Backyard and Garden Makeovers by Billy Bristol - HTML preview

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Pre-planning Makes a Difference

Many people like the idea of a marvelous makeover as it pertains to their backyard; after all, who wouldn’t prefer a flowering oasis over a weedy overgrown lot? However, even with the best intentions sometimes transformations do not get accomplished as planned. The owner is doing well just to cut down the weeds and grass. Once you have the grass cut and the yard weeded you are headed in the right direction with respect to transformation. The next step encompasses a little planning.

Before you begin the design project, it is up to you to find out the dimensions of your yard or the space you wish to transform. In this way, you can accommodate the areas with plants that will not only work well outside your residence, but are also in proportion to the area you wish to improve. For example, if your back lot is more long and narrow from a dimensional standpoint, you can make it appear wider by using the correct design. If the backyard is very plain with no hills or slopes you may wish to use a design that provides curvature for interest.

It is necessary to decide what type of visual look you wish to produce.  Do you want your yard to appear more spacious?  Do you wish it to appear longer?  What is it in this regard are you wishing to achieve?

The second consideration is color. How colorful do you wish to make your yard? Some persons like to have a great deal of greenery rather than much color; maybe just a splash of it here or there. For example, a landscaping arrangement that works well with a red brick ranch house style structure. Placing climbing plants against the outside of the brick dwelling may add some depth and stability to the already classic look. Further, if evergreens and other green shrubs are introduced on the fringes of the house and within the backyard this may add to the classic look of the overall design. A couple nice pale-hued rose bushes may present as the only element of color. However, everything is pleasant to look at, particularly after a nice spring rain when foliage is all the more green.

Third, if your lifestyle requires you to entertain frequently, you may consider installation of a patio. Also when thinking about patio installation it is also wise to envision what style of patio furniture you will place upon the patio you install. Large pieces of furniture would overwhelm a small patio. Here we go back once again to the aspect of size.

No matter how well you like a certain furniture style, if it is too heavy in appearance for the size of patio, it is not going to look at all spectacular. Proportion is very important in maintaining a certain degree of symmetry within your design. So once you decide on the size of the patio, find furniture that will look nice outside your style of home as well as fitting within the space you’ve allocated for the patio.

In conclusion, taking into consideration the amount of color with respect to plants and shrubs is first in the preparation stage. Also think about the size of space you are working whether it is a garden area or a patio. Make certain your furniture fits nicely (dimensionally-speaking) on the patio, allowing plenty of room for guests to get up and move about as necessary. Also if you use the patio for outside cooking you’ll want to incorporate size-wise a grill that will fit.