Why a backyard oasis? With tough economic times and saving money being a top priority for many families this is the time to think about creating your own backyard oasis to chill out from your daily stresses. With proper planning you can make your backyard into a paradise that fits the activities of the entire family. You can even add a nutritional garden area to save additional money.

photo credit: zenera

One of the first steps in planning is deciding on what you will spend.  Many backyard accessories can be made or may already exist in your landscape. You can hunt at auctions or garage sales for any additional furniture, garden supplies or children’s play equipment.

The next step is to evaluate your space. It’s amazing how much you can fit into a very small area and still have a spacious feel. An area under a shade tree may become a place for children to play. Your patio can double as a family leisure area for picnics or camp outs or even be set up as a patio gardening area.

Plants add a relaxing atmosphere and seem to extend your yard. By arranging your plants in layers such as raised beds, containers, or climbing plants, you can grow upwards and save space and add privacy to your backyard oasis.

One more addition to any yard is water. Water tends to make people feel at home. Water fountains cover up traffic and neighborhood noise while small pools can contain fish, or be a place for the family to cool off on hot days.

With an enclosed porch or additional building you can extend the time you can spend in your yard. I have a small sunroom and a greenhouse that I spend hours in during my cold Northwest Pa. winters. It extends my spring and fall seasons by several months.

Backyards can also look beautiful and inviting even in cold weather. Many of my favorite childhood memories include bonfires and cookouts in January and February, our coldest months.

If you live in town or a city you may still have a patio, a deck, a room with windows, or an area by a garage that you can turn into your own private getaway. There are many renters who have rooftop garden and living areas that are a special and very inviting oasis.

Your backyard can be made to fit you and your families needs for family leisure activities, such as sports, gardening, and entertaining. Make this season the time to create your own backyard oasis.

Rock Gardens have several valuable uses. They can make use of a hillside, save time in a backyard or help to create a garden in an area that need a lot of soil improvement. So a rock garden can simplify a problem area in the yard quickly while adding beauty.

photo credit: Nathan150
Rock gardens can also be used to stop soil erosion or cut back on weeds and time spent in the garden area. Once a rock garden is created it takes less time than most gardens. And one other benefit of a rock garden it that it can be quite small and still be very impressive. This makes a rock garden a perfect choice for the small space gardener.

Rock Gardens are not only made up of rocks. They contain garden plants, garden art and a variety or rock in different colors and sizes.

Rock Garden suggestions

You can do almost anything with a rock garden. A few suggestions would be to add plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, fountains, and even a fishpond. These selections are based on the size of the garden and on cost.

When adding plants or flowers you will need to arrange the flatter rocks around the plants or flowers to that they will help the flow or water to the roots of you plants and hold it at the roots. You can do this by arranging the rocks so they are partly in the dirt and partly layered onto the rows of rocks beside them.

photo credit: cliff1066™

Tip: When you plan out your garden try to make sure to leave room to be able to weed out the unwanted growth and to reach your plants to water them if needed.

Rock Garden Design Ideas

• Water fountains and birdbaths add interest to your rock garden. It’s also interesting to watch the birds and see which birds come to your backyard retreat.
• Waterfalls also add to your garden and are soothing. They will also drown out neighborhood noise, which is a benefit if you live in a town or city.
• If you are making a sizable garden design you will good pathways for people to follow and places for people to sit and look or relax.
• Garden art tucked in your rock garden will add interest and the element of surprise.

Rock gardens will add a different look to your backyard and can often be used in hard to grow areas. They can also make use of small corners that has been overlooked before in backyard design.

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Pond lilies add beauty and grace to a pond that cannot be matched by other water plants. They also help keep the pond water healthy and give fish and other aquatic animals a place to hide or cool down on hot days.

photo credit: dtsomp

Pond lilies are easy to care for and reproduce freely. By dividing the plants you will have a constant supply of new plants that are quick and easy to transplant into new holding pots. And if you have too many it’s the perfect excuse to trade plants with the neighbors.

How to divide water lilies

If you’re not that familiar with water lilies you may not know they are planted in water baskets. Begin by lifting the entire basket of water lilies from your pond in the early spring. You will want to do this before they flower, but after new leaves have developed.

Set the basket on a tarp, plastic or the grass. This can get messy so I prefer a tarp to make cleaning up easier and the lawn or work area clean.

Begin by pulling the plant out of the holding basket by the base of the stalk. You will need to be careful not to damage any young shoots when removing the plant. Provide support to the plant with your free hand.

Next cut through the root ball with a large sharp knife. When you make a cut check first to make sure each section has new growing tips attached. Make as many cuts as necessary to return the lily root ball to the original size.

Each section can now be replanted to create a new lily.

How to plant the new water lily plant

1. Line the new basket or pot with hessian to prevent the soil from being washed away.
2. Fill the pot with aquatic soil mixture and insert the new lily plant.
3. Carefully cover the rootball with soil and fold the hessian over the top of the pot. Make sure you allow the stem and leaves to emerge from the top.
4. Add a layer of gravel on top of the hessian to prevent it from floating. Pack the soil and gravel in place.
5. Submerge the pot or basket in shallow water. The new shoots on the pond lily should rest at the surface of the water.

You will want to move the potted plant to a deeper section of the pond once the leaves and stems have grown long enough to reach the surface.

Your new lily plant should begin blooming in June. To keep you pond healthy and clean check the plant and remove deep leaves to prevent debris in your pond. This step will save you time later on.

Stunning shows of color floating on the water in you pond will add peace and tranquility to your own backyard. And the varieties of lilies available will give you a wide choice of color to add to you lawn and pond garden area.

Note: Do not use regular potting soil in the baskets for aquatic plants. The nutrients in the soil will cause algae to grow in your pond. This will cause you problems later on and also expense of trying to rid the pond of algae.

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Inexpensive garden décor is in and one reasonably priced backyard project is a Shabby Chic garden wall. Am old window door will make a great DIY project for your garden areas at a reasonable cost.

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

A garden wall adds color, privacy and beauty to a patio, garden area or yard. It can be set up in a few hours but totally change the look of your backyard. You could even bring it indoors for winter use if you live in a cold climate and want to extend your gardening.

I have found that if you use an old door that has the windowpanes and build a planter box on the bottom you have a beautiful garden wall that can be made to match any décor style.

I can find old windowpane door in my area for free or up to $10. The average price is usually $2. I carefully remove the glass from the windowpanes and save the glass for other projects. (Make sure all pieces of glass are gone from the frame)

Sand the door down a bit to get an older look. You can add another color to the door to emphasis your colors in the yard or house.

Make a planter box, or buy one if the door measures the same length. I make my planter about 9 to 12 inches tall and one foot deep. I also use old barn board or recycled boards and paint the box to match the door.

Attach the old door onto the back of the planter with nails or screws. Screws work better if you plan to take the garden wall apart or move it much.

Put the garden wall in place and fill the planter with soil.

A garden wall looks great with vines in the back that will travel up the wall and lower flowers or herbs planted in the front of the planter.

This planter will also make a great mini small space garden with beans; cucumbers or tomatoes planted in the back and trained to grow vertical. In the front you could plants greens, onions, and other smaller vegetable crops.

This project ranges anywhere in price from free if you do some “scrounging” to $10 0r $15 dollars. And when it’s done it adds priceless beauty and many comments to your backyard décor.

Note: If you can’t find an old door windowpane windows will work. Thyew just make a smaller garden wall. Or you can use an old screen door.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Garden, DIY projects, inexpensive garden decor, shabby chic garden wall, Small Space Garden

Swimming pools provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family. Besides keeping the children occupied they add to any family event such as parties and get togethers. They turn your backyard into the oasis that you always dreamed of.

photo credit: sflovestory

But a pool is a large investment, takes time and space though, so selection and price is very important. You will also have to consider your property value and landscaping needed for the project.

These are a few points to consider when selecting a pool.

Decide what type of pool you want to buy. Above ground pools are less expensive and can be made nicer looking with a deck and landscaping. They can also be removed relatively easily if needed.

In-ground pools are more expensive and will usually increase your property value. But you must carefully consider where you plan to place it.

Shop for the best-priced pool. Try local pool companies and look online for deals.

Make sure you get several references from the companies you contact. Also check with the check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they’re trustworthy and have a good rating.

Get three quotes to five quotes in writing. Make sure the quotes include all installation costs and any extra costs.

Swimming pools can cost more than you expect. So leave room for unexpected expenses. So when shopping try to buy a swimming pool for $1,000 less than your set budget. This extra money will absorb any unexpected costs.

photo credit: Schantzilla

Budget the extras right into you pool costs and budget. Once you add a pool you will need the area landscaped. Possibly a deck, outdoor kitchen or patio placed near the pool area and safety features. Safety features would include a fence, pool chemicals, equipment, pumps and filters. Pool toys will also be a consideration.

Figure out how much money you’ll have to put away each month or week toward your swimming pool. If you have children they may enjoy putting money toward the pool too. It will give them a feeling of accomplishment.

And you may want to put the money in a higher interest account. It will increase faster if you put the money into a mutual fund or credit union with a higher interest rate.

Once you have the money for the pool be prepared to have a new life and look to your backyard.

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