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