There is no doubt that the field of landscape design ideas is a large one - many people spend years studying it as a hobby or as a profession. The good news is that in most cases if you follow a few simple rules it is easier than you think to make your garden look great. Landscaping your garden can be a great way to either increase the appeal of your house for potential buyers or just create a more aesthetically pleasing garden for you and your family.

So what is the definition of landscape design? In straightforward terms it is changing the land that you live on in a way to improve it aesthetically. In many cases for more advanced landscape design you would have to hire a professional landscaper, but if you are just in need of making a few small adjustments such as changing the design of the garden, then with a bit of research you should be able to do it yourself. Landscape designers will usually be able to do a lot more than you can, but the downside is that they can be expensive.

The problem that many people have is that the term seems so grand that they don't know where to start. In reality, landscape design can simply mean changing around where your plants are in the garden. In some cases it can also mean much more complex jobs such as changing the layout of the land.

When you are thinking about getting started in landscape design there are some basic rules that you should follow. The first of them is color - as you probably already know, color is vitally important if you want your garden to look its best. The second is balance. You need to make sure that your garden appears balanced to anyone viewing it. This doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be symmetric, although if you are a beginner then this will often be the easiest way to start.

When you are first starting out it is also important to understand the concept of simplicity. So many times beginner landscapers get caught up in what they are doing and don't realize that they are over complicating things. A cluttered or over-complicated garden will not look its best and often the simplest designs will be the ones to go for.

These are a few of the basic rules of getting to grips with landscape and design but it is a huge field and you need to take your time to learn as much as you can. Take your time, read everything you can about good landscape design, experiment with different layouts, and before long you will feel comfortable designing your own landscape.

Landscape design is an art, and the joy of seeing and experiencing your finished product is well worth the effort expended. The satisfaction received from such efforts is well worth the time spent.

Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Landscape Design Ideas series of Information websites. 
You can visit his Landscape Design website at: Latest Landscape Design Ideas