Backyard Decorating Ideas

 If you're fortunate enough to own some outside space, then you'll want to make it as useful, pretty and relaxing as possible. Backyard decorating ideas can transform your little plot into your personal Eden - with a few easy to grow flowers and planters. 

 Even the smallest strip of land could be turned into something productive and beautiful, that you could be proud of. Start by jotting down a few ideas of what you ideally want to use your backyard for - whether that's growing vegetables, entertaining guests, relaxing in the hot summer months or having a place where your kids can play safely.

It's important to work out what you would like from it, so that you are focussed when choosing options, and so you are realistic about the outcome of the backyard. When deciding on border's for example, it's imperative that you know whether to plant hardier plants that would withstand a gentle dog trampling, or if you want something entirely pretty to stare out at whilst preparing your dinner. Try to visualise yourself in the finished garden - what will you be doing, what do you want to see?

Small Backgarden Decorating Ideas

 If you've got a small area to work with, all you'll need is a little more imagination to make the space function to suit you. Container gardening to grow your own fruits and vegetables is a very well written subject, and there are plenty of books on the subject - you could start with Patio Produce by Paul Peacock, which is a great guide to getting the most food out of your petite patch. Grow tomatoes, strawberries, green leaves and herbs easily, and try out a few varieties of 'trickier' plants, just for fun.

With a small space you might be able to fit in a small pond, barbecue and decking area, leaving your back yard as a purely peaceful area for you to enjoy, and making your front garden  or window boxes a great place to grow pretty flowers.

At Christmas time use your back yard to hang up pretty twinkling lights, and colourful banners to celebrate the season. And, if your house is as small as your garden, consider putting a well dressed Christmas tree outdoors too - an unusual but beautiful solution to issues of space.

Landscaping Design for your Back Yard

Simplicity is the key to design - just ask the Scandinavian's - and there's no place where this is more certain than the garden. Border's, beds, and other portioned spaces create different area's with separate functions, that build the character of your home garden. Try to dream of your outdoor space with one central feature - perhaps a pretty fountain, or a central circular patio or deck, where you can sit laze during the hot midday hours and party with your friends during the night.

With a larger space, you can consider large sculptures and water features. Fancy hedging and permanent gazebo structures, croquet lawn or summer swimming pool, you're options are wider, but it will be much more tricky to maintain. If you're considering quite an overhaul, then it would be prudent to get a proper landscape gardener in to help you with the technical aspects of the design that you may not have thought of.

Get a clear picture in your head of how you want the design to run, but do listen to your landscaper's advice, as it will undoubtedly come from a place of greater experience.

One of the most important parts of your design will undoubtedly be how you care for the land - you'll have the option to nurture or destroy, and it's a great idea to know how you'll tackle that situation when it arises. For more on organic gardening, check out HRH The Prince of Wales book on The Elements of Organic Gardening, which tells all about how his gardens have been developed in a nature friendly way over the years.

Find free photos online, by doing a google search or looking at online gardening magazines for inspiration.