Landscaping Doesn't Have to be Hard!

By Sonya Percell

Landscaping may seem daunting at first, but with just a little planning and elbow grease, your yard or patio can become a welcome retreat and calming escape from the daily hustle and bustle of life.

First, what do you want to do with your outdoor space? Do you want a place to have picnics? How about a place to relax and catch some sun? Maybe you want a calming place to read a magazine or listen to music. There are many things you can do with an outdoor space. Just look at it as an outdoor room, your own private oasis. Perhaps you want a more family-oriented space to accommodate all ages.

First, do you have a patio or deck? Or maybe just a space in your yard that you can designate for your outdoor room? If you already have a patio or deck of some kind, you're ahead in the game. If not, there are lots of options. You can have a concrete patio poured, or go with stone such as flagstone, or even pea gravel or mulch outlined by landscape timbers. You can build a deck. Most of your large home centers will carry whatever you need for your project.

What size you need will be determined by what your purpose is for your outdoor room. Maybe just a 10 x 12 foot area will work, if you just need a place for a couple of relaxing chairs and a small end table. If you want more furniture or features, size it accordingly. One of the nicest things you can do that will really add to your overall theme is to install a water feature of some kind. There are tons to choose from, for every taste and budget. The sound of running water is soothing and refreshing during those hot summer days.

Next you will definitely need...plants! If your area is shaded, there are several varieties that thrive in the shade and will give you flowers throughout the season. Impatiens & shade begonias are colorful and do well in shade. Hostas have colorful foliage in a wide variety of types, and do fantastic in the shady areas. Your local nursery can recommend dozens more.

You have even more selections available if your patio is sun/part sun. Pick what you like. Just remember, annuals need replaced yearly, and perennials come back year after year.

For example, this year I have roses, dianthus, geraniums, cannas, rose moss, daylilies, daisies, marigolds, some flowering grasses and bachelor buttons in my sunny areas. In the shade I have sedum, begonias, impatiens and hostas. In my water pond I have water hyacinths, lilypads, and water lettuce. Shrub-wise I have Rose-of-Sharon, crepe myrtle, bayberry, and a couple of others I can no longer remember the name of!

Pick planters for your flowers that blend in with your theme. For instance, for a more formal feel, you may want urns or something similar. For a sunny midwest theme, terra cotta is great, or hand-painted planters. Maybe you have a more country, western-type theme. You may choose planters that look like wooden barrel halves. Whichever you decide, you can find something in your budget. You may want to make some flowerbeds as well. You can choose from several premade edging selections that look like stone or wood, or go for the real thing. Landscape timbers make great flowerbed edges. Just remember, on wood items, you'll need to keep them treated so they will not deteriorate.

Next you can decide if you want garden statuary. You can find anything from cutesy type squirrels, turtles, rabbits, etc. to more formal concrete statues or colorful gnomes. Whatever you want or can dream of is pretty well available. One thing to avoid is too much garden decor. If you have too many items, you lose your focal points and it ends up looking like you're having a yard sale, or at least like you need to. The plants are lost, and any really nice items are buried in a bizarre array of knick-knacks.

Another item that can really set the mood for your area is a firepit or standing fire chimenea. These are nice and cozy on cool nights, and...need I say it...a good place to burn up the little sticks that accumulate under your trees after a storm. Plus you can roast weiners and marshmallows, which is great any time of the year. My firepit came with a cover to protect it from the elements, and was very reasonable.

Then there's the patio furniture itself. Adirondack chairs are great and last well. Teak or redwood furniture, though more expensive, will last season after season. Then there's metal, wicker, cast aluminum, or even plastic. You shouldn't have any trouble fitting your budget, your tastes, and your theme.

Last but not least, if you have an outside wall or fence that could use a focal point, there's a variety of metal sculptures for outdoor use. I have a couple hanging on our privacy fence by my water pond. You can also find outdoor clocks and artwork. This is great for patios or anything that has an outdoor wall. Just remember, less is more in this area as well. Don't overdo it.

Now go out and make a plan and get started! You'll reap the rewards for seasons to come.

Picking the Right Outdoor Patio Furniture

By Sonya Percell

We can't wait for spring to get here, and say goodbye to those long, winter months! That means it may be time to replace our weather-beaten, decrepit outdoor patio furniture. Well, here's good news! Gone are the days when your choices were limited to only 2 or 3 options.

Patio furniture sets or lawn furniture comes in an unbelievable array of styles guaranteed to fit your particular needs and pocketbook. Cast aluminum furniture, wicker furniture sets, and decorative metal chairs or tables lend a beautiful, classic element to your outdoor area. Redwood or teak patio furniture is long-lasting and will weather the elements. Add to that the wildly popular Adirondack chairs, yard hammocks, chaise lounges, picnic tables and even bar stools for your outdoor kitchen or bar, and your choices become endless.

Perhaps you just need to replace your patio furniture cushions, or buy a new patio umbrella for your table. Those are available at many of your local neighborhood chain stores. Maybe you just want to dress up your patio or yard with some water features? Many large garden stores carry a vast array of fountains for every taste, from stone lions to wooden-look buckets and old-fashioned spigots. There are even water ponds that can be set up on your patio or deck, as well as in the yard. Maybe you'd like a garden bench or outdoor concrete statues to lend an elegance to your patio or lawn area.

On the opposite end, perhaps you'd like to have a fire pit to roast weiners and marshmallows with friends and family. These come in a variety of styles & prices as well. Gas or propane grills or cookers from the simple to the complex are available as well to fill anyone's dreams and pocketbook. Outdoor patio heaters, for those months when it's not quite warm enough, but you still want to enjoy the outdoors, are now quite affordable for anyone's budget.

Maybe you have a very small patio with no yard, such as those that come with apartments. If that is the case, you may want to invest in folding patio furniture or even plastic lawn furniture (which are both relatively inexpensive patio furniture types) that you can easily pack up and store during the winter months. Or...get whatever will fit on your patio and cover it up. One way to greatly increase the life of your patio furniture, wherever you live, is to invest in patio furniture covers. The cost is minimal compared to the cost of replacing your lawn furniture every couple of years or so.

As you can see, there are lawn furniture options to fit every taste and budget. From the more expensive but long-lasting teak outdoor furniture to the relatively cheap & inexpensive plastic lawn furniture, you are sure to find something that works for you.

How to Use Garden Decor

By Simon Douglass

How do you use garden décor so that your garden does not end up like a junk heap? How do you tastefully decorate your garden? What should be put where? Can you use a trellis in the front of the house or should it stay in the back? What size ornaments should you use and how many?

Less is definitely more when it comes to garden décor. Drive through any neighborhood and you will see gardens that look as if the people who own the house decided to jam in as many ornaments as possible on the lawn. They spent a fortune on these items and in return...got an eyesore.

Before you start using garden décor, have a plan. Take a look at some home and garden books and at some gardens that you admire. You can ask people if you can take pictures of their gardens so that you can get some ideas. There are very few people who would turn down such a request as most would be flattered.

Once you find what you like, start coming up with a plan on paper. It is a good idea to jot down what you want on a piece of paper and map it out before rushing off to build it. Interior decorators do the same thing. You will not see them "winging it" when they are planning to decorate your house. They will have a design in mind before they even begin. So should you.

You can be flexible with your garden decor, but try to stay on the same course. Do not move from English Garden to Oriental Garden because it will look cheap and thrown together. You want to create a theme as well as have a focal point in the garden. If you have a small garden, a gazing ball can be the focal point, or a bird bath. In a larger garden, a small pond with a mini fountain can be the focal point. You have to be willing to work with what you have as far as the size of your yard.

Do not put as many ornaments as you can think of buying into one place in the garden. Put one at a time and let it settle in the garden before adding anything. Your garden will not look nice with a bunch of ornaments all over the place but cheap and gaudy. Choose your garden décor carefully and make sure that it is quality merchandise.

Your garden decor will be used in the front of the house as well as the back. You can create a path to blend in these areas. If you have children or pets, make sure that you leave an area for them to play and romp. A garden is beautiful, especially one in which the owners took the time to choose the right garden decor and grow the most beautiful plants and flowers. But children and animals need a place to thrive. If you do things the right way, you can have both in your garden.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Douglass

A Simple Solution to Enhance Your Outdoor Living

By Loren Taylor

There is no better or easier way to enhance an environment than by adding a stunning and soothing outdoor fountain. Outdoors fountains can be placed on a porch, a patio, in garden and so on. The possibilities are endless. No matter where you choose to put you're outdoor fountain it is sure to make that place picturesque. Outdoor fountains not only look exquisite next to greenery, but also attract birds and clean the air around it.

One of the many advantages of having an outdoor fountain is that there is such an array of different styles, colors and sizes of fountains. Whatever kind of look or feel you wish to portray in you're outdoor environment can be achieved through purchasing and installing an outdoor fountain.

Some of the most popular styles of outdoor fountains include the following:

1. Copper Cascade Solar fountain- this fountain is not only stunning in nature but also uses the latest in solar technology along with a proprietary water pump in order perform at the highest quality. This fountains design is simple yet exquisite. It is a tiered fountain that has water flowing from a copper vase to into three separate copper basins and finally down to a large copper base basin. The sound of this fountain is also charming. It is very soothing and relaxing. This fountain also comes in blue ceramic.

2. Leo wall fountain- this fountain can be hung up on a wall in order to create a more sophisticated and European look. The handsome lions face that is carve is so incredibly beautiful but it also creates a look of strength. This water fountain also has an amazingly soothing sound.

3. Small Buddha Head Fountain- This fountain will create a sense of serine peace and tranquility to any outdoor setting. The look of this stone Buddha head is a great symbol of living a fulfilling and healthy life and will make any environment you wish to place it emit these feelings.

Another wonderful thing about outdoor fountains is that they attract beautiful birds. Imagine putting a fountain in your garden and everyday when you wake up and look outside there are several striking birds bathing in you're fountain. This is something that warms the hearts of the majority of people. It will also be an impressive sight for all those that visit your outdoor paradise and view these birds bathing in you're fountain.

Fountains also are decorative without harming the environment. Not only do they attract and help birds but they also work to help clean the air. It is scientifically proven that through the constant movement of water particles being released into the air that it helps to clean harmful dust and dirt particles thus making the air that surrounds the fountain cleaner for you to breathe. Also for those climates that are very dry fountains help to humidify the air.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Loren_Taylor

The Wicker Table - The Perfect Solution for Outdoor Dining

By Jennifer Drozd

A wicker table can be a great way to bring casual elegance into any setting whether it is an indoor dining room or an outdoor patio. This type of furniture can create a beautiful area to gather with family and friends for dinner or a fun game of Monopoly. Wicker can transform the space into a beautiful and inviting place. It brings with it traditional and comforting thoughts of grandma's house and a time when families would always gather around the table to enjoy dinner together.

Types of Wicker

There are two main categories of wicker, loom woven and synthetic. Loom woven pieces are made from natural materials such as rattan, cane and bamboo which make them very beautiful but not necessarily the right choice for outdoor furniture. These pieces can chip, flake and crack if exposed to the elements so you want to make sure and use it in places inside your home which can be shielded from the direct sunlight. Furniture made from synthetic materials such as polyethylene, fiber glass or resin can be used outdoors with no worry. These materials can stand up to direct sun and moisture without loosing their integrity. These materials are washable, waterproof, keep their color and are UV and frost-resistant. This type of furniture is usually made out of aluminum frames which adds the strength and durability that is necessary for furniture that is exposed to elements year round and will resist rusting.

Wicker Colors

With the invention of synthetic materials to create wicker furniture you gained a lot of versatility. Not only can this material stand up against damage from the hot summer sun it can be created in a number of different colors from yellows to blues. And because the actual material is dyed it never requires stripping, sanding or repainting which makes it a breeze to maintain. All you need to do is dust it off or wipe it down with a damp cloth when it gets dingy or dirty.

Styles of Wicker

You can find a wide range of styles from traditional Victorian to the ultra sleek and modern. This means that you can find exactly the right collection to match your preference. Whether you have a country home with lots of land to spread out on or a posh urban apartment with modern style, you can find the perfect pieces to enhance the décor.

Resin wicker is extremely versatile, durable and comfortable; all the things one should look for in outdoor patio furniture. Companies like NCI offer a huge selection of pieces from chairs to wicker tables and offer one of the industry leading warranties. So, if you are thinking of purchasing a wicker table take a look online for a wide range of choices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Drozd