5 Backyard Patio Ideas

Thinking of creating a new patio in your backyard? Need a few backyard patio ideas? Let us help. After a quick brainstorming session, we came up with these five backyard patio ideas that will be sure to please.

Combine Patios and Decks

Landscape Stone Idea

A common, yet still exciting backyard idea is to combine a patio built of stone, brick, concrete or other typical patio materials with a traditional wooden or composite deck. Or try building a wooden decked patio with a gazebo or observation area. This effect makes for a great private area to set up a dining or conversational enclave, really setting your patio apart from the rest!

5 Backyard Patio Ideas

The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen

While not one of the cheapest backyard patio ideas, creating agourmet outdoor kitchen will be sure to impress everyone! Think about the perks and advantages of being able to entertain exclusively outdoors without even having to go inside. For the cook, there's a huge variety of grills and ranges specifically designed for permanent patio installation. We're not talking your ordinary everyday charcoal or gas grill here (although there's certainly nothing wrong with that either).

How about an outdoor built in refrigerator or wine cooler? Or design to built in ice pit to chill your favorite beverages on a warm summer night. Oh, and for those cool nights, to get some extra life from your patio, don't forget to add an outdoor patio fireplace. They can be had to burn wood or propane, or you can go all out and have a pro install a gas line foryou.

Old Fashioned Style and Charm

Bring back the Victorian age with a patio that is designed to fit the time period. Porch swings and old fashioned rocker chairs can help to evoke the feeling of a bygone era. Or perhaps you want something a little more modern, but still with a funky retro vibe. Find some old metal rocking chairs at an auction and build in an area for shuffleboard. Eclectic, yet fun backyard patio ideas!Soothing Water Garden

The idea for a backyard patio water garden can be simple to accomplish or can be taken to any level of extremes you desire. Put in a simple patio fountain to create the atmosphere of nature that only trickling water can do. Now combine that with a full blown water garden including a fish pond with a water fall.You decide how far to take this idea...

Nothing Wrong With Turf

For another unique backyard patio idea, think about inverting the whole layout. If you have a small back yard or area for your patio, install edging for your patio, backyard patio made of common materials like brick or stone. This will define the patio.

Then fill in the useable area of the patio with a thick and dense grass turf. This idea is sure to give you the feel of a traditional patio without giving away the luxury of still having grass in your backyard.

5 Backyard Patio Ideas

Waterfall Designs-How to Make Waterfalls Look Natural

When you look at waterfall designs, there are those that are absolutely beautiful and those that just don't quite make it. So, how do you create a spectacular one?

The key is to make it look as natural looking as possible. Observing those found in nature will allow you to see how those created in home landscapes should look.

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Although you will see some water features where the water flows gently over rocks, many have very dramatic waterfall spillways. A waterfall spillway often is created by a large flat rock, which is built up beneath it by smaller round stones. Picture in step with an overhang. The higher up the flat stone is from the level beneath it, the higher the waterfall.

Waterfall Designs-How to Make Waterfalls Look Natural

These flat stones might be pieces of bluestone. Theyalso might be thick slabs of fieldstone. There is no reason why you can't mix them as this might occur in our natural environment also. Another aspect of waterfalls in nature is that they generally will have more than one spillway.

The sides of the waterfalls are often made of different sized stones. Larger ones are mixed in with medium, small and even pebble sized rocks.

Plants are usually incorporated into waterfall designs. In the woods, soil deposits in and near the falls would have created pockets for plant seeds to lodge. Plants that are suited to the specific conditions of the area will grow well. If the waterfall is in a damp, shady area, you might find such plants as ferns. If the area happens to be sunny, those plants that like the sun will survive. Plantsthat are indigenous to the area will be part of the landscape as that is where they grow best.

All of these ideas can be used for various types of waterfalls. One thing that is good to remember is that all waterfall designs look best when it appears that water is tumbling down from a higher elevation. You don't want an unnatural mound sitting there. This is true whether you are creating a waterfall for a swimming pool, pond or stream.

If you are lucky enough to have property that slopes down towards the area you are going to be viewing the waterfall from, you will have the best type of water feature. Sometimes you can tweak your viewpoint to take advantage of this. For example, if your land slopes towards your house, you will be able to see the waterfallclearly from your home. However, if your land slopes towards the rear yard, this is not so. In this case, you might want to add a special sitting area in which you can view the waterfall from.

There are many different stone types and colors. Fieldstone, Some are found in the woods. Others come from mines. The mentioned above mixing different kinds of flat stones. Mixing stone types or colors can be done, although the majority should be similar. If you think about mountains and geology, similar stones collect in certain areas. Sizes, however, should definitely be mixed.

Waterfall Designs-How to Make Waterfalls Look Natural

Different Pool Landscaping Ideas

A pool is a great addition to your landscaping project. It can add splendor and appeal to your home or your property. A pool also brings fun and enjoyment to family and friends during the summer season. A landscaped pool also makes a great venue for any special occasion and events like parties and family reunions.

Plenty of pool landscaping ideas can help you achieve the perfect swimming pool for your home or your property. In adding a pool to your landscape, you have to consider three factors, which are physical appeal, maintaining privacy and shade.

Landscape Stone Idea

Physical appeal simply means the beauty of the landscape. For instance, adding colorful flowers to your landscape pool will certainly bring life to your pool and softenconcrete surfaces. To maintain privacy, you can put trees or plants around the pool so that you and your family and can easily relax without having to worry that the whole neighborhood can you see you. Lastly, you need to make sure that you include a shade or a shelter for you and your guests to protect you from the sun when you are out of the water. You can plant trees and put structures like big umbrellas or cottages near the pool. By researching pool landscaping ideas, you will certainly come across many creative ways to enhance your pool area.

Other pool landscaping ideas to consider:

Different Pool Landscaping Ideas

Pool type:

You can build either a real or a vinyl pool. Concrete pools are more expensive than a vinyl pool however they are more versatile. You canchoose from a wide variety of shapes and sizes to suit your taste. Concrete pool is more luxurious with various color options while vinyl pools while inexpensive have limited designs.

Decks and patios:

These features are also great pool landscaping ideas. You can position them close to the swimming pool so you can just sit and relax by the poolside. You can put patios and decks using different kinds of pavers like bricks and natural stones that will add appeal to your landscaped pool.

Landscaping Rocks:

Add a natural and rustic appeal to your pool using boulders and rocks that are of different shapes and sizes. You can create natural looking rock formations near the pool that can be very relaxing.

Different Pool Landscaping Ideas

Sketchup and Online Landscape Design-Creating a 3D Landscape

Sketchup is 3D design software that is used for many different industries.

However, for the hard to visualize area of landscape design, it can provide one of the best portrayals of the 3D landscape.

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Sketchup was originally owned by @ Last Software, but it was bought by Google. Hmmm ....I guess Google thought it was pretty good. And it is.

Sketchup and Online Landscape Design-Creating a 3D Landscape

There is a free version and a paid version. For the average person, the free version is fine. If you want to get more intricate with such things as grading and showing different elevations, then you will want the paid version.

For residential design, you can use this program in a couple of different ways.

The first way is to design right in the program. With a click of the mouse, you can set the drawingin a perspective position. Guidelines help you make sure you are drawing correctly. You can enter actual heights and lengths of objects, such as a house. You can put in the dimensions of the house, ie., length and width. Then use something called the pull tool to extend it up to the correct height.

It is all very user friendly. Also, what is created has an artistic flair to it, which makes it a lot of fun!

You can also view different materials for landscape elements. For example, if you are drawing a patio, you can go to the Materials area and choose what you might like. There are many different materials and you can change them as you like to see the differences. Some choices are stone, pavers, brick and concrete.

Plant palette is offered also. Theseare fine. However, for a more sophisticated look, there are other inexpensive components you can buy to use in your design.

The second way of using Sketchup is to create a 2D drawing in such programs as AutoCad, and import it into Sketchup. In this situation, you are working from your drawing so that an exact replica of the design is created. This allows you to see what a drawing will look like when built. Changes are easily made if there is something you don't like or want to add.

Some of the components you can add to the 3D landscape design are people, cars, grills, pergolas, plants, any many, many more. These are available directly through the program or through something called Google Warehouse. They are all free.

There is a lot of flexibility with thecomponents. You can resize or rescale them if you need to. You can also change colors of both components and materials.

By adding window components to a house, you can actually position a person inside the house. This allows you to attain a view as if you were inside looking out. What a great feature to see what your view will be like.

You can also create scenes. Scenes let you save a particular view. These scenes can also be exported into jpeg images. You can also create an animation which is a fly by or walk through of the entire design!

Any or all of these features can be used to suit your purposes. The software can be used in both simple and sophisticated ways. There are many other features available also. All in all it is a great 3D program.

Sketchup and Online Landscape Design-Creating a 3D Landscape

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Hill Or Slope

Not every gardener is lucky enough to have flat property on which to garden. If you do have a slope or a hill, it is often very difficult, confusing and challenging trying to figure out how to landscape. There are many ideas and tips on gardening on a hill, which helps you deal with the special challenges and problems you are likely to encounter. If the garden is extremely steep slope, stay away from planting grass or gardens that need any kind of maintenance, as it can be cut or hazardous trying to look after them.

A couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to plant trees and shrubs. Their root system will slow water runoff, especially during heavy rainstorms, and anchor the soil. Tall perennial grasses also work well on hills and require nomaintenance. If you like the natural look, sow wildflower seed over the area, which will look beautiful and keep the topsoil from eroding or washing away. Wildflower seeds are readily available in bulk at large garden centers and nursery. For every square foot you need approximately fifty seeds. If you have a small area to seed, buy a small can, but for large areas, wildflower seeds are available in bulk. Make sure that whatever you plant requires no regular maintenance if it is a steep hill.

Pennsylvania I saw a beautifully landscaped hill planted with different colors of azaleas. The site in the spring and early summer was breathtaking. This was on a steep hill so it not only helped with erosion but was gorgeous too.

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For shady areas, the tips on gardening on ahill are a little different. Most wildflowers require lots of light so a shady area is not a good choice. Instead, consider shade-loving ferns, low growing perennials and vines. Not only does the leaves slow erosion by catching the rain before it hits the ground but the roots help keep the soil from washing away. Another couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to create stair steps or terraces. This requires some work, as you need to do a lot of digging. You may need to construct a retaining wall, depending on how steep the slope is. A level area to plant helps with erosion problems and makes it far easier to work in your garden.

For anyone that has a few garden challenges, such as land that slopes, they are always happy to find tips on gardening on a slope. If youare lucky enough to have weathered or interesting looking rocks on your hill, then it is the perfect area to create a rock garden. It would be good to plant some low growing vines and perennials in your rock garden to add texture and interest to your rock garden.

Definitely come up with a plan before you attempt your hill garden. Ask your garden center for some advice about your garden. they will be of great assistance. As with all gardens it is most important that you take time to enjoy your gardens whether they are on a hill or in beds.

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Hill Or Slope

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Hill Or Slope

The Basics of Building Stone Retaining Walls

A retaining wall must be strong enough to hold back the pressure of a great weight of soil, yet it must be porous enough to allow for drainage. The most popular types of walls are built of stone. In using stone to build a retaining wall, there are two basic types of construction: the dry-wall, which uses earth as a filler between the stones, and the mortar type, which uses cement as a bonding agent.

First, the basis of any retaining wall must be sunk below the frost line. This is about 6-12 inches in the northern half of the United States but may be more in some areas. For a flat wall (one without buttresses or projections), the width of the base should equal one-fourth the height of the wall. The wall can taper to a width of about one-fourth ofthe width of the base.

For buttressed walls, the base should be approximately one-fourth as wide as the wall is to be high. This refers to the widest points, when buttressing is to be used. In the narrower areas, the base may have slimmer proportions

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Drainage pipes should be imbedded in the wall at intervals of about 24 inches, and about 6 inches from the lower ground level of the retaining wall. In some walls, it is possible to eliminate these drains, if the wall itself is porous enough, but any construction using mortar as a bonding agent, makes essential drainage pipes.

The Basics of Building Stone Retaining Walls

In dry-wall construction it is possible (though not advisable) to start the wall at ground level, and not sink it below the frost line. The most inexpensive way to construct a dry wall is to chooselocal stone, picking large stones for the main ones and smaller stones for the chinks. The largest stones should be used to form the base of the wall with the smaller ones leading to the top.

The side of The wall facing out should be as level as possible. Any obstructions and outside edges of stones should face inward. This gives the wall a better footing on the soil it retains and insures a good appearance. Stones with round surfaces do not form a good wall and should be discarded.

Stones should be placed in a good bond, which simply means that the edges of stones on one course should overlap spaces in the lower courses. Where a stone on an upper course is crooked or does not fit firmly, earth and smallstones should be packed in to improve the bond and no vertical crevices should be left.

The wall itself should slope back against the soil that it is retaining. This gives it greater strength. As a rule of thumb, the width of the base should be one-third of the height. Although this degree of slope is not essential, it is the practice in many areas to slope the wall as much as five or six inches for each vertical foot. Soil should be firmly packed into all pockets in the wall and should be continued back into the earth being retained.

Both the strength and attractiveness of a dry stone wall may be enhanced by using it as a garden wall. It may acquire a mossy and aged appearance simply by green-planting in the crevices. More color can be obtained, however,by planting any of several flowering plants, whose strong roots will serve the added function of holding the wall together.

Plants which may be used to good effect are: flowering types such as phlox, garden pinks, sedum, snowy rock cress, azaleas, alyssum, evergreen candytuft, heather, and creeping veronicas; spreading plants such as moss, lavender and phlox, hardy verbenna; small rosettes as well as little tufts that need sun and room for roots like sempervivium, yarrow, dwarf iris and dwarf pinks; and plants you can grow from seed sown among the rocks such as some ivies, bleeding heart and varieties of poppy and phlox. Semperviviums, prostrate, junipers, azaleas and dwarf azaleas could keep a rock wall green all winter long.

Mortared and ConcreteWalls

Mortared walls are simpler than dry walls. The mortar serves as the bond so it is not as essential to make the stones . For a masonry wall, cement mixture of one part Portland cement and two parts sand makes for a good bonding agent.

Apply the mortar liberally to form a bed for each stone as it is added. Chinks between stones should be well filled with smaller pebbles or gravel. The mortared wall is more permanent than a dry wall and, in fact, easier to build.

The Basics of Building Stone Retaining Walls

Cool, Shady Garden Courtyard Design Ideas

Southwestern architecture and adobe homes are not complete without a courtyard feature. Popular with homeowners, as in Arizona history, the courtyard is exposed to outdoor air yet provides the presence of cooling shade and running water from lovely water features amidst verdant plants and flowers. The mild climate in this area of the country allows you to twelve months a year benefit from such an outdoor living room as part of your Arizona landscape design.

Stucco and masonry stone walls are the essential features that provide privacy and seclusion in your home's courtyard, accessible from inside the home and also via an ornate iron gate. It is common for the beckoning courtyard to be floored with stone flagging or pavers and walkway of the samematerial to lead from the driveway or patio to the entrance to this outdoor room. Seeking relief from the intense desert sun is something all Arizona residents desire. Without prevalent large trees for shade, the hotel presents the perfect solution for instant relief from the heat of the sun.

In most areas of the USA, a flat open shade roof structure, popular on the patio is called a pergola. The slats in the roof of a pergola will always be board lumber that can provide light to heavy shade depending on the width of spacing between each span and the direction the roof boards are running in. The trellis ramada is also a flat, open shade roof structure found in Spanish architecture regions of the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico. The lines of the traditional pergola are too lightweightfor adobe style homes. The ramada offers the same benefit in the right style to compliment the design Arizona landscape design and homes.

Shade from your courtyard hotel is lovely, but adding the cooling effects of water features to your courtyard in the form of a fountain is even better. Not only does the stone paving floor and moving water give you the benefit of a greatly reduced outdoor temperatures, the sound of running water is relaxing and refreshing. Water features also provide humans with increased levels of serotonin which instantly elevates anyone's mood. The faster the courtyard fountain runs and the more water that is contained in the pool or pond, the higher the levels of serotonin are released into the shaded air for your personal emotionalbenefit.

Centrally located or tucked into a corner, the courtyard water feature can be designed as a fountain or small watergarden pond. These cooling, soothing additions to courtyard design can be constructed from masonry or tile, installed cut stone and natural stone shapes. To soften the look of the enfolding hardscaping found in paving, stone and masonry elements like stone and stucco walls and lush courtyards and fountains, Arizona will feature many beautiful plants in a pleasing landscape design. Some courtyard plants will be there for foliage interest and others will lend the color and interest of flowers. Good attention must be used to select the right plants for the sunnier spots and those that love shade where necessary.

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Cool, Shady Garden Courtyard Design Ideas

Cool, Shady Garden Courtyard Design Ideas

Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

Your driveway, along with the front of your property, is a very prominent part of your landscape. It is very visual from the street. It is an entry to your home. In addition, it is the main thing people look for when coming to your home. There are a few important things to think about when undertaking a driveway design.

1. Easy access to your garage (or parking area) is necessary. If you need to make a turn to get to your garage or parking area, create a proper turning radius so that it is not too tight of a turn. An arc with a ten to fifteen feet radius works well. The depth from your garage doors to the driveway edge as you back out should be a minimum of thirty feet.

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2. Driveways should function well for guests who come to your front door. Create a walkwayfrom the driveway to your front door entry which is wide and inviting. The walkway design should be wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Four feet is the minimum for comfort. However, wider walkways can be even nicer, whether they are curved or straight.

3. Many people disregard extra parking or turn around area. As you pull out of your garage or parking area, try to create space to back into so that you may drive forward towards the street. This space can also serve as extra parking. If you are designing a circular driveway, make it wide enough near the front door so that one car can pass while a car is parked there. The entire width of the circle does not have to be this wide. However, the outside circle diameter should be seventy feet wide. You are probably thinkingthat this is too wide, but I assure you, it is not.

4. If your property lends itself to a parking court at your front door area, make sure the dimensions are right. Many people do not realize how wide this actually must be for the courtyard to function properly. Parking courts are usually square. Fifty five feet in width and depth dimensions are good to use.

Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

5. How wide should a driveway be? I prefer to driveways that are more narrow, anywhere from nine to eleven feet in width. Why create more hardscape than is necessary? Although a driveway can be designed nicely, the driveway paving takes away from plantings and other garden amenities. In addition, driveways create runoff in the environment, so the less the better hardscape square footage. However, if your garage is in thefront of your house and not a long distance, the width of your driveway may have to accommodate two cars.

6. Think about driveway entry landscaping ideas. A nicely landscaped entry is welcoming. The planting design should blend with the rest of your landscape.
If your property is informal, the entry can be somewhat different on wither side, but balanced. On the other hand if your home and landscape is more formal, you might want to create the same type of design at the driveway entry, such as an allee of trees.

7. You can also dress up your driveway entry by using a more decorative paving material there. For example, a pretty tumbled paver entry can look nice with the balance of the driveway being constructed of asphalt or loose> stone. The paver entry can be fifteen to twenty feet long and as wide as the driveway itself. The paver area can have a soldier course as a defined edging.

I hope I have given you some things to think about which will be helpful when thinking about driveway designs. I have written about this and other elements, such as driveway paving types, the driveway edgings and landscape at my website page below.

Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

Oftentimes homeowners try to find ways to give their home that something special which will make it stand out from the rest. There is a desire to do something different and unique. One of the items that is versatile enough to allow for personal creativity while still giving that unique look is the use of brick landscape edging. There are many different types of edging. You can use it in many places. In fact, any place where there is a definitive border can then have brick as the edge. Flower beds, mailboxes, trees, sideways and driveways are just a few of the places where this trim can be used to finish the look of your home.

Brick can be found in more shapes than the rectangle you are probably familiar with. In addition, it now comes in different thicknesses as well as different colors other than traditional red. Because you now have so many more options you can use it in a variety of ways, each with their own special look. For instance, flower beds often look best when a tiered brick outline surrounds them. The brick is laid out and then an additional layer is placed on top at an offset line from the first tier. It looks very polished and professional.

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Trees and sidewalks very often will look best with a single layer of brick trimming around them. Sometimes the brick will be mortared together, especially for the sidewalk. Since there is a good possibility that the trim will be hit, stepped on or kicked by mistake, mortaring the bricks together will keep them from falling out of line when touched. If they are left free standing, be prepared to always fixing them after they get hit or touched and fall off their line.

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

One of the places where brick landscape edging is very popular is up and down the driveway. Sometimes the brick is actually set down into the ground so it is even with the height of the driveway itself. This keeps people from tripping over it and gives it a nice look. To install this way though, is very taxing so you will need some time and patience if you plan on doing in yourself. Raised brick trim is used around driveways also but the chances of the brick being hit or moved is great so you will want to think about connecting the bricks either through mortar or other means available.

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping ideas come with little effort and lots of imagination. You can go green without bothering too much about its maintenance. Everyone loves landscapes-especially a good looking, well maintained one. However there are many who have the luxury of a large outdoor space which is sufficient for a sprawling garden, but do not utilize much of it because they believe that it would require a lot of maintenance.

Landscaping ideas' planning ideally begins even before buying a house, to avoid potential problems. For folks who care about landscaping and gardening, buying a house entails more than inspecting the home itself. Since they'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, they should inspect the yard, too.
Actually it is possible to have a large and flourishing landscape and still not have to invest plenty of time and effort if you know how. No, we don't mean engaging a full time gardener. Rather, we are talking about a low maintenance landscape.

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Good Landscaping ideas generally suggest avoiding plants and creepers and shrubs and that require regular feeding, pruning, trimming or dead heading, frequent replacement of soil and replanting. Acquire plants and the kind of lawn grass that doesn't require oodles of care and time, so you can have a good landscape when if you are busy.

Landscaping Ideas

A rock garden is another choice as it generally contains drought resistant, low maintenance plants. Get a landscape artist to make one for you. You can also have several large but slow growing creepers all over the home. Canopy comes in handy for cozy meetings with friends and family. Large or small, permanent or temporary, the canopy in landscaping ideas is a great way to enjoy the outdoors either alone or at parties.

Landscaping Ideas

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

Pavers, brick, and stone can be dry-laid over a bed of sand by a homeowner without difficulty. The installation process is fairly simple and is forgiving. In areas where no frost heave occurs, you can lay large stones directly over compact soil if need be. Then sweep sand between the stone to help keep them from shifting.

Here we offer a basic step-by-step way to install stones, pavers, and bricks to make a walkway, patio, or garden path. I will refer to all concrete pavers, bricks or stone as simply- stone, to save space.

Landscape Stone Idea

The simplest form of stone paving is laying flat stones directly on the ground. Loosen the dirt so each stone sits firmly and is supported evenly underneath. Grass or ground cover grows between the stones and you mow right over them. This method is appropriate for rustic, natural settings. To help drainage, spread a half-inch layer of sand over the compacted dirt before laying the stone.

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

For a formal look or design and to get better drainage, lay stone in compacted sand over crushed stone. This requires more work, but you'll get a flatter, more even paving with joints of sand between the stones instead of vegetation. The sand compensates for irregularities in the ground. Once the bed is in place, laying the stones is a lot like doing a puzzle. Try different stone combinations until you get the smallest gap between joints. If using pavers or bricks, the pattern will have been pre-determined.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS YOU MAY REQUIRE - Stones, pavers, or bricks, tamper, gloves, landscape fabric, safety goggles, tape measure, rubber mallet, string, plywood, wood stakes, 48-inch level, small sledgehammer, pencil, framing square, brick hammer, garden hose, pitching chisel, spade, broom, sand, gravel, and kneepads.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS: The most difficult step in laying stone is preparing the bed. Normally a two-inch bed of sand is enough if your stones are the same thickness. If the thickness varies, you may need a deeper sand bed. To keep weeds down, use landscape fabric. If your soil does not drain well, consider a four-inch bed of gravel under the sand. Use landscape fabric between gravel and sand when using this method. If your soil drains poorly and you are in a cold climate, consider an even thicker gravel base.

When ordering materials, have your measurements with you so the dealer can help figure your needs. If you are NOT making your own stone, brick or pavers with concrete molds, purchase 5-10 percent over what you need to allow for breakage, cutting mistakes, and future repairs.

LAYING STONE IN PACKED SAND:

1. Lay out Your Area- Set stakes to mark the proposed edge of the patio or walk. Mark the outside corners a bit beyond the proposed edge. Use a framing square to confirm that the corners form right angles. For free-form shapes, lay out the curves using garden hose. Now go around the outline, sinking a spade into the earth to score the perimeter. Once you've scored the ground, remove the stakes, string, or hose.

2. Excavate Soil- Set your stones about 1 inch above the ground. To do this, excavate to a depth that equals: the thickness of your stone minus 1 inch. Then figure 2 inches for the sand bed, plus 4 inches for a gravel base if one is needed. Remove all grass, roots and large rocks from the area to be finished. Now place the gravel if using any. Tamp it down with a hand or mechanical tamper.

3. Install a Weed Barrier- Install a layer of landscape fabric on the excavation or on top of the gravel if used. Overlap by 4 to 6 inches. Landscape fabric is designed to prevent weeds while still allowing water to drain through.

4. Spread and Screed the Sand- Top the landscape fabric with about 2 inches of regular construction sand. Tamp it down, and use a straight length of 2x4 to screed the sand level.

5. Install the Stones- Starting in one corner, place the stones on the sand and tamp them into place using a rubber mallet. Make sure that they are solidly bedded, level, and do not wobble. If necessary, dig out sand to make the bedding more stable. Arrange the straight edges toward the outside perimeter and fit any irregular edges together. Leave a half-inch space between the stones. If using pavers or bricks, butt them against each other, with a quarter to a half-inch space between them. If you made your own pavers or bricks with concrete molds to save money, the angle of the sides needed to enable demolding will automatically give you the spacing when butted tightly against each other.

TIP: If you have to kneel on the sand to lay stone, use a piece of plywood to keep from creating depressions. After you have laid a few stones, kneel on the stone instead. Use a 4-foot-long level to maintain the paving level.

6. Cut and Shape the Stones- Some stones may need to be trimmed for a better fit. First, hold the stone to be cut over those in place and mark the cutting line with a pencil or crayon. For small cuts, trim using a brick hammer. For large cuts, score the marked line with a pitching chisel and hammer. Gently tap off the unwanted piece using the hammer. With pavers or brick you may not need to trim anything if you've pre-planned the dimensions of your project.

7. Fill the Joints with Sand- When all stones are in place, sweep the joints full of sand. Wet the surface with a fine mist from your hose to compact the sand, then sweep more sand into the joints until they are full. Fill the joints again in a few days when the sand settles.

Now stand back and admire your work!

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

Some of the most beautiful fish in the world, koi are actually very common in outdoor landscaping. Homes with wonderful gardens and outdoor ponds are some of the best looking outdoor eye-candy. Many people, especially garden and pond lovers are perfectly content to maintain a koi pond - despite the high maintenance.

1. There are many conditions to consider before you begin:

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o Koi is a very delicate kind of pond fish, therefore, it is likely that you will need a pond constructed perfectly to fit their needs.

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

o There are absolutely specific guidelines to following when you construct a koi pond of your own.

2. Finding the very best location for your koi pond:

o A koi pond should be designed without direct sunlight as much as possible. Find a good place in the shade for your koi pond before you begin.

o Finding a beautiful place for your koi pond in the shade of trees. Of course, foliage (especially full foliage) can be a real mess, and will certainly require a significant amount of cleaning.

o Some people consider other options for the location of your koi pond.

o However, select place that is most convenient for you. There are many kinds of garden equipment that will seem like they are designed to help you maintain your koi pond.

a) Koi ponds can be partially if not completely covered in shade by a garden bridge.

b) Ivy archways are another great idea for keeping your koi pond in the shade. Not only do they provide shade for your garden pond - but the archways will act as a netting device to help lower the maintenance of falling foliage when it does happen.

c) Other great ideas for keeping your koi pond nice and cool is to include water plants such as water lilies and lotus flowers.

3. Construction: let's get down to the actual building of the pond.

o Because koi are big fishes compared to almost every other kind of pond fish, they require a larger space. The koi fish in your garden pond can grow to be approximately three feet long.

o A minimum of five feet in depth is absolutely important for your koi fish pond. If the pond is too shallow the fish will not survive.

o In the simplest terms: determine the exact measurements of your koi pond before you begin to build.

4. How to construct the overall design:

o There are a couple of ways to construct the bottom of the pond once you have dug the hole and come up with an overall design. Often, people will want to have certain spaces in which the koi can hide and remain in completely shade.

a) Pond liner

A pond liner is a very typical way to design and create a pond - many people choose to use a pond liner. It will be very important to install your pond liner exactly the way it should be installed. Therefore, be sure to know your space and how the pond liner will fit.

b) Cement landscaping

Cement is useful in landscaping in many different ways. As a matter of fact, I prefer cement to any other method for building a koi pond. But it is very important that you are dedicated to your idea.

c) Pond accessories

Stones and rocks are, in my opinion, the greatest addition you can make to improve your garden pond. Layered stones and rocks are elegant, luxurious and there is a virtually endless amount of designs to choose from. Waterfalls, personalized designs, creations that are symmetrical or asymmetrical, rocks and stones can even provide shade and cool hiding places for your koi. However, that does not mean that the rest of the water can be in the light.

Gardening hobbies such as building and maintaining a koi pond is wonderful work, as a can be the most relaxing of hobbies, and the most and creative ways to relax. It is a great idea for any gardening enthusiast - you'll feel great especially when you have an elegant, custom built koi pond to enjoy. Hobbies such as maintaining a koi pond can be relaxing for everyone. Watching koi swimming happily around a luxurious koi pond is a wonderful experience.

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value

Know what you are buying!

An educated buyer is a savvy buyer that knows how to spot a great deal and a worth-while value because they know what to look for!

Landscape Stone Idea

If this is your first venture into the world of artificial turf for residential or commercial use - you want to explore artificial turf grasses and how they are manufactured as if you were purchasing any outdoor flooring solution.

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value

What options do you have?

Realistically - your options are limited only by your imagination, willingness to shop and your budget!

Artificial turf materials are meant to be properly and permanently installed by professionals and handy do-it-yourselfers that can follow standard installation guidelines.

If you plan to build-it-yourself, budget for tools and equipment rentals for some projects!

What Makes Up the Costs

Surface materials, infill, seaming tapes and glues or tacks, soil stabilizing fabrics, base materials, rodent control barriers (where needed), cups and other trim materials called for in the design specification are all costs associated with artificial turf grass for lawns, pet areas and putting green installations.

Surface styling, fiber quality, stitch count, backing materials, even UV protection and warranty are always reflected in the cost of these materials. Lower costs are generally a sign of a compromise in one of the factors just mentioned, just as it is normally found in the world of carpeting.

Where You Can Buy Artificial Lawn and Sports Surface Materials

In the world of artificial grass there are only a handful of skilled tufting companies that focus on manufacturing artificial turf surface materials. Lawn, landscape and leisure sports uses all have "styles" of artificial turf manufactured to optimize look, feel and performance.

Higher-end, professional quality, branded solutions are generally sold through experienced, artificial turf installers; licensed builders and value added dealers, such as professional construction landscape materials and building supply centers.

How Do You Determine Quality

Unless you are willing to replace materials every few years, you should consider the purchase of your new artificial turf installation as a long-term investment. The difference in pricing between products and contractors may be as dramatic as the quality, durability, look and feel of professionally installed veneered flooring to hand-rubbed oak; and for those differences, expect to pay more for better quality, service and building standards.

Warranty

Many styles of materials are warranted to resist fading, stains, blade and backing failure for 8 years or more; and with low traffic, well cared for artificial turf could last even longer.

The type of surface materials you choose only make up half the installation expense. Properly planned and executed site preparation, appropriate drainage, base and surface installation are keys to having your project remain structurally sound, for years.

To overcome issues of wear-and-tear and blades matting down, plan to design a walkway through high-traffic areas; use concrete, paver or stone patios for out-door dining that can be easily cleaned if you have food or beverage spills, and your artificial turf, like any natural lawn, will provide you with a beautiful and lush green area to offset the hardscape and rock you use elsewhere.

How Large Is a Roll of Turf?

Rolls of surface materials are 15 feet wide and many bulk rolls are up to 100 linear feet long; a total of 1500 square feet per roll; and about 600-800 pounds of dead weight.

I Just Have A Little Area ...

To locate smaller quantities for purchase and self-installation, materials can be found on the internet and some discount carpet wholesalers. Landscape and building supply centers may carry products locally. Request samples before you buy products, sight unseen, and ask about support for installation questions.

Turf Wholesale

Wholesale pricing for surface materials can be found from the low-end at to over per square foot for professional quality materials. Expect to pay another to dollars per square foot for other job materials, if you are doing the work yourself.

Professionally Installed Artificial Grass Projects

Professional installations of lawn and landscape projects can cost from .00 to well over per square foot. Required equipment, job materials, site preparation needs and other factors, such as access to the area and local labor and fuel costs will all have an impact on your final estimate.

Infill Material

All turf surfaces require some weight and anchoring to insure the materials won't shift, wrinkle and buckle. The material we use as ballast is called infill and there are several types that are used, depending upon the artificial turf system you select.

Infill materials are particles of either silica sand or crumb rubber and are distributed across the surfaces after the turf has been seamed and trimmed to fit. Infill does not go under the grass surfaces, it is always installed across the top.

Recent developments in resilient pads and mats systems that can be used under the turf to increase resiliency and surface stability are bringing more options to market.

If you are building your own project, your artificial turf supplier will provide you with the materials and recommended amount to use to achieve maximum results.

Price Savings

If you're trying to stretch your budget by buying materials and then installing the job yourself, guidance is priceless!

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value