wide liner for a stream is recommended. Dry stack stones as in a wall up the front of the waterfall filter. Using black waterfall foam or some other type of expanding foam to seal the space between the rocks. This makes the water flow over the rocks instead of disappearing into the cracks between. Black waterfall foam is nice for blending in with the rocks. The basic outline of the stream should have been established with excavated soil from the pond, but some digging of different catch pools may be necessary and you may need to build up more of a berm at the waterfall. Rock in the sides of the stream and cover the bottom with gravel as in the pond. Use the waterfall foam to seal in rocks wherever a cascading effect is wanted, using flat rock to form the lip of falls and sealing under them.

Install the pump, install the overflow plumbing and fill valve in the skimmer. When water level is high enough and all the waterfall foam is dry, (you can assume your hands will be covered with the stuff, but try to avoid it because it is very difficult to clean off!) try out the pump. You will then need to refill the pond as it will take a large volume of water to fill the plumbing, falls and stream. Once you are happy everything is as it should be, cut the excess liner away. Leave several inches of liner for settling and possible adjustments.

There are plenty more nuances to building a pond but this should give you a decent feel for what a water garden project entails. The kits we sell include a decent installation manual and I’m happy to answer any questions as are many other pond enthusiasts.

Lee Goins
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/easy-pond-and-water-garden-construction-94611.html

A Japanese Garden is full of mystery, nature and serenity. Just as landscape gardens of the West followed historic points of reference such as Classical Garden Design, Traditional Garden Design, English Garden Design on up threw Modern Garden Design, the Japanese garden tradition has a history that followed the trends and lifestyles of their location and times. It would be very pretentious to copy directly a Japanese Garden for Houston, although there was actually a style of Japanese Garden Design that did just that. We will highlight how you could build and apply the Japanese or Zen Garden style to your own home in Houston Texas.

Japanese Garden History

? Asuka period (538-710)-gardens were an expression of Buddhism and Taoism. Small gardens were reflections of spiritual themes or miniaturizations of the large mountainous regions of China and Japan.

? Heian period (794-1185)-the garden shifted from representing religious beliefs to becoming a place for ceremony, entertainment and passive contemplation. These became gardens for the wealthy of the time.

? Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1185-1573) this was the period of shogun rulers who enjoyed gardens for their beauty and revitalization. Zen beliefs were also flourishing at this time and had great influences over garden techniques and purposes. The dry landscape style from Zen Buddhism became popular.

? Edo period (1603-1868) continued the style and preferences of shogun rulers and the Japanese tea ceremony became a vital part of the Japanese lifestyle reflected in the construction of tea houses built especially for this occasion.

? Meiji period followed Japanese modernization. Many famous and traditional gardens from the past were renovated or reconstructed by wealthy business owners and politicians of the time.

Japanese Garden Features

Deep philosophical and spiritual interpretations and nuances were intertwined with Japanese Garden design but we can view overall meanings and structures to understand, interpret and bring Japanese Garden design into the modern day context for our own beauty, enjoyment and renewal. Japanese gardens create themes and are extensions of the architecture of the home. They are designed with very specific view points so that subconsciously universal, spiritual, or passive themes could be experienced. Common themes from the garden include:

? Water-either as fountains, streams, ponds, lakes or interpretations in stone

? Rocks-used as representations placed upright to suggest mountains, character or spiritual themes and add a grounding element

? A lantern-typically of stone.

? A teahouse-or pavilion for renewal

? An enclosure such as a hedge, fence, or wall reflecting elements of the homes architecture or simply wood, bamboo, or other matting.

? A bridge to an island either with stepping stones or a wood bridge

Japanese Garden Design and Materials

The first decision to be made in designing a Japanese Garden is to decide what “themes” will run throughout the garden. There may be combinations of paths that create a journey through a winding path were there are seating areas for quite contemplation, meditation or entertainment. Artistic focal points of rock may be used to enlighten and excite the spirit of the observer. Paths, bridges, and walkways create diverse experiences. As an overall design intention, remember you are miniaturizing the cosmos in a naturalistic way.

Stone-use to represent water such as a dry creek beds, ponds or a beach entry. Here various round river rocks could be used from plain brown rock special to Mexican beach pebble black or white specialty rocks. Boulders can be used in upright positions to represent mountains or be submerged to create more natural stone ledges or flat plateaus. Be careful with being to literal-stones and boulders still need to be positioned in a natural way so when viewed the composition looks natural.

Structures-such as an entertainment pavilion for private or public use. This could be a deck or platform made of wood, metal or stone. Ordinary outdoor furniture for entertainment or a meditative experience could be achieved using low benches or stone benches and simple outdoor sculptures or stones for viewing. Although borrowing from the tea ceremony experience this could be a place to enjoy wine and foods while creating a contemplative or renewing experience for the eye.

Fences-Rather than a typical fence of cedar pickets, wood, or brick and wood which simply serve to provide security a fence could vary in materials, detailing and heights. For example, pickets could be installed as panels between posts with a detail strip and cap pieces could be pyramidal or circular reflecting garden scenes. A solid brick fence could create interest and repetition by adding equally spaced metal lattice panels.

Plants-In the Japanese garden, plants are used not only for recreating nature, echoing larger themes or nature but can also serve as focal points. Focal point plants that work well in the Houston climate include:

? Japanese Maple (and their various varieties)-do best in shade to protect their leaves
? Bamboo-provide focal points and beautiful screens
? Groundcovers-Monkey grass, Dwarf Monkey grass, Creeping Jenny

Jeff Halper
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/japanese-garden-design-680074.html

Good creative skills are essential for the specialised fields of garden design and landscaping. Consequently, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and be able to apply acquired skills in a theoretical and practical manner. Lifestyle Learning Direct., one of the Gold Coast’s premier online learning and correspondence course providers, suggests that in order to be a good garden designer or landscaper you need to be able to:

1. Evaluate a design project, have a clear understanding of a designer’s role, and be able to conduct a meeting with a client.

2. Be knowledgeable about the historical influences on modern garden design.

3. Be able to identify the various ‘hard’ components of landscaping and design, such as garden structures and walls, fences and gates.

4. Have a good general knowledge about soils and plants, and other landscaping products such as compost, gravel, sleepers, pavers, cement, sand, rock and slate, and so on.

5. Be familiar with the pricing structure of various landscaping supplies.

6. Have had practical experience in several areas of landscape design and its allied industries, such as nurseries and landscaping supply yards.

7. Have an awareness of different styles of gardens, as well as lighting and water features and the various types of surfacing materials available for use in garden design.

8. Be knowledgeable about earthworks involved in landscaping and garden design.

9. Have a broad knowledge on the basics of starting a business, business plans, market analysis and ongoing management.

How can you become a better Garden Designer and Landscaper?

To gain professional garden design and landscaping proficiency, it is best to undertake a specialised course that teaches you the essential skills. Lifestyle Learning Direct. is a leader in the provision of writing distance education courses that aim to give students a broad understanding of the industry competency regarding both the theoretical and practical application of this knowledge.

Apart from understanding the application of good garden design ideas and landscaping elements and principles, you need to be conversant with other necessary components such as earthworks, marking out and job costing, as well as basic drawing skills and client/designer communication. As a result, you should develop the ability to apply this knowledge in a broad variety of situations, as well as recognise and correct all manner of design errors.

If you dream of being your own boss, as well as the theory of garden design and landscaping you also need to know the practical aspects of how to set up in business.

For more information in relation to garden design and landscaping, please contact Lifestyle Learning Direct.

Robyn Lee Burrows
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/tips-for-good-garden-design-and-landscaping-105866.html

Landscaping a garden is one way of designing the house. It is an enjoyable way of making the exterior part of the house look beautiful. However, problems may arise in maintaining the landscaped garden.

The following are effective solutions that will help maintain a landscaped garden and provide solutions to problem areas:

1.    If the garden is too rocky, the rocks may be used as a design that will create a beautiful rock garden. Putting the excess rocks together to create a slope will add a natural look in the garden. The slope that was formed with the rocks will keep the garden from looking flat and unattractive

2.    If the problem is too much sunlight in the garden that causes drought, a solution for is to use plants that are low maintenance and can be planted even in direct sunlight. The plants will survive even when there is less water or too much sunlight.

3.    Another maintenance solution if the place has too much sunlight is to plant shade trees at the corners of the garden. This will keep sensitive plants away from direct sunlight and will help keep the soil moist. Regular watering should be continued if needed. 

4.    Sometimes the garden becomes too shady which causes difficulty in growing certain plants. The solution for this is to choose plants that can survive even in the shade.

5.    If there are weeds or unwanted plants growing in the garden, they should be pulled. You must pull the weed and its roots to prevent the weed from growing back. Trimming and cutting the weeds will only give temporary results. It is best to pull everything out to prevent the return of the problem.

These are just common solutions to some problems encountered in maintaining a landscaped garden. To keep the maintenance an easy job, it is recommended that you tend the garden regularly. This will prevent small problems from getting bigger and more difficult to handle. If the landscaped garden is well maintained, the plants and trees will last a long time and will save money as you will not have to buy new plants or accessories.

Joey Simmons
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