| While the back of the home is not seen by the | | | | essentially an area that is separated from the |
| general public passing by, backyard landscaping | | | | rest of the area by a screen of thick foliage |
| should also have careful attention if possible for a | | | | plants like hedges. Within you can have deckchairs |
| number of reasons. The same reason applies as | | | | etc for quiet relaxing. |
| for the front yard landscaping - good gardens add | | | | - Perhaps, a small fishpond or a birdbath as |
| 5% - 10% value to a property. This alone is a | | | | décor. |
| good reason not to just use the back of the | | | | - If space permits, a large tree that can provide |
| house as a dumping ground for all the discarded | | | | shade to sit under. You can also plant bushes and |
| items of life - like old sofas, car bodies and other | | | | annuals that prefer shade or semi shade in the |
| trash. In addition, it is space that can extend the | | | | summer - azaleas do well, as do annuals like |
| size of the house and its function - thoughtful | | | | primulas, begonias, lobelias, ferns. |
| design and planning can give you extra 'rooms' as | | | | - If you have a pool, decorate the surrounds with |
| it were. | | | | potted plants - even mandarins will grow in large |
| For example, a deck added on to the back of the | | | | pots - great for color - and you get fresh fruit as |
| house and set up say with a BBQ and for | | | | a bonus. |
| entertainment effectively is another room added | | | | - A small grove of silver birch adds a touch of |
| onto the house - an outdoor room. Likewise, if | | | | elegance to any garden - always use in odds |
| you have wide sliding glass doors on the back and | | | | numbers - 3, 5, 7 etc. They don't like grass |
| they can open up - you effectively join the | | | | around them but you can get away with it, or |
| outdoors to that room - extending it, with or | | | | use dicondra (kidney weed). |
| without a deck. Having an Italian style covered | | | | The backyard is a real asset to any home - and |
| arbor (in larger gardens) or a gazebo also adds | | | | even if you do not like gardening, it can be |
| another room. This is all then great for summer | | | | designed in such a way as to still be beautiful and |
| entertainment. Add to all this some subtle outdoor | | | | relatively low maintenance. In such instances |
| lighting and you can enjoy the backyard from an | | | | simply go for bushes, shrubs and trees that need |
| entirely different aspect at night with all the | | | | little or no pruning. Cover the ground with lawn - |
| interplay of light and shadows. Size and space | | | | for the kids to play on - and that's it. While you |
| available dictates what you can do with your back | | | | may not want to bother with higher maintenance |
| yard. | | | | flower beds, veggie patches and so on - a |
| Some ideas to consider: | | | | backyard planted with just trees and shrubs will |
| - Play area for the kids (lawn and sand pits, play | | | | give a idea of potential to any prospective buyer |
| equipment) | | | | should you decide to sell someday. To keep the |
| - A vegetable and herb patch. Though, herbs are | | | | back reasonably orderly, try and put your garden |
| probably better in pots kept near the back door | | | | shed right down the back in a corner - and grow |
| for ease of access when cooking in the kitchen. | | | | a climber over it. |
| - A secret garden (in larger gardens) - this is | | | | |