Water features- fountains

 Installing a water feature in your yard can add value to your home and give it a nice outdoor focal point. The bubbling sound is soothing and the water attracts birds.

A fountain in a courtyard paired with potted plants creates a nice ambiance.

Although water features do add value to your property, one this size may be a little aggressive for the novice gardener's first time project.

Great looking back yard!

I like what the homeowners did with this yard. It has a nice architectural feel to it with a deck, lawn, gardens, and walkway - structure without being too formal. Just enough grass for kids and dogs but you don't spend your life mowing it. There is also some structure to the plants with repetition and grouping so it doesn't look haphazard.

Yard Art

Accessorizing your yard with artwork can add value to the property. It gives your landscaping interest and pizzazz and draws a buyer in. And if it is not attached to the property, it is usually considered personal property and can be taken with you. Art work is also just lots of fun while you are living there. Here are some examples.

We had a birdbath that a cat jumped on and knocked off the bowl and broke it. What to do with the leftover stand? Add a gazing ball.

Larger yards can handle larger art work. And if you are planning to take it with you, throw it in the hatchback.

Backyard shed with pizzazz!

For ease of gardening, add a shed near your work area. If you have a small yard, you may want to get rid of your grass all together and just have gardens and patios. Then you don't need much space for your tools. And while you are at it, why settle for an ordinary brown one when you can add some color and pizzazz to your backyard.





















Privacy screen (exterior)

You may need screening from neighboring blight and city code requirements may not allow for a fence over 6 feet tall. What's a body to do? Perhaps a privacy screen will work. Using bamboo in a frame, set back from the property line, may be the answer. (Check with city code requirements to be sure.)

Outdoor Living Room

If you want to create a special outdoor living space, let your artistic self go wild. This is a wonderful use of materials, textures, and color. Imagine yourself lounging around here on a summer afternoon sipping a cool drink!