15 Top Huntsville Yard Design Ideas

Landscaping is all about creating a space that inspires people to spend time enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.

If you live in Huntsville Alabama and are looking to bring your dream yard to life, you’ve come to the right place!

From enhancing your soil with pine straw to growing native plants that are perfect for the Huntsville climate to creating the perfect ambiance with beautiful outdoor spaces, these 15 innovative landscape design ideas will help you create your dream yard!

Enhance Your Soil Using Pine Straw Mulch

Soil is the foundation of a healthy landscape design. You want your soil to be balanced, which means it has the right amount of organic matter, minerals, and air space. It’s also important to have well-drained soil, so that water doesn’t pool or damage plants.

This is especially important if you live in Huntsville, where summers are long and dry and winters are short and extremely cold.

Don’t fret though, because the solution is much easier than you think! You can easily improve your soil by adding organic matter, such as pine straw mulch.

Pine straw mulch is a natural substance made from the bark of pines that has been harvested for lumber. It’s great for improving soil because it’s a slow-release natural fertilizer that absorbs water well.

It also maintains the soil’s temperature and balances moisture levels.

Invest in Beautiful Native Plants

Native plants are a wise choice for your yard. They’re more likely to thrive in your environment, and you will likely have fewer problems with pests and disease than you would with non-native plants.

Native species also attract birds and other wildlife such as butterflies, bees, frogs and salamanders that support the ecosystem of your yard or garden.

Native plants may also help reduce pollution because they do not require fertilizer or pesticides to thrive. They also require less water due to being drought tolerant.

Here are some native plants that will thrive in the humid subtropical climate of northern Alabama:

• Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper

• Flame Azalea

• Passion Vine

• Prairie Dropseed

• Cardinal Flower

• Mountain Azalea or Piedmont Azalea

• Cutleaf Coneflower

• Bird’s Foot Violet

African Violet (Saintpaulia) is another popular flowering plant that thrives well in the Huntsville, Alabama climate. This is a popular flowering plant that can be grown indoors or out.

It needs bright light but not direct sun, and should be watered regularly with room temperature water. Propagation is by division of the rhizome or leaf cuttings.

Add Trees to Block Distractions

Planting trees in your yard is a great way to block out the noises of the city and create a quiet, serene oasis in your home.

Trees also reduce energy bills by helping you naturally cool or heat your house, depending on the season.

To choose the right tree for your yard, keep these things in mind:

• Choose large trees if your house needs shade or in a dry hot location.

• Plant small trees or shrubs if you’re looking for something that will grow quickly and can be planted closer together if you’ve limited space.

• Make sure there's enough room for growth—your new tree won't prosper if it's too close to other plants or structures!

Use Perennials as Fillers For Your Yard

Perennials are a great choice for filling in the gaps between shrubs and trees. They’re also a good option for planting between annuals.

Here are some of their benefits:

• They come back every year, which means you won’t have to worry about dead spots in your yard after a storm or when they start to look worn out. If you choose the right ones, they can also provide color all season long.

• They’re also the perfect solution if you don’t have enough space in your yard as they take up less room than annuals. And if you plant them in containers, they can be moved around as needed!

• The perennial beds you create now will last for years to come, requiring little maintenance once established.

• Another great benefit for planting perennials is that they are great for cutting, so if you have a flowerbed that needs some attention, try adding some perennials to fill in the gaps!

Cayenne Pepper plant is one of the popular perennials for the northern Alabama region. It’s a perennial pepper plant with small red fruits that turn yellow when ripe.

Its fruit has a hot flavor when fresh but loses its spiciness as it dries out; it also makes an exciting addition to mixed drinks.

Use Less Grass and Add Variety to Your Landscape

If you have a large yard, then it might be time to shrink it. If you're thinking of doing this, don't worry—it's not as drastic as it sounds.

You can create a smaller grassy area that is replaced with more plants and shrubs. This will allow for less maintenance and more enjoyment from the space.

The key to a great landscape design is choosing the right plants for each area of your garden. For example, if your front yard faces south, consider tough plants that are native to this area such as hickory trees or sumac bushes (which also provide food for wildlife).

If you have an area near a fence line or property line where there isn't much light exposure, but there's plenty of rainwater runoff from storms or heavy rain (and therefore plenty of standing water), then choose low-maintenance ground covers like ivy or other vine-type plants.

Consider Adding Zoysia Grass Lawn For High Foot Traffic

A zoysia lawn is a good option for high foot traffic, particularly if you’re willing to invest the time and effort involved in keeping it looking nice.

Zoysia is a warm-season lawn that grows well in Huntsville; however, it does need regular maintenance.

The best thing about installing this type of grass is that, unlike other types of lawns, such as rye or fescue, it doesn’t require excessive fertilization with chemicals.

In contrast, zoysia needs only occasional watering during dry spells (since its roots can reach down two feet under the soil) and mowing every two weeks from June through September.

Make Sure Your Plants are Deer Resistant

Living in northern Alabama means that you have to constantly deal with deer problems, which means your plants have to be ready for that as well.

The most common deer-resistant plants are hydrangea, azaleas, and mountain laurel. However, be sure to avoid planting them near your house unless you want to deal with their invasive roots.

Another option is to plant roses in your landscape design because they're not hunted by deer and can withstand the heat better than many other types of flowers or shrubs that might otherwise be suitable for your Huntsville home's landscape or garden area.

Other options include viburnum, spirea, and forsythia (which will bloom during the winter months), witch hazel trees (which have fragrant white flowers), dogwoods (for shade), and hollies (for autumn color).

Incorporate Water Features

Adding water features like fountains, ponds, or pools to your landscape design adds visual interest and can be used as interesting focal points for your home.

You can install an above-ground pool that is easy to maintain year-round. You can use it as a place where kids can play during the hot summer months while they cool down at the same time.

A fountain is another great way to incorporate a water feature in your yard. They come in many sizes and styles, so there’s sure to be one that will fit the look of your home.

If you want something more subtle, consider using a bubbler instead of an actual fountain. Bubblers are smaller and less expensive than traditional fountains, but they still, create the soothing sound of running water.

Use Natural Stone Hardscaping Products

Natural stone hardscaping products are a great choice for long-term durability, and they can be used in a variety of ways to add elegance and beauty to your yard.

From walkways to patios, natural stone is a popular choice for paths and patios because it is durable and attractive.

They can be more expensive than some other types of hardscaping materials used for landscaping. However, they last longer and are less susceptible to erosion from rainwater or chemical damage from plant fertilizers or pesticides.

Because they are harder than most other types of construction materials, most natural stones will not need any kind of maintenance, like sealing or staining.

Don't Forget About Fire Ants

Fire ants can be a serious problem in Huntsville. They will eat your plants and lawn, they can sting pets and kids, and they're pretty much impossible to get rid of completely. So if you want your yard design structure to be a success, don't forget about fire ants!

It's important to take fire ant precautions before you begin your landscaping project. You can ask a professional landscaper about the best ways to protect your lawn from these little pests, or check out some DIY methods online.

You should also avoid leaving wood chips and mulch on the ground, as they are the perfect nesting materials for fire ants.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of an Outdoor Living Area

If you're looking for a way to make your yard more appealing, consider adding outdoor living space. This can be as simple as adding a few chairs and a table on your patio or as elaborate as constructing a pergola or a gazebo.

You might want to consider whether or not you'd like to use the area all year round. If so, you can start by using furniture that has been designed specifically for use outdoors.

This will ensure that even though it's outside, all of your furniture will last through many years of use without needing repairs or replacements.

Create a Focal Point

A focal point is an area of the yard that serves as the centerpiece. It can be a statue or fountain, perhaps even a garden area.

The focal point is usually an attractive and eye-catching part of your yard, so you may want to consider placing it near your driveway so that visitors don’t miss it when they arrive at your home.

If this isn't possible or if you simply want to add variety to your yard design plans, there are other ways in which you can create focal points without limiting yourself solely to statues and fountains:

• Create a line from one side of the yard to another with plants and flowers (also known as "axial lines")

• Place trees in clusters around existing structures (such as fences)

Consider Landscape Lighting

The first step in creating a space that is relaxing and inviting is to light it correctly. Outdoor lighting doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive.

A few simple lighting techniques can help you establish an outdoor oasis with landscape lighting.

Here are some tips for creating the perfect outdoor oasis with landscape lighting:

• Choose the right light fixtures. If you want to illuminate a specific area, consider installing spotlights or wall-mounted accent lights in that area.

• For larger areas like gardens or paths, floodlights will cast light over a wider area.

• Include other types of light sources in addition to landscape lighting.

• Lighting doesn't have to be just one thing — consider using candles, string lights, or lanterns along with your other outdoor lights.

• Consider color when choosing lights for your garden.

Follow The Advice of Landscape Design Professionals

If you want a beautiful patio that will last for years, follow these tips from landscape design professionals:

• Use low-cost alternatives that look great. Low-cost materials such as rocks and pebbles can add beauty and texture to any garden design layout.

• Consider using crushed rock or gravel between stepping stones or pavers to build an interesting path throughout your landscape design.

• Think outside the box when it comes time to plant new flowers around your yard design ideas!

• Instead of sticking with what everyone else does—pansies & petunias—consider more unusual options like lilies which come in a variety of colors.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for yard design ideas to start from scratch, or just want some help to spruce up your current landscape, these landscaping ideas will help you stay on the right track.

Even if you don’t have much space available on which to build an outdoor living area, there are still plenty of ways to integrate nature into every inch of your property!

Lastly, don't forget that the best plan for your Huntsville, Alabama yard is one that you can execute. So don't get overwhelmed by all the options and just start with a couple of plants.

And as always, if you’re looking for the help of professional landscapers, don’t forget to check out ShrubHub’s winter offers! You can also request a free consultation session today with one of our experts!

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