Custom Patio Blog

Usually a waiting area for our guests, enough importance and creativity should be showered upon our patios. By adding a whimsical touch to your patio seats, you can easily raise your curb appeal and create interesting talking points for your guests.

Cinder Blocks

If you have some cinder blocks lying around, pile it up and create a shabby chic look for your patio seats. It also helps if your patio surface material is from the same family which easily weaves the look together. You can also use it as plant containers or even borders. Due to its compact size, it’s perfect for minimalist gardeners who love a variety of plants but do not like a cluttered, overgrown look to their garden.

Tires

With some sturdy ropes, rattan preferred, cover your old tire and transform it into a pretty rattan seat. Not only did you help the environment by recycling, you’ll also get to save and still have a chic outdoor furniture. If you want to relive some of your childhood days, hang it from a sturdy pergola or tree branch and have a swing. Pretty nifty, don’t you think?

Pallets

With its sound structure that does not need any further assembly, pallets have been a favorite seating type for outdoors. Just throw in some soft seating cushions and voila, you already have an outdoor seating area. And since it’s compact and easy to move, you can change your outdoor seating design easily.

Hammocks

It’s not just whimsical, it also invites one to relax and unwind. For those with limited space, hammocks also provide one with a flexible seat that can be taken out when not in use. Go bohemian for a free and easy patio seating with a hanging hammock.

A new year has begun and the trends in outdoor structures are already coming out. For those minimalists, this is your year which gives emphasis on quality design and less accessories. Discover the latest 2017 patio trends to hit your outdoors below.

Patio Covers

2017 is the year where patio covers will shine the most. As most homeowners are now finding the real value of adding an outdoor room, more people are looking towards improving their barefaced patio with patio covers. From a simple patio which raises curb appeal to an outdoor room which gives back a significant return on your improvement, patio covers will also add comfort to your outdoor living.

Patio Surface Material

From a wide range of various surface material, it seems the low maintenance and versatile concrete will be the favorite. As a malleable material, concrete slabs easily fit in most patios. Paver stones will also be another big hit this 2017 for surface materials. If concrete will dominate the front patio, paver stones will shine in the backyard patio.

Outdoor Kitchens

Since more and more families value quality time spent with their loved ones second to feasting, outdoor kitchens will also figure in the 2017 outdoor living trends. While this is a trend that carried over from 2016, keeping your outdoor kitchen suited to your budget and needs is still the best way to go about your outdoor kitchen improvement.

Fixtures and Features

From furniture and lighting fixtures to water features, there’s no room for over-the-top décor but functional and comfortable does it. Whether it’s a lighting fixture that’ll cast a spotlight on your preferred spots or a water feature that’ll provide a calming soundtrack when you’re out relaxing, the key rule for this 2017 trend is keeping things to a minimum.

With all these 2017 outdoor trends, you should always keep in mind to renovate for your comfort first and foremost rather than keeping up with what’s in.

While there’s not much you can do during wintertime for your garden, it’s the ripe time to prepare your soil for spring planting. And you can do it through sheet mulching.

What is sheet mulching?

Sheet mulching is the process of layering materials which will enrich the soil without resorting to chemical products. It also protects your soil from the cold weather during winter which may make it hard for you to shape your soil up for spring planting.

How to do sheet mulching?

Layer up easily biodegradable cardboard to act as a weed barrier. To make the cardboard decompose faster, shred it and soak it in water. Feel free to pile up recently cut grass to newspapers, nitrogen-rich material and other organic material. Top it off with hay and let nature do its part in making your soil healthier.

What are the benefits of sheet mulching?

During winter time, nobody wants to spend as much time outdoors. In the meantime, winter gives you the perfect time to prepare your soil for spring planting without worrying that it’ll get trampled underfoot. Since sheet mulching is primarily composed of layering, it is considerably easier than tilling the soil. Aside from that, you’ll also be able to bring nutrients back to the soil while avoiding using chemical products that may harm your little ones and pets.

Another important benefit you get from sheet mulching is that it protects your soil from the extreme harsh weather conditions. You’ll also avoid getting a soggy and flooded lawn since mulched soil retains more water than ordinary non-mulched soil.

So this coming winter, if you’re not planning anything yet for your lawn, why not do sheet mulching and turn it into a garden? It’s an environmentally-safe way to keep your soil healthy and put nutrients back into it.

When your patio space is small, finding a nook for your plants may be especially hard. Find out below 5 creative garden ideas which will free up space in your patio.

Fountain Bed

Instead of using that fountain structure for a burbling water pond, why not fill it up with great garden soil and have it produce blooms instead? A fountain stand maximizes the small space it occupies while freeing up space that would otherwise have been lost for plants.

Sea Shells by the Patio

A unique container for your hanging plants, let large sea shells house your colorful blooms and make your outdoors feel closer to the sea. So the next time you’re by the sea shore, take some time to gather large, fine-looking shells and get your garden containers for free!

Fairy Plot in a Pot

Another fun-sized idea, a miniature garden housed in a pot brightens a nook of your outdoors without crowding your space at all. Due to its compact look, it bursts of colors and gives your corner a magical look. Don’t forget to include a small fairy house to encourage the pixies to come take a look too.

The Seat of Blooms

Got a wonderful chair frame lying around? With a bit of creativity you can repurpose that chair into a seat of blooms. Where a fine bed of ground cover or a succulent bed, this seat of blooms provides a creatively fresh take on combining patio furniture and décor in one.

Flower Bowl

Veer away from the traditional vase by turning your normal fish bowl into a miniature green house. Usually called a terrarium, it may be hung or placed as a centerpiece. You can even create one in less than one hour.

With these space-efficient creative garden ideas, you can now have your garden in a shell or a bowl.

Pergolas are usually seen only as an architectural design structure in the garden. However, in this article we list ideas on where else you can put a pergola and achieve elegant effects for your outdoors.

A pergola does not only belong to a garden. They can also be used as an entrance arch over your doorway. By doing this, you easily improve your curb appeal.

Instead of the grand gazebo, you can save more yet still add real estate value to your outdoors by installing a pergola. Let your vines grow in abundance and you’ll have a more charming outdoor structure that easily reconciles with your outdoor look.

Whether as a standalone patio cover or connected to main house structure, a pergola can easily be installed to agree with the existing structure. Not only that, a pergola will cost less and complete faster than your usual patio cover. A pergola used as a patio cover also allows for a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors.

Use a pergola as a hammock support. This is especially effective if your garden only have tall shrubs rather than trees. Not only does a hammock imprint rest and relaxation, a pergola supporting it also erases the unsightly look of jarring poles that do not do anything to enhance the beauty of your outdoors.

Do you often look outside your patio and wonder how you can bring new life to your outdoor living? Consider these cheap but chic patio ideas and get a brand new looking patio without breaking your bank.

Reclaimed Wooden Frames

Got vintage and rustic-looking wooden frames? Before throwing it out, why not see whether it can be fashioned into a pergola instead? Pergolas made from reclaimed wood stuff not only render your finished product looking great but also give it an original look.

Potted Living Screens

Go for medium to high trees, tall shrubs or even bamboo plants and have your very own living privacy screen. Being potted, one can easily move it following the direction of the sun’s harsh rays and prevent you from being roasted while lounging out of doors.

Living Curtains

Don’t stop on living privacy screens. Try living curtains made of creeping vines and trellises to provide the feeling of cultivated wilderness right in your own backyard. This instantly gives your patio a safe and enclosed ambiance where one can get away from the world’s daily stress.

Paved Steps

From tree stumps to stone and flagstone, installing steps leading to and from your garden invites further exploration of your backyard. It instigates one’s curiosity into what lies beyond your patio and gives the illusion of space.

Canopy

Nothing spells like something festive like a canopy does. Perfect for when there are gatherings, a canopy drapes your backyard in celebratory glee.

New Hues for the Furniture

Giving your patio furniture new colors easily transforms the look of your garden. Just make sure it won’t clash with your garden’s whole look.

Giving your patio a new look does not mean a hefty remodeling price tag. With these cheap but chic patio ideas, you can keep your patio looking interesting and inviting once again.

So you’ve set up your patio with furniture and things to make it an outdoor haven. But you’re not sure if it’s as inviting as you’d like it to be or even comfortable. Browse through our list and see whether you’re still missing something that make your patio the coziest outdoor escape ever!

1. Hammock
   Who doesn’t want a little nap in the comforting sway of the hammock? If you have two strong posts that look empty and can support a hammock, then by all means hang up a hammock there.

2. Fire pit
   Fight away the chill of summer nights with a comfortable fire for you, family and friends. It also gives you a great bonding activity of roasting marshmallows and your friends for great stories! If you’re concerned for the environment, you can even opt for a glass fire which does not use wood or any forest by-products, and is odorless!

3. Curtains
   For when the sunlight is too strong and or you require a little bit of privacy, stringing a curtain to the outposts gives you easy access to shade when it is needed.

4. Patio Cover
   Patio covers don’t just let you enjoy your patio on rainy days. It also helps in protecting your patio and furniture from natural harmful weather elements. You don’t want to replace that furniture every other 6 months, right?

Here are a few tips on how to keep your lawn and garden looking nice for a long time.

• Work with a vision

Most people buy plants and ornaments that are hot in the season and do not consider what would it be like after a few seasons. Before embarking on your landscaping project, have a vision of what you want it to be.

In your vision, consider many changes that the lawn or garden will go through as time passes; and account for those in your plan. This way, you can make informed decisions and install features that will last for years.

• Prepare for anything

Most people assume that when you plant drought-resistant plants, you are safe because they are low maintenance and they require less water. Consider that sometimes storms come and flood your landscape for months killing those plants too. Layer your plants in such a way that you have a mixture of plans that survive in different seasons. Have annual plants and perennial plants as well, such that at any given season, something is blooming.

• Consider landscape maturity

A new landscape looks perfect but when it starts to mature, you realize that some features may require replacing. Plants such as bushes, hedges, and shrubs tend to overgrow and dry out. Trees grow tall and leave spaces in between where they covered when they were younger. Before planting anything, consider the future implications of the plants and have a contingency plan for when that happens.

• Understand plant symbiosis

Some plants do well with one another in the long run while others do not. If you have ornamental flowers or a vegetable garden, planting an oak tree next to them is a bad idea.

It will grow tall and shade the beds, hence suppressing the plants. You are better off having a bench there or a swing set so that people can relax under the shade.

• Have a self-sustainable landscape plan

If your landscape can sustain itself, then you will have an easier time. Have plants that shed leaves to provide mulch and humus for the others. Use grass cuttings to make mulch and compost.

Install solar powered lighting in your yard to cut down on energy bills. Work with a good water recycling system to water your plants as well as service your water features.

• Invest in quality rather than quantity

Sometimes a lawn with lush green grass will last longer than a lawn with dozens of ornamental plants. When planning your landscape work with materials that will last longer. Choose weatherproof components for your deck and patio.

Go for tough water features as well as plants so that they can serve you for a long time. Work with tough plants that can survive for long periods without requiring replacements.

Landscaping does not come easy as it calls for hard work and serious thinking. Sometimes you look at home or landscaping design magazines that make you ask how you can get that same results in your own backyard.

Here are a few tips on how to plan and landscape your lawn so passers by and neighbors want to take pictures of your yard or garden.

Figure out your own style first

You can go through samples of manicured landscapes and come up with a style that suits you the best. Make a theme or a plan around that style so that you have a base to work with. Choose a style that complements your house, hence making it the focal point.

Maximize on the features that you already have

Landscape designing can be an enjoyable and fulfilling project when you utilize what you already have.

If you have lots of rocks, make a rock garden around them. If you have a water feature close by, create a man-made pond, waterfall or fountain and have a small marine ecosystem in your yard.

Use gardens and slopes in your home to create beautiful landscaping features. If you have trees in your yard, you can construct a relaxation bench or swings underneath for people to chat as they enjoy the shade.

Make sure you maximize the features that you have before buying new landscaping ornaments.

Consider your needs before wants

Consider the function of your landscape and start with the useful features before adding the ornamental ones.

If you have little children, having a play area takes priority than having a backyard bar. If you have senior citizens with not much work during the day, having a flower garden or a vegetable garden is good for keeping them occupied.

If you need a guest entertainment area, you can accentuate your patio. After you are done with the basics, then you can move on to other luxury features.

Consult an expert

Landscaping is more than planting flowers, shrubs and laying rocks randomly. You should consult an expert for advise on soil type, and the plants that would do well with your type of soil.

You also get to know about wind and rain patterns as well as how to maximize them. Also, an expert can teach you how to pair perennials with annual plants so that you have a beautiful lawn all year long. They can also advise you on drainage, maintenance and long term landscaping.

Set aside a budget

When making your plan, include a tentative budget of the ideal features that you want to install. This will keep you from making impulse purchases, which might end up costing lots of money.

If the price seems too high, you can divide the project in phases and do one phase at a time. You can start with the front yard and move towards the back as you work your way.

The concept of an edible landscape might seem new, but in a way, it truly is the oldest existing type of landscaping.

The best thing about an edible landscape is that it is not only beautiful and exciting to look at, but it can also provide you with food in due season.

Edible landscaping enhances the functionality of the landscape, and since most of Texas has good soil and a reliable amount of rainfall, having such a landscape is a great way to utilize your yard.

Here are edible landscaping ideas you can try out:

1. Plant edible flowers – This might come as a surprise to most people, but there are flowers out there that are edible.
   

Edible flowers can be cooked and eaten as vegetables while others are prepared as salads or used in soups. The most popular types include carnations, marigolds, clover and mums.

2. You can plant herbs –

Herbs have numerous advantages, with the most famous of them being their medicinal value.

There are mints of different types, which will also fill your yard with a sweet smelling aroma while they grow, or you can use them in cooking. You can plant rosemary in your lawn and brew it with your morning tea, or you can plant basil and parsley.

3. Include flowering plants that attract bees – Bees can be a nuisance to some people, but to people who know the value of the honey they produce bees are welcome guests.

One flower that produces nectar is the honeysuckle, and you can go for either the vine or the bush variety. Its edible nectar is very sweet, though its berries are mildly poisonous and are not to be eaten. These flowers will not only fill your yard with sweet smells; their appearance also makes your yard look even more beautiful.

4. Plant trees that produce fruits – The good soil and climate of Texas makes it possible to plant trees that bear some of the sweetest fruits, and there is no reason you should miss the opportunity of effortlessly growing these fruits.

Some of the fruits that you can harvest in your backyard include apples, cherries, grapes, and blackberries. If you have a big lawn and your produce exceeds what you can eat, there is an opportunity to sell your fruits and make some money.

What you need to know about edible landscaping

Edible landscaping is a great way to make use of your lawn, but you have to be careful not to plant and eat fruits, flowers, or herbs that will pose a health risk to you, your family or your neighbors.