When designing your home landscape, you want to accentuate the right views but block the wrong ones. How can you do this? Here are a few key planning tips to create the right views for many years.

1. Learn About Tree Growth

Tree placement goes a long way toward designing the right views. But you'll need to start by learning more about trees. While they often feel like one single category of plant, they each have their own growth patterns. Some grow fast and some slow. Some have wide canopies while others have tall, rounder canopies. And some lose more leaves in winter than others. Research tree choices to tailor your views.

2. Plant for the Future

When choosing shrubs, vines, trees, and hardscape structures, focus on the end result rather than how things appear today. This means spacing apart bushes and trees to prevent conflict and growth problems later — problems that might even result in removing the tree or bush. It also may mean you don't have quite the view you want immediately, but you'll get it in the long run with proper planning.

3. Think About Windows

Your windows are key to ensuring the right views from the yard, so plan with them in mind. Look out all your windows and make note of the strengths and weaknesses of each view. Are some unsightly things blocked by neighboring structures or trees? Does a window have a keyhole view you want to preserve? Which windows' views are the most important? This bird's eye view will help you plan better while on the ground. 

4. Use Other Barriers

Trees aren't the only way to hide unwanted elements and accentuate the positive. You can also use climbing vines, hardscape structures like lattices or pergolas, the placement of outbuildings, and large shrubs. These other options are particularly useful if you need to adjust a view close to the house, for instance, where it may be dangerous to plant a tree.

5. Put Safety First

Finally, don't prioritize any aesthetic feature over safety. While you may not want to look out on an unattractive neighbor's yard or the street, for example, tall bushes or trees in the front yard can block views for pedestrians and cars. And trying to keep a diseased or infested tree just because it blocks an unwanted view makes it a falling hazard. Find other solutions when safety may be at risk. 

Where to Start

Ready to start planning your landscape design to highlight the right views and minimize the wrong ones? Start by meeting with a residential landscaping contractor in your area today. 

Share