Landscaping 101: Create the Ultimate Backyard Summer Retreat
Spring is almost here, and summer isn’t far behind. When it arrives most of us will want nothing more than to spend as much of our free time outdoors as we possibly can. And while big gatherings and barbecues are fun there are also plenty of times when we’d rather relax, soak up the sun and enjoy a nice break from our busy lives.
The problem is that if your backyard is not particularly appealing half of the appeal of a lazy summer afternoon outside is taken away. After all it’s hard to feel very relaxed if your only view is a lawn that needs mowing and the only place you have to sit is a garden chair that should have been replaced two seasons ago.
If you are staging your Waterloo Region home for sale creating a great backyard retreat vibe can make a big difference too. It can add to both the property’s outdoor curb appeal and offer extra functionality that should impress would be homebuyers.
Creating a fabulous summer backyard retreat is easier then you might imagine and certainly more affordable. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
Add a Water Feature
The sound of gently running water is one of the most relaxing in the world and adding a great water feature to your garden is probably easier than ever before and the fact that there is a fountain available to suit almost any taste means that you can blend your new fountain into your existing landscape seamlessly.
For those who love simplicity, an Eastern-inspired fountain might be a fantastic choice while those who prefer a little more whimsy will probably be rather charmed by the fairy themed fountains that are becoming very popular.
You can even choose to recreate the look of outdoor spaces from a long bygone era in your own backyard by choosing a wall mounted courtyard fountain that can be used as a focal point for a whole new landscaping theme.
Add Visual Interest and Charm with Great Garden Decor
If you look at pictures of the great gardens of the world – Versailles in France, the Dumbarton Oaks in Washington DC, the manicured grounds of Hampton Court in England are just a few examples – you will see that they all have one thing in common. Although they are all very different they all feature beautiful garden decor in the form of statues, wall plaques and other man-made objects that compliment the beauty of the flowers, plants, and trees.
Although you may not be able to recreate Versailles in your humble backyard you can use beautiful – and very affordable – modern garden decor items to add an extra level of visual interest to your personal garden landscape.
Create a Great Chill Out Spot
A glass of something cold, a good book (even if it is on an iPad or a Kindle these days) and a nap in a hammock in a shady place, sounds pretty wonderful right?
Adding furniture to your outdoor living space whose only purpose is to help you to relax is key to creating a great backyard retreat. Whether you choose a big comfy hammock or a relaxing garden swing, a great garden bench or maybe even a combination of all three choosing great summer furniture is a must.
Choose Fragrant Blooms
When they are choosing flowers and shrubs for their gardens many people base their choices on the colors and the shapes of the plants. If you want to create a truly tranquil and relaxing place adding fragrant blooms is important as well.
Sweet peas have a beautiful scent and are fabulously colored as well, and irises have as many different “fragrances” – everything from very delicate and floral to anise to fruity – as there are color variations. Other very fragrant flowers worth considering include lilacs, roses lavender and gardenias.