Landscapers Near Me Suggest These 5 Landscaping Improvements in Camp Hill and Lemoyne, PA

Part of enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle is spending more time outside, especially when you can recreate outdoors in a well-designed backyard that suits your needs and aesthetics; and a front yard that is a joy to come home to. Adding various design features and anchors to your landscape will help create a place where family and friends can gather to enjoy each other’s company. Having some key elements in your landscape will make it all come together. Here’s why landscapers near me suggest these 5 landscaping improvements in Camp Hill and Lemoyne, PA.

Outdoor Living Zones

The patio is the anchor of your backyard. This is a multi-functional space that offers something for everyone. The most appealing patios are separated into spaces of different uses, such as a cooking/dining area, a lounge area, and if applicable, a play area. When you come up with your top 3 favorite outdoor activities, plan a patio that allows for that: for example, if you entertain often and don’t have kids or pets that need a lot of lawn to play on, consider expanding the size of your patio to accommodate large gatherings. One of the best ways to make a patio bold and interesting is by setting different activity zones on varied elevations. For instance, set a dining area convenient to the outdoor kitchen; a step up, a lounge area could have a great vantage point for your whole backyard; and a step down from the main patio, a cozy fire pit area creates a memorable destination.

A Customized Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is simultaneously exciting and comforting. If one of your favorite outdoor activities is providing delicious meals for others, then emphasizing this element of outdoor living will yield great rewards over the years. Today, you can include many of your favorite indoor kitchen amenities and appliances in weather-resistant versions. For example, pair a wine cooler and dishwasher with the classic BBQ grill, and enhance the experience with a wood-fired pizza oven. Give guests “ringside seats” with bar seating so that the entire cooking/dining experience is shared with the people who matter most.

Less Lawn and More Native Plants

Throughout your landscape, you want a combination of beauty and functionality. The great American lawn has long been a staple of landscape design. However, lawns are thirsty and often require significant help in the form of fertilizers and pesticides - making them one of the least eco-friendly landscaping options. An emerging trend is reducing the size of the lawn in favor of a variety of native plants that are perfectly adapted to the local environment. Instead of a patio surrounded by a “sea” of green - and then more interesting landscaping beyond - try a reverse approach. Place trees, shrubs, and a variety of flowers immediately adjacent to the patio to create a more natural setting; and place the lawn outside of this perimeter. You may even find that out of sight is out of mind… and you’ll place more emphasis on adding more beautiful, hardy, and water-wise natives.

Smart Lighting

If you’re updating your landscape lighting, LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures allow for exceptional creativity due to the small fixture sizes and bulb longevity. A zoned and layered approach gives each space its own character and eliminates the harsh contrast of a completely dark landscape and overly illuminated patios. Many lighting systems can be programmed directly from a console in your home or your smartphone for the ultimate convenience.