Low-budget backyard makeovers can turn a
ho-hum yard into summer’s latest hot spot
Running through the sprinklers may not hold the same thrills it did when you were young, but even if your back yard’s amenities end at the edge of it’s perfectly rectangular patch of turf, don’t fret. You can still make it the most swinging hot spot of the summer. But before you give up and dial your local contractor, wait a minute.
Installing a pool can be nearly as expensive as buying a new car, and all for a space-sucking, upkeep-demanding good time that’s only useable a few months of the year. Forget pricey additions like the pool – it’s OK to keep dreaming – and focus instead on a few more affordable changes. As summer’s blistering afternoons wear on, you can attract friends not only with your great company, but through their senses with a few budget-friendly backyard fixes.
Sights
Nothing says drab quite like a plain rectangle of green out back, but adding flowers, especially in pots along the patio, is an inexpensive way to add color and visual interest to the yard, said Anita Kane, a Hollister-based landscape architect.
The floral colors homeowners select also act as outdoor décor, a palette they can shape to the environment. Grouping hot colors like red, orange and yellow together creates a burst of bright, highly visible color, said Paul Dommert, lawn and garden department supervisor at The Home Depot in Morgan Hill.
“You want to keep warm colors together and cool colors together,” said Dommert. “If you put red and blue together it can look too chaotic.”
Dommert also recommended planting warm colors farther away from outdoor living areas.
“Reds and yellows can be seen from far away,” said Dommert. “You can use blues and purples if the flowers are going to be closer to the house. If you plant them too far away, they won’t stand out.”
To vary the elevation of a flat yard, Dommert also suggested turning stone or concrete pavers on their sides, and using them to create raised flower beds.
Sounds
At night, homeowners can add aural interest to their outdoor spaces with the crackling sound of a fire, said Kane.
“Outdoor hearths and cooking islands are things we’re seeing a lot of,” she said.
But for a more budget-friendly approach, homeowners can pick up a portable fire pit at their local home improvement store, all the better for roasting marshmallows on warm summer nights.
“Right now we have what are called chimineas,” said Dommert. “They’re ceramic fireplaces on a stand, so you can set them on a deck and light them with kindling. It gives the area a nice flicker.”
During the day, homeowners can enjoy water features, which do more than add the hypnotizing reflections of movement to a yard.
They’re natural white noise, capable of abating or even drowning out the sounds of traffic, neighbors and planes overhead. That, and they come in a dizzying variety of shapes and styles, including fountains, waterfalls and ponds, said Kane.
Smells
Nothing says summer like the scent of a grill, according to Kendrick Choy, assistant manager of Orchard Supply Hardware in Gilroy.
Whether it’s a charcoal Weber or a gas-powered Viking, homeowners can slather on the barbecue sauce and let neighbors follow their noses, but they shouldn’t forget the wonderful scents that can inhabit their patios even on days when the “grill master” is off.
Scented plants such as jasmine, lavender, rose and nicotiana can perfume the yard with the sweet smell of their blossoms all summer long, said Kane.
Tastes
Open space can feel more welcoming when edible elements are dispersed around the yard, said Kane.
“You might plant a shade arbor with grapes or put fruit trees in around the yard, so that as you wander through, there are things to eat,” said Kane. “It goes really well with the idea of an outdoor living area because it’s shade and food. You can just reach up from the table and pick grapes for dessert.”
Climate control
A garden isn’t complete without the warm glow of the summer sun, but on days when its glow turns scorching, make sure there’s a spot to relax in the shade, said Choy.
“There are a lot of different kinds of shades that can go along with the new patio furniture we’ve got,” said Choy. “The umbrellas are really big, and there are canopies to go with some sets.”
For a smaller space, Dommert suggested garden favorites, like covered swings and cafe umbrellas.
If you would like to create your own outdoor oasis, visit Orchard Supply Hardware in Gilroy at 303 10th St. or call (408) 847-7767. Also visit The Home Depot at 860 E. Dunne Ave. in Morgan Hill or call (408) 779-9755. For professional help, landscape architect Anita Kane can be reached at (831) 638-1801.
