Advertisement
There are many approaches to designing driveways. You can think of the process as an artist and start by creating an imaginary picture of what you want to achieve. With that picture in mind, you can channel the work and resources to make it a reality.
Another approach is to consider some driveways and landscaping ideas from experts. Such information can also guide your decision about how you want the space to be. We have some tips below for you. Keep reading to know them.
7 Landscaping Tips for Your Driveway
1. Build a Demarcation
Creating a demarcation involves placing some bricks at both edges of the driveway. To do this, you will need different sizes of concrete blocks and stone bricks. They also come in a variety of colors to choose from. Before you begin the installation, doing a “test run” of the pattern and colors you wish to use is best. Once you’ve gotten your desired result, you can proceed to create the border. At this point, you’re to place the bricks in a single file from the beginning of the driveway to its end. What this does in addition to beautifying your front yard is that it helps to prevent unexpected crumbling of the flooring.
2. Lighting
Adding lights on driveways has proven to be beneficial in several ways and in different settings. In addition to improving the looks of your driveway, a well-illuminated environment puts off trespassers and thieves from the area. Installing lights on your driveway begins with knowing the different lights for outdoor purposes. A few include string lights, garden lights, spotlights, etc. Other lighting options include post lighting, transit lighting, and path lighting.
For post lighting, they’re most effective on high poles, as they cover a wide range of distance. The same goes for path lighting but not for transit. The transit lights are best-suited for ground lighting. You can place these lights directly into the ground or on low poles about 5 to 8 feet apart.
3. Regular Cleaning
One of the quickest and cheapest ways to improve the looks of your front yard is to clean it regularly. To do this right, you can employ some experts or simply rent a power cleaning machine. Also, it’s important to take note of the safety protocols of the machine before using it to avoid harming yourself in the process.
4. Erecting Poles
Mounting poles on your driveway is another great idea for improving its look. You may need the assistance of some professionals to get this right. However, the process is pretty straightforward for a DIY practice. To position the poles rightly, mark out about 2 feet behind the lights on the edge of the driveway. Also, the distance from one pole to another should be about 10 feet to avoid clustering.
5. Using the Appropriate Materials and Colors
It is quite essential to use the right materials or colors when designing your driveway. You want to make sure you’re using heavy and light materials where necessary. At this point, employ the concept of softscaping and hardscaping. Some folks may decide to use grasses and flowers, which represent softscaping. Some others may prefer to use bricks and stones (hardscaping) in the decoration.
6. Do Not Neglect Maintenance
It is no secret that materials depreciate over time. The same applies to your driveway. As such, you would want to carry out necessary maintenance to keep the view intact. To do this, look out for old bricks, possibly those with cracks. If you can find any, replace or fix it if possible. Also, check the broken pavers and seal them up.
7. Do a complete upgrade
This refers to the different settings you can use for your driveway. It might be a paver, gravel, or brick setting. Setting up a paver driveway with paver stones and softscaping materials such as flowers and trees can make things attractive. The next one is a gravel driveway which is cost-effective, durable, and easy to maintain. Lastly, the brick driveways are pretty simple to fix too.
Conclusion
These 7 landscaping tips for your driveway can come in handy to improve its appearance and maintenance. The information above offers guidelines that will help you make the right choices when designing your driveway. Some ideas include lighting effects, building a boundary, and using the right materials and colors.