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…

Gardeners in the colder zones (Zones 3-8) will need to plant bulbs in the fall in order to have these flowers bloom in the Spring. The bulbs must go through a period of hibernation in order to ‘wake up’ in spring time. The most common spring bulbs are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus.

Design your garden so that the taller plants are in the back and shorter in the front. Also, be aware of when the plants will bloom so you can have continuous blossoms over the spring months into early summer.  In order to have a natural looking garden, stagger the placement of the bulbs rather than plant in straight rows. One way is to toss the bulbs on the prepared soil so they land in random positions.

Choose bulbs that are firm and have no signs of decay on them. Bulbs should be planted in well drained soil. The depth of the hole will depend on the type of bulb you are planting. Water the area after planting to ensure any air pockets are eliminated so the bulb is in contact with the soil.

So you think that you have the perfect yard?  You know the one that would win first prize in any contest and is the envy of your neighbors.  Are your grass and flowers finely manicured where there is not even the hint of a weed anywhere on the premises?  It looks great, doesn’t?  Yes your yard is finely manicured, free of weeds and is the most stunning on the block!  Or is it?  Do you think something is missing?  It’s just not perfect yet and you just can’t seem to figure out why!  Then it hits you, that something is an outdoor structure to bring out the splendor that is your yard.  That structure could very well be a pergola.

A pergola can make your yard picture perfect; a truly extraordinary yard.  Pergolas add character and depth to any yard and make an otherwise dull landscape into something that is intriguing and inviting.  A pergola can transform your perfect, sterile looking yard into a place that draws you in and calls out to you and your friends.  The ordinary becomes the extraordinary.

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.

Most everyone knows the benefits of using newspapers to cover where you would like to place a garden to rid yourself of weeds, etc.  However, it’s also a great way to establish a floor for the spot you would like to place a greenhouse.

The first thing to do is determine where in your yard you have space that is also level.  Most greenhouse kits will need to be built on level ground.  Then determine how big your green house will be; do you prefer an 8 x 8 or maybe a 12 x 16?  You will need to know that in order to measure out the foundation for your home greenhouse.

Drive a stake in the ground at one corner and measure out your foundation from corner to corner (remember the size greenhouse you are getting) and stake the other three corners and pull the string tight revealing the exact size you will need for your foundation.  Always take a tape measure out and double check the measurements.

Lay out the newspaper (about 6 to 7 layers) to cover the entire area.  You can wet it in a bucket or have a water source handy to spray the paper to stay down as you lay it out.  Once you have it laid out it’s up to you what material you would like to have for a quick foundation.  You can choose an organic material such as mulch or a rock or gravel material.

The main things you will need to watch is to make sure the newspaper is totally smothered and can still get moisture.  You can also use newspapers underneath several kinds of flooring to keep your greenhouse floor nice and clear of weeds and unwanted grasses.

Three years ago I bent down to pick up a towel and my life has never been the same since.  It took a little more than two years to get back to where I can do most of what I did before in the garden but it is different and I do some preventative things to keep it that way.

I was an athlete in my younger years and as I got older I just assumed I would always be able to do certain things.  I was wrong.  What they say about assuming is true.  I now warm up before I do any kind of bending, lifting or moving things outside or in.  One of the main things I do is stretch and I stretch very well.

I watch what I lift and how I lift it.  I also know my limit and when to get some help and, I ask for it.  A back injury is a great equalizer in having a prideful attitude of I am stronger than…  It’s just not worth it.

If possible I avoid bending over a whole bunch while gardening, and when I do, I am careful to watch how I bend over.  One of the things that got me in trouble in the first place was years of compensating for an old knee injury and bending with my back and not my legs.  That was a mistake.

You may think this can never happen to you.  I understand that.  However, unless you need to be on your back for days at a time, go through painful physical therapy and be on medication that makes you sleep through half your days to learn how to treat your body, please take my word for it.  You only have one back, and if hurt; it hurts.

Having a separate garden shed is a great idea if you have the space.  Mixing all of your garden supplies and tools, with all of your other stuff, in a large storage building can lead to annual “hunts” to find everything you need for the spring and summer months.

It doesn’t matter how hard you try to keep it all separate, you end up hunting for something you know is in there!  Have you ever given up, gone and bought a replacement tool, only to find the original tool digging out Christmas supplies?  If this happens several years in a row, you could almost pay for a small garden shed with what it cost to replace the misplaced tools!

Sheds that are built especially for the garden are normally a little taller to accommodate the handles on rakes, hoes, shovels, etc.  Many of them have accessories available to hang those awkward items such as trimmers and clippers.  If you need a potting area, look for the potting sheds that have some garden storage as well.

There are many different shapes and styles to fit your every need and if you can’t seem to find what you want, there are some custom shops that will build to your specification.  For those of you who would rather do-it-yourself, there is some great garden shed plans available as well.

If you go this route, make sure the shed plans come with good illustrated pictures, a material list, a cut list and good customer service to help you if you have any issues during building.  You may pay a little more, but in the end, it will be worth it.

Over the last few days since the information on tomatoes came out in the news, almost everyone I have talked too has said that they are contemplating a garden to grow their own food.  What struck me funny is, last year my oldest son was visiting right when my garden was starting to produce and he asked me, “Why have vegetable gardens when you can get everything you need from the grocery store?”

I went on to explain to him that I enjoyed it.  There is something very therapeutic when you get your hands in dirt.  Now I’m seeing it may be the way we feed ourselves in the future; backyard gardens and greenhouses.  In fact, there might be a time that the guy or gal that knows how to “grow things” is a very sought after commodity.

With that said, this may be a great time to start a small container gardens for those eatables that will be ready for a late summer or an early fall harvest.  At some point, you may want to invest in a hobby greenhouse so you can have your own garden almost year round.  Of course it will depend on where you live as well as your climate, etc., and there are a lot to choose from so you will need to do your research.

Everybody knows the internet is a great place to investigate your choices as to what and when to grow and how to grow it.  Another great resource for help is your state’s agriculture department.  They should be able to help you with all types of information tailored to your state’s particular region.  Some state agriculture departments will also run detailed soil analysis on the dirt you are using.  Check first to make sure you live in a state where this is available.  Once you have this information, you can take the necessary steps to improve your soil for optimum growing.