My wife, three kids and myself have just moved into a new home: a four-bedroom, two-storey house located in the outskirts of the city. It’s a lovely place, simply but practically furnished, and I am in charge of developing an outdoor space at the family backyard to sort of put the finishing touches on this new domestic life. Planning a garden can be a pain, so I am working on a few ideas and considering a good number of online deals to make this project less stressful and more affordable. Using my architectural skills, I created a design of something that would serve as a place for play and barbecue. Play because my kids are easily bored indoors – video games don’t cut it for them, which is good – and because it’s healthy to be able to have outdoor fun, be it in a swimming pool, on a mini-playground on the grass, or a makeshift backyard camp with tent. Barbecue because – well, because it would be nice to meet our neighbors, introduce ourselves, and start new friendships in a relaxed, casual, albeit smoky and slight alcoholic atmosphere. (Yes, I am bringing beers, folks!) Thus I am assessing the [more..]

Pergolas are open designed gazebos intended for garden areas; the pergola can be a free standing feature like a gazebo or are attached to the home like a deck. The open work ceiling of the area still provides shade while opening up the area to the sky; this can make small spaces seem larger. Pergola garden designs all begin with the pergola itself. A pergola is a simple structure that only takes boards, a little cement, and wood screws or nails to build. There are several supporting columns which are planted in the ground using cement for stability and an open design ceiling that is either beams or a loose cross hatching design. Staining is usually the most pressing maintenance required the pergola portion of the pergola garden design. To make a terrific comfortable pergola garden design choosing the plants, the motif, and the accessories will bring the space together. The Plants Because the areas are often floored with tiles, concrete, or gravel potted plants are often pergola garden design style of choice. Potted plant gardens are easy to begin and to maintain, as an added bonus they can be easier to control than a traditional garden, plants have a harder time spreading and [more..]

Get your garden party going with a swing with housetohome's easy tips and ideas [more..]

Vegetable garden planning, pictures and ideas for creating home vegetable gardens [more..]

Backyard landscaping ideas are legion, and can be used to transform a common old block of land into something quite marvelous. Just about any backyard can be transformed to a higher level with the right ideas and the right amount of effort, let us not forget: attitude, imagination, and creativity, will go a long way in assisting, too. Given a short amount of time, you will be able to make something beautiful out of your ordinary backyard block of land.One of the most effective methods of achieving this, is with the use of plants for landscaping. Filling a garden with plants can help transform any backyard into lively place of beauty. Over time, the plants that you have chosen for your backyard landscape, will give the place its own personality, as they grow and spread their branches.If you wish to give your home that stately old english look, some largish evergreen trees will give that noble look that you mostly see in elegant mansions and homes. The same elegance can be implied with the addition of large evergreens in your backyard.Color is important in any backyard, and the addition of flowering plants here and there will add contrast . Roses [more..]

Solar garden lights are both a fun and practical way to go green. They can be attractive accents to your yard or garden; indeed, they can beautify any place you could choose to put them, on your lawn, deck, patio, or in a garden path. These lights, also called photovoltaic or PV lights, are highly versatile, and can be installed anywhere, in a variety of styles - hanging lights, spotlights (for highlighting a piece of sculpture, a particular decoration, or just illuminating the address on your house), or even swimming pool lights. Great Looking and PracticalNot only does PV lighting add a touch of elegance to your landscaping, it is also a way to increase safety and security. A well-lit yard can deter thieves; a well-illuminated walkway can prevent falls or other accidents, and be a help to guests coming to your home at night. Swimming pool lights will ensure that people, especially children, don't accidentally fall into the water. Save Green, Go GreenSolar lighting is both cost-efficient and eco-friendly. With just a simple solar panel and a few LEDs, you can have a very low-maintenance and low-cost lighting system that draws free energy from the sun. The only maintenance [more..]