Backyards can be sanctuaries or constant reminders of a to-do list. Remodeling the inside of a house may take precedence over repairing the backyard, but once attended , a beautiful and user-friendly backyard adds value to your home and offers a sanctuary from the world outside. Making a simple sketch of this outside area helps to organize a garden that works. Include existing shrubs and trees and indicate areas that need screening for privacy, in addition to areas that get full sun or full shade.
Patios and Decks
Old, cracked, concrete patios are eyesores and can be safety hazards. Breaking up concrete patios is noisy and can be pricey, but the piled broken pieces make rustic and attractive non retaining walls. Newly poured concrete patios can be a fantastic solution for mid-century-style modern gardens, however flagstone placed in brick or concrete patios add more warmth and texture to a room. Crushed-gravel patios work well where water runoff is an issue –the permeable surface allows water to percolate through, instead of slide surfaces. A deck made from wood or composite materials can immediately extend the living area of a house. Ideally, a deck may have easy access in the kitchen, making impromptu alfresco meals a likelihood.
Water Features
The noise of water at a backyard can be soothing, but also paying for water functions may not inspire Zen-like thoughts. Natural-looking rock waterfalls that fall a few feet into shallow pools, designed and installed by professionals, can be pricey. Homeowners can opt to install a cast-stone fountain, though, using a recirculating pump to conduct it. Licensed electricians can hardwire the electric motor, or homeowners can select a solar-panel-operated version. Long cords that extend from the solar panel to the pump allow the fountain to sit at a shady corner and also the solar panel to occupy a glowing patch.
Lighting
Adding backyard light isn’t inexpensive, but it can add safety in addition to attractiveness to a backyard. Professionals need to install high-definition lights to code. Low-voltage or solar-powered lights are good projects for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Choose large trees and install lights that shine up into the canopy from the base of this tree. Adding lights under the railings of decks, or along the risers of almost any measure leading up to them, makes night dining safer and more appealing.
Lawns and Plants
Installing new sod, or reseeding tired or worn-out yards, is relatively inexpensive and offers young children with safe places to playwith. A concrete strip installed around yard areas helps remove the need for constant edging around the turf. Before ripping out any existing plants, analyze which ones thrive in their existing site. Mature landscaping can be worked around, and it can’t be replaced once ruined. Even if a specific plant annoys one member of their household, frequently adding companion plants around it is going to help it fit in the landscape.