Landscaping Westchester County NY - Ideas for Backyards - Landscape Design Westchester County NY

If you want your backyard to be as close to nature as it gets - to blur the line between your outdoor living space and the woodlands - here are some fabulous design ideas for backyards with natural surroundings in Westchester County, NY.

Beautiful, wildlife-friendly backyard landscaping ideas begin with a thoughtful use of space that is rich in diversity while still offering you the conveniences and amenities you expect in outdoor living.

1. Outward Progression

Whether you prefer a rustic or formal setting, think in terms of a gradual progression from man-made elements to natural elements. For example, rather than having one large patio that feels separate from the natural elements of the backyard, consider a few smaller patios with distinct uses, progressing away from the home in a natural way: kitchen and dining close to the home for convenience, and relaxing areas further away from the home for a sense of secluded tranquility. Make the journey from the home toward nature an interesting progression: refined and civilized near the home and wilder with each step outward. You can embrace a formal style in your softscapes and hardscapes if you keep in mind the outward progression from man-made (the home) to the natural surroundings.

2. Natural Materials

Natural stone masonry helps ease the transition between man-made and natural. Retaining walls and hardscapes made with natural stone or manufactured stone will make your living spaces feel naturally relaxed.

3. Curves

Curves inherently give your landscape a natural and organic feel. Straight lines are rarely found in nature, but there is an abundance of spirals, curves, circles and free-form shapes. Curved outdoor living spaces and retaining walls extend a warm welcome. People feel more at home in rounded spaces than they do in squares, since curved spaces allow for more organic placement of features and furniture and they encourage easy traffic flow.

4. Native Plants

Part of your natural landscape design should include native plants, shrubs, and trees. Exotics always stick out and while beautiful, they don’t blend in with the surroundings. Native plants are also much hardier and low-maintenance than exotics; they are beneficial to local wildlife, and equally as beautiful as any imported plant. This is a win-win for the homeowner who wants a beautiful landscape without sacrificing every weekend to landscape care.

5. Embrace Character

Nature is imperfectly perfect, which makes it filled with character. Each paving stone, tree, shrub, flower, and wall has a unique character, thanks to its unique looks. In general, you will find more individual character in natural materials than in man-made materials. But with today’s advances in concrete paver technology, you can now find patio pavers that are virtually indistinguishable from natural stone. With a huge array of color choices and laying patterns, you can be sure that your outdoor living space will have just as much character as a natural stone patio.

6. Water Features

A small natural pond also adds peacefulness to your backyard, especially if you add a boulder-strewn waterfall surrounded by natural plantings. Natural ponds attract birds, beneficial insects, and wildlife to provide endless enjoyment.

7. Texture

Many suburban landscapes lack visual interest because they lack texture. A huge expanse of lawn can be made more interesting when it is contrasted by ornamental grasses, tall flowers, and a variety of open and dense shrubs, such as dogwoods and mountain laurel. Nature is filled with contrasting textures. Add textures that are different from the soft look of a lawn, including evergreen trees, fruit trees, and trees with colorful foliage.