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