Landscaping acts to soften the appearance of your home’s exterior, increasing curb appeal and creating an inviting space for you and your family to spend time outdoors. Even if you have a small yard, there are several great ways to maximize the look of your landscaping for exactly the finished look you want.

Choose a Focal Point

When landscaping a smaller yard, choosing a focal point or feature gives you a place around which to build up the landscaping you want. This focal feature can be anything from a deck or a pool to a fire pit or a water feature, as long as it incorporates the colors, materials, and styles you want to use throughout your landscape design.

Create Zones

Even in a small yard, you can use your landscape design to create visual zones and give your yard a larger, more open feel. The zone nearest your home is often the perfect space for relaxation or socialization, while footpaths and other features can help to delineate separate zones for recreation, gardening, or grilling.

Use Color Effectively

Color is a great way to add vibrancy to your yard, making it feel cozier and more welcoming. Bolder colors work well in areas that are highly visible, while more muted colors can be used in areas where other features, such as a fire pit or bench, provide their own texture and visual interest. Succulents are a perfect choice for colorful desert landscaping, as these plants often keep their bright colors throughout the year, while also offering a low-maintenance landscaping solution.  

A smaller yard allows you to create a cozy, intimate, and sophisticated place for relaxation, socialization, and a wide variety of other outdoor activities. You can find more landscaping tips for yards of any size when you visit Santa Rita Landscaping on the web and read through our blog; you’ll also find additional information about our comprehensive landscaping services in Tucson. If you’re ready to design the yard of your dreams, you can reach us by phone at (520) 623-0421.

Your landscaping can say a lot about you, and can greatly affect your home’s curb appeal. When you are landscaping in a dry climate such as Tucson, it’s important to consider what your impact on the environment will be—particularly as it relates to water usage. Conserving water helps the environment and can save you money on your monthly utility bills, making it a smart choice. By choosing an experienced landscaping company, you’ll be able to have a plan that makes sense for your climate as well as your lifestyle. Keep reading to learn about water-conscious landscaping.

Xeriscaping

Creating a low-water landscaping plan is also known as xeriscaping, and it is a practice that is growing in popularity in the Southwest as well as the rest of the country. Xeriscaping can save you time, energy, and money, though it does require a bit of planning. By working with a local landscaping service, you can come up with a plan that will conserve water and improve the overall look of the outside of your home.

Native Plants

One of the most important aspects of water-conscious landscaping is using native plants. Native plants are already adapted to their climates, and do not require as much water as plants that originate from different environments. If you experience an extended period without rain, or extreme temperatures, these plants are hardy enough that they should be able to withstand these fluctuations. Cacti and other succulents are popular choices in a desert climate, as are certain perennials, which can add color to your landscape.

Hydrozoning

As you discuss your yard goals with your landscaping professionals, the idea of hydrozoning may come up. Hydrozoning essentially means grouping plants with similar water needs together so that your landscaping is more organized. The plants that use the most water should go closest to the water source for ease of maintenance, while the hardiest plants should be located on the perimeter of your landscaping.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc., we are dedicated to conserving our precious natural resources. Call us at (520) 623-0421 to find out how we can help you design and maintain an environmentally conscious landscape that is still aesthetically pleasing. Visit our website for a look at what we do.

If you’re like many people, chances are you’ve considered how you can extend your living space into the outdoors. When you have an outdoor living space, you’ll be making the most of your property in addition to enjoying more sunshine and fresh air. There are many options when it comes to outdoor living spaces, and they can be incorporated seamlessly into your landscape design in Tucson. An outdoor fireplace makes a great addition to any backyard. Keep reading to learn why you should consider having an outdoor fireplace.

Cooking

Nothing can compare to the taste of food cooked outdoors over an open flame. When you have an outdoor fireplace, you can toast up marshmallows or skewer a few hot dogs to have a camping experience right in your own backyard. Your kids and guests will love being able to do their own cooking outside.

Design

An outdoor fireplace can serve as an anchor for your landscape design. It can be the focal point in a circular design, or may be located on the perimeter as an element of visual interest that accentuates the rest of your landscape. Either way, your outdoor fireplace can be the central place where your friends and guests gather during parties, or where you can relax and kick back with your family.

Warmth

For some homeowners, the time of enjoying their outdoor living space ends when the temperatures become cool at night. When you have an outdoor fireplace, however, you can keep spending time outside even after the temperatures start to cool. Set up a seating area around your fireplace with a few blankets, and you’ll be cozy outside throughout the year. The fire will also provide light so that you don’t have to rely as much on electricity, which can lower your energy bills.

Call (520) 623-0421 today to speak with a landscaping expert at Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc. of Tucson. We are proud to offer experienced landscaping services such as landscape maintenance, hardscaping, and outdoor fireplaces. With us, you can take advantage of your outdoor living space to make the most of your home.

The Villa Taranto Gardens in Italy were opened to the public in 1952, and are open from April through October of every year. These gardens are widely considered to be some of the most important ones in the world because they contain so many different varieties of botanical species. Originally conceived of by Scotsman Captain Neil McEarcharn, the gardens are constructed in an English style with plenty of Italian accents throughout.

Origins

Captain Neil McEarcharn bought an Italian estate in 1931, and set about transforming the landscape into a breathtaking series of gardens. His idea was to construct English-style gardens to remind him of home, and it took nine years to do so. Many of the plants found in Villa Taranto are not native to Italy, so it took a great deal of care to help them acclimatize and thrive in this different setting. McEacharn named the gardens Villa Taranto in honor of his ancestor, Marshal McDonald, who was named the Duke of Taranto by Napoleon.

Features

Though the gardens are landscaped in the English style, you’ll also find Italian features such as statues, fountains, ponds, and more. There are over seven kilometers of pathways to take visitors through 16 hectares of trees, flowers, and plants from all over the world. Eucalyptus, azaleas, rhododendrons, maples, hydrangeas, and many tropical plants can be seen throughout the grounds of Villa Taranto. Special events throughout the open season highlight different species in bloom, such as during the tulip week of late April through May.