Why Landscape Gardening?

The horticultural arts are a tradition that reaches back to the beginning of our civilization. Once the care and nurturing of plants entered our lives we have gained a steady source of food and ultimately a deep seated desire to beautify our lives and surroundings decoratively as well. Unlike farming, which focuses on mass production of food plants, residential landscape gardening has a scope that feeds the soul even more than our bodies.

In its most diminutive form, landscape gardening can be accomplished through the use of containers. Small flower pots, hanging baskets, urns and window boxes provide color and form even when there is little room for a garden. While none of your plants need be grown for food, small container gardens can be a source of fresh seasoning herbs.

With a bit more room one can create beautiful suburban residential gardens that are able to serve both functions. Areas of various flowering or otherwise ornamental plantings will give a spectacular accent to your home's overall look. Even a small part of a back yard can be given over to selected food plants that, while not necessarily offering you self sufficiency, will provide a bounty of fresh and nutritious produce to compliment your meals.

With a bit more expense one can set up a small greenhouse to focus on more delicate or exotic varieties of plant life. With a more easily controlled atmosphere, the possibilities are almost limitless as to the types of plants that can be raised for not only aesthetic beauty, but for food and as a salable product to add to one's annual income. With the use of hydroponics, a water garden greenhouse will increase your yield of whichever type of plant you wish to specialize in.

Even a part time residential garden hobby can offer the feeling of connectivity with the Earth and her growing processes that can soothe one's nerves from the discord of daily life in this modern world.