While it would be easier for a layman to label one landscape design as awesome and another unappealing without giving substantial reasons, a professional will evaluate whether the design meet the fundamental principles. Although most exterior designers do not pay a lot of attention to the aspect of simplicity, it is essential to ensure this is adhered to. It is what will accumulate your customer base.

Where exterior designers go wrong in landscaping projects?

The main goal of simplicity is to ensure there is a balance between various principles of landscaping. Is there balance, rhythm, line, form or contrast among other dominant elements? However, most people destroy the cohesiveness of the landscape by introducing many contrasting features in the design. If you keep the idea simple from the start, there is always room for adding more things, as may be necessary. 

Water, if not properly managed and redirected, can wreak havoc in any landscape. It can severely damage the landscape as well as the plants on the yard. Furthermore, it can result in soil erosion. Some of the puddles that are formed when water is not properly managed could become breeding grounds for insects. Puddles that form around patios and decks could cause the formation of mold. This is the reason why every landscaper should consider installing a drainage system on all types of landscapes, whether they are flat or sloppy. A proper drainage system could even protect water from building up and getting inside the house through its foundations. It could also save the client a lot of costs in lawn drainage maintenance and repair. The following are some of the systems that a landscaper can install on a landscape in order to solve the drainage problems.

French drain systems

This type of drainage system usually consists of slightly sloped trenches that are filled with gravel. This gravel will surround a pipe that is perforated. The purpose of the French drain system is to ensure that water is redirected from the home’s foundations.

Knowing how to arrange the lights on a landscape will help the landscaper to achieve different effects. It will also help them to ensure that the lights serve the functions for which they were intended. The following are some of the common arrangements used in landscape lighting.

Up lighting

In this arrangement, the different lights are placed on the ground pointing upwards. It has the effect of highlighting particular landscape and architectural features. Light shades can be used to direct the light so that it does not become overpowering.

Blocks are increasingly becoming smaller in urban settlements, and people are building bigger houses. The yard and the garden have had to suffer because of this. However, such clients may still want some plants to decorate their landscape. For such a client, the landscaper can suggest the use of patio pots. The exterior designer has to ensure that both beauty and functionality are maintained when including patio pots into their landscape design. The following are some of the things to consider.

Ease of maintenance

Most of the people in urban areas do not have the time to maintain large gardens. They also do not have the time to maintain patio pots. It is always better to look for pots that will work well for the time-starved client. Pots that are glazed are becoming increasingly popular as they are very easy to clean when compared to traditional terra cotta pots. Furthermore, terra cotta is very porous and this could encourage molding. When purchasing pots for clients, it is better to get wider pots in order to reduce the number of times that the client will have to water their plants. 

Waterfalls are a beautiful design feature, and they can make a great addition to any yard. If they are not done right, they could easily become an eyesore. This is the reason why a landscaper should always know how to make the best waterfall for the individual backyards of their clients. The following are some of the factors that all exterior designers should consider when building a waterfall.

Size

When it comes to waterfalls, bigger is not always better. In fact, a large waterfall on a small backyard will look awkward. It is always important to ensure that balance is achieved when building the waterfall. If the client desires a big waterfall, the landscaper should be familiar with where and how to place it so that balance and practicality is achieved. For example, a large waterfall in the middle of a small property will look out of place. If the large waterfall is placed in the corner next to the fence, it will look better as it will be more proportional to the height of the fence.