If you have a Spanish style home or have selected Tuscan style interior decorating for your rooms, why not consider a Mediterranean Garden? Like the design style, these gardens are lush but welcoming.

Imagine looking out the window and seeing a grove of fruit trees or sitting in your yard with your morning coffee under a beautiful arbor, watching the sun rise.

Mediterranean Garden Characteristics

Mediterranean Gardens have an almost opulent feel to them, but they’re definitely far from formal. They combine straight lines and geometric layouts with simple, low key stonework, a charming mixture of all kinds of plants and flowers, and comfortable outdoor furniture that invites visitors to sit and enjoy the view a little while longer.

There are also variations within the category of Mediterranean gardens. You could try to evoke more of an Italian feel by using a small number of plants per bed to allow each specimen to really shine, using a lot of statuary, and relying on interesting shapes in trees and shrubbery to create a pleasing view.

You could try a Greek garden, with large, ground level fountains or water features, stone steps planted with trimmed grass, and overgrown paths surrounded by lush ground cover. Or evoke a Spanish garden feel with lush blooms in reds and oranges, accented by some Spanish tile in the furnishings or hung as garden decorations.

As you can see, you have a lot of options within the category of Mediterranean gardens, so how do you know that you’ve got one? That’s a tough question. You might define Mediterranean gardens as plants that use native Mediterranean plants. This is a common definition. However, you could also define Mediterranean as a style. So a garden that mimics the style of Italian, Greek, or Spanish gardens would qualify.

Mediterranean Garden Layout

• You can integrate both straight lines and curved, meandering paths into a Mediterranean garden, so carefully consider what you want. Generally, eating and gathering areas are defined by geometric shapes, so you might consider a circular patio for eating, surrounded by twisting paths that ramble throughout the garden
• Stone is a common feature of Mediterranean gardens. Pale, smooth stones are more common than rough hewn, rustic ones. Consider integrating stone into retaining walls, pathways, decorative elements, and furnishings
• Another common material for pathways is brick. If you’re looking for more of a Mediterranean countryside feel, consider using brick pathways and allow the grass or groundcover to infiltrate between the cracks
• Water is another important element in this style of gardening. You might decide to use a classical style fountain with moving water, or you may just integrate a long, low, flat water feature. Stone rimmed pools are very common features in Mediterranean gardens and they do a good job of filling long, narrow spaces

Plants to Use in a Mediterranean Garden

Mediterranean gardeners combine a variety of plant types in their gardens. It’s not uncommon to see flowers, herbs, fruit trees, and succulents all in the same garden. Certainly, if you want a traditional Mediterranean garden, you should stick to the plants that they use.

However, if these plants aren’t suited to your climate (and unless you live in California, they probably aren’t), does that mean that you’re going to have to pass your dream garden by in favor of something that is more suited to your area? Of course not. Some of the species favored by Mediterranean gardeners are still usable up to Zone 4, and you can use similar plants if necessary. If a grove of orange trees isn’t going to withstand the frost, try planting a grove of apple trees instead.

Some popular flower choices for a Mediterranean Garden include:

• Cyprus
• Euphorbia
• Evergreen
• Lavender
• Myrtle
• Oleander
• Olive
• Poppy
• Rosemary
• Sage

Mediterranean Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Common furniture materials:
  • Wrought iron
  • Wood
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Mediterranean Garden include:
  • Use a stone urn or birdbath as a focal point in a flower bed or a patio area
  • Mark the entrance to the garden or eating area with a pair of matched pillars. Consider topping them with trailing plants or garden globes
  • Use a trellis covered in climbing plants as a “wall” to section off an eating area

But you don’t have to be doomed to bare ground with only a few evergreens to break up the monotony. Why not try a woodland garden? This casual style works very well in shady areas, creating a retreat that is easy to care for and very attractive too. Woodland gardens work particularly well with homes that are placed on wooded lots as well as rustic style homes.

Woodland Garden History

Natural looking gardens didn’t really become popular until the late 1800s. Before that, formal gardens with geometric patterns, dramatic blooms, and lots of fountains were pretty much the norm. But a book called The Wild Garden helped to make more natural garden themes, like those found in woodland gardens or prairie gardens, an increasingly popular choice.

Woodland Garden Characteristics

Woodland gardens have a lot of advantages. If you’re sick of mowing, can’t stand to rake leaves, and don’t like the idea of all of those fertilizers and insecticides being released into the environment, why not remove your backyard and replace it with a woodland paradise?

Woodland gardens require no mowing or raking and need very little maintenance overall. Simply fertilizing the soil is usually enough to keep the plants happy and healthy. You may, however, run into some problems with animals that see your garden as the ideal place to live or lunch. Depending on the animal in question, there are some natural deterrents such as castor oil or human hair that you can use, or you can help to keep them out with a nice sturdy wall.

If you have a sunny lot but love walking through the woods so much that you want a woodland garden, it’s still possible. Instead of trying to evoke the feeling of the deep woods, instead, think of recreating a woodland meadow, using wildflowers that are more sun tolerant.

You can still use some of the more shade friendly varieties along the border; simply plant them under some new trees or shrubs. As your trees grow, you can gradually change your approach to suit the new environment.

Smaller yards can also be turned into woodland gardens, but you’re going to run into a few problems there. Obviously, you can’t fit a lot of trees into a small space, so you may need to try some dwarf varieties or shrubs. You also may have a problem with the leaves.

One of the greatest advantages of having a woodland garden is the ability to delay leaf removal or avoid it altogether. After all, no one goes through the woods to take out all of the leaves, do they?

But in a small space without many large trees, the wind is going to pick up those leaves, and they’ll end up all over someone’s yard. Either you or your neighbors is going to be rather unhappy in the end. So with smaller gardens, you will probably still need to remove the leaves, but you can simply mulch them and put them right back onto the beds.

Woodland Garden Layout

In the spirit of a woodland path, steer away from stick straight paths and borders. Meandering pathways over uneven land really evoke the woodsy feel, although by all means, make sure that the paths are well maintained enough to walk on them safely

Some good materials for pathways include wood chips, pine needles, gravel and brick. You might be tempted to leave them bare just like a path you’d find in the woods, but it’s not the best of ideas. Covering the pathways will help to define them better and keep your plants from covering them while you’re not looking

Plant some larger plant species around the border of the garden. This should help to block out traffic noise and the ugly garden flags that your neighbor insists on hanging outside. If you’re really in a high traffic, high noise area, try blocking out the world with a low garden wall. Rock is probably the best option there

Consider bordering pathways or beds with hosta. They make a great leaf trap and help to keep plants from spreading into areas where they don’t belong. All you need to do is divide them periodically

Plants to Use in a Woodland Garden

One way to keep your woodland garden as low maintenance as possible is to research native woodland plants from your area. These species are already well suited for the soil type in your region, which means you’ll be spending less time working organic materials into the soil before you plant. They are also tolerant of your climate. It should be relatively easy to learn about your options.

Try visiting the nature center at one of your local parks, or if you’re more of a do it yourself type, you can hit the trails with a wildflower guide and try to identify some species on your own. Just make sure to select species that are well suited for the amount of sun you’ll have in your garden. And if you have a lot of trees, you may want to seek out some dry shade plants. Trees suck up a lot of water, so the plants you select should be draught tolerant.

Some popular flower choices for a Woodland Garden include:

• Fern
• Forget-me-not
• Foxglove
• Hosta
• Hydrangea
• Periwinkle
• Poppy
• Rhododendron
• Trillium

You might also consider adding some wild berries like strawberry or blackberry to a larger woodland garden. Think about how enjoyable it would be to take a basket out into the backyard to pick some fresh berries to go with supper.

Woodland Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Common furniture materials:
  • Wicker
  • Bamboo
  • Wood
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Woodland Garden include:
  • Convert an old log or stump into a creative planter
  • Place large, flat boulders along a long path in place of benches. Help visitors understand their purpose by setting an outdoor friendly pillow on top
  • Line a long path with birdhouses or butterfly houses to inject a little color into the environment

Picture fields of tall grasses and wildflowers growing in the breeze and you’ve got the basic idea behind a prairie garden.

Prairie gardens mimic this natural look, and they have a lot of advantages that may make them the right choice for you.

They help to preserve native wildflower species that may be in danger due to over-development and elimination of prairie habitats

They require less maintenance in terms of mowing and weeding, which means less money spent on gas for the mower and less time spent in your gardening gloves.

Prairie gardens also don’t require as much pesticide or fertilizer use as a regular garden or yard, and they’re also attractive to butterflies, birds, and other forms of wildlife.

Read on to learn more about how to design your prairie garden landscape!

Prairie Garden History

Prairies used to be a common sight from Texas all the way up into Canada and from Colorado all the way across to Ohio. In fact, the prairie habitat was the most common of them all. Unfortunately, about 99% of those prairies have been eliminated through new construction, and native plants are being choked out by invasive species.

The removal of habitat has affected both plant and animal life, and recent interest in conservation has led many people to start looking for more natural ways to maintain their yards and gardens. The prairie garden is a natural offspring of those efforts.

Prairie Garden Characteristics

When you picture a prairie garden in your mind, you may be thinking of tall, unkempt looking grasses that would obscure your grass and make your neighbors think that you’re too lazy to mow. On the contrary, prairie gardens can be natural looking without bothering your neighbors or losing your mailbox in a sea of ornamental grasses.

There are actually different kinds of prairies, which are mainly identified by the size of the grasses and plants that grow there. Prairies range from tall grasses to short grasses, so you should have no problem finding something that will suit your landscape and satisfy your neighbors at the same time.

In order to make your prairie garden a success, it’s best to start off with an empty slate. This means that you don’t want any plants in the area. If you’re lucky enough to have a completely empty bed, terrific! But if you’re converting an area or an entire yard into a prairie vista, you’ll need to make sure to completely eliminate all of the plants in the area.

There are really three ways to accomplish this. You can cover the area with a tarp or a thick layer of newspaper held carefully in place with rocks or brick. The unfortunate part about this process is that it takes about two months to completely kill off grasses, so if you’re working with an area that’s visible from the street, this may not be the best choice for you.

The second choice is to completely turn the soil once, and then again in two weeks, and then a third time in two more weeks. The last and quickest method is to use a herbicide containing glyphosate.

Since the prairie garden is mainly made up of grasses and wildflowers, it is easily taken over by weeds and woody plants, so your main task will be to pull out plants that don’t belong. By removing sprouts before they turn into saplings, you’ll protect your delicate ornamental grasses. Also, since your plants are relatively small, most species will have fairly shallow roots. Most prairie plants don’t respond well to wet, marshy places, but in a draught you’ll definitely need to give them a little water.

Prairie Garden Layout

• You want a natural look in a prairie garden, but still follow some basic garden design principles. Plant your tall grasses and flowers at the back of your beds and the borders of your garden. They’re especially handy when it comes to obscuring ugly views and blocking our sounds.
• Place smaller species up front where they can be seen and enjoyed
• Plant species in clumps, but mix up the flowers in each area to create a pleasing combination of colors and shapes. When you think of a field of wildflowers, you see a sprinkling of color throughout the area rather than a concentration of flowers in one specific area. As best as you can, try to mimic that
• Even though you’re trying to create a natural prairie look, you can and should still select flowers for dramatic impact. Border a gate or entryway with some bright colors or showy blooms not found elsewhere in the garden, or highlight a particularly impressive species by showcasing it in a planter
• Pathways can be any material you like. If you favor gravel or woodchips, however, you’ll need to do some upkeep to make sure that the area stays plant-free. Another attractive option is to lay pavers or fieldstone and allow some groundcover to become established in the gaps between the stones
• It’s a good idea to start with at least a few potted plants. Remember that seeds take a long time to grow, and you should be starting with a blank slate. You’ll have a lot of hard work keeping invasive plants out of the area while waiting for your seeds to germinate, and then you’re not going to have flowers for a season or two

Plants to Use in a Prairie Garden

When it comes to establishing a prairie garden, you get double duty in terms of plant selection. Not only do you need to select the wildflower species, but you also need to select some grasses.

You can limit yourself exclusively to taller grasses or shorter ones, or you can mix the two in the same area to create a graded effect. Some tall grasses that you might consider include big bluestem, bottlebrush grass, and switchgrass. Some common and attractive short grasses include little bluestem, palm sedge, and vanilla sweetgrass.

Some popular flower choices for a Prairie Garden include:

• Aster
• Black eyed susan
• Columbine
• Coneflower
• Coreopsis
• Indigo
• Milkweed
• Orchid
• Phlox
• Sunflower

Prairie Garden Accessory Suggestions

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Prairie Garden include:

• Place a rustic wooden bench or swing along a long path so that visitors can sit and watch the grasses sway in the breeze
• Display a collection of old metal watering cans. You could display them in a bunch or use them to line a pathway
• Place brightly painted birdhouses on tall posts in the middle of a field or bed of wildflowers

Do you have a special place in your heart for warm weather and the resort vibe? Want to recreate a little of that tropical flair that you enjoy while on vacation in your backyard? Why not plant a tropical style garden?

It’s possible to mimic the tropical feel even if you live in the Midwest; it just takes a little extra planning and a splash of creativity. The tropical garden is made up of big plants and bright colors; it’s just a matter of finding species that will work well in your climate. In these gardens, you’ll end up with a tropical feel even if the plants technically aren’t tropical species.

Tropical Garden History

Interest in tropical gardens has developed along with rainforest conservation efforts. Now, many zoos and botanical gardens feature native tropical varieties from Africa and South America. Some of the largest and most successful tropical gardens include the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, located on the Big Island, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden, located on Maui.

You don’t need to go to Hawaii to enjoy a visit to a tropical paradise, though. Many zoos feature permanent indoor gardens that you can visit even if you live in a in cooler climate.

Tropical Garden Characteristics

As noted above, tropical gardens rely on bright colors and big plants. If you think of a jungle or rainforest, the plants aren’t meek little varieties that fade into the background. And in order to mimic that look, you need a lot of foliage to fill the space.

You still need to maintain the plants to keep them healthy, but otherwise you’ll want to let them grow wild. Let them crowd your paths. Plant varieties that will grow tall enough to block out the surrounding area so that visitors to your garden can pretend just for a moment that they’re out in the Caribbean somewhere.

You might think that if you’ve got a smaller space that a tropical garden is out of your reach. That isn’t true at all. You can still create a jungle-like atmosphere with a mix of dramatic colors and by filling the space completely.

Consider planting around the outside of a small patio so that you’ve still got room for a table and chairs. This allows you to use larger scale plants without crowding people while they dine.

You’ll also get a great jungle vibe by planting a few large species that overhang the table and block out the neighbors and street sounds.

Overall, you want the garden area to look as natural as possible. This means freeform shapes rather than geometrically perfect squares and straight lines. Naturally undulating ground as opposed to perfectly flat landscaping. And natural touches like rocks or boulders placed in beds or as seats along a long and winding path.

Plants should also look natural. By all means, prune them. Take care of them and keep them healthy. But if you feel the need to prune your plants into pretty shapes, tropical gardening may not be the right choice for you. Instead, let your plants grow lush and natural.

Tropical Garden Layout

• Your layout should be as far from formal as possible. Twisting or winding paths, overgrown edges, and natural shapes in your plants each contribute to the tropical atmosphere
• Pathways can be simple gravel or woodchip paths, or you can use stone or brick to create something a little easier to travel on



• If you live in a cooler climate, plant perennials, trees, and shrubs that won’t die off at the first sign of frost. Then you can fill in with bright annuals once the weather is warm enough or use some pots to plant the more delicate species. These can easily be moved outside once it’s warm enough, and they also give the added benefit of a little tropical flair when you move them inside for the winter
• Within each bed, mix and match the plants. Again, you’re not looking for formal beds with the largest plants in a nice straight line in the back of the bed. Think of how plants naturally spread; plant them in smaller clumps and really mix up the colors, sizes, and textures to make each bed as lush as possible
• Don’t forget to make the most of your furnishings too. Low key or country style accessories and furnishings aren’t going to work well at all. If your space permits, create an opulent outdoor room, complete with pillows in an outdoor fabric, tiki lamps for light and ambience, or hanging lanterns

Plants to Use in a Tropical Garden

When it comes to a tropical garden, you want to fill the space as best you can. Choose big plants: i.e. tall or wide species. A combination of the two will create a nice jungle-like atmosphere.

Species with large leaves are also a good choice. This doesn’t mean that you’re not allowed to select some smaller blooms by any stretch of the imagination, but a garden full of small plants isn’t going to quite capture that tropical feel.

The next thing to consider in terms of plant selection is color. Color doesn’t just have to be limited to blooms, although of course those will be very important in your tropical garden. Plants like coleus have colored foliage that holds up well in cooler climates and injects a lot of color.

When it comes to selecting colors for flowers and plants in a tropical garden, a wide variety works best. Mixing bright, vibrant tones like kiwi, bright red, orange, and purple is a good choice.

Some popular choices for a Tropical Garden include:

• Arum
• Begonia
• Canna
• Coleus
• Dahlia
• Fern
• Magnolia
• Nasturtium
• Palm
• Salvia
• Sedum

Tropical Garden Accessory Suggestions

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Tropical Garden include:

• Give your dining area a little Tiki Hut flair with grass skirts and Tiki masks
• Add a fire pit (check out your local regulations to find out what’s acceptable and what isn’t)
• Set out some teak furniture with plush cushions and plenty of table space for drinks and snacks

If you have a love for old fashioned, traditional blooms, heady scents, and dramatic plants, rose gardening might just be the right choice for you.

Rose gardens don’t require much in the way of special requirements: just some good soil and a willingness on your part to spend some time out there taking care of your rose bushes (and a pair of good gardening gloves to protect your hands from the thorns might be nice.) If you’re a rose lover, they’re a terrific option to get some low cost blooms onto your table.

Depending on their layout, rose gardens can be very formal or casual, almost like a country garden.

Take the time to consider how you plan to use your garden and how it will integrate with the interior and exterior of your home. Then choose a layout and types of roses that work well with the feeling that you want to create.

Rose Garden History

Once upon a time, roses could only be found in the Middle East. Rose products such as perfume and medicines were an expensive export in other parts of the world. They became in such demand that the Romans soon imported a variety of rose species and established the rose gardens in the southern part of the city.

Roses have always carried a lot of symbolism. High society suitors used to spend hours crafting complex bouquets that would convey their exact thoughts to the recipient. Red roses, of course, symbolize love, for example. White ones symbolize purity. Yellow used to mean jealousy, but the meaning has been changed to friendship. And there was also the War of the Roses in England, in which York supporters wore white roses and Lancaster supporters wore red ones.

Rose Garden Characteristics

Of course rose gardens feature a variety of rose species throughout the area, although the plant selection doesn’t need to be limited exclusively to roses. In fact, you’ll want to select some foliage at the very least to fill in spaces. However, the good news is that many rose species grow quite large, so they’ll fill in an area quite nicely. There’s nothing like walking down a long path bordered with fragrant rose bushes.

There are actually many different varieties of roses that you’ll need to select from. Depending on your garden plan, you may want one of the old fashioned species roses, which haven’t been altered. Repeat bloomers or floribunda flower frequently during the summer, which is a good thing if you plan to cut some periodically throughout the season. Shrub roses are a little smaller and more compact, and they do better in cold winter weather. Hybrid tea roses are free branching and a good basic rose. Any combination of roses will work for a rose garden. If you’re new to gardening and looking for some breeds that are easy to maintain and work well in your climate, it’s a simple matter of heading out to your local nursery. They should be happy to make a recommendation or two.

Rose gardens are actually relatively easy to maintain as noted above. One of the most important tasks you can perform is deadheading. Deadheading is a simple process in which you cut off blooms that are starting to fade, before they go to seed. With species that bloom more than once during the season, deadheading is absolutely essential. And even with other species, it’s an important thing to do that will preserve the appearance of your plant and cause it to fill in better.

Rose Garden Layout

• One thing to consider carefully is the overall layout. If you plan to install walking paths, you’ll need to make sure that they’re wide enough; otherwise you’ll be constantly poked by the roses growing alongside
• You’ll also need to give larger rosebushes a little extra support, otherwise the weight of their blooms will cause them to topple right over. Sure, you can plant individual stakes for each plant to give them a little help, but also consider planting a row of climbing rosebushes along a stationery object like a white picket fence
• Select an area with good drainage. Roses don’t do well in soil that stays too moist, so if you’re forced to plant in a low, marshy area, you’ll need to create some raised beds to protect your roses from rot
• Consider the views. One of the best things about planting a lot of roses is that they look great close up and far away. Make the most of a long pathway with an arbor or trellis that allows the roses to climb and make a dramatic statement. Mix up the colors or stick with a dramatic monochrome plan

Plants to Use in a Rose Garden

Obviously, you want to plant roses in your Rose Garden, but it’s a mistake to stop there. At minimum, select a few complimentary plants to fill in the gaps and provide a little contrast to highlight the beauty of your roses. For example, you might plant a row of white roses along a long path. This is beautiful enough, but planting a hosta variety with colored leaves in between each of the roses will really make those white blooms pop.

If you’re really a purist and want to plant roses and only roses with no other types of flowers, take the time to select a variety of species that grow at different heights and have different types of foliage. You can plant them with some ornamental shrubs to break up the vista. Just remember that, especially in larger gardens, you need a little variety to keep the eye from becoming bored. Take the time to inject some dramatic pops of color in your roses; find a variety with a particularly vibrant color and use it to highlight an entryway or surround a patio. Integrating this type of variety will help keep your rose garden from being ho hum.

Some popular choices for a Rose Garden include:

• Aster
• Bleeding heart
• Daisy
• Hyacinth
• Lily of the valley
• Hosta
• Peony
• Primrose
• Tulip

Rose Garden Accessory Suggestions

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Rose Garden include:

• Break up a long row of roses with simple stone statues placed between every second or third bush
• Inject a little country flair by planting creeping roses in an old wheelbarrow or wine barrel
• Display a collection in your garden like old metal watering cans or stepping stones. Again, use accessories to inject variety into the view

Maybe you have an existing pond in your backyard and would love to build a garden around it. Or maybe you’re so in love with the idea that you’re willing to start from scratch. The fact is that water gardens are very easy to implement in your yard. Besides, who can resist the idea of sitting down with a cool drink next to a trickling waterfall and your very own pond?

Unless you’re blessed with a preexisting pond, you’ll need to do some planning first. First, determine the features you want. Do you want a waterfall? Koi pond or other fish? Plants only?

The more stuff you want in the pond, the larger it will need to be. Select a location where rainwater won’t drain into the pond, carrying fertilizer and muck into your pond. And take the time to map out the pond on the ground to make sure its what you want before you break ground.

Water Garden History

Historically, water features such as ponds and waterfalls were often found in Japanese gardens. The tradition passed from them to the Greeks and Romans, and many European gardens integrated fountains and ponds into their elaborate gardens. After World War II, water gardening became increasingly popular, since many plants and fish varieties were now readily available outside of Japan.

Water Garden Characteristics

Obviously, the central characteristic of your water garden is the water. The shape of your pond or ponds really contributes to the overall vibe of your garden. If you like a more modern, geometric look, try a circular or oval shaped pond. If you like something more natural, use freeform shapes for the water features. If you’d like to be able to walk through the garden, consider a narrow pond with a bridge arching over it. If you plan to create a sitting area next to the pond, orient the pond along the sitting area so that everyone can see it.

While most gardeners spend a lot of time pruning, weeding, and watering, water gardeners have a different set of important tasks. As a water gardener, you’ll need to focus on keeping the pond clean and the nutrients in the water properly balanced. It’s actually rather similar to keeping a fish tank.

You’ll need to keep the water free of debris, maintain the water pump and filters, and periodically test the water. Water can be treated or changed to help keep levels where they ought to be. Even if you don’t have fish in your pond, don’t skip these steps. Murky water will really interfere with your enjoyment of your Water Garden, and if it gets particularly bad, it can kill off some of your delicate plant life.

One concern that many potential water gardeners have is mosquitoes. We’ve all been taught that standing bodies of water attract them, so Water Gardens are a big mistake, right? Actually, that’s not true. Water gardens attract dragonflies and damselflies, and they eat mosquitoes for lunch. So do koi and other fish, for that matter, so your pond will police itself when it comes to mosquitoes. However, you do want to make sure that the water in your garden is circulating properly; little pools of stagnant water should be eliminated just to be safe.

Water Garden Layout

• Once the pond shape has been selected, you’ll need to dig out the area and line it with a waterproof liner. Take the time at this point to step back and consider the overall appearance of the pond and how it works with the surrounding environment. Now is the best time to make changes
• Flat ponds can be pretty boring. Inject a little variety into a flat landscape by building a short rock or slate wall along the back of your pond and plant ferns or other plants along the top
• A waterfall really adds visual interest and helps to aerate the water at the same time. Your waterfall can land right into the main pool, or it can trickle through several levels of pools before it gets to the bottom
• Carefully plan your approach when it comes to placing plants. Move from the center of the pond outwards, placing the larger potted plants in first, followed by the floaters, then smaller potted plants, and edging. Make sure to leave an easy access point that will allow you to test the water without trampling on one of your beautiful plants

Plants to Use in a Water Garden

Your Water Garden plants not only provide something pretty to look at, but they make important contributions to the little ecosystem that you’re constructing. For example, they offer shelter to your fish and block animals from using your pond as an impromptu bath. You’ll need a variety of different types of plants, including some that grow on the pond’s edges, some that float in the water, and others that are placed in pots that are then placed underwater.

Anacharis is one plant that you’ll definitely want to check out because it consumes nutrients that will allow algae to spread. You’ll probably still need to keep an eye on the algae situation, but anything that helps to keep algae in check is a very good thing. However, if you plan to keep koi, they consider anacharis to be a tasty treat, so you’ll need to protect them.

You’ve got a couple of options when it comes to planting species that are appetizing to your fish. You can create two separate pools connected by a waterfall, and put the anacharis and other species in the upper pool, or you can just use plant protectors.

Some popular choices for a Water Garden include:

• Anacharis
• Cattail
• Creeping jenny
• Dwarf papyrus
• Lotus
• Taro
• Water hyacinth
• Water lilies
• Water poppy
• Water willow

Water Garden Accessory Suggestions

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Water Garden include:

• Install a garden bridge. Try a rustic country style or a streamlined modern version to suit the décor
• Create an imitation island covered in flowers
• Install lanterns in the ground around your pond to illuminate the entire area at night

If you are a person who likes symmetry; clear, uncluttered lines; and simple ornamentation, a formal or knot garden might be the right choice for you. These two garden types are very similar. The key difference between the two is that knot gardens are generally arranged symmetrically, often with pruned boxwood hedges featured prominently.

Formal gardens may or may not be symmetrical, but as in the knot garden, plants are pruned and cultivated to create a clean and uncluttered look overall.

Whether you plan a symmetrical knot garden layout with plenty of boxwood for edging or just a formal and elegant look overall, these gardens rely heavily on geometric shapes and straight lines. This gives the garden an overall feeling of order and organization not found in other garden styles.

Formal or Knot Garden History

When you think of formal gardens, you may automatically think back to grand palaces like Versailles. French, Italian and English manors or villas also made use of formal gardening, since it made for a pleasant place to stroll despite less than practical clothing and footwear. In fact, most gardens throughout Europe were formal in style through the 17th century. It was only during the early 1700s that more natural landscapes became popular.

Formal or Knot Garden Characteristics

The key to a successful formal garden or knot garden is the layout. Consider plotting out the area on a piece of graph paper or in a garden design program. Integrate straight lines and simple geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, and circles into the plan. Gentle curves or circles can add some interest, but use them sparingly.

Since your garden relies heavily on shapes and lines, it’s absolutely vital to maintain plants properly. While overgrown pathways might look completely natural in a woodland garden, they look unkempt when set in a formal design. Similarly, shrubs and other plantings need to be pruned and maintained regularly into clean shapes to make the most of this design. Suffice to say that if you’re interested in a low maintenance garden, formal style might not be the best choice for you.

Formal gardens lean more towards the uncluttered look, as opposed to the more natural mishmash of plant species found in styles like the country garden. Rather than planting a bed with a great variety of species, consider two or three, and plant them in symmetrical rows or squares to add to the feeling of order and simplicity.

You may even elect to use a monochromatic color scheme when it comes to flowers. One popular choice is to select only plants with white blooms, which look terrific against the dark green foliage of boxwood and other shrubs. Or perhaps you’d prefer selecting two or three complimentary colors to mix things up a bit while still maintaining the formal appeal of the layout.

All of this focus on symmetry and order may start to feel a little constraining. It’s certainly acceptable to deliberately break the mold in a formal garden, so long as you do it deliberately and with good reason. For example, you might have a long pathway leading to a gazebo or dining area in your formal garden.

Even if you’ve limited yourself to white plantings throughout the rest of the garden, flanking the entryway to the dining area with red blooms for example really makes the most of the vista and draws attention. Use pops of color or an unexpected curved line to draw the eye to your favorite views, plants, or gathering areas.

It wouldn’t be right to discuss a formal garden without at least mentioning a topiary. As you may know, the topiary is an evergreen that is pruned into a specific shape or image.

Topiary shapes may include geometric patterns such as windmills or crosses or something a little more complex and fanciful like rabbits or elephants.

Generally, more complex topiaries look out of proportion in smaller gardens. If you have a smaller space but just can’t resist the allure of a topiary, consider creating a smaller geometric shape that won’t overwhelm the space.

Formal or Knot Garden Layout

• As noted above, pathways should be straight, with the occasional curve thrown in for interest. Flower beds are generally made of simple geometric shapes
• Consider traditional pavers like stone, brick, or concrete blocks for pathways. Choose geometric shapes that compliment your flower beds
• As with all gardens, you want your plantings to be visible, so plant the largest species in the back or center of the bed. With the formal arrangement, it’s also good to focus on symmetry and shape, so try to make sure that your plantings and accessories are all balanced appropriately
• If your garden is hilly, you need to level the playing field as much as possible. Even gentle hills will interfere with the straight lines of the garden and make them look a little lopsided. You can spend a lot of time moving dirt around or you can take the time to flatten the area where the pathway will lie and use the extra dirt to create raised flowerbeds
• However you choose to plant, define the pathways with an evergreen like boxwood, geometric edging material, low stone walls, or something. Otherwise, the upkeep necessary to keep the edges of your paths clean will likely drive you loopy

Plants to Use in a Formal or Knot Garden

Generally, plants found in a formal garden are traditional rather than exotic. Rather than firey colors and showy blooms, you’re looking for something that has classic lines and restrained colors.

If the space is large enough to accommodate it, consider planting a small arbor in one area of the garden. Symmetric rows of fruit bearing trees are attractive and work well in a formal setting, and there’s nothing that beats heading out to the garden to pick some fresh fruit for an afternoon snack.

Some popular choices for a Formal Garden include:

• Boxwood
• Evergreen
• Hosta
• Hydrangea
• Marigold
• Morning glory
• Peony
• Primrose
• Rose
• Violet

Knot Gardens often integrate attractive and aromatic herbs like thyme, marjoram, lemon balm, and rosemary into the mix.

Formal or Knot Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Furniture materials:
  • Wood
  • Wrought iron
  • Stone
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Formal or Knot Garden include:
  • Place Grecian urns filled with flowers at regular intervals along a pathway
  • Flank a bench with two traditional hanging lanterns
  • Integrate a small number of choice stone or concrete pieces in traditional shapes such as pineapples or globes

Although you might assume that container gardens are nothing more than a row of potted flowers, that’s not the case at all. You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to container gardening. Since you’ve got virtually a clean slate, you can make your container garden as large or as small as your space will allow. You can develop something a little more permanent, using large and hugely heavy pots, or something more transportable that can move with you to your next apartment or that can be sheltered inside during colder weather. And these are just a few of the options.

Container Garden History

You might think that container gardening is a modern development, but that isn’t actually correct. Container garden use started with the ancient Romans. Medieval monasteries often used container gardens to grow vegetables and herbs to supplement their diets. And as more and more people migrated to the cities where land for planting was scarce, more people began to grow a few essentials in pots on their windowsills, on balconies, in patios, and even on rooftops.

Container Garden Characteristics

Container gardens can flourish anywhere, although they tend to look the best in small, defined spaces. Enclosed patios, rooftops, and balconies are common choices. Often, people turn to containers when they’re dealing with a paved area with no dirt to be had for planting as noted above. However, there’s no reason that you can’t choose to cover some small flower beds with mulch and establish a container garden on top of them. This may be a good choice for you if you’re looking to establish some delicate perennials that won’t withstand your winter weather.

One of the reasons that container gardens tend to do best in smaller spaces is because it’s difficult to adequately fill a large space with containers. It can also get awfully expensive to buy attractive planters to fill a large space adequately. So if you’ve got a large area to work with but love the idea of container gardening, consider mixing some in-ground plantings with some attractive containers.

Simply filling the area around the containers with ground cover and a few easy-to-maintain shrubs should do the trick. Or, if the area is completely paved, create a few vignettes throughout the space. Create small clusters of containers throughout the area. Or for a more formal look, place containers containing the same species of large ornamental shrub at even intervals along a long wall.

Another thing to consider when selecting a container garden is their unique care requirements. Generally, container gardens are easier to care for than in-ground varieties: you have less space to water, fewer garden pests, and little to no problems when it comes to weeds. However, you’ll need to repot plants as they grow so that they don’t become pot bound. Pot bound plants have trouble getting adequate nutrients and water, and this can result in stunted growth and even death of the plant. So using a too small container is a big no-no.

The converse is also true: using a too large container for your flowers will make them look out of proportion and can keep them from getting enough water, since the water pools at the bottom of the container and their roots aren’t long enough to get at it. So one of the major tasks you’ll have as a container gardener will be to make sure that your plants are in the right size of container to keep them healthy and beautiful. And of course, you’ll still need to water and deadhead.

Container Garden Layout

• Just because your potting your plants doesn’t mean that it’s not important to consider the overall layout of your arrangement. A good layout will can change a bunch of plants into a beautiful garden
• First, consider the heights of your containers and plants. As with an in-ground garden, you want to arrange the plants and containers so that they’re visible. That means that in a group, the smaller ones need to go to the front
• While it’s true that you can avoid this problem by choosing containers of exactly the same size and shape, it’s not the best of ideas unless you’re going for a formal look and plan to plant them all with the same flower species. They say that variety is the spice of life for a reason
• However, carefully consider the weight of larger pots if you plan to move them. A large ceramic planter will be virtually stationary when you fill it with dirt
• If you need to stick with smaller, movable pots, you can still fill the space. Elevate smaller pots on garden tables, or turn a larger pot (empty, of course) over and place the smaller one on top. By elevating a pot with a fabulous flower in it, you’re creating a lot of visual interest
• If you plan to keep your container garden for more than one season, it’s better to invest in nice pots. Cheap plastic pots often deteriorate in sunlight and can crack. Wood will rot
• Don’t skip the ground cover. If you’ve got a lot of exposed dirt, cover it with mulch, pebbles, marbles, or something that makes it look a little less bland. You can also fill larger containers with a mix of larger and smaller plants to make the dirt a little less visible

Plants to Use in a Container Garden

You can plant virtually anything in a container garden. Herbs and flowers are popular choices, but there’s no reason that a larger container garden couldn’t include vegetables and small shrubs if that’s what you want. Again, the key is to match the plant with the right container and to find the right mix of plants for each container. Consider the size and style of the container. If your container is ornate, choose a shrub that won’t overshadow the beauty of the container. And for more showy blooms, choose a container that won’t detract from their appeal as well.

Some popular flower choices for a Container Garden include:

• Begonia
• Coleus
• Geranium
• Impatiens
• Marigold
• Nasturtium
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Salvia
• Zinnia

However, don’t be limited to flowers only. Herbs do particularly well in containers and can be used to add a little zest to your cooking. And who could resist some fresh cherry tomatoes or leaf lettuce from your container garden? Since you’ll have to plant them in small numbers, stick with vegetables that mature quickly so that you have enough to share with friends.

Container Garden Accessory Suggestions

Don’t forget to accessorize! A few well chosen garden accessories can really take a container garden to the next level. One suggestion is to vary the containers that you’re using. Try planting some flowers in an old wine barrel or integrate a colorful strawberry pot into the mix.

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Container Garden include:

• Hang some brightly colored stepping stones on the wall behind the containers
• Lean a small section of white picket fence against a wall and plant some trailing flowers in a planter hung on the fence
• Place a small battery powered fountain among your containers to add an unexpected twist

If you are building a new wood deck or resurfacing an existing one, you are weighing the options and trying to determine what deck material will be best. You want something that is attractive, easy to maintain and cost effective.

One option to consider instead of a real wood deck surface will be composite products from manufacturers like Trex, Evergrain, TimberTech, CertainTeed, and LP.

Most composite deck materials are manufactured with a blend of recycled plastics such as polyethylene or PVC and wood fiber and sawdust by-products. Introduced to the market in the early 1990s, the initial products were made almost entirely with recycled products and touted as being environmentally friendly.

Characteristics of Composite Deck Materials

Today, in order to engineer longer lasting, more attractive composite deck materials, many manufacturers use recycled and/or virgin polyethylene or PVC, blended with wood flour and cellulose fibers. Each manufacturer uses a secret recipe, claiming that its unique blend will last longer, resist mold, fading, and superior expansion and contraction characteristics.

These composite products definitely give your deck better resistance to insects and rot than real wood and make it less likely to split, crack and weather as quickly. A variety of colors and finishes are available, including redwood, cedar, gray, buckskin and weathered wood. Some of the better products can look almost as good as a real wood deck!

Two basic types of composite deck materials are available; solid and hollow. Solid composite decking looks more like real wood decking but also expands and contracts more due to its mass. Hollow composite decking products may be more susceptible to damage on the job site and after installation.

Benefits of Composite Deck Materials

• Does not deteriorate or rot as quickly as real wood
• Resists fading and heat damage
• Easy to install
• Requires less maintenance than a real wood deck; no sanding, staining, sealing or refinishing is required
• Surface designed to prevent slipping when wet
• Does not splinter or sliver like real wood decking material

Disadvantages of Composite Deck Materials

• Probably only has a useful life of 5 to 10 years; while manufacturers claim otherwise, after about 5 seasons your composite deck will begin to show signs of wear and tear, with some degradation of the surface finish, color fading, scratches and even some warping
• Cannot be refinished, unlike a wood deck, which can be stained, oiled or otherwise refinished; the look you get when you buy it is what you’ll have for the life of your deck surface
• May pose environmental concerns since it can not currently be recycled and, unlike wood deck materials, may last up to 1,000 years in a landfill

Composite Deck Purchasing Tips

• Look at a variety of options before you select a composite decking material; warranties, features and prices vary widely and some products are better suited to certain types of climates than others
• Be sure you understand the manufacturer’s warranty period and specific terms; purchase your materials from a reputable dealer or home improvement center that will be there to back up the products they sell
• Consider whether you want to use deck railing and hardware made by the same manufacturer to match your deck surface or whether you prefer something like a wrought iron or other type of railings
• Get at least 3 separate contractors to provide you quotes if you plan to have your deck installed professionally; check references and compare prices before deciding on a contractor. Even if you are considering installing composite deck material yourself, getting the quotes and talking to the contractors first will help you better determine whether you are up to this project and what pitfalls to avoid!

Composite Deck Installation Tips

• Use the specially made screws meant for fastening composite decking material to prevent the deck material from "mushrooming" around the screw head; nails or regular deck screws are not the way to go!
• Although the directions for these screws say no pre-drilling is required, you should always pre-drill the holes with a drill-countersink combination bit; my own experience is that this is the only way to get the screw heads properly counter sunk without any mushrooming or mounding around the heads for a nice, smooth deck surface.
• Use an impact head on your drill and set the tension loose so that you do not over tighten the screw heads and break completely through the surface; you don’t want them too deep.



• As with wood deck materials, you need to correct any curvature in the boards as you install them; snap chalk lines and tack nails to the deck joist along the chalk lines between the composite deck planks to get the spacing even as you install each one.
• If the span you are covering is longer than the composite deck planks, stagger the joints where ends meet; you can either stagger the joints randomly or use an alternating length to create a uniform pattern.
• Start laying deck planks from the outside edge of the deck and work your way inward toward the house; this way if you need to rip the final board to width the cut side can be more easily concealed.
• You can also leave the ends of your deck a bit ragged and uneven as you install if that helps reduce the number of cuts and notches required; trim the ends with a circular saw after all the boards are installed and use a belt sander to round and smooth the ends.

Composite Deck Maintenance and Cleaning Tips

• Be sure to follow your manufacturer’s care instructions
• You need a gap of at least 3/16 inch between composite deck boards (1/8 inch is common) to ensure that leaves, dust, etc. does not clog the gaps and provide an organic food source for mildew and mold to form
• Use a broom or leaf blower to keep your composite deck free of leaves, dust, pollen, etc.
• Keeping your composite deck clean is the best way to prolong its useful life; periodically clean the surfaces with a cleaning solution and stiff scrub brush, scrubbing in the direction of the grain
• A homemade cleaning solution consisting of 1/3 cup of powered laundry soap, 2/3 cup of tri sodium phosphate, one quart of bleach and three quarts of water works well; you can also buy commercial deck cleaning solutions
• Always test the cleaning solution first on a small, out-of-site area of the deck to be sure it does not discolor or otherwise harm the composite deck boards
• Wet the entire deck surface thoroughly before spraying the cleaning solution on to help it spread evenly and penetrate the mold, mildew and grime; it’s easier to do this in small areas, working your way from one end to the other.
• Let the cleaning solution sit for about 15 minutes, scrub it well and then rinse with a garden hose and spray attachment; repeated scrubbing may be required in heavily soiled areas
• If you use a power washer to rinse the deck boards, be sure to use a very low power setting and attachment or you may harm the composite deck surface and void your warrantee; consult your manufacturer’s care instructions before using a power washer.
• Use a putty knife to remove organic material that collects in joints or gaps
• Use care with the cleaning solution; it is acidic and will harm unprotected plants near the deck as you rinse the deck, splashing overspray onto the foliage

Japanese Gardens are separated into a few different types, so you’ve got choices even within this style. The hill and pond garden includes a pond or area of raked gravel that represents a pond, nestled within some gently rolling hills. The flat garden is more of a minimalist, Zen approach that is particularly good for small spaces. Japanese style tea gardens work well for larger spaces, since they focus on travel down a long pathway.

Japanese Garden History

Japanese Gardening developed among the upper class of Japan, and in fact, each element had a specific significance. Special groupings of rocks and arrangements of flowers were used to create a meaning that would benefit the owner and visitors to the garden. A poor garden design was believed by some to bring bad luck to the owner. For many, gardens were a natural outcropping of their religious beliefs, either Shinto or Buddhist, both of which demonstrated a reverence for nature. Many temples also had elaborate gardens.

However, it doesn’t follow that Japanese Gardens were specifically built for Zen meditation, or that they weren’t also cherished for their attractiveness and peacefulness. The Japanese Garden was instead simply an expression of the beauty of nature.

Japanese Garden Characteristics

There are three major principles that you need to keep in mind while designing a Japanese Garden. First, all of the elements should look natural but not wild and overgrown. For example, you’d never use perfectly straight paths surrounding square beds with perfect right angles, because that simply doesn’t happen in nature. Instead, a naturally undulating path surrounding irregular beds with pleasing shapes is both natural appearing and aesthetically pleasing.

The second major principle is balance. All of the elements in a Japanese garden should be in balance with one another. No one element should overwhelm the others in terms of size or scale, nor should one element take up too much of the space. For example, you wouldn’t want to plant one huge tree in a small garden. It would hog all of the space and ruin the balance. Instead, you’d want a few dwarf trees or shrubs. The large trees might work just fine in a larger garden with long walking paths, where the smaller trees would fade into the landscape.

It’s also a good idea to resist the urge to fill all of the space. In fact, emptiness is the final principle that you need to keep in mind when designing your Japanese garden. Leave some spaces empty; don’t fill every possible inch with plants or rocks. Allow your most beautiful plants and accessories to stand alone to draw the eye to them and make them really pop.

Japanese Gardens are almost always enclosed, shutting out the outside world and making them as peaceful as possible. Use fences and gates to enclose the garden, but don’t rule them out as design elements either. Cut windows in gates or fences to allow passersby to catch glimpses of what lies within your garden. Use walls within larger gardens to lead visitors from one area to another.

Japanese Garden Layout

• Layouts should be natural, with undulating paths and placement of design elements naturally throughout the space
• Paths may be raked gravel, stone pavers, or brick. In fact, using worked stone with straight lines is a good way to contrast with the natural undulating lines found in the rest of the garden
• Plant beds can be covered with wood chips or gravel, or moss can be allowed to grow on naturally uneven hills to bring attention to the shape of the land
• Pay attention to the direction in which gravel is raked. Draw attention to shrubs by raking in circles or semicircles around their bases. Then rake the rest of the bed in long, straight lines
• Don’t forget to use rocks as a design element; don’t forget to select rocks with different shapes. Tall rocks, flat rocks, and wide rocks all have a place in the Japanese Garden
• Japanese Gardens should always have a water element or at least an element that represents water. If you have a space for a Koi Pond, this will make a great focal point.
• Plants should draw attention to the pleasing shapes of the rocks and add a little color at the same time

Plants to Use in a Japanese Garden

It’s very important to properly maintain the plants in a Japanese Garden. Because the number of plants is kept to a minimum, unattractive elements like deadheads, dead leaves and mold are readily visible. The overall shape of a plant is also an important element in your garden. You don’t necessarily need to prune them in the same way that you would prune a Bonsai Tree, but it’s certainly a good idea to prune off single protruding branches that make plants look scraggly and unkempt.

Shrubs and evergreens usually form the backbone of plantings in a Japanese garden. Blooming plants are added around the shrubs to inject a little color. Consider planting a stand of larger plants alone to draw attention to the symmetry. If you have the space for it, a stand of bamboo or cherry trees can be particularly beautiful.

Some popular choices for a Japanese Garden include:

• Azalea
• Bamboo
• Cherry trees
• Dwarf maples
• Hydrangea
• Iris
• Lotus
• Rhododendron
• Water lilies
• Wisteria

Japanese Garden Accessory Suggestions

Furniture materials:

• Wood
• Wrought iron
• Stone

Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Japanese Garden include:

• Place lanterns on pedestals at spaces along the pathways
• A small garden bridge can really inject some Asian style
• Plant a small island of evergreens in a sea of raked gravel

Maybe you like the idea of having fresh vegetables to serve at your table, but you don’t live on a farm and want to preserve some curb appeal. One compromise that many people make is to tuck the vegetables behind the house where they can’t see the road and limit beds that are visible from the street to flowers.

But if you don’t have enough room to do that or if the light in your backyard isn’t conducive to vegetable plants, it’s possible to plant an attractive vegetable garden that won’t be an eyesore.

With a little careful planning and a few flowers sprinkled here and there among the vegetable plants, there’s no reason you can’t plant an attractive vegetable garden. Just remember that most vegetables need full sun to thrive.

Another important step to Vegetable Garden success is to have your soil tested before you start. It’s much easier to work organic matter into empty beds than it is once you’ve planted, and poor soil will really hurt your vegetables.

Vegetable Garden History

Vegetable Gardening has a long history. As farmers moved into cities and suburbs to look for work, they planted small plots wherever they could to supplement their food sources.

Around World War II, Vegetable Gardening was even considered a patriotic move. Everyone was expected to contribute to the war effort, and the planting of a Victory Garden or War Garden (which were patriotic names for what was essentially a regular Vegetable Garden) was a way to keep people healthy. Some communities started plots together, bringing rise to cooperative gardening.

Vegetable Gardens look particularly great with Foursquare homes, Cape Cods, and Ranches. They also integrate well with Rustic decorating, Tuscan style, or Arts and Crafts décor.

Vegetable Garden Characteristics

As noted above, many Vegetable Gardens are tucked behind houses. These gardens are often planted in rectangular raised beds, with plants organized in long rows. If you’ve got the space to do this, it’s a tried and true way to raise fresh veggies for your home. However, if space is at a premium, there’s no reason that you can’t integrate vegetables throughout your gardening space on the side or even the front of your home as long as the soil and light quality are both sufficient to support the plants.

When you’re trying to plant a more attractive Vegetable Garden, implement some basic gardening principles. For example, consider the color of the vegetable in question and plant it in tandem with a flower in a complimentary color. For example, bright red heirloom tomatoes would pair well with orange-yellow Gaillardia. Or you could plant them with flowers of the same color, like red poppies, to make the tomatoes less visible.

When it comes to planning your beds, decide if you want a more permanent layout or if you want to be able to change it every year. You’ll need to till or turn the soil every year and rotate the location of each vegetable type if you want them to be successful plantings.

One option is to create permanent pathways segmenting the garden into small plots and turn each plot individually. Or make temporary paths each year with wood chips or sawdust, and then mix them into the soil next year and start anew. If you plan on using this more flexible approach, carefully consider the placement of any perennials, since you’ll have to work around them every year.

You might also use a row of vegetables as an edge or a border. For example, plant a row of cabbages at the border of a flower bed instead of hosta. You’ll need to plan ahead in case of critters, though. This approach only looks good if your row of cabbages isn’t decimated by hungry rabbits.

Vegetable Garden Layout

• Vegetable garden beds can be any shape, with curved or straight lines
• However, beds shouldn’t be too deep; you want to avoid having to step into them very often, tamping down the soil and damaging your seedlings or plants
• If beds are larger, you’ll need to plant in rows, which is going to give you a more farm-like and less decorative appearance



• Raised beds warm earlier, allowing you to get started earlier in the season if you’re in a cooler climate
• Wood chips or gravel are simple pathway covers, or try some concrete pavers for something a little more permanent
• One way to dress up your vegetable garden is to make the most of your entrance. For a larger vegetable garden, try an arbor planted with climbing flowers. For a smaller area, use a white picket gate and hang a planter filled with blooms

Plants to Use in a Vegetable Garden

Obviously, you’ll want to plant vegetables in your garden, but don’t exclude the possibility of mixing veggies and flowers. Many flowers will attract beneficial insects to your garden, minimizing your need for pesticides. And by carefully mixing vegetables with flowers, you’ll get an attractive plot that you’re proud to show.

Consider planting edible flowers that do double duty. You get the attractive element of the flowers and, if you plant them with lettuce, you have a beautiful ready made salad right at your fingertips just in case you need to throw one together at the last minute.

Some popular choices for a Vegetable Garden include:

• Clematis
• Climbing roses
• Daisies
• Gaillardia
• Morning glories
• Nasturnium
• Poppy
• Sunflower

As with any other plant, pick your vegetables carefully. Start out with some of the easier varieties like tomatoes, lettuce, green onions, and green beans. Consider integrating some herbs into the mix for variety. Skip more difficult crops like green peas until your garden is established and you’ve got the hang of Vegetable Gardening.

Also make sure to consider the scale; corn is a great crop, but those ears take up a lot of space and aren’t the most attractive plants in the world if your plot is visible from the street.

Vegetable Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Furniture materials:
  • Wicker
  • Wood
  • Wrought iron
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Vegetable Garden include:
  • Inject a little country farm appeal with a scarecrow
  • Hang a bright painted butterfly house or birdhouse
  • Plant some strawberries in an old watering can or wheelbarrow

Is the heat getting to your plants, making it impossible to keep anything alive in your garden? Are your water bills getting a little too high as a result of constant watering of your garden? Do you have a sloping lawn that’s eroding or difficult to care for? Consider implementing a Rock Garden in those areas to solve your problems.

You don’t need to live in a desert climate to have a Rock Garden, although this style is certainly a good choice for hot, dry areas. Rock Gardens can have a desert theme, featuring succulents like cacti, or they can be more reminiscent of a rocky hill or mountain. They work particularly well in small and graded areas. Consider replacing part or your entire front yard with a Rock Garden to save on your water bills this summer.

Rock Garden History

Rock gardens were first developed in Japan and China, although these early versions often didn’t include plants. Instead, they focused on interesting natural rock formations, almost like sculpture or bonsai would be used today. Rock Gardens didn’t really start to become popular in the United States until the late 1800s. Most early US Rock Gardens were woodsy, focusing on alpine plants. Desert versions developed later.

Now, there’s even a society dedicated to the Rock Garden. NARGS, the North American Rock Garden Society, offers information and tips for people who are really interested in learning more about the traditions of rock gardening.

Rock Gardens look particularly great with Pueblo Revival, Mission style homes, Bungalows, and Ranches. They also integrate well with Southwestern decorating, Rustic style, Asian or Modern décor.

Rock Garden Characteristics

Rock Gardens aren’t limited to rocks alone. The rocks instead provide a natural looking landscape to house the plants you select. If the rocks don’t look right, it doesn’t matter how many plants you pile on top of them; the garden will never look quite right. As a result, rock placement is important. Place rocks in lines to create a grade. Stagger those lines slightly and vary the spacing so that they look more natural. Dig down into the dirt and settle rocks in rather than simply setting them on the ground.

Rock Gardens in general are very natural, integrating stone and plants to mimic the vista that you’d find in the woods, on a mountainside, or in the desert plains. While many Japanese and Chinese gardens use rocks in their overall design, they’re really very different from a true Rock Garden. Japanese and Chinese style gardens tend to be very minimalist, whereas Rock Gardens are more natural and less restrained.

When it comes to overall design, Rock Gardens offer some distinct advantages. Desert versions require very little watering and will thrive in extremely hot areas. Woodsy versions do very well in wooded lots where many other plants won’t make it. Because they’re less formal and rely mostly on hardy plants, they don’t require quite as much upkeep as say a Rose Garden or a Vegetable Garden. And this also makes this style a good choice for the novice gardener.

Rock Garden Layout

• Rock gardens can have a natural look with curving paths, or you can inject a little formality with straight paths
• Just about any material will work for the pathways. For paths that fade into the background, use gravel. Or try red brick or wood chips for a little color contrast
• If you go for stone, consider placing the pavers with gaps between them so that you can plant a little creeping groundcover in the walkway
• If you have a lot of small rocks or don’t want groundcover to creep onto your paths, you’ll need to edge your beds
• Rock choices are important and will vary depending on what kind of plants you want to use. Porous rocks are good for a woodsy rock garden with mosses and woodland plants. Non-porous rocks work better for desert plants
• Place rocks into the garden from largest to smallest, using the smaller pieces to fill in the gaps. Then place plants in the gaps between the rocks

Plants to Use in a Rock Garden

Plant selection is very important in a Rock Garden, although it might not seem like it at first. You can’t just run to your local nursery and pick up a flat of impatiens to put in your Rock Garden. You need to select varieties that work with the type of rock you’re using and with the type of vista that you’re trying to create.

Most Rock Gardens use plants that are low maintenance and not so showy when it comes to blooms, so if you like a lot of cut flowers this garden style probably isn’t the best choice for you. But again, your tradeoff is that they don’t require a lot of upkeep, and they don’t overshadow all of the work that you’ve put into placing the rocks into your landscape.

Perennials are good choices for Rock Gardens because they’ll spread naturally as the seasons pass. All you need to do is thin them when necessary, and it’s also fun to see where a new patch of your favorite plant has popped up.

Plant choices will of course vary depending on the type of Rock Garden in question. For a woodsy garden, combine mosses, flowers, and small trees or shrubs to create a natural vista. Some popular choices for a woodsy Rock Garden include:

• Baby’s breath
• Blanket flower
• Dwarf conifer
• Iris
• Ornamental onion
• Poppy
• Rockcress

For a desert garden, succulents and desert plants need good drainage to avoid developing mold. Some popular choices for a desert Rock Garden include:

• Agave
• Aloe
• Cacti
• Euphorbia
• Lupine
• Sedum
• Thistle

Rock Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Furniture materials:
  • Wicker
  • Wood
  • Glass
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your woodsy Rock Garden include:
  • Birdhouses on tall poles
  • Leaf wood carvings hung on the exterior of the house or shed
  • Place wooden benches along a long path as you’d find in a park
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your desert Rock Garden include:
  • Try some wrought metal garden art to add some vertical interest
  • Use Southwestern painted tile pieces to inject a little extra color
  • Use painted ceramic pots for cacti that need to be overwintered inside

Think of a cottage garden and what comes to mind are the thatched cottages and quaint, whimsical gardens of Tudor England or the rural landscape of the American South. Like a scene from your favorite fairy tale, a cottage garden bursts with the glorious color of flowers, a picket fence and cute gate and natural rock walls that adorn a humble country dwelling.

First, put the notion that you have to live in a small thatched-roof cottage to use this theme in your landscape design, although if you build a shed or other outbuilding to look like an English Cottage it will make a dazzling focal point that grounds your garden in the style of Cottage style gardens.

Cottage Garden History

Cottage style gardens came into being during the Tudor period in England between 1485 and 1603 AD. Humble families living in the countryside had to grow their own crops to eat and so the cottage style garden has firm roots in hardy plants and vegetables; vines, small fruit trees, and flowers including foxglove, iris, hollyhock and daisies are typical.

During the long era of Queen Victoria, from 1837 until 1904, the cottage garden became especially popular and evolved into the style of garden a country gentleman would have; the more formal estate gardens of wealthy English families living outside the cities for some of the year.

Today, the cottage garden remains popular, especially with more dedicated and serious do-it-yourself gardeners. One thing to bear in mind when choosing a cottage style garden will be the amount of time and labor that must be devoted. With the variety of plants found in a cottage garden, serious labor is the norm.

Cottage Garden Characteristics

A cottage style home or other structure designed with the look of a cottage will be the best choice for a focal point. The enclosure is typically a wooden picket fence; the functional purpose is to keep animals out of the garden and to frame and define the garden space.

Arches, arbors and trellises help accent entry points, seating areas and to provide more vertical landscape design elements. Walkways are small and intimate; gravel, pavers or naturally shaped stones will do nicely as materials for walkways and borders or low walls in the cottage garden.

The Cottage Style Garden is informal and relaxed, with a whimsical flare. It meshes particularly well with homes decorated in English Country or Victorian styles. Try a Cottage Garden if you have a Colonial style home, a Queen Anne Victorian, or a Cape Cod.

Cottage style landscape design is a particularly good choice for people who like wildflowers and more natural looking gardens.

Cottage Gardens can be tailored to large or small landscaped spaces. In a large space, create twisting pathways that lead to hidden bowers or dining areas.

In a smaller space, build around a single central eating area while maintaining the casual style of the Cottage Garden.

You can easily develop a Cottage Style Garden in your front yard by putting up a white picket fence, planting some tall flowers like snapdragons or delphinium along its length, and then layering on some smaller plants.

Cottage Garden Layout Tips

• Stick with meandering paths and steer away from straight lines
• Common materials for pathways include stone, old bricks, and wood chips
• Pathway materials should also be irregular, and ground cover can be planted between them to give a comfortable, established look
• Edge plant beds and walkways with old bricks or fieldstone to maintain the casual look
• Rather than pruning plants into geometric shapes and away from pathways, let them grow naturally to overhang (but not engulf) pathways
• Plant flowers in small groups, but don’t be afraid to mingle them. Look for pleasing color combinations and make sure to plant smaller species toward the front so they’ll be visible without having to prune your larger plants
• Don’t forget to consider your entryway. You might consider a white picket fence with a gate or, if you have a larger space, an arbor covered with climbing plants

Plants to Use in a Cottage Garden

The original plant varieties used in cottage gardens were ones that grow easily and could be traded and shared with neighbors; they are sometimes called “passalong” plants. Since it was a working crop garden, flowers were primarily from seeds that blew in on the wind. Herbs were also plentiful.

Plant annuals for seasonal color and perennial in balance so that you get nice color all year round (or three seasons at least, if you live in a colder climate). Shrubs will add structure and stability to the garden, while small fruit trees that flower and produce apples, peaches or other tasty fruits in your cottage garden. Use creeping vines to give your garden more privacy and vertical enclosure. Here are some cottage garden planting ideas and tips:

• Pick a few self-seeding species and watch as they pop up in new places each year



• Consider starting with a base of perennials and work in some annuals each year to fill in empty spaces
• Old-fashioned blooms work best in the Cottage Garden rather than fancy tropical hybrids
• Pastels usually form the base of a cottage garden, but don’t be afraid to throw in some deep blooms like damask roses
• Some popular choices include:
  • Bleeding heart
  • Columbine
  • Coralbells
  • Cosmos
  • Daisy
  • Delphinium
  • Foxglove
  • Hollyhock
  • Hydrangea
  • Pansy
  • Peony
  • Rose
  • Snapdragon

Cottage Garden Accessory Suggestions

• Furniture materials:
  • Wicker (white painted pieces in particular)
  • Wrought iron
  • Distressed, painted wood
• Some accessory ideas to integrate into your Cottage Garden include:
  • A cluster of birdhouses, painted and distressed
  • An old section of fence or a window frame used as a trellis
  • An old watering can or a wooden wheelbarrow could be used as a planter
  • Place an old wooden bench or swing at the end of a meandering pathway

You don’t have to settle for minimal landscaping style if you have a smaller yard; even if all you have is a small urban courtyard area, you can make it a place to relax and escape the day to day hustle and bustle.

Today’s homes tend to have smaller yards; a result of ever tighter zoning and urban planning restrictions.

As the world’s population continues to grow, we need to maximize the efficiency and use of our resources; smaller lot sizes help to leverage the cost of infrastructure like city streets, electric, gas, sewage and other utilities, as well as helping retain as much agricultural land as possible outside major metros.

The downside of smaller yards is less space for gardens, patios and landscaping. The upside is that you can still give your small yard great style and appeal without spending your kids’ college education funds!

In this article we will explore techniques and illusions that help define a small yard and give it a larger feel; whether you are landscaping a small courtyard area, an enclosed back yard or the small front yard area common to many homes these days, you will find plenty of landscaping ideas, pictures and tips.

Landscaping to Scale

When planning your small yard landscaping project, its useful to begin with some drawings; since you don’t have a lot of space, the scale of landscaping elements such as patios, walkways, plant and tree sizes, patio furniture, etc. must all be taken into account carefully. Scaling things down helps to maximize the amount of usable space you will have in your newly landscaped yard.

By using an inexpensive landscape design software tool, you can try many designs before settling on the one you like best. If budget allows, you may also want to invest a couple hundred dollars to consult with a landscape architect or designer.

Planning for Space Efficiency

As with designing a small home or room, planning the landscape design for your smaller yard demands efficient space utilization. If the yard is big enough, you can divide it into two or more “outdoor” rooms to create multiple areas with different looks.

Often the shape and dimensions of an outdoor area will help determine how things should be broken up; if you have a rectangular shaped yard then breaking it up into two smaller spaces may work. But if you have a corner lot or other irregularly shaped yard then you can really get creative by making little niches, corner spaces and side yards into unique garden “vignettes” that act as an outdoor floor plan!

If your yard is very tiny, it may be best to design a singular space, tying together all the design elements to create a cohesive theme throughout. But, even if you are landscaping a larger yard or garden, breaking it up into smaller areas keeps the project from becoming an overwhelming and budget-busting effort!

Choosing a Small Yard Theme

Designing any space begins with selection of the design elements and “theme” which will give the space a cohesive design. Colors, textures, patterns, materials and other design elements can be repeated to help pull everything together in your small yard landscape design.

For example, you might decide to use a wrought iron fence with decorative finials to enclose and frame a small yard or garden area. This design cue can then be echoed in the design of your outdoor furniture by selecting a color and design that matches the look of the fence.

Some gardens will use a formal theme such as an English Garden, with sculpted shrubs, straight rows and carefully arranged plantings, while others such as a tropical or desert cactus garden may be more informal, naturally flowing and organic in design.

Plan your small yard so that nature provides splendid colors at various times of the year; a miniature Japanese Maple tree will blossom pink or white in the spring and provide a lush green, yellow-green or purplish foliage in the summer. Finally, in the fall the leaves will change to deep red, orange or yellow, giving the yard a whole new look as the seasons change!

A few popular small yard landscape design themes include:

Japanese Tea Garden or Asian Garden – Use a small water feature (see Koi Ponds article for more ideas) to set the tone in your Asian style landscape design. A small wood bridge or Asian-style lantern may be used to create a focal point. Plantings typically include many varieties of Maple, Juniper and other small trees and shrubs that are carefully trimmed and sculpted (see Bonsai Trees Article for more details).

Formal English Garden – In a formal landscape design such as an English Garden, nature is given a more orderly form; plants are often placed in straight rows to give symmetry. A curved brick walkway may adorn the garden space and a picket fence will lend it a more formal feeling. English cottage garden style is also a good small yard landscape design option.

Southwest Desert Cactus and Rock Garden – If you live in the dry, warm climate of the Southwest, you know the importance of water conservation. Planting the wrong type of garden in a desert climate can end up in dead plants and disaster, so go with the plants and trees that grow naturally in a desert environment. A small water feature such as a fountain or waterfall and tiny pond help keep things feeling cooler.

Tropical Garden or Oasis Theme – For a lush landscape, you might try planting palm trees and the colorful flowering plants found in tropical climates. Be careful if you live in a climate that is not well suited to these plant varieties however; persistently severe cold or dry, hot weather may not favor the tropical garden in some locales.

Woodland Style Garden – The natural beauty of some forested areas lends itself well to the Woodland style. Low maintenance and naturally green, this style of garden works very well if you live in the Northwest, Northeast or a mountainous area. Smaller varieties of many trees are available to keep things to scale in the smaller yard and you can plan a woodland garden around existing trees. Plant low shrubs or vine plants that like shade under trees.

Mediterranean Style Garden – A small structure such as a pergola will look good in a smaller Mediterranean style garden or yard; plant grape, climbing roses or other vines with foliage to give your small yard or patio additional shade from the heat of the summer sun. You have a plethora of annual and perennial flowering plants from which to choose. Colors like the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the green of country hillsides and terracotta orange pavers will give your small landscape design a Tuscan, Spanish, Greek or other Mediterranean style.

Planning for Small Yard Privacy

Privacy is usually paramount in your smaller yard or garden area, since neighboring yards and homes are so close. Many urban or suburban homes, townhouses and garden homes or condos have enclosed back yards. Depending on your local codes and homeowners’ association codes and covenants, the type and height of fencing or walls is often restricted so be sure you understand what is permitted.

If you have a 6 or 8 foot wood fence, stucco or other masonry walls then privacy may already be adequate. All you would need in this case is a couple of larger trees placed strategically to enhance privacy. Pergolas and wood patio covers can also add privacy and provide cool shade for eating and outdoor kitchen areas.

Shading Your Small Yard

Provisions for adequate shade is an important feature in any good landscape design. Two main approaches are used to provide shade; trees and structures. Planting trees that grow quickly is one good way to create shade in your yard; but be careful to choose tree varieties that will not grow large enough that they take over a small yard.

A retractable patio awning, patio umbrellas, pergolas and similar structures add form and provide functional shade in the small yard. Place shade trees and structures to provide shade throughout the day and as the sun’s position changes with the seasons.

Tree, Shrub and Plant Varieties for Small Yards

As previously mentioned, many types of trees, shrubs and plants are available in miniature or diminutive varieties. Remember to plan ahead as to how your small landscape design will look as planting mature; scale is especially important in the small yard or garden.

By using smaller species, you’ll be able to plant a greater number and variety of flora in a small space. This assures you have good foliage and flowers and blossoms to provide color and natural beauty throughout the year.

Trimming and shaping plants can be a fun part of growing and maintaining a small garden; the more formal and orderly look of Asian and English garden styles are well-suited to keeping plants neatly trimmed in a small space.

Irrigating and Drainage Needs

Another advantage of the small yard is that you have less to irrigate so installing an automated irrigation system with timers, sprinklers, drip systems and other conveniences will be relatively easy compared to irrigating a very large yard or garden area!

Drainage should always be considered; you want water to drain away from your house, but if it all drains into the nearby neighbor’s yard you could have problems on your hands. French drains or other types of drainage systems may be needed to ensure your small yard drains adequately and does not flood during the rainy season.

Water Features for Small Outdoor Spaces

If you have the space, a water feature will add interest and movement to your small yard landscape design. Install a spa or Jacuzzi if you like to take a dip but don’t have room for a swimming pool.

Ponds, waterfall features and fountains are all great ways to add the soothing sound and cooling element of water in your landscape. The size and style of water features should be dictated according to the type of garden and placement of the water feature as a focal point in the garden.

If you do add a water feature to your design, remember it will require maintenance and cleaning; many a water feature has been included in a landscape design only to become a stagnant pool that attracts mosquitoes and algae!

Container Gardens Fit Small Yards

Another great way to add plants in a small yard is to use containers. This gives you greater flexibility in terms of drainage and the ability to move and rotate plants as they bloom or need more or less sunlight, protection from frost, etc. throughout the year.

Growing plants and vegetables in containers is a versatile way to plan a small outdoor area. You can rearrange things to make space when entertaining outdoors, hang plants to add a more vertical feeling to the yard and transplant things to planting beds when needed.

Patio and Deck Furniture Ideas

No small yard will be complete without comfortable seating and outdoor furniture. Knowing how you like to use your yard most often will help guide your selection. Since you have a relatively small space and do not need a huge quantity of patio tables, chairs, umbrellas and other accoutrement, you might want to splurge a bit.

Choose chairs that are comfortable and can be easily rearranged; put a comfy reading chair in your favorite corner of the garden to read a book on those lazy afternoons and or move it close to a patio table when you entertain guests and need additional seating.

A bench or swing could make a great focal point in your small yard or garden space. If you live in Florida or another area prone to flying, biting insects, you might also want to enclose part or all of your outdoor living space.

Landscape Lighting Adds Depth and Visual Impact

Don’t forget to plan some landscape lighting in your small yard. Lighting will make your outdoor living space functional at night and adds color and dimension to the design.

You can spend a little or a lot on landscape lighting these days. Be sure to plan for functional ambient lighting as well as more decorative accent lighting. Add a couple of 100 volt outdoor lights under a gable on the side of the home to light a patio or outdoor eating area. Solar powered or low voltage lights in the yard are best to provide accent lighting. Hanging lanterns or lights mounted on posts can help add drama and depth.

Take advantage of views from inside the home to create vignettes highlighted by up or down lights that accent features outside. This can help open up a small home at night by giving the illusion that the interior extends into the outdoor living area.

Small Yard Landscaping Tips

• Think small; remember that trees and plants grow so you don’t want to use plants and trees that dominate a small yard.
• Plan everything in advance; even if you are on a tight budget avoid putting in a few features without an overall plan. You can always start with hardscaping, irrigation and fencing and then add more trees, shrubs and plants over time, but you don’t want to start planting things willy nilly without a good plan!
• Use pavers set in a diagonal pattern to give the illusion of larger size to a small yard.
• Remember to think vertically; by hanging plants, using creeping vines and planting taller trees with less dense foliage you can better maximize usable growing space in a small yard or garden.
• Use rock or stone masonry to create walls, borders and walkways to help break your small garden up and give it form; whether you create natural shapes and forms or borders that are more formal and ordered will largely determine the theme and overall feel of your small yard.
• Talk with other homeowners, look at a variety of other small yards and visit local nurseries and home centers to get ideas for your small yard landscape design; considering the full range of possibilities first will help ensure you are pleased with the completed design of your landscape in the long term!

Traditional wood fencing is one of the most popular and decorative fencing materials; available in a variety of forms, types of wood, fencing styles and gating options.

Thanks to more ecologically-minded lumber industry practices, in the United States we are now planting far more trees each year than we harvest, helping to make wood a more sustainable resource for the future!

And with today’s wood fence finishing options, a wood fence can be treated to prevent it from rotting or warping, significantly extending its useful life. It’s no wonder that many homeowners continue to choose wood fencing over other alternatives.

And installing your own fence is a project most do-it-yourself homeowners will feel comfortable doing. And of course, if you can build your own wood fence instead of hiring it out, you can save some substantial costs. But if you cannot or prefer not to build a fence yourself, you will need to factor in the labor costs of building your new or replacement wood fence.

Whether you are installing a new wood fence or replacing an old fence that has finally given way to the wind and rain, you have a lot of options to consider in terms of the style, materials and finish of your wood fencing.

The traditional wood fencing of the past remains a popular choice with consumers today, thanks in part to modern technology and the wide range of options available. New developments help decrease problems such as warping and rotting wood, making the many styles of wood fencing practical and attractive.

The primary benefits of wood fencing are aesthetics, privacy and longevity; wood is a versatile material and can be milled to adapt to a wide range of forms and styles of wood fencing. Whether you use a pressure treated pine, redwood or one of several species of cedar, your wood fence will look natural and, if installed, treated and maintained properly, should last for many years to come.

Choosing a Type of Wood Fencing

The first step in building your new wood fence will be to select the best type to meet your functional needs and aesthetic preference. While it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the variety of wood fencing options, you can begin to whittle down the options if you first consider a few factors around the function (what purposes the fence is intended to serve) and form (style, design height, etc.) of wood fences.

In some areas, you will find a general norm in the height, style and material used to build wood fences. The style of fence that predominates in your neighborhood can be based on locally available fencing materials, the architectural style in your community or possibly even determined by your homeowners’ association covenants, city or county building codes. Be sure and check to see if any regulations or building codes restrict the type and height of fencing you can install before starting your project!

From a functional perspective, if you need your wood fence to provide privacy, then you probably won’t consider something like a picket fence! And if you have a dog you need to keep inside your yard, then something like a board-on-board fence that is at least five feet tall may be the best option.

On the other hand, if you are building a fence primarily to enhance the beauty of your garden and frame your landscape design, then a rustic split-rail fence or white picket fence may be more in line.

Wood Fencing Styles and Types

Board on Board Fence – Typically six feet high (sometimes four, five or eight feet), the board-on-board wood fence is one of the most popular styles found. Vertically oriented fence boards are nailed or screwed to top and bottom rails that span between posts. It provides a great balance between form and function, spaced to let a little light pass between the boards without compromising privacy or security. Styles and options include lattice top, dip, oval, dog-ear, and cap board.

Close Board Fence – Close board fencing uses posts and rails, with feather edge boards fixed vertically to the rails. Treated timber 4×4 posts are typically set into 2 foot deep holes and secured with concrete. Vertically oriented fence boards are set into place between the bottom and top rails, overlapping each other to provide excellent privacy and security.

Board and Estate Fence – Popular on farms and country properties, the board and estate style of wood fencing generally uses 3 or 4 horizontally oriented boards, with spacing between each to span between the wood posts. Variations may include having the boards cross diagonally or welded wire added for strength and style. A lattice top may be added to increase fence height and add a decorative touch.

Wood Dip Fence – An attractive variation on plain board on board fencing, a concave or convex dip is used to add a more decorative touch. Decorative post caps or finials may be used to accent the wood dip fence design.

Picket Fence – Typically about 4 feet in height, the classic picket fence is a popular decorative wood fence that provides limited privacy and security but is one of the most attractive styles of wood fencing. Gates add a decorative touch and blend well into the look of a picket fence.

Split Rail Fence – The rustic look of a split rail fence is well suited to large fencing runs and often used to enclose pastures on country properties.

Wood Fencing Types Focused On Form

The style of your home’s architecture and landscaping are primary considerations in selecting the best type of fence when form is the main goal.

Split-rail wood fences characterized by the rustic look of rough hewn posts and rails work well with:

• Ranch style home architecture
• A mountain home with natural landscaping
• A Southwest US style landscape design

Picket fences are a classic style that remains one of the most popular types of wood fencing and look best with:

• Cottage style home architecture and English cottage gardens
• Colonial revival and Federal home architecture

Wood Fencing Types Focused On Function

If the primary considerations are more related to the function of your wood fence, then a board on board or close board fence may be better suited to your needs. These fences are typically taller (4 to 8 feet in height) and provide little or no spacing between fence boards that would allow a dog to easily escape your yard.

You can still achieve a nice balance between form and function by using a tall picket fence or a board on board fence with lattice top to enhance the look of your wood fence without sacrificing security, safety or privacy. Decorative touches such as dips, finials and caps can also help dress up your solid wood fence.

The various types of post and rail fences outlined above will work well to provide seclusion and security and cover a large perimeter cost effectively.

Common Types of Wood Fencing Materials

A wide range of woods can be used to build your wood fence, each offering different characteristics to suit the climate conditions, function and form of various types of wood fences.

Pine, Spruce and Fir - Many species of whitewoods (pine, spruce and fir) are used to build wood fences. The species used depends partly on where you live, but in the Midwest and southeast, Southern yellow pine is a popular wood fencing material since is grows quickly and is therefore cost effective. Southern yellow pine should be pressure-treated to resist insects and decay.

Cedar - Western red cedar remains one of the most popular species of wood used in fencing because of its natural beauty and longevity. Cedar is naturally resistant to insect damage and decay and is also less likely to warp than pine. On the west coast, Western red cedar is most common and in the northern states white cedar is sometime used as a fencing material. If using cedar fence posts, they should be set directly in the ground rather than using concrete to improve drainage around the posts. Cedar fence boards should have at least 2 inches clearance from the ground to prevent them from rotting.

Redwood – Redwood is a popular wood fencing material along the Pacific coast, although it has become increasingly expensive due to the limited supply. Redwood offers great longevity is properly maintained.

Metal Fence Posts – For added longevity and durability, steel fence posts are sometimes used instead of wood. Special brackets help conceal the metal posts. Since fence posts must be set into the earth or set in concrete (again, not recommended with cedar posts), they are most susceptible to rotting. By using metal or pressure-treated pine fence posts set into concrete, your fence will have a longer service life. By maintaining and replacing fence boards as needed, your wood fence should last many years.

Wood Fencing Maintenance Tips

• Whether you decide to apply a water-repellant finish, stain or paint or let your wood fence age and weather naturally is a personal choice. However, an unfinished wood fence will require repair and replacement boards more often due to warping and decay.
• Your wood fence may soon lose its appeal if you don’t keep it up with regular care and maintenance. Wooden fences benefit most from routine scraping, painting, and sealing. Factor these maintenance expenses when you budget the cost for new wooden fencing.
• In addition, you need to factor in the cost of supplies, including the paint or sealant products, along with equipment needed to do the work.
• Check your wood fence every couple of months to spot signs of splintering, peeling, mold, rot or broken fence boards. Look for evidence of insect or bird nests in knots. If you find a bird nest, wait until the birds have left it before removing it and sealing the hole.
• If you find evidence of termite damage, arrange for an exterminator as soon as possible to nip it in the bud, before the termites have a chance to infiltrate any other structures on your property … including your home potentially!
• If your fence has splinters or rough edges, you might want to remove rough edges and sand the boards to keep them from hurting kids or pets.

While a patio umbrella or other non-permanent patio covering may be adequate for casual outdoor use, if you really want to spend time on your patio and enjoy the outdoors regardless if the sun is beating down or a rain shower passes through, then a permanent wood patio cover offers many advantages.

Whether you want to build your own wood patio cover or are considering having a contractor build one for you, this guide will give you plenty of great ideas about styles, features and options to consider.

Types of Wood Patio Covers

Selecting the patio cover design that best meets your budget and needs is a personal choice. If you have an architect design your patio then having a matching patio cover designed is sensible and will help ensure you get the appropriate quality and custom design you want.

If you are designing your own patio or want to cover an existing patio, then you’ll have plenty of options to consider, including how much area you want to cover and whether you want to provide full protection from the elements with a solid roof and enclosed sides or simply want shade, in which case a more open patio cover will suffice.

Ask yourself a few questions to determine what type of wood patio cover best suits your needs:

• Do you entertain outdoors often and tend to spend a lot of time on your patio?
• Do you use your patio for meals, recreation and other outdoor activities?
• Do you store items such as a barbeque grill, outdoor furniture and other times on your patio?
• Do you have pets that need a well-covered outdoor area?
• Does the area in which you live have special weather-related conditions including biting insects, humidity, heat or predominant wind direction that need to be considered?
• Does your patio have special views of water, mountains, a cityscape below or some other natural setting you want to be sure is maintained?

Once you have answered these questions you should be ready to zero in on the design, location, shape and general size of wood patio structure that best suits your outdoor living needs.

Wood Patio Cover Designs

The first decision in deciding what type of wood patio cover to buy or build is whether or not you want it to be partially or completely enclosed. The overall style and budget of your patio cover will be largely determined by this basic choice.

Many people want a versatile patio cover and will thus choose to at least partially enclose their structure. A roof with tile, wood shingles or composite roof shingles requires special consideration with regard to the construction and materials to be used.

If you intend to build a wood patio cover with a solid roof, then you can either build one that extends out from the rafters of your home with a pitch that enables rain to drain adequately or you might prefer one that is gabled, with the peak extending out from your home and pitched to either side.

The architecture of your home should also be considered in making this decision; you wouldn’t want to cover your patio structure for instance with a wood shingle roof if your home has a tile roof.

If you do not spend time outdoors unless the weather is nice and the sun is shining, then a simple flat-topped patio cover more like an arbor, with wood slats or beams may be adequate.

Plant flowering vines or other trees and shrubberies that will grow and cover the arbor can also help increase the amount of shade your patio cover will provide.

As another alternative, you could build a wood patio cover that is flat with a slight pitch and cover it with acrylic panels to add shade and protection from moisture.

Wood Patio Cover Materials

One consideration with any type of wood patio cover is maintenance. While your wood patio cover should be designed to fit in naturally with the landscaping and architecture of your home, it should also be easy to maintain.

Depending on your budget, you can use pine to build your wood patio cover, or you might opt for something more expensive but durable such as oak or redwood.

Posts and any part of the structure that touches earth or will be exposed to the elements should be made of pressure treated lumber to withstand moisture and termites. You can either use a natural stain in order to give your patio the natural look of wood or paint it to match your home’s exterior.

Avoid leaving any exposed parts of your wood patio cover unfinished or it will quickly deteriorate as with any wood structure subject to the weather! Left unfinished, wood will crack, warp and splinter over time, so plan to repaint or refinish your wood patio cover at least every other season in order to make it last for many years.

Synthetic Wood Patio Cover Alternative

If you like the look of a wood patio cover but don’t want the associated maintenance concerns, an alternative could be synthetic wood materials made with acrylic that simulates the look of real wood.

Many of these synthetic wood materials have become available in recent years and while you will most likely need to use real wood for structural elements like posts and beams, the synthetic materials are suitable for use in construction of a patio cover without the obtrusive look of aluminum or other structural materials commonly used in building patio covers.

And if you have an uncovered patio or deck you probably want to know the best way to provide shade and cover from summer rain showers.

The factors that need to be considered when planning patio covers include where you live and predominant weather conditions, how much time you like to spend outside on your patio and what types of activities you generally enjoy in your outdoor living area!

In this multi-part online guide to patio covers, we present an overview of your options, followed by detailed ideas on each type and even how to build your own patio cover.

Types of Patio Covers

There are two basic types of patio covers you can consider; permanent structures such as pergolas, arbors and gazebos or removable patio covers such as retractable awnings, umbrellas and fabric canopies.

A permanent patio cover will entail more effort and cost but can significantly enhance your patio or other outdoor living area, enabling you to enjoy spending more time outdoors.

By adding a structure that provides both shade and protection from rain and inclement weather, you add a new feature to your landscaping that both helps add visual interest to your property as well as making your patio a more comfortable all-season outdoor living space.

Building your own wood patio cover is a fun do-it-yourself home improvement project, but you could also consider options such as a pre-manufactured aluminum or acrylic patio cover.

On the other hand, if all you want is to provide basic coverage from the elements of sun, rain and wind when you are on your patio, then the less expensive and removable types of patio covers are a great alternative. Something as simple as a patio umbrella keeps the harsh sun off your patio table and can be put away during the winter months.

More elaborate options include retractable awnings which cover a larger area than umbrellas and are easily stored when not in use, leaving the natural surroundings of your patio and landscaping open and free of posts or other structures necessary to support permanent patio covers.

Wood Patio Covers

If you want something built to endure the elements, building a permanent patio cover using lumber has many benefits and adds value to your home. While a building permit may be required in your area, you can readily find plans for wood patio covers and do the construction yourself.

Be sure to consider options such as whether or not you want to enclose your wood patio cover, either with simple drop panels to protect your patio from wind and rain or simply use screens to keep out the biting insects.

Also consider whether you want to install electric wiring to light your patio and provide power for other electrical accessories you might like to operate.

The obvious disadvantages of a wood patio cover are the cost and time required to build and maintain a permanent structure.

Metal Patio Covers

Aluminum or wrought iron are also popular materials for the construction of a patio cover and require less maintenance than a wood structure, since they will not rot and generally have a finish to prevent rusting.

Manufacturers offer extruded aluminum frames that are easy and much quicker to install than a wood patio cover.

The disadvantages of a metal patio cover are that they can be damaged in high winds or storms and are not retractable.

Pergolas and Arbors

Decorative pergolas and arbors don’t offer any real protection from the elements other than providing some shade, but they can enhance the beauty of your patio or other landscaped areas.

You might also build a pergola or arbor to match your wood patio cover to tie the design elements together nicely.

Canopy Awnings and Retractable Awnings

Canopy and retractable awnings are a great alternative to more permanent structures like wood or metal patio covers.

The great advantage of a retractable patio cover is that is can be easily rolled up and out of the way when not in use, keeping it out of site and well protected during storms and easily extended when you want shade on your patio.

A retractable awning will be more expensive than one with aluminum or other supports that will make your canopy generally more difficult to put up and take down.

You have a great selection of fabrics, styles and colors to choose from when purchasing a canopy or retractable awning.

Patio Umbrellas

The least expensive solution of course is to simply use patio umbrellas to provide shade. Simple umbrellas will mount through a hole in your outdoor table and have a weighted base to support the umbrella.

The disadvantage of umbrellas is that they provide limited shade and no real protection from wind and other weather elements.

With a bit of planning, concrete knowledge and a lot of honest work, you can pour your own concrete patio, sidewalk, retaining wall or slab foundation.

The basics of concrete include deciding on the right type of concrete, estimating how much concrete is needed to complete the project, building the forms, mixing and pouring, reinforcement, finishing and letting it cure properly.

Read on to learn the fundamentals of concrete form building, mixing and pouring.

What Type of Concrete Should You Use?

For small jobs like reinforcing fence posts or smaller projects like concrete walkways, you can use Ready-mix concrete, which comes in 25 pound bags.

For larger projects you’ll want to order Transit-mix concrete to be delivered by a truck with a revolving barrel, which is more costly but saves a huge amount of time, or else rent a trailer and transport it to your jobsite, which can save you money.

If you have the time, you can rent a mixer and prepare the concrete yourself onsite, but check around for pricing on all three of these options to determine whether the savings justify the additional work of mixing your own concrete for a large project!

Concrete Materials Estimation

To estimate the amount of concrete you need, you must first know the area and depth of your pour. Multiply the length and width of the area you are covering with concrete to calculate the square footage. Then multiply this number by the thickness your concrete will be.

Refer to the following table to determine how many cubic yards will be needed to complete your project:

Building Concrete Forms

Most concrete projects require forms, either above or dug into the ground. The forms provide a mold to retain the concrete during finishing and curing.

Start by setting up temporary posts to establish the slope or grade, and then lightly nail or clamp the forms to the posts with C clamps. Be sure to use a level in order to be sure the slope or grade is correct.

Once you have set the grade, drive stakes in place along the edges of the shape and size of the area to be covered with concrete and nail the forms to the stakes.

Concrete Mixing

There are four primary ingredients used in concrete; Portland cement, fine aggregate like sand, coarse aggregate like crushed rock or gravel and water.

Between two thirds and three fourths of mixed concrete are comprised of the sand and rock or gravel aggregates, which need to be clean and without organic material. Clean water must be used to mix concrete and should not contain acid, alkali, oil or sulfate.

Even though these basic ingredients are the same for any concrete pour, the mixture varies, depending on the job.

For foundations and retaining walls, use about 6-1/4 gallons of water for each sack of cement if the sand is damp. However, if the sand is wet, 5-1/2 gallons of water will easily do the job.

For a sidewalks, slab or similar job use approximately 5 and three quarters gallons of water for each sack of cement if the sand is damp or approximately 5 gallons if the sand is wet.

To build heavy footings for a wall, where waterproofing is not critical, mix concrete using one part cement, three parts sand and four parts gravel.

To build a sidewalk, driveway or steps, mix one part cement, two parts sand and three parts gravel.

When mixing cement for a small job, you can mix in a large bucket or wheelbarrow. For larger jobs, use a wooden box that is twelve inches in width, length and depth to mix concrete one yard at a time.

Be sure to read the directions on your concrete bags since the exact ratios can vary.

Concrete Pouring

With your forms in place, wet the area lightly using a garden hose, fill the forms with concrete and then compact it by either tamping the concrete, using a piece of 2×4 or, for a large pour, rent a roller tamper.

Once the concrete is tamped, use a 2×4 board with a straight edge as a screed to level the surface, working it back and forth with a sawing motion until the concrete is completely level across the entire formed area.

After the concrete sets enough to support a 2×8 plank, use it as a straight edge, guiding a concrete grooving tool to cut contraction joints spaced every four to six feet, which will allow the concrete to contract and expand with temperature changes.

For narrow areas like sidewalks and walkways, you only need to cut the joints across the concrete, but for large areas like a patio or driveway, joints should be cut both directions at 90 degree angles to each other, spaced every four to six feet, embedding two beveled clapboards of the right length to span the concrete.

One board should be nailed on top and removed once the concrete has set, leaving the second hidden in place to provide adequate contraction, which is more critical the larger the area of concrete you pour.

Concrete Reinforcement

For projects like driveways and slab foundations, steel mesh reinforcement is needed. In cases where the majority of pressure will be from the top of a slab, place reinforcement close to the bottom.

In cases where the slab’s strong point is in the center, with pressure exerted from either end, place reinforcement as close to the top as possible.

Concrete Finishing

Use a trowel and float to create a smooth finish, using the float to smooth the surface overall and then using the trowel to finish.

If you want a lightly swirled pattern in the finish, move a steel trowel across the surface of the concrete with a swirling motion on your final pass. If you want a heavier swirl, use a wood float instead of the trowel and finish the surface sooner, when the concrete is relatively wet.

Drag a soft brush across the surface of moderately wet concrete if you want to create a light pattern of parallel lines; for heavier parallel lines, try doing this while the concrete is relatively wet.

You can use a broom to create a slightly wavy, rough finish that is not slick when wet, making the brush strokes all in the same direction between contraction joints, or alternating the direction for a different look.

If you want your concrete to look like flagstone, after leveling the surface with a float, use a half or three-quarter inch piece of copper, about 18 inches in length and slightly, bent to tool the surface. Then trowel and brush the surface lightly.

Regardless what pattern you use, be sure it will not cause standing water, which is one of the major causes of failure with concrete.
If desired, you can also add a colorant when mixing your concrete to make it look like natural stone, brick, etc.

Let the Concrete Cure

Concrete takes time to cure, during which time you should use a garden hose with a fine mist spray attachment to wet it at least twice per day for the first three days or so after pouring.

While concrete poured indoors can be left uncovered, you should cover exposed concrete with burlap or building paper during the curing period, removing it each time you spray it and then recovering it again.

All concrete must be given time to cure. During this period, the concrete surface should be kept wet by repeated hosing with a fine mist.

Do not pour concrete during the middle of the day if the weather is super hot, since it will dry too quickly. It’s much better to pour toward the end of the day when things are a bit cooler and the concrete can set more slowly overnight without direct sunshine.

Apply a clear or colored sealer to your concrete it is completely cured to improve traction, enhance the appearance and extend useful life.

Concrete Tools and Material Checklist

• Concrete Mix
• Level
• Hatchet
• Grover
• Line
• Concrete Hoe
• 2×4s and Other Material for Forms
• Rubber Boots
• Reinforcing Mesh
• Garden Hose
• Darby or Float
• Tiling Spade
• Long 2×4s for Screed
• Brush or Broom
• Plastic or Galvanized Pail
• Edger
• Line Level
• Trowel
   

But in the springtime we all want our lawns to be green and healthy for the new season to come, so its time to get out your lawnmower and sprinkler repair kit soon!

Unfortunately, there are a lot of suburban lawn care myths out there, so knowing how to give you lawn the right care can be a mystery.

How often should you fertilize and with what kind of fertilizer? Should you mow it short or leave your grass long enough to out compete the weeds?

Read on to learn the top tips (and myths) about lawn care.

Fertilizing

Lawn grass needs food to thrive, especially for nitrogen, and you have a lot of possible choices when considering fertilizers for your lawn.

Start by having your lawn soil professionally tested. This will tell you whether your soil has the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and help you determine what fertilizer will best help achieve the optimal levels of each.

A common mistake is to over fertilize, which can cause your lawn to burn and die if you aren’t careful. Follow the directions for your fertilizer product carefully to know how much you should apply for a given amount of lawn area.

If you don’t mind the chemical fertilizer varieties, just visit your local home improvement center or nursery; you’ll find dozens of commercial lawn fertilizer products whether your lawn gets mostly sun, sun and shade, lots of shade, etc.

If you prefer to use organic fertilizers, you can also start your own backyard composting, combining your grass clippings, yard and organic waste using compost bins to create an organic mixture that your lawn is sure to love.

For more information on composting and organic lawn care, try visiting organic lawn care tips.

For healthy grass, you’d typically want to apply fertilizer once in early spring (February-April) once in late spring (April-June), again in summer (June-August) and a final time for the season in fall (September-November).

Mowing

The most common lawn care myth is to mow a lawn short and thereby avoid having to mow as often. This makes no sense at all; remember that your grass is competing with all the weeds and other plants that can grow in your yard for sunlight.

If you leave your lawn longer (most experts suggest keeping it between 1.5 and 2 inches tall) the grass can more successfully compete for the sun it needs to remain healthy! This does not mean to mow less frequently; by mowing weekly but with the mower set to a higher level, you will keep your lawn growing nicely and help keep weeds down without having to use nasty weed killers.

Watering

Another common myth is that you should water your lawn frequently, especially during the hotter summer months. However, in fact, frequent, shallow watering increases the amount of thatch in your lawn by keeping the grass roots short. The thatch sends out runners above the soil, choking out air and water.

To water deep, where lawn grass roots grow, try watering less frequently. You can also water once; wait about 90 minutes and then water again. This will help the water penetrate the soil more deeply. If you wait as long as possible between watering, you let the surface of the soil dry, which gives your grass an advantage over weeds, since most weeds have very shallow roots.

Mulching

There are two theories about grass clippings; one that says you should not leave dead lawn clippings behind when you mow, since it can block sunlight, water and nutrients from the grass plants and another, that says if you keep you have a mulching mower, keep your mower blades sharp and mow high, you should let the lawn clippings behind to provide additional organic nutrients to your lawn.

Experts seem to disagree on this matter, so it may be a matter of personal choice or it may be that results vary, depending on the type of lawn mower, grass and soil you have.

Aerating

Aerating your lawn helps reduce soil compaction. The best way to aerate is to either rent a mechanical core aerator or having it done professionally; this method is far superior to simply poking holes in your lawn using spiked shoes or other methods since it mechanically remove the plugs and loosening thatch from your lawn’s soil.

If you have heavy clay content in your soil, you many want to aerate twice per year. For sandier soils, one time per year is usually adequate and summer or fall is the best time for lawn aeration.

Overseeding

Most lawn experts recommend against overseeding; the practice of applying new grass seed to your entire lawn. This is not likely to help considerably since adult lawn plants will only compete with the new seed for water, sun, nitrogen and minerals and vitamins in the soil anyway.

By keeping your lawn healthy with proper maintenance, it shouldn’t be needed anyway. In some cases, you may need to apply some lawn seed to a bare patch here or there.

Weeding

If you have a lawn, then of course you will also have weeds with which to contend. The best way to keep weeds to a minimum is simply to dig them out regularly, which prevents them from spreading and taking over without the need for chemical weed control products.

If you do choose to use weed control products, be sure to use them throughout the lawn growing season; many people think that simply applying these products in the spring will keep weeds away for the duration of the season, but weeds take root and grow very quickly.

In the spring, about 30 days before you anticipate that weeds will begin to appear (depends on your location), apply a pre-emergent weed control with fertilizer to help prevent weeds. About 60 days later, apply a fertilizer with post-emergent herbicide to kill weeds that have grown and show above the soil. A final application in the fall will help prevent new weeds from emerging the following season.

Additional Resources:

All About Lawns

Lawn Care Tips

Backyard Gardener

American Lawns

Lawn Grasses

But these days you’ll find dozens of affordable power washer models from which to choose. And since you’ll own your own, you’ll also find a lot more uses for it around your garage and in the yard! A power or pressure washer can help cut your cleaning time drastically, and it has the added benefit of using approximately 80% less water than a garden hose.

How a Power Washer Works

Power washers use a combination of water pressure and water flow to remove dirt and grime.

This combination allows for easier, more efficient cleaning in comparison to a bucket, hose, and elbow grease.

Detergent and heated water can also increase the cleaning power of a pressure washer.

Selecting a Power Washer

Power washers come in gas and electric models. Gas power washers are generally more powerful but can only be used outside due to the carbon monoxide emissions.

Gas power washers are also generally more expensive in comparison to electric power washers. Electric power washers are generally smaller, more portable, and less powerful than gas powered models.

The easiest way to compare power washers is by looking at their cleaning power (sometimes abbreviated as “CP” or “CPU”). Cleaning power is calculated using water pressure (PSI or pounds per square inch) and water flow (GPM or gallons per minute). The higher the water pressure and flow, the greater the cleaning power: CP = PSI x GPM

Lower-end washers will have a CP around 4000, mid-range washers around 9000, and higher end washers can top out at over 16,000 CP.

Uses for a Power Washer

Sure, you can use a pressure washer to strip grime from your home, but is that enough to justify the purchase? There are other uses for power washers that you may not have thought of, such as:

• Cars & Trucks
• Boats & Jet Skis
• ATVs & Motorcycles
• Driveways & Sidewalks
• Decks & Patios
• Fences
• Gutters
• Pool Areas
• Barbeque Grills

Tips on Using a Power Washer

• Inspect the area to be washed. Remove any furniture, loose decorative items, or anything else that could be damaged. If you are pressure washing a house, look for any loose siding, cracks, or crevasses where water can get inside. It’s advisable to fix these problems before washing to prevent water damage to your home.
• Consider using a detergent specifically designed for power washers. This is particularly important if you are working in areas with plants, animals, or children. Make sure that what you are using is safe.
• Don’t run the washer without the water supply. This will damage the motor.
• Test the washer on an inconspicuous area before moving on to the rest of the project.
• Select the right nozzle for your job. The nozzle will affect the flow rate and water pressure. Adjustable nozzles are often the best choice.
• Don’t get too close! You could damage the object you are cleaning. Start by standing about ten feet away from the object, spray over the surface a few times, and then stop. Check to see if the area is clean and look for any damage. Adjust your distance accordingly.
• Brush attachments can help loosen caked-on dirt and ground-in grime.
• Don’t spray directly at windows, plants, vents, electrical boxes, or light fixtures. The water pressure could damage them.
• Never aim the washer at people or allow children to use the washer.
• It’s advisable to wear goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes from any flying debris.
• When cleaning siding, make sure to point downwards to avoid breaking the siding off or getting water underneath it.
• Spray back and forth, not up and down.
• Start at the top and work downward to prevent streaks.
• Squeeze the trigger before storing the washer to relieve the pressure in the hose.

Immigrants brought wicker to the new world, where it took on many new and unique styles. But today, wicker has gained popularity for its style, comfort and flexibility in home furniture and decor. Wicker, which literally means "to weave”, first appears in our history records more than two thousand years ago with baby Moses passing safely on the Nile river in a reed-woven wicker basket.

The term wicker is better defined as the use of slim, flexible branches, vines, or grass woven into a pattern, with the resulting “wickerwork” created by weaving the wicker together.

Wicker furniture is made by weaving the wicker around a frame to form chairs, sofas, tables, baskets and many other forms.

You can buy wicker furniture with natural, stained and painted surfaces. Some manufacturers coat the wicker in resins to prevent furniture from cracking, flaking or fading.

Wicker Furniture Trends

Modern furniture makers now manufacture wicker with materials ranging from outer the skins of rattan vines traditionally used to make wicker products, to bamboo, reeds, or synthetic materials.

Versatile and chameleon-like, wicker is often matched with upholstered cushions for added comfort. Put it together with bamboo or teak furniture and your room suddenly seems more relaxing.

Put a wicker porch swing out on your patio for those lazy summer afternoon naps. You can use wicker for a laundry basket or hamper, to decorate your walls or for any of a hundred other purposes!

Wicker Furniture Styles

Traditional wicker furniture designs from the roaring twenties have given way to modern designs of the mid to late 20th century, with sleek lines and simpler shapes.

Styles have moved towards oversize pieces, with bright, colorful Hawaiian prints tending to replace the more traditional patterns and pastel colors used in upholstered cushions.

Because of the range of materials used and its inherently flexible nature, wicker can be used with almost any design aesthetic, shape or size, from Victorian to Polynesian, Southeast Asian to contemporary, wide and relaxing or dainty and trim.

Plastic and resins can be formed to imitate the natural rattan, reed and cane wicker materials, with the added benefit of improved weather resistance, making these synthetic wickers the perfect material for outdoor furniture.

Use Wicker Indoors and Outdoors

A more casual room in tropical climates will be perfect for wicker furniture indoors. It is light and airy and can easily be outfitted with colorful cushions in any pattern.

Wicker furniture is relatively light weight, making it easy to move from your sunroom or other casual room indoors out to your patio as the seasons change.

Non-synthetic wicker furniture should not be left outdoors exposed to a summer shower, so if you plan to use it primarily outdoors, consider the synthetic materials.

In addition to it use for furniture, wicker is also used to make products such as lampshades, trunks and chests, hampers, storage shelves, porch swings, and baby bassinets.

Wicker’s adaptability can help blend your indoor and outdoor spaces. You can coordinate shape, texture and colors to make spaces flow more seamlessly from indoors to outdoors, especially if you live in a warmer climate where sunrooms and screen porches are so popular.

Choosing Wicker Furniture

A rattan or hard wood frame typically is used in making the best wicker furniture. Regardless of the woven material used, it should be solid and dense; lighter weight wicker furniture will tend to be of lesser quality than denser, heavier weight products.

Quality wicker products won’t tend to crack or peel. It is smooth to the touch and fits the body comfortably. Cheaper wicker furniture often has rough or exposed ends of fiber that is uncomfortable.

Caring for Wicker Furniture

• Dust can be a challenge in caring for wicker furniture. The woven surfaces make them dust magnets. To maintain and clean your wicker furniture, try these tips:
• Dust or vacuum your wicker periodically and use clear furniture polish to treat the pieces, unless your manufacturer specifies another treatment
• You can also use a thin layer of clear lacquer to coat and protect wicker furniture
• Wipe wicker gently with a solution of warm water and mild soap to clean areas that have become more deeply soiled
• It is recommended that you dry wicker quickly should it get wet to prevent standing water, which may cause it to crack or form gaps between the weave
• If your wicker furniture develops cracks or sharp edges, try sanding it gently with fine-grained sandpaper

Origins of the Koi

Koi also means love and affection. Koi fish are called nishikigoi in Japan and are ornamental domestic varieties of the species known as common carp or Cyprinus carpio.

These varieties of fish are said to originate from Aral, the Black Sea and Eastern Asia. In the early years of history, they were found in China and were widely spread in Japan.

Carp cultivation thrived under the Japanese Edo period and Chinese Qing Dynasty. Koi are generally related to goldfish. It is traditionally considered to be lucky if one has a Koi or their tattoos.

Types of Koi Fish

Koi varieties are discriminated by their color, pattern and scale. One type of Koi named Ghost Koi was developed in the 1980s that are a metallic colored hybrid of wild carp and Ogon Koi.

Other types of Koi are named Butterfly koi, Dragon Carp or Longfin koi which were developed in 1980s and are notable for their flowing long fins. The Koi species have various colors like white, red, black, yellow, cream and blue.

Japanese Koi is one of the most gorgeous and pleasing fish that one can keep in his outdoor water garden. There is a mis-conception that these types of Koi should not be kept along with the plants.

Koi Pond Materials and Information

One can find various web sites and pet stores which suggest that Koi will destroy any kind of plant when a person puts the Koi in his pond. However, the plants provide shelter and shade to the Koi when they are afraid. The plants also add clarity to the water.

Koi breeding is an art form that has been practiced for over two centuries in Japan. For Koi to thrive in your water garden pond, you must understand that these species are bottom feeders that are frequently found on the bottom of the natural environment. Koi like to stay in the rubble or rocks in a pond.

By putting some layers of gravel in the pond enables the Koi to root in something which adds to the natural biological environment. Due to this, the plants are also benefited directly in the gravel.

You can remove the plants from the pot, rinse the roots to remove the mud and keep it inside the Koi pond. In doing so, the plant adds to the natural beauty of the water garden.

The Koi fish do eat plants. During the warm summer months the Koi are non stop scavengers. For this reason, certain plants are kept in the water pond for the Koi to eat without destroying them.

Some of these plants are the watercress and marsh betony which can be planted in a shallow high water flow area. The Koi keeps the invasive plants in check and the plants are excellent filters that helps keep the water crystal clear and the Koi happy.

Children will love to feed the fish and a trickle stream or water splash provides a peaceful recluse to escape. Ponds also will attract wildlife including birds, frogs and butterflies.

For pond products, many web sites and local home improvement centers offer the required water conditioning, the pumps, pond kits and the liners, along with the hardware needed to build your Koi pond.

Look for accessories and pond plants like submerged oxygenator plants, the floating oxygenator plants, the lilies, the lotus flowers and the bog and marginal plants.

Planning Your Koi Pond

Your pond will be enjoyed more if you build it close to your home. Select a location where you can see the pond from a family or living room window if possible.

To build a Koi pond in your back yard or garden area, begin by planning the shape and form and digging a shallow hole about two feet in depth for your pond in that shape. If you live in an extreme northern climate prone to winter freezing, it is better to dig the hole three feet deep. Be sure to run electrical wiring for your pump.

Position and build your pond so that runoff from rain will not carry fertilizers, chemicals, and organic debris into it.
You may need to make alterations to your terrain. If you place the pond too close to trees, leaves and other debris will need to be removed, increasing maintenance.

It is best to locate your pond so that it gets at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun in order to grow water lilies, however a shadier spot is adequate for a fish-only pond.

Water Pumps and Filtering

While water circulation is not essential, a pump enables you to keep more fish and keeps plants healthier. A pump will be needed in order to run a filter, waterfall or fountain feature.

The sound of running water is also nice for added enjoyment. Your Koi pond should also include a biological filter, which is critical to keeping your Koi fish healthy.

You will want to use a good liner or else concrete to line the bottom of your pond. Add your plants and accessories after the pond is filled with water. Allow some time to make needed adjustments and conditioning the water before you introduce the Koi fish to your new pond.

When your Koi pond is complete, get to better know the various species of Koi fish like Gosanke, Metallic, Butterfly, Mixture and such other types of Koi fish. You will enjoy your new Koi pond year round for the tranquility and natural beauty it adds to your backyard or garden.

Planning Your Screened Porch

It is necessary to plan the porch. You should make sure that your screened porch permits and meets all the side and rear yard setbacks and every other aspect of the zoning code. Be sure you get proper building permits before starting any major building project. An architect can then be called. Make sure the architect is experienced and well versed in the subject. Make sure that the size of the finished room suits your needs. Put all the furniture you want to use in the patio.

Building a screen porch requires an understanding of some basic elements like climate and construction. Evaluate and explore various options. Take into consideration various styles and accordingly plan the basics of the building. Screen porch can be square or rectangular in shape. The flooring can be hard wood or laminated.

Cost Estimation

It is important that you do the costing as it will save further headache. This can be accomplished by doing a material take-off. This is a simple list that shows the type, quality and quantity of material required for the project.

The Foundation

The deck of the porch is very important. The piers of the deck should be properly dug. For this first build the deck outline. After the corners are established you can easily find the centre of your piers. Dig the post holes with the post hole digger down to the frost level.

Pour approximately 8 inch thick layer of concrete in the bottom hole. The next day, insert the treated lumber post that has an attachment for the joists. Around the post fill about 6 inch of gravel and finally 6 inches of concrete. This way it is easy to replace the post should it become necessary.

Decking and Walls

The deck or the floor is important. You can use treated lumber. Do not put any spacing between your decking boards or else they will shrink.
Seal the deck boards before nailing. Get your electrical wires installed and possibly a gas line for your grill. Plan for these things beforehand as to how they reach the porch from the house.

The walls are simply screened panels that fit between the posts that support the roof structure. Put the panels of the walls at the end.
Screening is available in a wide range of materials including rust-proof bronze, copper or aluminum, as well as anodized aluminum with a baked on finish, and even vinyl.

Corner/Support Posts

This is important as the beams rest upon them. The beams span over the posts and are connected with special post and beam galvanized hardware. The lumber used should be untreated as treated ones will twist as they dry out. Use the lower grade as it has tight knots.

Roofing

The roof adds to the overall look of the porch. If your house has a hip roof use the same for the porch. These are very strong and help to lock the walls together. It can be made up of any material including translucent sheeting or solid roofing material,

You can find clear, colored or translucent fiberglass panels for roofing your porch. Fiberglass panels provide shade and protection from the elements. You can have more or less shade depending on which type and how much translucence the panels have.

Light weight fiberglass roof panels are available, which are durable and resist impact well in case of hail, high winds and other inclement weather. The material will not shatter, shrink or expand significantly over time and is easy to install.

Electric Requirements

One should always plan for the electric requirements in advance. You may need outlets for radio, lamps or TV’s, fans etc.

Painting or Finishing

This is very important as it adds to the overall effect. Wooden screened porches require maintenance. This can be minimized by pre-painting or finishing the wood before installing.

This also reduces the damage due to water. Paint the screen panels before installing the screens. You can also paint the roof rafters and underside of the roof plywood before installing them.

Outdoor lighting for porches patios and decks has become one component in the overall lighting design of a home today. Lighting and landscape designers design the exterior lighting just as with the interior, using different types of lights for different effects and purposes.

The primary types and methods of outdoor lighting include ambient, down lighting, up lighting, diffused lighting, spot lighting, moon lighting and shadow lighting. Read along and learn about the various types of outdoor light fixtures available.

Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is important in any space, meant to provide overall lighting coverage to a level that allows good human visibility. This type of lighting will generally be mounted on the exterior sides of your home, on light poles or out building structures and keeps you from, for instance, tripping over shrubberies when you go outdoors after dark!

Down Lighting
This light source is placed above any object or area desirable to enhance, such that a flood of light will be cast down onto the object or area. Normally, down lighting is intended to highlight a feature such as a sculpture, fountain or other outdoor decoration. It is also used for security purposes.

Up Lighting & Shadow Lighting
Up lights are used to highlight objects from below and are usually installed at ground level. Shadow lighting is used in front and below a plant or tree to cast dramatic patterns of light and shadow on a nearby wall.

Diffused Lighting
Creates a low intensity light level to highlight plants, shrubbery, or flower beds. It is diffused in order to spread light across a wide area.

Spot Lighting
Spot lights provide a beam of light to highlight and enhance a specific area or decorative element in the landscaping. Spot lighting is also very useful to enhance ambient light levels in areas like decks or stairs for better night time vision.

Moon Lighting
Like down lighting, moon lighting simply places the light source at an extremely high level, often in a tree or roof gable, to simulate the effect of moonlight shining down on your landscaping.

Lighting technology has also improved greatly in recent years. You can now get LED or solar lights that help to save energy, as well as intricate exterior lighting timers and dimmers to set your outdoor lighting levels for various settings and purposes; a setting for parties, one for romantic mood lighting, etc.

We have detailed a few examples of the outdoor lighting types and models you may want to explore further:

Exterior Metallic Wall Sconces
Mounted on exterior walls, these fixtures are available in a variety of materials such as aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel. These will provide nice overall ambient lighting and, unlike some fixtures, can provide a nice decorative look to your home’s exterior during daylight too!

Outdoor Wall Lanterns
Typically used near a home’s exterior doors, these fixtures put the light on the ground beneath them and not wastefully up into the night sky or your neighbor’s yard. Available in a wide variety of designs, styles and finishes, you can spend a little or a lot depending on the overall quality, design and materials used.

LED Lighting
Recently, the use of LED technology outdoors has become popular and allows for low maintenance, with average lifespan of between 50,000 and 100,000 hours. LED lights use very little energy compared to their light output, which makes them quite economical. LED is also a very cool light source.

Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
Low voltage lighting fixtures are used to illuminate landscaping features, pathways and other areas that need diffused illumination. This will accentuate your landscape design for outdoor enjoyment and visually extend your home’s interior space at night.

Post Mount Lighting
If you really want to go all out with your exterior lighting design, these will give your yard or garden the feel of a city park and provide excellent ambient and down lighting.

Outdoor Hanging Light
Perfect for use in porches, gazebos and other outdoor covered spaced, hanging lamps add excellent ambient lighting to these commonly used gathering areas.

Motion Detectors
Excellent for security purposes and also improved energy efficiency in areas like driveways, a motion detector enables outdoor lighting fixtures to remain off until motion is sensed in the area the light covers.

But when it comes time for a barbeque, it seems the whole family; or rather the whole neighborhood is scrambling to be there! Thus, the outdoor kitchen is born. You may say that an outdoor kitchen is too luxurious for you, too expensive perhaps, unaffordable and so on. Think again!

As long as you have a place (a deck or a patio would do) to install the basics of an outdoor kitchen then you will be surprised at how inexpensive they could be. All you really need to complete your outdoor kitchen is a grill and a storage area for you cooking accessories. And if truth be told, you can have this in a single unit for more or less than $300.

The cost of putting up a fine outdoor kitchen is rather cheap, that is, as long as you already have an area in mind such as a deck or patio where you plan to set it up on.

When choosing the location to put your grill, make sure that it will not reach any combustible surfaces. This can be illustrated through simple addition: if you put fire and wood together, what do you get? More fire, of course! However, you should not limit your caution to wood alone. Never make the common mistake I’ve seen a hundred times of putting your grill near a vinyl siding. Although it may not cause fire, the heat will surely dissolve the siding.

Also, take note if you are going to use a gas grill. You will need to think about the gas line and a place where a gas grill can easily be set up. And, don’t forget to think about the possible bad weather. You’ll need a covered space with ample amount of lighting to accommodate your cook.

Do-it-yourself outdoor kitchen

When making your own storage cabinet, consider how the weather will affect it. A cement fiber backer board can be used as protection.

Or, set up a tile or stone surface that can cover it. For about $700 you can buy you a fine-looking steel drop-in grill. Be sure that your countertop is also weatherproof, so make use of tile, granite, stainless steel, solid surface, or concrete.

You can produce a magnificent social spot if your area is large enough to include both the countertop and the eating area. You can then make the grill as the center or focal point. Bar stools are ideal for this type but be sure to buy stools made of weatherproof materials.

Refrigerators and sinks

Of course any kitchen has a refrigerator, so your outdoor kitchen must have one too. A good stainless steel refrigerator made especially for outdoor use is the best type to buy.

Outdoor refrigerators are not your ordinary full-size units. They are the under-the-counter type. Ensure that your buy the right outdoor type.

Without outdoor refrigerators, what effort it would be if you have to go back and forth to the inside kitchen, so it is a great addition to your outdoor kitchen. Make sure that your things are stored securely all year round by buying an outdoor refrigerator with safety lock.

Another thing to consider is a sink. It is more convenient if you have a sink in your outdoor kitchen to do your washing and rinsing and adding water to your sauces. It saves you the trip of going in and out of the house or the tedious task of putting up a hose. But check first with your local building codes regarding adding a sink.

Modular grill units

If you lack the confidence to build your own outdoor kitchen, do not think that you are doomed of not having a nice one forever. There are modular units that can serve as alternative to your outdoor kitchen. It is as easy as setting it up then firing up the grill!

Of course, you wouldn’t want one of those $20-grills you find in super-saver stores. Invest, invest, invest! Typically, grills will provide you a cooking spot from 15” to 26” deep and up to 4 ft. wide.

Your decision will really depend on whether you want a charcoal grill or the one that makes use of gas. You may even consider a wood smoker as an option (but they are more tedious to work with in terms of regimented cooking schedule).

Real outdoor grilling connoisseurs use stainless steel most often. Newer models feature wood grain embossed on the stainless steel and even has an array of bright colors to choose from that will complement any kitchen. You may also choose a model with side burner for your sauces or other dishes.

Custom built-in grills and countertops

If you really want to customize your outdoor kitchen, you will plan it as part of your landscape design, with a built-in grill and countertops that incorporate tile or natural stone like slate or granite that match your patio materials.

While this adds cost, it will also make your outdoor kitchen something to really enjoy and a place the entire family will want to spend time together relaxing for outdoor meals. An outdoor kitchen and eating area will also increase the value of your landscaping investment.

Determine the elements that you want for your outdoor kitchen but ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS consider how it will fit the climate in your area. If appropriate, consider how best to provide overhead protection and features like screen enclosures to keep the bugs away so that you’ll truly enjoy using your outdoor kitchen.

An outdoor kitchen can be a good investment in Minnesota as well as in Florida considering the wide range of choices and options available if you plan correctly and know what seasons and how often you will use yours.

Adding an outdoor kitchen can be a fun do-it-yourself project or part of a professional landscape design effort that you choose to hire contractors to complete.
Set your budget and must have features and design elements up front and you’ll be happy with your outdoor kitchen and eating area for many years!