Landscaping projects near water often have sloping and floodplain issues. It takes extra planning to create your perfect lakeside escape.
Lakefront hardscaping adds functional outdoor spaces like patios and fire pits, letting you enjoy your waterfront view comfortably while protecting your shoreline from erosion.
Perennials develop deep root systems that help limit erosion along your shore, and their varied colors and bloom times keep your landscape vibrant throughout the seasons.
Rewilding your shoreline with native plants creates a natural habitat for wildlife and pollinators, giving you a low-maintenance, organic aesthetic that connects you with nature.
Hiring a local landscape designing professional provides expert guidance on slope management and floodplain challenges, helping you create a beautiful, functional lakeside space that protects your property.
Living on the lakefront can be joyful and fulfilling, and that's helped by having that perfect outdoor space. Take a look at the ideas and tips we've put together to get a little inspiration for your own lakefront landscape.
Here, a large strip of sandy beach accents the shoreline. The small, natural boulder bulkhead sits back to the upper edge of the beach, where it protects the lawn and property from erosion. There are plenty of shady, sheltered spots from which to enjoy the lake view, too, with comfy chairs and sofas located in the shade of the overhead deck. You can build your own floating dock in just one weekend, to level up your lakeside enjoyment.
There's minimal landscaping here, with most of the yard given over to the lawn. Tall, well-established trees, whose roots help limit erosion, give much-needed shade in the dog days of summer. A small strip of beach claims one side of the shore, bordered by the bulkhead, and the other features many water-loving plants. Those water plants are a form of rewilding, providing habitat for wildlife, and helping protect the shore from erosion.
Here, we have an elevated lake view, giving a better, uninterrupted view of the water. The raised deck is big enough for entertaining, and the wooden railing helps to keep everyone safe. This could be a lovely family space, particularly if you were to add outdoor lighting, so you could enjoy it day or night.
This house keeps nature at bay while enjoying the lakefront. The manicured lawn and carefully maintained flowerbeds bordering the property are pristine, making this style a good choice if you enjoy a heavily landscaped yard. The elevated deck, complete with sun loungers, lets you observe the happenings on the lake from a comfortable distance.
If you want something unique and have a property elevated well above the shoreline, how about adding an infinity-edge pool? A vanishing edge pool adds a whole new dimension to the look and feel of your property and provides a breathtaking, uninterrupted view of the water.
Perennials are a great way of adding foliage because, unlike annuals, they just get bigger and stronger every year. So, using perennials for landscaping is a smart way to get a riot of color, add ground cover, and attract pollinators and beneficial bugs to your garden with minimal ongoing effort.
Because perennials last for years, they develop deep, strong, complex root systems that help limit the erosion that can occur on or near the shore. For the best aesthetic, choose plants of varying heights, colors, and growth habits, and select species that bloom at different times of the year, so you've got color and texture for as long as possible every season.
Xeriscaping involves using succulents of all sizes and types in place of your average garden plant. If you're in a hot and arid area with little rainfall, xeriscaping is a smart move. Adding plants can have a dramatic impact on your lakefront’s look. As with perennials in more temperate climates, the succulents develop strong roots that help limit erosion and soil runoff.
Sure, you can grow some perennials in arid climates, but they need constant attention, irrigation, and usually at least some shade. In contrast, the right xeriscaping plants can survive with very little maintenance.
Hardscaping brings texture and functionality to your space. Adding a patio with a firepit and an outdoor seating area is a great way to extend the home comforts outside so you can comfortably enjoy your lake view. You could add lighting, a full outdoor kitchen and living space, or a deck with a hot tub and a few Adirondack chairs.
If you want to bring the beach to your home, why not make a beachy cove on the shoreline? You'll need to hire a local landscaper who specializes in lakefront properties, of course, but it's definitely doable. They create an artificial cove with a sandy beach and pull back that section of bulkhead. This creates a small secluded sandy cove while still protecting the property behind with the drain-back bulkhead.
If you appreciate a more natural aesthetic and want to create a haven for wildlife and insects, then rewilding is a solid option. It involves reintroducing native plants and letting them grow wild, just as they would if there wasn't a house and yard on the shore.
Bringing a little natural, organic chaos into your outdoor space and embracing a slice of messy, untamed nature is fun and exhilarating and lets you reconnect with the natural world in a positive, controlled way. And you don't have to do the whole yard this way. Why not just do a portion of the shoreline? Or maybe rewild a small border on either side of a pathway down to the shore.
First of all, the gentleman I dealt with (Cam?) was very responsive to my many questions and concerns throughout the project, which is a huge plus to me. From the first time I met him for the estimate all the way til the completion of the job, he and his crew were professional and respectful....
All Star Paving and SealingWe had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesAnother great success for me on home advisor. This company did an awesome job on my landscaping and stayed within my budget. The best part, the work was complete within 2 days of my initial request. Professional and responsive. I highly recommend!
Blue Ring Residential Services, LLCNorman responded to the voicemail that I left describing the situation within an hour of having left it. He was already on a job in our area and offered to come over the same day to assess the situation and give an estimate. Once he saw what we needed we set up a time 3 days later for him and...
Pitzer LandscapingThe company no showed on me twice. The 2nd time was no call no show. They were responsive to set up the first appointment to perform the "landscape cleanup". 3 hours after their initial scheduled appointment time they called me to let me know they had some "problem" with the truck and their...
Ruby Home and Hauling ServicesReceived ideas for future landscape plans...quote to do the work seemed a bit high but I did not have any other quotes to compare it to, so perhaps that is the going rates. <br />
Landscapes By Terra, IncAll around they have done a really great job. <br /> I have used JL Landscapes for the past 8 years. I own and operate my own commercial/residential real estate company where we own, operate, and maintain our own properties. JL Landscapes has been our exclusive landscaper for both our...
J.L. LandscapesI left a message on Sunday requesting to schedule a time to obtain an estimate/walk-through and received a return call in the morning of the following Monday. Mark worked with me and agreed to schedule the estimate/walk-through for the following Saturday. When Mark arrived for the...
Herb Techmer did not finish what was agreed in the invoice. The work actually completed was done well, however, the entire agreement in the invoice was not honored. The following Saturday, Mr. Techmer stated he would return to finish the work. However, Herb Techmer never arrived and...
Feazel Roofing discussed the job in detail prior to beginning. The day before the work commenced they delivered the materials to the site and put them where we had agreed upon. At the time of the commencement of work, they brought numerous tarps that were blue in color. They covered the...
Feazel IncFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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