What are some cute ways I can add charm to my front/back yard?

Question

My hubby & I have finished the inside of our 1st home (starter) and now we have been doing things in the yard (cleaning up the flower beds, trimming trees, etc...). We have a big back yard & a small front yard, but I want to know of some ways to make them a little more appealing. I want people to come over & say "Oh, your yard is adorable/cute/charming. Any IDEAS/accessories we can use??? We want to put a square of those stepping stones to make like a patio of some sort. HELP!!

Answer 1

If you have a large backyard have you thought of adding a kinda natural tone with maybe a small pond with maybe a waterfall. Some water plants and a flower bed made up around the sides with some low growing green plants.
Maybe a stone pathway winding through the backyard. You can make your own with a mold from like Lowes. They are beautiful. Maybe a little bench tucked away in a corner with some beautiful perennials filling in around it. Things like purple coneflower, black eyed susans, coreopsis, russian sage, hostas, monarda,etc. Also, think about maybe some small fountains to accent the front yard. I know the "horticulture specialists" say only basics in the front yard but I go for the cottage look and love cute things to sit around expecially like playing children. (not the tacky stuff)

A small patio set set in a corner with a natural looking background--like the old cast iron type.

A wishing well, a small arching bridge, a windmill.....the possibilities are endless.

And I believe in perennials, perennials, perennials!!! Keep in mind their size though when you place them.

Sometimes even the cheapiest things turn out great- old baskets turned over sideway spilling out flowers, old wheelbarrels filled with flowers.

Hope this wasnt too much info!!

And dont forget a garden swing to sit back in and relax and watch the labor of your love.

Answer 2

put up a really cute and nice bird bath with losts of hostas in the yard, they go together really well. Put up a swingin chair in the back like on one of the tree brances that would support a good amount of weight. You could make a nice rustic trail with big slab stepping stones, but make sure they are spaced out so you could see what they're on like pine needles or the nice redish bark chips. A fire place or ring is a great way to appeal guests and add a nice charm. If you have a fence/trelis/ or walk through trelis, place grepe vines around it so they climb up. in a few years, you have a nice lush vine with wonderful fruits on it. Get some nice bird feeders that blend in with the surroundings, but make sure it is still nodicable. A wonderful plant that makes the yard look nice is a flowering maple. They dont come back, but ad a touch class to the yard because of they'er leaves, delicate flowers, and small tree like position. Adding a small waterfall or fountain looks wonderful when it is placed in a back yard that is lush and full of trees (depending where you live). The garden globes are a nice decoration to the yard also

Answer 3

I get those kinds of comments about my backyard. My husband wanted something to look at when he sat on the deck, so I built him a kidney-shaped area with a granite border, and outside the kidney, where the kidney curves in, I put a circle with a birdbath in it. Then I added a granite bench on the pebbles that I filled the kidney with and beside all this I had him build a piece of fence that is about 12' long and 5' high. Just one section. The flowers in front of the shallow garden in front of the fence has delphiniums growing right now, and some orange daylilies. It always looks great!

Answer 4

Once the bones are in, nothing gilds a garden quite like a velvety purple clematis spilling across a wall or sharing a trellis with a climbing rose. http://clematisnursery.com/
http://www.joycreek.com/plants.htm excellent nursery very helpful.
http://www.chalkhillclematis.com/ near comprehensive with 300 varieties.
Think of a rose draped gate smelling sweetly of the rose arcing over head on an arbor. Maybe a victorian fan trellis with the dark, rose pink “Zepherine Drouhin” climbing up to join hands with the glistening white clematis “Henryii". “Zepherine Drouhin”, an old Bourbon rose literally perfumes the air at the height of bloom and is nearly thornless so is perfect for an entrance designed to charm. If a dark clematis is preferred use 'Niobe'.
Try shell pink New Dawn rose growing with Clematis Etoile Violette.

Answer 5

you should decide what kind of feel you want it to have like are you gonna go out side mostly for parties or relax or both. think about the future if your planning on children or already have them think about the things you want the child to be able to enjoy as they grow up as well as what is not a good idea to have with young children around but can be adapted as they grow older or if you cant afford it right now still looks nice but would add that extra special touch not immediately needed as you may also change your mind. finally my last suggestion is a theme.like do you want country cottage garden feel or tropical feel and do shopping for things that would make it look like the theme you have chosen or multiple themes with the change of the seasons easily changed by a few minor things.

Answer 6

what does your house look like? it is best to use colors that contrast with your home. I.e. does your home have brick on it? try outlining a concrete path with brick and use brick for the expansion joints. don't get to carried away with plants, use a few evergreen foundation plants around the base of the home and a few specimen plants near windows as a focal point. And all ways remember up lighting trees and fountains adds great curb appeal in the evening. for more ideas or questions check out my web site below.

Answer 7

around here we have books and magazines. These things are full of pictures. Some even focus on yards. I would go find a magazine rack and look at the magazines that focus on yards and pick out some things that I like or would like to have. Then begin to work towards them.

Answer 8

Put a naked man right in the middle of your grass.

Answer 9

ornaments, nightlighting