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With the economy floundering, many Americans are spending less money and sticking
closer to home. That means more time for home projects such as gardening and
yard care. One project that has become very popular over the last few years is
building an outdoor garden room.
An outdoor garden room can be a natural extension of your home. It can be as
elaborate or simple as you like. Some people build a 3-season porch complete
with furniture, dining tables and lighting attached to their house. Others keep
it simple by just decorating their existing deck or patio with favorite plants
and pottery. Some gardeners create a special room in the yard away from the
house and all its activity. Whichever way you go, here are some basic ideas for
establishing a beautiful and functional outdoor garden room to enjoy.
Design to Use
Think of how you’d like to use your outdoor space. Do you like entertaining and cooking for
people? If so, you might want to incorporate an outdoor oven and sink in the
room. Also, if you
’ll be serving food in the outdoor room, build the room close to the kitchen to
reduce the amount of trips you
’ll have make. If the room is mostly a quiet retreat or reading space, consider
large plants and structures that create hidden resting areas with comfortable
outdoor furniture and good lighting.
Look at the Space
Consider the location of your garden room. Look at the access points. How large
are the paths and do they enter the room from the desired direction? How does
the traffic flow in the room? Is it disruptive to the intended peace and quiet
of the room? Consider the views. There
’s nothing worse than creating a beautiful outdoor garden room complete with
plants, furniture and sculpture only to have an unflattering view of your
neighbor
’s yard. To change the view, consider planting evergreen hedges, such as cedars
and hemlock, or building a wall that can be decorated with outdoor art, hanging
baskets or window boxes.
If you enjoy the outdoors, want to learn more about nature or want to make your
yard more earth-friendly, then creating a backyard habitat is for you.
Thousands of people all over the country have taken simple steps to make their
yards attractive to and safe for wildlife.
No matter the species, all wildlife needs three things to thrive: food, water,
shelter. And no matter what size your yard or budget, you can provide these
elements easily.
Food
Planting native flowers, shrubs and trees is the easiest way to provide the
foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts that many species of wildlife
need. Native plants thrive in the growing conditions in your area, so they
usually require less water, fertilizer and maintenance than other plants.
Select a variety of plants that bloom at different times of the year and have
year-round seasonal interest. If space is limited, select one plant that can be
used by wildlife for a variety of purposes throughout the year.
Other sources of food include bird and hummingbird feeders, squirrel feeders and
butterfly feeders. These can provide important nutrients for resident and
migrating wildlife during times when natural foods are not as available. You
can find inexpensive feeders at garden centers and home improvement stores, or
you can make your own.
Water
Wildlife need sources of clean water for many purposes, including drinking,
bathing and reproduction. Water sources can be natural features such as ponds
or creeks. If you have a pond, you can add a
“toad abode” to provide shelter for amphibians on land.
Water features don’t have to be big. They can be as simple as a bird bath, puddling areas for
butterflies, installed ponds or rain gardens.
Shelter
Birds and animals require places to hide in order to be safe from people,
predators and bad weather. They also need safe places to nest and raise their
young. The easiest way to provide shelter is to use native vegetation.
Different types of animals need different types of cover. Squirrels and most
birds need trees and shrubs for shelter. Rabbits and some birds like to hide in
thick areas of vegetation near the ground. Woodpeckers and owls need dead
trees. Small animals such as chipmunks, reptiles and insects like rocks, logs
and mulch piles.
A combination of trees, bushes, brush piles and rock piles gives you the best
results.
Evergreens are useful because they provide year round coverage from weather and
predators.
Avoid planting shrubs close to your house because wild animals stick close to
their shelter areas. Instead, create corridors of shelter around the edges of
your yard.
You can also build a birdhouse made for the types of birds you want to attract.
A roosting box for bats gives them a place to rest between their evening
outings to catch insects.
The amount of shelter you can provide will depend on the size of your yard. But
even the smallest yard can hold a birdhouse and a few bushes to provide
shelter.
Bringing wildlife to your yard is a great way to give back to nature and enjoy
its beauty right from your own window.
Courtesy of Family Features
