What makes farmhouse landscaping so catchy, and why does it appeal to dwellers and non-dwellers alike?
Statistics indicate that 90% of the American population lived on farms and farmhouses in the 18th century. Today, the story is not the same as that percentage has whittled down to only 1% of the population. Farmhouse living is indeed organic in every form. Most dwellers enjoy the simple and fulfilling lives the environment provides.
If you just moved to rural America and are considering farmhouse landscaping for your farmhouse, below are some dos and don’ts to help you get it right the first time.
Don’t’s of Farmhouse Landscaping
Never neglect crucial requirements when choosing plants
It’s worth noting that not every plant can thrive on just any piece of land or soil. It helps first to consider the type of soil existing there, sun exposure, animals kept, etc. These are guidelines to go by when you start your selection of plants for your farmhouse landscape.
Having prior knowledge of plants and the places they thrive best will save you money, time, and the effort you put in from the beginning. For example, if your landscape is primarily dry soil, you will be better off with trees like the English Lavendar, Smoke Bush, Meadow Favorite, etc. These fall under drought-tolerant plants. It will be an absolute disaster to invest in Elephant Ear and Water Hyssop plants on dry soil.
You may also want to consider beautifying the landscape with some ornamental plants. Make sure they are suitable for your soil and weather conditions as well. While some of these decorative plants can be used as shrubs or hedges, they can also have certain insect repellent properties that you will find helpful. For example, Flowering Rosemary bonsai trees are natural repellents to save you that headache while beautifying your grounds.
Avoid wasting time on weekend weeding
For farmhouse landscaping, the issue of weeds is an open secret. But there is a way to fight it without exerting so much energy on weeding every weekend. According to experienced horticulturists, the best control method is to invest in mass planting of cover. A vast expanse of ground cover provides a lush and organic appeal for your landscape. And your low vegetative cover will automatically take care of opportunistic weeds.
Dos of Farmhouse Landscaping
Source your stones and other materials locally
For the most picturesque farmhouse landscape, it’s recommended to locally source stones and other materials for your landscape. The objective is to make the landscape around your farmhouse reflect the natural surroundings. Sometimes, though, you may want something unique which cannot be found locally. In a situation like that, you have the liberty to do that. However, you will have better aesthetics when the balance is tilted more towards native materials you source from the area.
Plan your landscaping with a focus on natural scenery
Your farmhouse is already in a strategic location. Therefore, all that’s left to do is project the imagery. If you live downhill, your landscape can be structured to ascend the hill to highlight rolling hills or others. If the property is on a flat plane, a landscaping expert will still know what to do to focus on natural imagery in the location. Whatever you do with your landscaping, it helps to be guided by some elements. Some examples are structure, soil composition, sun exposure, wind direction. Getting the fundamentals right will positively impact your final work.