You may not think that planning for furniture for your garden is necessary but if you don’t you may have to buy new furniture again in only a few short years.  This is due to not doing the research as to coverings or materials to insure you get the best quality furniture the first time.

That’s right, there is a lot of junk out in the outdoor furniture market because it is a very lucrative area to sell to consumers. The biggest issue today has to do with price versus quality. Purchasing in a down economy has something to do with it because everybody is looking for a deal these days. While I don’t blame them for wanting to buy as inexpensively as possible, sometimes the cheap buy today is actually more expensive in the long run because you will have to buy again.

If instead you look at materials first and THEN go out and compare prices knowing the furniture you have chosen will last a good long time, you will have the best of both worlds. This means you will have to do a little research before you actually purchase anything.

One of the first things to note is the frame of the furniture. If it is made of wood you will want to invest in cedar or redwood over any other type of wood on the market. Both these have natural weather fighting qualities that can be further enhanced by using a good sealer. If the frame is a metal of some kind make sure it has been thoroughly powder coated to prevent premature rust. Using a rust proof coating can further protect this type of frame.

When looking into coverings, make sure they are made of water proof material and not just water resistant material. These two things are not the same and the water resistant material will break down far easier than the water proof material. Also look to see how sun resistant the materials are as well. Fading can a big problem over time and you might ant to invest in some storage close to your patio or garden area to store the cushions when not in use or off season.

Just make sure you know what you are purchasing and how long they should last. Going the extra mile will always give you better results in the long run.

I recently spoke to one of my neighbors who for the last two years have let his garden area go. I found out that he had hurt his back and was having trouble so much pain bending over that planting, weeding and harvesting was not something he could easily do anymore. As we talked I asked him about another small raised bed in his front yard that he continued to use to raise tomatoes and basil and he told me it was high enough that he could reach it and tend to it as needed.

I went home that night thinking about what could be done to help my neighbor continue to garden without pain and got an idea that I spoke to him about the next day. He was very excited!

His garden was 20 feet x 16 feet and located on a slope. He had used timbers to create a boundary around the space and had small areas portioned off to plant flowers around the garden. We went in and took the timbers out and created 2 raised beds that stand about 3 feet off the ground and run horizontal to the slope and are 16 feet by 4 feet. We were able to reuse almost all of the timber so there was little out of pocket cost and the dirt from the garden was used to fill the raised beds.

I was actually shocked that we were able to do everything with the dirt that was in the garden. The hardest part was pulling up the weeds and grass that had taken over but once that was done it was just a matter of good old fashioned shoveling. We took strawberries that had gone crazy in the old garden space and replanted them in one raised bed to create a strawberry patch. The other has an array of plants including more tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers of several varieties.

We used some trellises from the old garden as well so the tomatoes will grow up them and leave room for everything else to grow. I see my neighbor almost everyday out watering and weeding and he is extremely thankful that a solution was reached so he could go back and garden the way he loves to.

When faced with a challenge, use your imagination and see if you too can find a new solution to an old problem.

If you have ever had the pleasure of building a shed or outdoor building like a garage or workshop then you will know the value of having good plans or blueprints to work by. If you haven’t you may be in the crowd that that believe for this type of small building, shed plans are just overkill. However, you would be grossly mistaken.

As someone who has done vast woodworking projects including pergolas, gazebos and out buildings such as garden sheds, etc. I can tell you there are no such projects where you don’t need a little guidance and a lot of instruction. Just getting a cut sheet or a materials list is worth the money you would pay for a set of plans these days because they are really cheap and sometimes free! I would take a good look at what you get for free and if they don’t have the materials list or cut list I would pay the $20 to $30 dollars to get the better set of plans. You will find out very quickly that the better the plans, the better the project goes, the less the waste and the more fun it is. This will lead to other such projects because you did such a great job on this one.

Speaking of projects, you can find several different types of shed plans and woodworking plans that have a lot more to them than meets the eye. One of the best things about these online downloads is they can be affordable because they are not having to draft them like they used to or mail them to you. This is why they send you a variety of shed plans and other wood project plans for you to choose from, which helps you afford them.

It just makes no sense what so ever to spend $300 & up on materials and a weekend or two in time building and not spend the $20 or $30 to insure that you are doing it correctly. Spend the money on well thought out plans and get the job done right!

Don’t be afraid to seek landscaping help when and if you need it. Many times it will be less expensive to have a professional crew come in and do certain things like build a deck, pour a patio or install a water feature hen it is for you to spend the time and money trying to get it all done. They have the manpower and the experience and can get it done, in many cases, quicker, cheaper and better.

What I have found to be a life saver is the time I save by hiring out professionals. In what I do, time is money so any time I save means I am usually either making more money or spending it with my family. The other huge plus for me is what I call “the frustration factor”. This is the frustration that I go through trying to figure out the best way to go about a job I am not familiar with by doing internet research or reading through magazines and books. This alone has taken up more time than some of the projects I have done! The bottom line is to get the help that you need before you create a disaster!

This is the very first fall since we added a pergola to our backyard that we have gone through and I have been surprised how much we are still using and enjoying it.  I had thought that we wouldn’t do much outside once fall arrived but this great pergola has changed our behavior as a family.  My wife created a sitting area under it and we have gotten in the habit of sitting out in the yard and enjoying the sunsets.  We just went from iced teas to hot chocolate!

I know that a pergola is not going to be for everyone but for those who are thinking about putting one in their yard, I highly recommend it.  They are beautiful features that really stand out in a yard.  Once you plant climbing vines and let them go, they grow and cover the top to create a wonderful canopy of color and smells.  It’s has really been a great experience and all I can say is that I have come to love pergolas!

So you want a fantastic garden year-round?  You can have it as long as you understand that the shape and look of your garden, just like your body, is highly dependent upon the underlying bones that support the wonderful flora.  Winter will expose those bones and give you an entire season to envision keeping what you like and changing what you don’t.

Look at the framework of your garden; the structures that you either use or would like to use along with the trees, shrubs and vines that grow in and around your yard.  You can use the style of your house to pick and choose what will look best in your garden, either man-made or natural.  Using natural plants is wonderful and you will need to keep in mind the size and expansion of the plants as they reach full bloom or full growth.  Whatever you do, choose your bones carefully so when they are laid bare they still look incredible in the dreariest dead of winter.

The hand-crafted cedar Wallington Pergola is much more versatile then you would know by looking at it.  On its own, it can make a great centerpiece in your yard for you to enjoy a little shelter on those lovely spring mornings with your first cup of coffee or a little shade as you entertain your family and friends.

Pergolas are terrific out in a lawn area, entwined in a garden or covering a patio.  They give just enough protection form the sun without blocking all the light and in time, with a little planning, can be covered with your favorite vines and blooms to be the addition to your backyard space you have always wanted.

The Wallington Pergola goes one step further and gives you the ability to create an outside covered picnic table that will delight the cook in the family and give you additional seating outdoors.  No more moving the lawn chairs about and balancing your plates on your lap.  You now have a sturdy, secure place to eat that is remarkably beautiful as well as functional.

The greatest thing about decorating your outdoor space is the way you choose to accent your furniture pieces.  Some people like to stay consistent with the type of furniture and accents, i.e. all wood planters with wood furniture.  However, it may be fun to mix and match a bit.

Think about mixing natural elements to build the entire space.  If you have wrought iron furniture, get some wood and stone elements in the mix whether they are planters, window boxes, candle holders or patio flooring or decking.  There is such a variety of options these days to choose from for both garden and patio furniture.

Another growing trend is concrete work.  There are some fantastic concrete stains and stamps that can be done to enhance your outdoor space as well as birdbaths and planters that are beautifully done.  If you also have a shed, greenhouse, arbor or pergola, think about how to accent these outdoor structures with wind chimes, trellis’, flowers and planters and window boxes. 

You will find this a fun and exciting way to add enjoyment to your yard.  Accents can be used to soften up hard edges of masculine up a very feminine yard or visa versa.  You can always place planters with lovely blooms as accent pieces around your outdoor furniture and bring the beauty of your garden to your patio and oh the smell…

My backyard is full of fragrant flowers, beautiful bushes and my favorite, a stone bench. My husband purchased it for me on my birthday ten years ago. It has become a staple item and really looks pleasing surrounded by my prized flowers. On the very top of it my husband had it engraved with our names and the names of our children. With each new grandchild, the space is getting smaller and smaller.

For many years, that bench has been a reflecting spot for me. On warm summer nights, I enjoy sitting out there relaxing. I will take a glass of tea or a favorite book and just plop myself down. It is my quiet time that belongs to just me and no one else.

My children no longer knock on the front door, but come directly to the backyard. They already know where their mom is and usually have a good laugh at my expense. It does not bother me. I know one day they will look back fondly on these times. I already do, when I am sitting alone on my bench.

A birdbath is a great item to add to your garden. Not only are they pleasing to the eyes, but also to nature. When I purchased mine, I had not really considered the animal using it, just the beauty of it alone. I am now amazed at how much better it looks with the squirrels climbing up to get a cool drink, and the birds dipping their feet into it.

It is so enjoyable to step out in the morning, coffee in hand, and watch the animals frolicking away in the birdbath. Boy did I get more than I ever expected. In the afternoons, you will find the animals taking a break from their play and wetting their whistles once again. They are never boring to watch.

Just adding the birdbath to our backyard has changed its entire atmosphere. The garden surrounds it, the animals sit on it, and it is quite majestic. Who knew a small bit of concrete could add so much happiness to one woman’s life? I sure didn’t or I would have done it years ago.