3 Reasons to Add Islands to Your Landscaping Mix

Islands are a fast, easy way to add that extra touch to your lawn. And they're not only decorative, but have practical value as well. Here are a few reasons why you should consider creating islands in your landscape design.

1. An Island is a distinctive element that adds visual interest.
Islands break up the monotony of an endless green plain that most lawns entail. They create focal points that give the eye something to hone in on, and make your yard a more interesting subject to look at.

2. An Island provides a place to add color to your yard.
An island is the perfect backdrop for planting beds of colorful flowers, or other bright, attention-getting plants, in an arrangement that is more intriguing than simply planting a bed on the border of your yard, or up against the house, so your yard looks more like a natural feature of the land, and not quite so contrived.

3. You don't mow an island
Simply put, creating islands reduces the amount of lawn you have to maintain. You can just as easily choose not to plant flowers, and simply fill the island with stone, bark or mulch, and you won't even need to water the area, much less mow, fertilize or otherwise care for it.

A River Runs Through It: Increasing the Value and Enjoyment of Your Home With a Custom Water Feature

There is one thing you can do right now that will turn even the most well-manicured lawn into a unique, eye-catching masterpiece: install a water feature, such as a pond or waterfall. Here are a few reasons to consider it.

Character
There just aren't that many homes out there with their own waterfalls, ponds or private streams running through them. If you were to try and sell your home, especially in today's market, you need every advantage you can get, and a water feature is a great way to ensure your home makes a lasting impression.

Water Conservation
Aside from the water it takes to fill it initially, a custom water feature is entirely self-contained, requiring no outside water source. A filtration pump recycles the same water over and over, so that the water runs freely, even under the tightest water restrictions.

Aesthetics & Natural beauty
A well-installed waterfall or pond blends in seamlessly with the rest of your landscaping, and looks like a natural part of the surroundings even under close scrutiny. Plus, the sound of bubbling water makes for a relaxing soundtrack to time spent in the yard.

Less yard to maintain.
And speaking of spending time in the yard, the more area dedicated to the water feature, the less lawn there is to take care of. To really take advantage of this, you can increase the square footage occupied by creating beds of natural looking foliage to enhance the natural feel of the water feature (and reduce the amount of grass you need to cut, water and fertilize).

There are many benefits to including a pond or waterfall in your landscaping plan---or even installing one after the fact. From creating a serene environment for your own enjoyment to increasing the value of your home, it's an investment that will enhance your home several times over.

Eat Your Heart Out: The benefits of your own home garden

A well-landscaped yard can increase the value of your home and be a source of pride to homeowners. But your yard's value doesn't have to be strictly ornamental. You can put it to work to help make a happier, healthier family, and save you some money at the same time, with a well-tended garden.

Gardening has many benefits, not the least of which is free food. As gas prices rise, so do the prices of fresh produce at the supermarket. Having your own fruit, vegetables and herbs right in your own back yard is not only convenient, but can end up saving you a lot of money.

Gardening also has another benefit in composting. Composting lets you make use of grass clippings, food waste & leftovers and even the remnants of last year's garden to create your own nutrient-rich fertilizer.

And, of course, whatever square footage is designated for your garden is square footage you don't have to mow. And the maintenance you do have to do, like watering and weeding, more than pays for itself come harvest time.

Finally, there are the health considerations. Nutritious, healthy food, being the first and foremost. You know where it comes from and what, if any, chemicals are used on it. Many people swear food from their own gardens tastes better, possibly because it doesn't come from land that had been over-farmed and depleted of nutrients.

And the act of gardening itself has been shown to have both strength-training and endurance building exercise benefits. Digging, squatting, walking, carrying...gardening is very much an active process.

So the next time you look at your yard, maybe start thinking about the best place for YOUR garden, and how you can put your yard to work for you.