Leisurely Landscaping

Last week I attended the Minnesota Green Expo, the region's largest annual gathering of landscape professionals. After attending several educational sessions and walking the busy exhibit floor, I concluded that despite the tenuous state of the economy, landscape options are more abundant and advanced than ever. I was impressed by how much you can do to improve your landscape and how easy these features are to maintain. Winter is a great time to research and plan spring home improvements. Here are some ideas for starters.



Blue Thumb, an environmental organization of which Hedberg is a partner, claims that raingardens and native plantings are the key to leisurely landscaping. That makes perfect sense, considering these types of plants are hardy and perfectly adapted to our climate. Plant it and let it grow. Add 4 inches of mulch throughout the garden and weeding will be minimal. The root systems of these plants absorb excess water and mitigate storm water runoff to streets, filtering the water through the soil and keeping our ponds, streams and lakes cleaner. Environmental stewardship and landscape elegance. An all around good plan. Learn more at http://www.bluethumb.org .



Stone surfaces, such as patios and walkways, also reduce lawn maintenance. In fact, many of the most elegant landscapes I have seen contain little to no grass. No mowing? Easy! Like raingardens, permeable paver surfaces allow water to drain through gaps between the pavers into a course gravel base and subsoil beneath.

Another leisurely landscape trend I saw was convenience for outdoor living. Appliances of all sorts are now available for outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces (wood burning or gas). For people interested in building their own outdoor bar or kitchen, Rockwood offers several plans and is introducing kits this spring that will contain all the block you need to build a backyard bar, fireplace, and more. For more sophisticated settings, Calise Outdoor Kitchens offers modular components and high quality stainless steel appliances, from grills and refrigerators to built-in blenders. Modular units are on display at Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies at 975 Nathan Lane in Plymouth (call 763-225-0540 for hours and directions or visit http://www.hedbergrocks.com/).

When it comes to relaxing, nothing soothes like the gentle sound of water. Fountainscapes are easy to install and require nothing more than an occasional top-off. Aquabasins are self-contained units that can be installed by homeowners or added to any landscape design. Statuary can be used in the fountain or any kind of rock can be drilled to create a fountain. The triple basalt column display at the Hedberg booth drew plenty of attention for its symetry and natural elegance.





Three other items of note that help create a leisurely landscape: heat, light and mosquito control. Gas or electric heating elements help extend the use of your outdoor living space in our northern climate. Lighting is not only a practical consideration for getting around your yard at night, but low voltage illumination transforms your patio into a magical entertaining area.

Automated mosquito control - need I say more? A system that mists botanical oils around your outdoor living area twice daily. That's what I call leisurely.


You can learn more about Minnesota landscaping options at your nearest Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies or online at http://www.hedbergrocks.com/. Happy planning!