| Weekend vacation cottages are great as a | | | | an example a bird bath can be nestled among |
| refuge from the world - whether used as a | | | | some perennials. |
| summertime lake cottage or as a getaway and | | | | Mowing on slopes is not only time consuming but |
| refuge from the world throughout the year. | | | | downright dangerous. As a result, try to maintain |
| One point always to remember is that your | | | | existing native plants on a slope, particularly on |
| cottage is to be for your rest and recreation. | | | | waterfronts. If there is exposed soil or sand on |
| Why create a lot of work for yourself at the | | | | the slopes, choose thicket or mat forming plants - |
| cottage or chalet retreat replication your yard and | | | | for example strawberry plants - that will spread |
| landscaping work that you have back home in the | | | | ground cover over and help stabilize an area. |
| city? Plan ahead to make your cottage lawn and | | | | You can try to selectively remove a few larger |
| landscaping as maintenance free as possible. | | | | shrubs and trees to open up a stunning view, but |
| If there is one word that summarizes the whole | | | | do your best to retain shrubs that provide |
| format of how to plan your cottage or chalet lot | | | | personal privacy as well as plants, trees and |
| so that it has a beautiful comforting appearance, | | | | shrubs that offer protection against wind. In |
| is attractive to the eye yet requires minimal work | | | | addition to providing a break these natural barriers |
| and effort to keep the areas maintained it is | | | | can protect the cottage area from storms off |
| "natural". As much as possible use natural and | | | | the lake in the spring, fall and summer and as well |
| natural occurring plants and vegetation. These | | | | block drifting snow and snow storms in the |
| plants themselves are time proven in your actual | | | | wintertime. Landscaping and landscape planning is |
| yard; they both know the climates and terrain | | | | not only for the summer time, but for its beauty |
| and actually prosper in the geographic area and | | | | and use throughout the full year. |
| actual climate of your yard and landscaping. | | | | You can also reduce the threat of weeds and the |
| Some people choose to have a full grown lawn at | | | | maintenance time and effort afforded to weeding |
| the beach cottage retreat. No trouble. It may be | | | | your yard and landscaped areas by planning ahead. |
| appearances, it may be for sports such as | | | | Weeds will grow along the edges of trails that |
| badminton or it may be just to enhance the | | | | have been worn into the ground. You can reduce |
| views to the lake or forest. | | | | potential weeding time by planning footpaths or a |
| If you choose to have a lawn and grass area | | | | footpath exactly where you expect and anticipate |
| proper planning ahead of time will make all the | | | | a lot of traffic. In the area of the planned |
| difference between a lush lawn that requires | | | | footpath you can lay gravel, stones, bark or even |
| minimal care and a lawn that is always needy and | | | | paving stones on the path. Thus not only will you |
| appears seedy and will attract a fair amount of | | | | keep weeds under control but also mud. |
| your recreation time and energy to tend to it. | | | | In the end it can be said that your vacation |
| Grass generally does not grow well in the shade | | | | cottage, chalet or camp is all about recreation and |
| so plan ahead to locate your lawn in the area | | | | relaxation. Plan ahead for low maintenance |
| where it will receive full or partial sun. Adjust the | | | | landscaping and gardening at the cottage, chalet |
| shape of the lawn, or work to combine some of | | | | or camp. After all it's your vacation and refuge |
| your trees, shrubs, lamp posts or even bird baths | | | | from the world for you, your family and friends. |
| and other elements into a couple of groupings. As | | | | |