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What's New In
Backyard Gardens?
Many homeowners today are turning their own backyards into
personal retreats to "get away from it all". Attractive
patios, landscaped gardens, walkways, pools, secluded
sitting areas and creative backdrops are easier than ever
to incorporate and a pleasure for avid gardeners and
nature lovers.
In most parts of Canada, including Manitoba, the summer
season is far too short. What better way to enjoy it than
to extend and enhance your outdoor living space? Begin by
determining how you want to use your little piece of
nature. Do you want to relax in privacy, entertain friends
and family, set up playground structures, develop new
garden areas or incorporate a variety of decorate
features?
Today, landscaping has evolved into more than adding
trees, patios and gardens. Your personal space or "outdoor
room" can incorporate almost anything and add tremendously
to the value of your home. Cooking areas, hot tubs,
showers, pools, sound systems, elegant lighting,
comfortable furniture and even outdoor heaters are among
the many products and features available.
If you are planning a complicated project, consider hiring
a landscape professional who can install almost any
feature you desire, from a fish pond to a waterfall to
special fencing, decks, patios, walkways and other
features.
Paving stones
High in popularity are paving stones, interlocking bricks,
flagstones, crushed stone and just plain rocks. They are
used to finish patios, retaining garden walls and more.
Available in a wide variety of colours, textures, shapes
and sizes, these products add charm and character while
cutting down on weeds. They come in natural-looking hues
such as slate grey, brown and red, as well as blends of
those tones.
Unusual plants
Proper drainage is the key in any backyard garden project.
Garden displays, effective lighting, decorative structures
and piped in music add the pizzazz. Not all garden areas
need to be places of great tranquility and bliss. They can
also be shocking and creative, incorporating unusual
plants, powerful colours and bold foliage. Forget the
petunias and impatiens. Set aside a garden area and make a
statement with tropical plants and rare annuals that can
be taken indoors for the winter.
Garden ornaments
Garden ornaments such as birdbaths, sundials, fountains,
statues, lamp posts and other "decorative" items, swings,
specialty patio chairs and benches are also popular. These
add depth, character and variety to any landscape. The
sky's the limit when it comes to incorporating these
landscape ornaments into your gardens and patio.
Berries
If you don't want to roam too far afield for fresh
hand-picked berries and currents, consider cultivating
your own in a special garden area. Berries don't require a
lot of space and can add a lot of character to a back
yard. Strawberries are fun to pick and delightful to eat,
but send runners allover the place and are difficult to
control. They demand a lot of sun, are susceptible to pest
damage and may not be worth the trouble. Raspberries are a
much better choice. They demand little care, attract fewer
garden pests and can take some shade. Raspberries are also
a lot less common in local stores.
Roses
No garden, unless it is densely shaded, can be complete
without including some space for the queen of flowers -the
rose. This classic, traditional perennial comes in a vast
variety of sizes, colours, scents and types. Roses need
proper planting and pruning, good soil and feeding, at
least half a day of sun, regular watering and winter
protection.
Most popular are the hybrid tea roses, as well as climbing
and rambling varieties. Most rose bushes require deep
watering every four or five days. They dislike anything
that stands in their way and demand space around them. |
