| Retreat to a garden and patio design that's | | | | fountains ... even a strong line of evergreen |
| beautiful year-round, and takes minimum fuss. | | | | plants.Garden structures such as these create |
| What makes this possible? Carefree plants | | | | forms and lines, giving your garden and patio |
| with continuous blooms, and a well-planned | | | | design definition and dimension. Plus, in the |
| garden structure.You don't need to be a lawn | | | | winter when most plants are empty and bare, |
| and garden expert or landscape designer to do | | | | your garden will preserve its shape and sense |
| this. Here are a few tips for creating a | | | | of completeness. It's amazing how just one or |
| super yet simple garden and patio design that | | | | two structures can produce this satisfying |
| will be a knockout!The first step is to take | | | | effect.Most garden and landscaping structures |
| a birds-eye view of your garden and patio | | | | are built to withstand the elements. Treated |
| area. Make a rough sketch of your space, and | | | | pine, cedar and teak garden furniture, |
| play around with a few designs until you like | | | | trellises, arbors, and decorative fencing are |
| what you see. As you're doing this, get some | | | | great choices. Stone, copper, and bronze |
| great ideas from existing garden and patio | | | | garden statuary will never let you down. |
| decorations. Pay a visit to other people's | | | | Garden fountains bring incredible beauty and |
| gardens, or public gardens. Look through home | | | | atmosphere to any garden and patio design - |
| landscaping and gardening magazines, find | | | | in fact, entire gardens have been built |
| what you like, and develop plans of your | | | | around them.Next, choose annual spring |
| own.Decide what style or theme is right for | | | | flowers and perennial plants that will give |
| you... formal, casual, rustic, Southwestern, | | | | you blooms from one season to the next. For |
| Japanese... there are enormous possibilities. | | | | instance, select carefree roses that need no |
| Then stay with that style and theme so the | | | | pruning or spraying, and bloom continuously |
| overall effect does not become confusing. For | | | | from spring through fall. Fill planters with |
| instance, you wouldn't want to combine bronze | | | | beautiful blooming flowers such as Oriental |
| garden sculptures of saints or cherubs with | | | | lilies or verbena for different colors all |
| rustic wooden wagon wheels.Imagine what your | | | | summer long. Establish flower beds in corners |
| patio area will most often be used for. You | | | | or along walk ways. Always consider your |
| may plan to entertain lots of outdoor dinner | | | | local climate and plant according to the sun |
| guests. If so, be sure your patio space has | | | | and shade needs of your plants.As you plan |
| plenty of room for the largest number of | | | | your garden and patio design, create paths or |
| people right from the beginning. Your patio | | | | walk ways that lead from one area to the |
| may be more of a private, reflective retreat | | | | next. Rambling garden paths are relaxing and |
| for enjoying the sun, reading a book, or | | | | charming... and if laid out thoughtfully, |
| gazing up at the stars. Determine the use of | | | | will be a big help to you as the gardener. |
| shade, open sun, or even covering it with a | | | | Paths can be of stone, brick, flagstone, |
| roof.Now take your favorite ideas and put | | | | gravel, or mown turf, although grass paths |
| them into your rough plans - and soon you'll | | | | require more upkeep. Garden sculptures or |
| have a design that is ready for action.The | | | | sitting benches thoughtfully placed along the |
| next step is to create your garden and patio | | | | way provide wonderful expression.If you want |
| design to scale - you can use landscaping | | | | garden and patio designs that are pre-drawn, |
| software for this, or do it by hand. Choose | | | | there are ready-made plans available in books |
| the flowers you intend to plant, noting how | | | | and magazines. This is another fine way to |
| many you will need for each month of your | | | | get off to a solid start. Use pre-made garden |
| growing season, and select the landscaping | | | | plans from start to finish, or incorporate |
| structures that will give your design its | | | | parts of them right into you own creative |
| form.Some say the secret to a beautiful | | | | plans.Copyright 2006 Robert MosseRobert Mosse |
| garden and patio design is having a good | | | | is a gardening and lawn care specialist and |
| amount of hard structure. This is what | | | | author of the "Easy" Lawn and Gardening Book |
| landscape designers refer to as "good bones" | | | | Series. Visit Robert at Lawn And Gardening |
| - walls, fences, garden bridges, gates, | | | | Tips for great gardening info... and get the |
| garden arbors, landscape statues, garden | | | | free Guide for 101 Gardening Tips. |