A well-designed landscape should reflect your family’s aesthetic preferences and lifestyle. It should also promote environmental stewardship.

Unity is created by linking elements and features to create a consistent character in the composition. This is often achieved with a theme or design style. Contact Davidson Landscaping now!

Lines are used to establish focal points and direct the eye throughout the landscape. They can be geometric, curved or irregular.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics is the way that a person sees something. Landscape professionals are concerned with how a landscape looks as well as the functionality of the space. Whether it is the gentle sway of ornamental grasses, the harmonious tones of water features, or the arrangement of plantings, every aspect of the aesthetics of landscaping must be considered when designing the perfect outdoor space.

One of the most important factors is color. Color creates mood and emotion. Warm colors like red and orange evoke excitement and make things feel closer, while cool colors like blues and greens offer a sense of calm. The use of color in a design also impacts the flow and movement of a landscape. Lines are another important aspect of aesthetics. Whether they are perceived, such as a curved pathway or bedline, or physical, such as a walkway or trellis, lines direct the eye and provide a sense of order and unity.

Focal points are an essential element of any landscape. Whether it’s a beautiful water feature, a statue, or a natural rock formation, focal points draw attention and are the cornerstone of any good design. Focal points are also a great way to add interest and personality to your garden, making it unique to you.

Plants have a variety of shapes and forms, from spiky to round and spreading to clumping. For visual contrast, try mixing up your plants’ form to create a dynamic landscape that is both pleasing to the eye and interesting from multiple angles. In addition, consider the height of your plants. Using plants of different heights gives the landscape depth and dimension. When you choose the right heights for each plant, it creates a balanced landscape that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Environment

A well-designed and maintained landscape does more than improve a property’s aesthetics; it also protects and enhances the environment. Landscaping helps control some of the nation’s most pervasive environmental concerns, including stormwater runoff and erosion. Incorporating water management features into a landscaping design, such as rain gardens or swales, can reduce pollution and flooding and promote the growth of healthy soil.

A landscape can have a significant impact on air quality as well. For example, trees can filter the air of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, thereby decreasing smog and greenhouse gas emissions. They can also help lower energy costs by providing shade and cooling the surrounding area, reducing the need for an air conditioning system. Additionally, the use of natural pest control methods like introducing beneficial insects or neem sprays can help limit the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, which are harmful to the environment.

Landscaping practices can also influence soil health and biodiversity by encouraging the use of native plants, which are adapted to local environmental conditions. This can reduce the need for extra irrigation and fertilization, which can cause environmental pollution. Landscapes can also be designed to provide habitat for wildlife and prevent soil erosion.

A well-designed and maintained commercial landscape can offer a variety of benefits to the environment, including reducing energy costs and increasing resale value. The best way to ensure a landscape is sustainable is to work with an experienced company that follows ecological gardening and landscaping techniques. Educating the public about the positive impact that sustainable landscaping can have on the environment is an important part of the process. For example, highlighting case studies of how resilient landscaping practices have reduced long-term costs and improved property values can inspire the adoption of more sustainable landscapes.

Health

The calming effect of trees, flowers, and other plants can reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and high blood pressure. Studies also show that being surrounded by nature and having access to outdoor spaces encourages physical activity and is good for the environment. Well-designed landscaping can increase the value of a home and improve its overall aesthetics. It can also reduce energy bills by reducing the need for heating and cooling. Landscaping can also provide habitat for wildlife.

Although landscaping doesn’t involve some of the more deadly construction hazards such as falls from heights or exposure to silica, there are still safety risks that LIUNA signatory employers and workers must be aware of. Some of the most common injuries for landscapers include car accidents (due to frequent travel from job to job) and being struck by machinery. Hearing loss is also a risk, as working with loud equipment can cause damage to the ears over time.

Landscapers should always wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and make sure that their work area is properly maintained with clean tools and supplies. If working outdoors in extreme heat, it is important to take regular breaks and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration or heat-related illness. When using pesticides or chemical fertilizers, workers should follow all label instructions, take precautions, and wear proper clothing. If they suspect they have been exposed to any chemicals, they should immediately rinse the affected areas with water and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

Regular contact with the natural world has been shown to boost mental health, reduce stress, and increase happiness and contentment. A beautiful, well-maintained landscape can help reduce psychological distress and clinical anxiety, and promote environmental, social, and spiritual wellness.

Wildlife

Many traditional landscaping practices deprive wildlife of vital resources and habitat. The removal of native plant species sever food web connections, while the use of exotic plants often leads to the proliferation of invasive pests that destroy native habitat. Choosing to incorporate native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in the landscape is an easy way to support wildlife while at the same time beautifying the property with fragrant flowers, eye-catching fruit, vibrant fall color, and sculptural form in winter.

When landscaped with native plants, a yard offers wildlife food, shelter, and places to raise young. Native landscaping offers opportunities to see and enjoy the beauty of nature—the acrobatics of hummingbirds, the chatter of chickadees, the elegance of monarch butterflies, and the antics of squirrels.

In conventional yards, plants are chosen based on appearance and aesthetic preferences rather than on their value to wildlife. To maximize the benefits of a landscape for wildlife, choose plants that provide food, shelter and water. For example, evergreen trees and shrubs offer shelter in winter when deciduous plants have lost their leaves; thorny plants offer protection from predators; and grasses and legumes provide both summer cover and seed for eating. Also, consider clumping (groupings of similar plants in a relatively small area) and planting at varying heights to offer more opportunities for wildlife to find shelter and forage.

A water feature, whether a birdbath, dish, or pond, provides a source of water for drinking and bathing. Also, a rock pile or brush pile can serve as cover for small mammals and birds. In addition, the location of the yard in relation to natural areas, including woodlands and wetlands, can provide opportunities for wildlife to move between habitat patches.

Value

Landscaping provides numerous benefits that can enhance a property’s value, making it an appealing investment for homeowners and business owners alike. Not only does it add beauty and curb appeal, but it also increases usable outdoor living space and reduces stress levels by providing a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Moreover, it protects soil quality by slowing erosion and preventing nutrient leaching into waterways. It can also promote environmental sustainability by utilizing water-efficient irrigation systems and encouraging the use of native plants and shrubs.

Additionally, a well-designed and maintained landscape can save money on utilities by decreasing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the building. It can also help improve indoor air quality by reducing dust and allergens, and it can even help attract customers or employees to a business by creating an attractive and inviting outdoor environment.

In 2024, homebuyers are increasingly looking for sustainable landscaping features that reduce maintenance and water consumption. This includes features such as low-water plants, drip irrigation, and native species that are drought tolerant. Other desirable features include patios, walkways, retaining walls, and water features. Landscape lighting can also add value by extending the use of outdoor spaces into the evening.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to value a landscaping business, be sure to check out our article on Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE). This valuation method calculates the possible future earnings of a company. It is particularly useful for small businesses with single owners, such as landscaping and property management companies. Alternatively, you can use the Market Approach, which is based on the sales records of similar companies that have been sold in the past.