Innovative landscaping creates carefree retreat or outdoor entertainment centre

Landscaping trends for 2013 continue to focus on the urban yard as an outdoor extension of the home and home office, with a heightened regard for the environment. The use of sustainable design elements and drought-tolerant vegetation can create an eco-system that is visually stunning and serves equally well as a personal retreat or a place to entertain family and friends.

Preferences are turning to smaller lawn areas and plant groupings combined with multiple levels of living space such as a patio, raised deck and gardens, and perhaps a water feature, creating several micro climates tailored to make the best use of available sunlight, shade and wind patterns.

As more families get ‘ back to basics’ they are turning to compost bins for recycling organic house and yard waste, and using rain barrels to catch and conserve untreated water. Rain barrels fitted with tight covers will collect water from eavestrough but prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the standing water. Several barrels can be connected to maximize storage capacity.

Smaller lawns require less mowing and can be easily managed with today’s new line of almost effortless reel mowers, eliminating the sound and carbon footprint of an electric or gas mower. Reel mowers leave grass clippings on the lawn, where they are of most value as moisture- conser ving mulch, or collect them in an attached bag for composting.

Gaining in popularity with those who want to avoid mowing altogether is the new artificial lawn, made by several manufacturers to suit a variety of usage requirements, with a look and feel of real grass and absolutely no watering or weed control required.

The use of deciduous trees on the south side of the dwelling can provide enough shade in summer to reduce the need for air conditioning, and water elements such as a pond or fountain can moderate the temperature of the yard while charm.

Native trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses selected for their colour, texture, hardiness and blooming times, as well as their appeal for birds and butterflies, can ensure a low-maintenance environment that provides an inviting and unique setting.

In vegetable gardens, heirloom varieties are earning accolades from health-conscious growers who want to avoid genetically modified plants and experience a taste of heritage with the incredible varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs enjoyed by past generations.

Raised garden beds offer a more comfortable working height for children or those with physical challenges, or can be used to add visual diversity to elevations in the yard.

Solar powered or LED lighting can provide safety, colour and drama at night while reducing or eliminating the need to consume electricity.

Today’s landscape makes use of boulders or logs for focal areas and natural seating, arbors,

offering

visual pergolas or gazebos that lead to intimate sitting or reading areas, foliage that brings shady spaces alive with colours and textures, ornamental grasses that flow, flowers that captivate and inviting scents that progress throughout the day as different blossoms open.

Think of the yard or garden as an extension of the home or home office, a peaceful haven, an outdoor entertainment centre, and even a perfect vacation retreat with all the comforts of home.

A resource list of heirloom seed producers can be found at Seeds of Diversity Canada by emailing mail@seeds.ca or visiting http://www.seeds.ca/rl/rl. php.

Innovative new landscaping products Stompstone Pavers by Multy Home

Multy Home’s Canadianmade Stompstone Pavers make use of up to 98 per cent recycled materials, including recycled tires and plastics, to produce lightweight, durable selfcoloured patio stones, stepping stones or driveway edgers in four natural stone shades that can be stomped into place for easy installation.

Stompstones measure 30 centimetres square (12” x 12”) and can be cut to fit using a jigsaw, mitre saw or hacksaw. The pavers can be power washed and are resistant to UV damage, scratches, mold and moss.

Weighing less than one kilogram (2 lbs.) each, Stompstones can be installed in seconds over grass, earth, sand or fine gravel that is at least 5 cm (2 in.) in depth, and the pavers are self-leveling. They can also be removed easily and re-installed as landscaping needs change.

Multy Home’s products have a low carbon footprint and are manufactured in Ontario. Stompstone Pavers are available at Co-op.

Yardscape Modular Garden

Water features and statuary can play a strategic role in elevating garden sights and sounds from ordinary to inspiring.

Box kits by Plastival

Plastival makes raised bed gardening easy with their modular garden box kits available with 24” or 48” sides that snap to square posts for assembly, with no tools required. Simply fill the box with the appropriate growing medium and enjoy maintenance-free garden boxes.

Yardscapes Modular Garden Box kits are available at Co-op.

Easy EcoGrass by Westland Ltd.

This real-looking, environmentally friendly and easy to install artificial lawn comes in one metre by three metre rolls. Installation requires 3” galvanized nails to secure the lawn and an outdoor adhesive for seaming. The turf must be installed over level ground that is free of debris, grass and weeds.

Easy EcoGrass is recommended for residential use in dog runs, side yards, shaded gardens, play areas, as rock garden accents, and for complete low-maintenance lawns. When installed according to instructions, Easy EcoGrass will suppress weed growth while providing an exceptionally real looking lawn.

Easy EcoGrass is available at Co-op, Home Hardware and Peavey Mart.