|
|
|
A Hobby Greenhouse Will Get You Growing!
For people who would like to do more gardening but live in a
short growing season area, a hobby greenhouse is the answer. A
hobby greenhouse is not large enough to produce vegetables or
flowers on a commercial basis. It will, however, give you...
Garden Furniture - A Touch of Exuberance to Your Landscape
Garden furniture is in vogue. These add décor and liveliness to the landscape of your house. Depending upon your taste and surrounding of your house you can select your garden furniture.
Outdoor furniture can be very imaginative. Be it...
How To Finance A New Extension?
Want to improve the look of your property? Want to add value to your property? The extension plans are ready but the finances are not. Rather than waiting another year why not consider a Home Improvement Loan. Make the dream become...
How to Grow Wildflowers
You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your
newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the
contact information at the end. Website URLs must be active
links. You are welcome to use this article with an...
Pruning Basics
Pruning Basics Pruning can improve the health, productivity and appearance of your trees and shrubs. But improper pruning can destroy the shape of your plants and also cause more harm than good. Following a few simple guidelines can help make the...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courtyard Gardens – Planning Tips
With an increasing tendency for empty nesters, young couples and singles towards higher density inner city living, and the desire to spend minimal time on maintaining gardens or other outdoor spaces, most new apartments, townhouses and condominiums tend to have only pocket sized backyards, courtyards or balconies. So it becomes particularly important to make the most of such limited areas by landscaping and utilizing the space in the best possible way.
But you don’t have to be a professional landscape architect to create an inviting courtyard space - you just have to follow a few basic design principles. Whilst you can’t physically increase the size of a small garden, you can certainly employ a few visual tricks to create the illusion of space.
One important way of doing this is to create a thematic link between the indoor and outdoor areas. Linking the backyard or courtyard to the family room or kitchen, breaks down the division between inside and outside, making the total area appear larger. To establish this link, try to use paving materials that are similar to those used in the house. If you have a tiled area inside, consider extending the same or similar tiles outside. If you have a solid wood or wood laminate floor, one simple solution is to lay interlocking wood deck tiles on the external patio or courtyard (see for example www.ezydeck.net). Although such tiles are best laid over a concrete pad, they can also be laid over a level and well compacted gravel surface.
And they can be moved and re-laid at will should you decide to change the design of your outdoor space at any time.
Light colours in the paving and on the courtyard walls will also create an impression of space, so lighter colored tiles would generally be preferable in small spaces.
In confined spaces, more space should be devoted to sitting & walking areas than to plants which should be placed in wide, raided beds. Deck tiles could be used as “stepping stones” along a pathway interspersed with gravel or stones and bordered by plantings. Don’t overdo the garden art. One sculpture or water feature is more than enough.
Clan simple lines are generally better in small situations rather than a “busy” appearance and a formal look is usually more suitable than an informal look. Several large pots or planter boxes will look less cluttered than numerous small ones.
Avoid using flowers with strong red, yellow or orange colours as they tend to “advance” towards you. Blues, purples and grays are preferable because they are not dominating. And make sure plants are selected for all round appeal and not just for a brief burst of colour for a few weeks, but dull for the rest of the year.
With a bit of planning, even the smallest of areas can be made to look larger than you may think.
About the Author
Malcolm Kay is the CEO of Intex Pacific Pty. Ltd. an exporter of landscape materials including modular decking tiles. For further information see www.ezydeck.net
|
|
|
|
|
|