Landscape Ideas with high design and low cost

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - When the Brightwalk community was under development they turned to landscape designer Blair Farris Designs to come up with affordable upgrade options for people buying homes.  Brightwalk's team of developers wanted to create housing that was high on design but affordable.

The property is just minutes from uptown Charlotte.  I asked Farris to show me her plans for affordable landscaping and give the most important things we need to think about when working in our yards this year.

Of course start with a plan.  You want to take into consideration sunlight, how large your plants will grow.

In the designs Farris showed me, she incorporated both evergreens and blooming bushes.  "Having a good mix is important because evergreens don't always have that pow," she explained.  She pointed out that you want to see green around your home year-round so keep that in mind too.

Consider having a focal point in your garden.  These days the big box stores sell a variety of fountains and you can find some that are very affordable.  At a home we visited Blair used some pencil hollies as a backdrop to a fountain and the plants framed it nicely.  Keep in mind those focal points in the yard should be, if possible, positioned so you can also enjoy them from inside.

And finally knock-out roses.  Blair says the plant gets a bad rap.  "A lot of people feel like they are the gas station rose but they're not! When they're used amassed say five together they look really beautiful and give you a ton of color all summer."  Another great point about the knock-out rose, it's affordable.

So enjoy this warm-up and remember that all that hard work will be for naught if you don't make sure you water your plantings all summer long!

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