Patio Landscaping

Patio Landscaping Tips

1.  Research

You need to have a good idea of what you want your patio landscaping to look like once you are done with it.

This can be inspired by other homes, places you have vacationed at as well as landscaping magazines.

With a few ideas, you can begin creating a look book. This is a book where you draw, post cut-outs and color palates of different patio designs you want to replicate in your home.

To help you settle on a general theme, pick a focal point and work from there. This can be a patio fire pit, a rock arrangement a birdbath, and so on.

When you have a centerpiece for your yard, all you need to do is find complimentary furniture, vegetation, and flooring that blends in well.

2.  Make Size Considerations

Smaller spaces are slightly harder to landscape than larger ones.

If you go too big on the landscaping features for a smaller space, you risk eating up the space, making it look even smaller.

Take measurements of your patio and draw up the space, plus everything you want in it, to get a feel of the layout.

You can also physically place life-size items on the patio to see how everything will pan out.

This will help you know what items to leave off, scale down or get in smaller sizes.

3.  Patio Location

Today, backyard patios are just as popular as front yard ones.

A front yard curb is front and center and ideal for curb appeal. On the other hand, a backyard patio is best for gardening, outdoor living, and water features.

Depending on your family’s needs, you can have one or both.

With clarity on this, you are then able to identify features and patio designs to match your intent.

You can also opt to use your corners and have your front yard at one corner of your house, as opposed to front and center. The beauty of this is that you use areas of your property that would be otherwise unused.

This also creates space at the front of your home for other things.

If you want some more intricate or delicate, corners provide nice, secluded nooks for this.

4.  Create a Budget

If you have been in other home improvement projects before, you are probably aware that the costs can rack up fast.

The last thing you want to do is get stuck in the middle of a project.

One way to prevent this is by creating a budget before-hand.

Tally the costs for items you will need, including labor costs, then add a 20% miscellaneous amount to the total figure.

A budget is, however, only good if you follow it. This will mean tracking your expenses periodically to ensure that you remain within budget. If you do this systematically, you will be able to take mitigating steps in the event that you begin exceeding your budget.

Drainage Around Patio

Any patio landscaping projects should be built with drainage in mind.

Ideally, water that hits your patio should run off or be directed to your yard or lawn. This is not always the case.

If this is the scenario with your home, you need not worry. You can still install a hopper to along your patio's length. This should then connect to a storm water drain to direct the water away.

Think along similar lines for flowerbeds near your patio, raised walls, and walkways.

If you overlook this, you run the risk of stagnant water on the patio or the water flowing towards your house foundation, depending on the land's slope.

Maintenance

Aside from the initial costs of purchasing items for the patio and installing them, there will be periodic maintenance fees.

You should evaluate and think through these costs, as well as the time and effort it will take to keep your patio landscaping well taken of.

If you are unable to handle it yourself, figure out of there is a gardening services company near you that can come for regular maintenance.

You can also choose materials that are easy to take care of and durable to lessen the maintenance regimen. If you are paying for the services, the more you need maintenance services, the costlier it becomes to keep your patio.

Privacy Needs

One other thing to think about is your privacy while out on the patio. The overall design of your neighbor will determine how private you are on your property.

If it's too open for your liking, you can do many things with your patio landscaping to increase your privacy.

There are trellises, outdoor curtains, and privacy shields you can install to create a cover.

You can also use plants and vegetation to create a barricade. Whichever option you pick, ensure that it agrees with the overall design of your home’s design.