Topic:
Hardscape
Completing the design and installation of hardscape materials for your outdoor patio is only the first step in creating the perfect outdoor living space. Whether your patio includes a seating area, dining space, fire pit, or outdoor kitchen, it isn’t truly complete until you’ve added the right landscaping around it.
There are many low-maintenance landscape options for a patio makeover that will put the finishing touches on your backyard hideaway and add curb appeal to your home. Here are just a few design ideas for your patio that add ambiance and a wow factor to your overall landscape design.
Flower beds can provide colorful edging for your patio. As with any planting, consider how much sun these beds will receive, as well as the blooming season for your chosen plants.
In New England, coneflowers, sedums, black-eyed Susans and salvia are hardy perennials that can serve as reliable foundation plants for flower beds around your patio. Play with height and color variation to create visual interest, or keep it simple with low green plants like hostas or lambs’ ears.
A variety of materials can be used to create attractive, durable, sustainable edging to your backyard patio. The options are nearly endless! Landscape timber, plastic, or rubber edging are affordable options that won’t distract from your plantings. Brick and stone offer sturdy, low-maintenance bordering. For a more ornate look, choose from picket fencing or iron scroll.
Lighting can also provide an attractive visual border for your patio space year-round — whether solar-powered garden lights along edges and paths, or string lights running the perimeter of your patio or trellis.
Container plants are ideal for garden design in small spaces where full flower beds aren’t possible. Larger containers also work well as anchoring at the corners of paver patios.
Containers can be used to create outdoor mini-gardens and bouquets by arranging multiple plant varieties in one pot or box. Nearly any plant can be a container plant provided it is well pruned. In turn, container plants that grow too large can be transferred directly to the soil.
Choose from flowering plants like geraniums, begonias, and impatiens — or even fruits and vegetables such as tomato or strawberry plants. Fragrant herbs such as basil (an annual) or perennials like mint and lavender, are great options for containers and have the added bonus of being useful in the kitchen.
If your outdoor living space is unfenced or you have closely situated neighbors, privacy plants can help enclose your patio and create a more secluded space for socializing or relaxing. Plants that grow tall or full quickly and provide a lot of greenery are ideal for creating a private outdoor patio.
Juniper, boxwood, and arborvitae are excellent choices that require relatively little maintenance. Hydrangea, lilac, and forsythia will also provide a pop of color when fully grown.
Consider the growth timeline for your privacy plants. In addition to those plants listed above, cypress and laurel are strong choices for quick growth.
A hardscape focal point such as a water feature, pergola, or trellis can add greatly to the ambiance of your outdoor living space. Water features can tie into both hardscape and greenery, depending on your desired look.
Popular patio design ideas include water features like a stone fountain or pond. Wall-based water features are subtle additions to your patio design, as compared with a free-standing fountain. Solar-powered water features can be an economical and environmentally-friendly option.
A beautiful pergola leading from your patio can contribute to a natural flow from your patio to the surrounding green space, adding both practical and aesthetic value. Pergolas can also attach to a patio from your home.
Pergolas are focal points that also provide partial shade and shelter from the elements. For additional protection, canopies, curtains, or drapes can be hung from your pergola.
Trellises provide visual interest and can also enhance the privacy of your patio space. As with pergolas, there are several materials to choose from, and trellis design can range from country cottage to a more modern feel.
For increased functionality, add a trellised gate or garden, or install a trellis to separate distinct spaces on your patio, such as different area for dining or lounging.
Both pergolas and trellises can be constructed from wood, vinyl, or aluminum depending on your desired look and level of maintenance required. Combine the right outdoor furniture with these focal points to create an outdoor living room in your backyard.
There is no shortage of patio design and landscaping ideas to create your ideal outdoor living space. Whether you’re looking for augmentation of your current patio or a complete redesign, the right idea for your space is waiting to be discovered, built, and enjoyed.
To learn more about adding a hardscape like a patio to your home, please download our free ebook, The Expert Guide to Building the Custom Home Hardscape of Your Dreams. And if you're ready to the next step to design and build a hardscape, you can contact us here to schedule a complementary consultation.
