Owning property includes the need of caring for the front and back lawn. To eliminate hours of mowing and weed trimming, consider the following suggestions for your front or back yards:
1. Put in a pool. An above ground swimming pool surrounded by potted ferns or planted sea grass will preserve a touch of nature while offering an enjoyable summer leisure activity. Trees for shade or privacy are a plus, as are shrubs or hedges to keep out unwanted intruders. Keep in mind you may have to put up a privacy fence to prevent young children from accidental drowning. Check your community's zoning laws.
2. Add on a deck. A back porch or sunning deck with potted miniature rose bushes or other plants can provide a comfortable area for relaxation or entertaining guests. Add a gazebo for a romantic touch. Either way, you'll substantially reduce the amount of lawn that will need mowed or trimmed. Coordinate deck furniture with plants and shrubs for an appealing color scheme and layout.
3. Create a brick patio. Do it yourself as a hobby or pay for a professional job. Then enjoy cookouts, barbecues, and picnics surrounded by flowerbeds that line the walk with tulips in spring, roses in summer, and marigolds in fall. Place a birdbath or small fountain to one side as an added attraction.
4. Go natural. Plant wildflowers on one side of your yard and add a rustic wooden fence for a border. You'll have nature in your own back yard and save yard work at the same time. Include a bench, sundial, or porch swing to attract sweethearts or guests.
5. Plant flowerbeds. Black-eyed susans, pansies, phlox, and impatience provide lovely accents for slender or heavy tree trunks on your lawn. Or you can arrange oval mounds of small shrubs and blooms that are diametrically placed or that border flowerbeds with seasonal blossoms. A vegetable garden or clustering berry bushes bring the additional benefit of edible bonuses. You may want to add wind-catchers in the form of birds, butterflies, or bees for a light touch.
6. Fence it in. Surround your yard either partially or completely with a fence. Choose from a variety of styles that range from vinyl to natural wood to complement your home's design. Then add hanging baskets or climbing roses to the fence, along with an eye-catching gate entrance. For easy maintenance choose a substance like pressurized wood or vinyl.
7. Make it fruitful. Plant a row or a random scattering of fruit trees. Apple or cherry trees are popular and yield tasty fruit for snacks or desserts. You can also accent specific places like the end of the driveway, beside the porch or garage, and along the bordering property to place blooming trees or shrubs like dogwoods or rose of Sharon.
Why settle for grass and weeds when there are so many other low-maintenance possibilities for your lawn? Browse a garden center's brochure or pick up a home decorating magazine to get ideas for designing a work-free yet attractive lawn that you can enjoy year-round.
