Category: Hardscapes

Image of a gated entry with landscaping and a rock wall with the words "Landscaping Street Entries" over-layed on image.

Landscaping a Gated Entry or Driveway

When guests arrive at your property, there are a few things they notice right away. This is your opportunity to welcome your visitors and set the stage for what’s to come.

A welcoming entryway doesn’t start at your front door. Your driveway is possibly their first impression, so use it as an opportunity to frame the experience for your visitors. If you really want to make a statement, go with a gated entry.

As the portal to your home, your entry or driveway should draw guests seamlessly from the curb to the front door.

Lush greenery and maintained flowers could suggest a country retreat, where stark stonework and geometric hedges suggest a more modern approach. Choose elements that align with the aesthetics of your home, without clashing with the surrounding landscape.

Here are 4 tips for creating a wow-worthy entry to your home.

Contrast and Complement
Color, texture and balance are important aspects to consider in your landscape design. Use a color wheel to find a few choice colors you may like to incorporate and which colors best complement your primary options.
Height and Depth
Add depth by creating focal points between the street and the house. A natural rock wall also makes a beautiful backdrop. Unlike a front porch entry, where you may be inclined to go with more-is-better, the street entry can be a dynamic part of your overall design with a few, properly positioned, choice elements.
Low Maintenance
Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants are a great way to go in the Central Texas area. During the summer especially, if you don’t have irrigation installed along the street, you’ll want indigenous plants that are known for living through the toughest temperatures.
Lighting & Safety
To keep your landscape safer from cars and possible “plant pickers” use lighting around the edges or for specific focal points. If you have security cameras, especially at a gated entry where your car has to stop, using a camera-floodlight combo is a proven deterrent for burglars.
Set the stage for your guests from the very beginning and enhance the beauty and security of your home in the process.
Not sure which plants are indigenous to Texas? Check out this list of native, drought-resistant plants in Central Texas.

Need more design inspiration? We found a great Pinterest board with tons of ideas!

Call us today at 512-260-1430 to talk to us about scheduling your design consultation!

Landscape Design for Central Texas – Part 2 of 2

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1087″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now that you understand how to plan your space, let’s talk about what will complete it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

LANDSCAPING PLANTS

A great source for getting ideas regarding your space, and what will work best in your location, is to consult with local landscape designer. Finding a local professional who has extensive experience in your area will provide you with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding the plants that will inhabit your new space.

Select plants according to their ability to thrive in your specific space. Many home owners choose from native varieties, and are pleasantly surprised by the number of options that are easily overlooked. There are many plants that perform well in our area that are not native, however its generally good to consult with a landscape design professional before planting.

Native (indigenous) plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant and low-maintenance options because they have evolved over thousands of years in a particular region. They are suited to the geography, hydrology and climate of that area. However, even with native plants, it’s important to group them with plants that have similar needs in terms of sun, water and soil conditions.

Types of Plants to Consider:

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Shrubs
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Grass
Herbs[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Vines
Cactus
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HARDSCAPES

Typically, one of the most striking parts of your new space will be the hardscape. These are the walls, paths, patios and non-living elements in your outdoor space. Hardscapes make your space more functional and fill in bare spots to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Again, this is a great time to speak with a landscape designer. Seeing past projects as well as having a walkthrough can help you as well as the designer come up with the perfect vision for your space and your budget. Think, paths of gravel or stone, patios or decks, rock walls (like a retaining wall or decorative element), arbors or pergolas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Using native and drought-tolerant plants is always a great way to reduce your need for supplemental irrigation, but you still need an efficient way to irrigate. No matter how tolerant your plant selection is, they are going to need water. On average, 30 percent of your water bill will be dedicated to outdoor use.

There are many options regarding irrigation in your space from sprinkler and drip systems to grading and effective use of your property’s physical features and all points in between. For the best options for your area and the plants inhabiting your new space it pays to speak with a professional who can offset long-term irrigation bills with a modern, efficient irrigation system designed for water conservation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

LIGHTING

Improved technology has made landscape lighting one of the most popular outdoor living features among homeowners. Nothing makes your new space more inviting than custom lighting designed specifically for your property.

Types of lighting to consider are pathway, accent and security lighting. A good landscape designer will make sure all three of these lighting options are addressed in your space.

(American Society of Landscape Architects, found 96.2% of homeowners want outdoor lighting.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1532354309753{margin-top: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

WHO TO HIRE

Hiring a Designer

It’s a good idea to shop until you find someone who will take the time to ask you questions about how you want to use your space, what your design style is, and can consult on how to landscape and irrigate your property. Hiring a professional who sees the grand vision as a whole, will help you design a space that looks good all year, because your landscape is a living work of art that has its own life-cycle.

Hiring Contractors

Additionally, you’ll need to hire a team to complete the design – to install plants, irrigation systems, and construct hardscapes.

Sounds like a lot of thought and preparation needs to go in to your new space! We encourage you not to start this journey on your own. Instead, reach out to Best of Texas Landscapes to get started and stay on the right track to create the perfect space for you and your family. We can help remove all the guess work from how long it will take, to how much it will cost, and how it will look from season to season and year to year.

The landscape design-build professionals at Best of Texas Landscapes work as a cohesive unit, combining the knowledge of design and horticulture with the hands-on skill of landscape contractors to complete your project on-time and on-budget. Adding substantial value to your property should the goal of every home owner and when you reach out to Best of Texas Landscapes you’ll be amazed at how easy it can be.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]