The Beauty and Benefits of Landscaping with Native Plants By Harley Grandone Source Landscaping with native plants not only adds local beauty to your yard but also brings along a bouquet of benefits. These hardy, local flora have naturally adapted to the area’s climate and soil, making them an eco-friendly, sustainable, and low-maintenance choice for landscaping. The Beauty of Native Plants Plants naturally found in a specific area (indigenous) have a regional beauty that blends seamlessly with their surroundings, making them visually attractive. From vibrant wildflowers that add splashes of color to towering trees with their majestic canopies, native plants offer a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors that can make your landscaping pop! Plus, they provide seasonal interest, offering a dynamic array of blossoms, berries, and foliage throughout the year. The Benefits of Native Plants So, why would a…
We scoured the internet looking for landscaping trends for 2023 and here’s what we found: Surrounding yourself with beauty indoors and out is not frivolous; rather, it’s a worthwhile endeavor that can improve your mood and outlook on life in general. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that homeowners are striving to give their outdoor spaces, porches and homes an aesthetic that makes them happy — ultimately creating a respite from everything else going on in the world. The trends we identify below are simple ways to get you into your yard whether that’s to garden or relax while enjoying the fruits of your labor! Swapping Lawns for Meadows: Homeowners are tearing out their lawns and swapping them for drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly plants. The appreciation for lawn alternatives continues to grow, with meadow gardens becoming more and more popular….
We scoured the internet looking for landscaping fads for 2022 and here’s the verdict: with some folks still working remotely and others looking to unwind after their commute home, we still see homeowners yearning for the perfect outdoor space. Our landscape designers realize that New Orleans homeowners want to transform their outdoor living space into distinctive, enjoyable retreats that express their personalities while giving them a place to enjoy the sun and recoup from our hectic world. The trends we identify below are simple ways to get you into your yard, while creating a calm place to relax and entertain. Courtyards: Concrete patios are being replaced with pavers and blue flagstone with a clean and repetitive design. Landscape designs are being stepped up with raised beds, benches, and stairways this year. Consider adding a bi-level patio to your space allowing…
When people think “landscaping” they usually only consider plants, trees and bushes. But one important part of landscaping that often gets overlooked is hardscaping. Most people think hardscaping refers to big things like fire pits, paved surfaces, retaining walls, etc. While it definitely does include those things, hardscaping is really just any design element that isn’t living. Benches, walkways, and strategically placed rocks are all considered hardscaping. Incorporating hardscaping and landscaping into your design can add both functionality and beauty. Check out some of the specific benefits below. Correct grade problems and improve drainage An uneven lawn can create a lot of problems, from soil erosion to poor drainage and areas that are completely inaccessible. Adding a retaining wall can help prevent soil erosion and create a flat space for plants to grow. Incorporating a pathway or stairs can make the top or…
Most homeowners focus on the interior designs of the various rooms in their homes. After all, it is where they spend the most time. However, as you will soon realize, there is a hidden gem just outside your home. With proper adjustments, an exterior landscape can improve the comfort of your home. It can provide you with a new place to enjoy the peace and warmth of your home. There are endless possibilities for designing your exterior landscape to boost the curb appeal of your home. You could choose to build structures such as a pergola or enhance other sections of your home, like installing a rustic exterior shutter. Here are 6 landscaping trends to keep in mind when remodeling your home’s exterior. Custom Pergola Installation If you have experienced the therapeutic feel of chilling and entertaining yourself in your…
Guest article by Lee Park and Rachael Baihn with natural solutions recommended by Exterior Designs, Inc. Insects in your New Orleans home and yard can drive you buggy. A well-designed landscape includes flowers, plants, and shrubbery that can keep common pests away. Some insects in New Orleans are vital to the ecological balance. But the city has its share of mosquitoes, cockroaches, katydids, stinging caterpillars, crickets, and many others. Blame the heat, humidity, and proximity to Lake Pontchartrain for attracting insects. Bug Biology 101 Most insects have a keen sense of smell — but they don’t detect scents and odors like humans do. Many insects “smell” by using their antennae or other organs. It gives them the ability to sniff out food, potential mates, and to avoid predators. Bugs also produce odors that help them communicate with each other. Many plants are able…
Often when we visit our clients’ homes, we notice they are underutilizing their backyard. More specifically, many homeowners are only using the space directly surrounding their home. Whether they have a front porch, rear patio or outside kitchen, the space being occupied is generally the area under the home’s roof. While this is a nice way to spend time outdoors protected from the elements, the desire to get into the yard is shared by many. Defining the home’s style and considering the flow is of upmost importance when enhancing to your landscape. That’s where Exterior Designs comes in! We want to see our clients using every square inch of their yard, but doing so in style and with purpose. Checkout some of our latest pergola designs and the inspiration behind them. Pergolas Come in Many Styles No wonder the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) listed pergolas as…
With temperatures dropping and staying cooler, many gardens lack color and life, but they don’t have to! LSU AgCenter suggests adding cool season annuals to your landscape during the winter to “enhance the quality of your garden, increase curb appeal and add color and dimension to a possibly otherwise barren landscape.” Not only will these varieties liven up an ordinarily drab garden, they will also provide much needed nourishment to nectar-loving migrating insects that are preparing to fly south for the winter. Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia According to LSU AgCenter, the Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunia is one of the most talked-about petunias over the past three to five years, and one of the best petunias in landscape trials at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station. The clear, bright pink flowers have proven to be one of Louisiana’s most durable varieties. They can grow 16 to 24…
Beverly Katz Adds a Touch of French Quarter Style to Metairie Home Old world custom fireplace, brick paved courtyard and black wrought-iron details reflect influences of Spanish and French architecture. Upon entering Cathy Green Rosenstein’s garden in Metairie, you cannot help but notice the vibrant colors that greet you. The eye is drawn to a large multi-trunk Savannah Holly tree and an elegant fountain used to anchor the space while setting the stage for a colorful garden that flanks the kitchen window. Intended to be enjoyed from inside the home as well as outside, the garden incorporates varying textures and heights, creating visual interest from both perspectives. Dwarf mondo grass provides a lush filler of dark green blades and is the perfect backdrop for the surrounding pink geraniums, blue salvias and sun-loving impatiens. Beverly Katz left nothing to chance when…
It’s Valentine’s Day and I can’t help but to think of the love I have for New Orleans – our city is so diverse in its culture, music, food and even landscapes! We have traditional New Orleans courtyards that Exterior Designs has become somewhat of a local legend for designing. We also get a lot of requests for outdoor patios, kitchens and comfortable areas to entertain guests when grilling, boiling crawfish or crabs, or hosting a fish fry. More recently, we have been asked to design meditation gardens. That’s right, a place where residents can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and retreat to a relaxing, tranquil garden in their very own back yard. I think this trend is a result of our busy schedules – we’re running around town, working full-time, carting our children to after-school…