My background is a basically a big, privacy fenced rectangle. I'm working on landscaping it - the previous owners had a fairly large, square cement patio poured. Any ideas to make it more interesting? I've added some beds and a flowering magnolia tree plus perennial flowering bushes, but what else? Anything besides plants or a pond? Thanks in advance!
2007-09-05 16:38:14 · 8 answers · asked by Magaroni 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
I just moved into a new house last year and am in the same boat...trying to figure out what to do with my landscape. I've spent a lot of time online looking for specific garden plans and ideas without much luck. The Sunset Western Landscaping book (http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Western-Landscaping-Kathleen-Brenzel/dp/0376039159/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-0197194-2714053?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189057248&sr=8-1) has a lot of great ideas and is well worth the 20 bucks.
Speaking of websites, I've actually been developing a new gardening website that will allow people to find, create, and shared garden plans online...kind of like YouTube but for gardeners. It's called www.MyGardenPlans.com. Hopefully, it will be a new way for gardeners to share pictures of their own landscapes accompanied with plant lists. I'm also putting together a step-by-step guide that walks the average homeowner through the landscape design process. Hopefully, you'll find some of these ideas helpful, though it is still a little rough around the edges.
Good luck!
2007-09-05 18:58:07 · answer #1 · answered by Scott B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the patio is worth working with accent it with landscaping around it. By planting around a patio you can make it look larger and inviting. Make a free form bed line and add perennial plants you can enjoy year around. Keep shade in mind also and height of what you will be planting, check for mature size of all plants you choose, plant accordingly. Soften that rectangle shape you have going on in the back yard to by adding free form planting areas in corners, etc. Incorporate a nice sitting area or back yard swing in the planting bed. You can get some nice winter color from ever greens they come in all shapes and sizes. In northern areas I like to see when people plant a nice mix with at least half ever green for winter color makes a nice contrast with deciduous plants.
2007-09-05 17:51:08 · answer #2 · answered by JAN 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So many possibilities! It is such a matter of whim and whatever.
A large square? How about squaring it into a big chess board. Then use topiary chessmen to keep a game always in progress.
Or chop the corners off the suare and make it a nice curvy space.
Make some big cracks and put groundcover plants, like blue-star creeper, in the cracks. You could cut the cracks nicely too. Make a design.
And put arbors or pergolas in your mind too. Placing things overhead can make the space seem larger. Tho that doesn't seem like it, but yes.
Consider view lines. And plant little acloves to create smal private sections.
Yes, do figure where to put a fountain or waterfall.
2007-09-05 17:15:31 · answer #3 · answered by bahbdorje 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definitely outdoor tile on the patio. If you are going with a rustic look, a Italian slate rock would be beautiful. If you have a patio set, try to match it.
2007-09-05 16:49:45 · answer #4 · answered by mel s 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i like a little bit of all the weather and landscape it makes thing different
2016-04-03 05:52:24 · answer #5 · answered by Heather 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your patio could be transformed into another (outdoor) room.well kinda sorta. Make it a living space. grill, table chairs. decorate to entertain
2007-09-06 05:49:10 · answer #6 · answered by R W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what about a pergola ?
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/bc12012/1_GreatRoom_Dining.jpg
minus the dining room set
or an outdoor fireplace ?
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/bc12012/602.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/bc12012/fireplace044t.jpg
2007-09-06 03:19:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
how about vegitables tomatoes peppers and aubergines can be very attractive and they are so easy to look after and they will feed you
2007-09-06 01:29:29 · answer #8 · answered by john s 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋