3 Ways Landscapers Near Me Create Naturalistic Outdoor Living Spaces in Newport and Tiverton RI Areas
If your landscape feels a bit artificial, adding some masonry features and installing the right plants can be a wonderful way to add artistic flair as well as make it feel more natural. The right design will make your landscape a visual feast! Here are three ways landscapers near me create naturalistic outdoor living spaces in Newport and Tiverton, RI, areas.
Masonry
One of the hallmarks of a naturalistic landscape is to use natural materials. While that may seem like a no-brainer, natural stone isn’t always the ideal choice. Many homeowners are opting for concrete patio pavers and concrete wall blocks. In the past, these were obviously fake but today, high-quality pavers and wall units look virtually like real stone - and they’re available in more colors, shapes, and sizes than natural stone. So if you feel that concrete pavers or wall units are the better choice, rest assured, there are plenty that blend perfectly with a naturalistic landscape.
With masonry, less is more: and by that, we don’t mean a smaller outdoor living space, but fewer types of materials. A naturalistic landscape is inherently rich and varied; so adding too many materials in your masonry elements will just become busy, especially against the backdrop of a natural landscape. You’ll quickly tire of the busy-ness so for best results, choose one main color and no more than one accent color; or, just stick to one color for all of your vertical and horizontal masonry elements. This way, your masonry elements will draw the eye to specific focal points in the landscape.
A retaining wall can be a work of art. Today, walls can be built from stacked stone or blocks; concrete blocks; or, natural stone or manufactured stone veneers which give you endless options for artistic expression. For the most natural results, use a stone that’s either sourced locally or looks as though it could be. Historical homes in your area are the best sources for inspiration because using imported materials is a relatively recent phenomenon for the average homeowner. Historical homes look like they belong because they use materials that do. You can achieve the same timeless appeal in your landscape by choosing the right materials.
Landscape Elements
Many people use large boulders in their landscaping. This can work beautifully, or it can look painfully awkward. Proper placement as well as choosing the right plants to place around the boulders is crucial so that the stones don’t look like they were dropped from the sky. As with other materials, choose boulders that are native, or look like they are.
Native plants are the best way to achieve a natural-looking landscape. They’re beautiful, hardy, water-wise, low-maintenance, and most of all they look like they belong. Everything from ground covers to majestic trees can be found in a gorgeous native version.
Less Lawn
Bring your plantings closer to the patio for the best natural feel. Many patios go right into a massive lawn, with trees and shrubs planted along the outer perimeter. This puts you far from nature since manicured lawns are very much a manmade construct. Replacing a portion of your lawn with native plants, and placing these plants much closer to the patio, will give you the feeling that you’re “in” nature instead of looking “at” it from a distance. Another benefit of a smaller lawn is far less maintenance, so you can enjoy your time outdoors.
Related: 4 Landscape Design Ideas That Bring Color to the Outdoor Kitchen in Newport RI