It's no secret that more and more of us are spending time in our own backyards. With the price of gasoline and travel money is getting tighter and tighter. Happily homeowners are finding out that with a bit of sweat equity, planning and imagination they can make their backyards places that they enjoy spending time in. You may also find that you actually enjoy spending more time around the home if you update your landscaping.
Over the years more and more homeowners are spending money landscaping. With the help of home stores like Home Depot and Lowe's it's easier than ever. The only thing standing in the way of you making your backyard an oasis is your imagination. There is a lot of work that you can do yourself, you don't necessarily need to have experts do it for you. Think of your backyard as an extension of your home. Spring and summer are a time when you should take full advantage of the space you have on your deck and patio.
Perhaps you already have the makings of a fabulous backyard but you don't know it. Most homes have a deck or patio. If you have a deck you don't use, why not? If you don't like the way it looks a cleaning and water sealing can bring it back to new life. You should make cleaning and water sealing something you do at least every third year to keep your deck work in good condition. Many homeowners find that their deck or patio is just too hot to use. Many are in the blazing sun all day. That's also easily fixed. Building a simple pergola over an existing patio, or putting an awning over your deck can give you much needed shade. Sunair, Sunsetter and Durasol carry a wide range of retractable patio awnings, which can be manual or motorized. Sunbrella is the most commonly used fabric as it is guaranteed not to fade.
Patio furniture manufacturers are keeping up with this trend of outdoor rooms and they offer furniture in dozens of different designs styles. If you have a patio that is a walk out from the indoors you can use matching fabrics to tie both inside and outside together. You can choose wrought iron patio furniture from manufacturers like Meadowcraft and O.W. Lee who are known for quality furniture in both classic and contemporary styles. For those who want the look of wrought iron patio furniture but who don't want to have to deal with the weight, the answer is cast aluminum patio furniture. Manufacturers Hanamint, Mallin and Tropitone offer cast aluminum patio sets in a wide array of styles and finishes.
Ok. Now we've got a shady spot with comfortable furniture. What's next? Something to cook steaks and burgers on! If you go out today looking for a gas grill be prepared to find choices you've never seen before. Gourmet cooking has come out of doors. Look at grills from Char-Broil, Vermont Castings, Weber, Broilmaster, Fiesta or Ducane and see the features you can get. Side burners, built in refrigerators, rotisseries to name just a few. Want to have an outdoor kitchen? Outdoor kitchens are all the rage. From a grill built into a counter top with cabinets underneath to full fledge kitchens the only thing standing in your way of the perfect outdoor kitchen will be your imagination.
How does your lawn look? If you've updated your deck or patio, your outdoor patio furniture and your grill and outdoor cooking area what type of view will your guests have when they sit down to eat? It's very simple today to have a green lawn. Companies like Scott's and Green Light, Espoma and Schultz have taken the guess work out of lawncare. With a few simple applications to your lawn you can have it thick, lush and weed free.
When you're thinking about landscaping your yard consider different types of gardens. Container gardening is very good to use around decks and patio areas. It's always wonderful to see a colorful healthy plant spilling over a flower pot. Use your imagination. You can use any types of containers you like and not only can you grow flowers, but you can also grow vegetables. Raised bed and square foot gardening are also ways to garden organically and these garden beds also are attractive and can also be incorporated into your backyard landscaping with ease.
Now that you've patio furniture, a gas grill and you're taking care of your lawn, how about a proper place to store all your equipment? For most of us all out outdoor equipment ends up in the garage taking up way too much space. Look into a garden shed. You'll be amazed at the styles you find. You can have one built to your specifications, down to the colors which you can have echo the colors of your home. Garden sheds come in metal, wood or carefree vinyl finishes.
